Members Present: Mayor Milt McIver, Deputy Mayor Debbie Myles, Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Councillor James Mielhausen, Councillor Megan Myles
Staff Present: Cathy Addison, Clerk, Tessa Swanton, Deputy Clerk, Peggy Van Mierlo-West, Chief Administrative Officer, Teresa Shearer, Treasurer, Kara Smith, GIS/IT Coordinator, Carol Hopkins, Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Troy Cameron, Public Works Manager, Ryan Deska, Community Services Manager
Others Present: Nil
Note: Members of Council and staff were present in the Municipal Office Council Chamber and the meeting was held both in person and via Zoom, an electronic platform, for members of the public to attend.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
Mayor McIver called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and Council members were reminded to disclose any pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof that may arise during the meeting.
Approval of the Agenda
Resolution #31-01-2021, Moved by J. Mielhausen, Seconded by M. Myles
That the content of the agenda be approved as printed.
Carried
Consideration of Agenda Items
1. Municipal Law Enforcement Officer Report No. MLEO 21-11
Re: Year-End Parking Report
Carol Hopkins, Bylaw Enforcement Officer, presented an overview of the year end paid parking report. The following discussion was noted:
North Shore Barrow Bay Road:
• A concern was brought forward from residents regarding Bruce Trail hikers parking vehicles on the road and blocking the turnaround at the end of the road to access the Bruce Trail
• Staff recommend that North Shore Road from Channel Road to the turnaround be posted as “no parking” on both sides of the road and additional signage be placed at McKague Road with a larger “no exit” sign
• Consider if not permitting parking on the road would negatively impact residents
• Staff have received several complaints from residents regarding visitors parking and blocking resident driveways
• The Bruce Trail may need to provide clearer signage for their parking locations
• Consider consolidating all parking areas on one map that is available online for public viewing
• Begin by signing the turnaround only as “no parking”
Channel Road Turnaround:
• Concerns have been brought forward regarding vehicles parking at the turnaround and blocking driveways on Channel Road while launching kayaks and canoes; however, this area is not designated as a boat launch
• The steep incline and large rocks pose a safety hazard and possible liability
• Staff recommend that the turnaround at the end of Channel Road be posted as “no parking” and that signed be posted noting that this area is not designated as a boat launch
• Consider permitting residents to launch kayaks by walking to the turnaround and launching
• Remove the part of the recommendation where it speaks to posting the area as “not a designated boat launch”
Chi-Sin Tub Dik Road (Visitor Centre Road):
• At the beginning of the 2021 season, the Parks Canada entered into an agreement with the Municipality to enforce parking on this road
• Parks Canada is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Traffic By-law on this road
• This agreement has been successful to date
• Staff recommend that the east side of Chi-Sin Tub Dik Road from the entrance of the Visitors Centre south to the stop sign be posted as “no parking”
• Remain status quo with this agreement for the 2022 season
Tamarac Causeway:
• Residents expressed concern with parking due to the significant increase in fishing at the causeway
• The presence of lawn chairs on the roadway and fishing gear do not allow for safe parking on the causeway
• Residents have noted that there are blind corners at each end of the causeway and recommend that “no parking” signs be considered
• Staff recommended that the Tamarac causeway be designated as “no parking” on both sides of the road from Walter Charman Drive to 239 Tamarac Road
• Determine how to provide the opportunity for people to still use the causeway for fishing while maintaining safety
• Find a alternate location for vehicles to park between Walter Charman Drive and the causeway
• There is no opportunity to widen the causeway itself as this project may require culvert extensions, etc.
• The Public Works Manager will investigate an alternate parking location
Byron Street:
• Visitors started to park on back streets to avoid paid parking fees in Lion’s Head
• Residents have expressed concerns with vehicles parking on the road all day and leaving behind garbage
• Staff recommend that Byron Street be posted as “no parking” on both sides of the road from Edgewood Street to the end of Byron Street
• Post signage that states “resident parking only”
Tobermory Paid Parking:
• Paid parking has been in effect in Tobermory since 2017 with little modification to the program and the program has proven to be successful
• New wayfinding signage has been placed throughout Tobermory noting the locations of the paid parking machines and other paid parking information
• Signage was placed on Highway 6 at the tennis court redirecting oversized vehicles and buses to Hay Bay Road and Legion Street
• The Tobermory Chamber recommends that the 15-minute parking spaces at the Community Centre parking lot be extended to 30 minutes along with a sign indicating “no oversized vehicles”
• Staff recommend that the Tobermory paid parking program remain status quo and that signage be placed in the Community Centre parking lot indicating “no oversized vehicles permitted”
15 Minute Parking Spaces within the Tobermory Community Centre Parking Lot:
• The Tobermory Chamber recommends that the 15-minutes parking spaces at the Community Centre parking lot be extended to 30 minutes and relocated to the centre row of the parking lot
• There are two existing 15-minute parking spaces in the parking lot
• Staff recommend that the current designated 15-minute parking spaces on the west side of the parking lot remain status quo
• Council directed staff to increase parking from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and ensure that oversized vehicles are aware of where they can park
Big Tub Road:
• For the 2021 season, parking on the south side of Big Tub Road was shortened from 197 Big Tub Road to 245 Big Tub Road to allow 25 extra vehicles outside the parking lot
• A delegation appeared before Council on May 10, 2021 requesting that parking on the south side of Big Tub Road be moved to start at 197 Big Tub Road to allow residents to enter and exit their driveways safely and reduce parking lot congestion
• Staff presented Council with four options:
1. leave the parking on Big Tub Road status quo for the 2022 season
2. remove parking from the south side of the road to only permit parking in the designated parking area (15 spaces) and place a full-time parking attendant to direct traffic ($240 per day)
3. expand the parking area to the original road allowance in front of 255/256 Big Tub Road to create a defined parking lot and turnaround accommodating 20 vehicles with a full-time parking attendant to direct traffic
4. leave the parking status quo and implement Park Pass for parking reservations and place signage with a parking attendant on duty during peak times
• Staff recommend Option 3- widening of the road to create a defined parking lot and turnaround, remove parking from both sides of Big Tub Road from Highway 6 to the parking lot, and fund the project from paid parking revenues ($100,000 project cost, $240 a day for a parking attendant, $20,000 for signage)
• Consider widening private driveways to assist with entering and exiting driveways; however, this may set a precedent
• Expanding the parking lot is costly
• Investigate the possibility of a shuttle on Big Tub Road
• Culvert work may be required if the Municipality widens the road
• The north side of the road is more suitable for road widening
• The Public Works Manager was directed to investigate options for road widening to accommodate 25 vehicles and report to Council with recommendations
• No staff recommendations were adopted
Grant Watson:
• Residents have a 3-hour time limit for parking
• Signage noting “no access to Parks Canada or Parks Canada facilities” has proven to be effective
• Staff recommended that the parking lot remain status quo and that staff purchase additional signage which will be incorporated into the 2022 Budget
• Council noted that Parks Canada may be able to fund/arrange the signage
Little Cove Road:
• Parks Canada has a lease for the parking lot at the end of Little Cove Road
• Insufficient parking management resulted in the parking lot being managed through enforcement
• Vehicles were parking in the “no parking” areas
• The Bylaw Department was called on numerous occasions to assist with the overflow of vehicles parked illegally or blocking driveways
• Little Cove Road was closed several times due to excess vehicles and reopened once the area was cleared out
• Staff presented Council with two options:
1. The Municipality reviews the agreement with Parks Canada to ensure the parking area is managed with full-time parking attendants during off peak and peak times
2. Dissolve the agreement with Parks Canada and implement the Park Pass reservation system, place a full-time parking attendant at the parking lot, and purchase additional signage ($20,000 for signage, $240.00 per day for a parking attendant)
Potential revenue is $120,000 per season
• Council directed staff to communicate with Parks Canada regarding dissolving the agreement
Lion’s Head Paid Parking:
• Concern with inadequate signage and parking metres not being user friendly
• Requests came forward for all day parking in Lion’s Head
• There was no designated parking area for oversized vehicles
• Business owners observed a lack of 15-minute parking areas
• Feedback noted that paid parking on Main Street posed an inconvenience and potentially drove away customers
• Staff recommend that the paid parking program remain status quo, signage be purchased, designate the Friendship Club parking lot for oversized vehicles and relocate the paid parking machine from McCurdy Drive to this location, permit all-day parking on John Street and Mill Street for a rate of $5 per hour to a maximum of $30 per day
• Council suggested free two-hour parking on Main Street and Webster Street
• Placing QR codes throughout Lion’s Head will assist visitors when paying for parking as it is more convenient
• The Bylaw Enforcement Officer was directed to investigate options for all-day parking in Lion’s Head
• Parking has gone well at the Lion’s Head Marina
• Council will receive a report regarding the shuttle in Lion’s Head during a November 2021 Council meeting
• Consider all-day parking at the Lion’s Head Arena and implementing Park Pass for parking reservations; dependent on renovations to the Arena in 2022
• No staff recommendations were adopted
15 Minute Parking in Lion’s Head:
• Comments were received regarding the lack of 15-minute parking spaces in Lion’s Head
• Seven 15-minute parking spaces were designated in 2021 (two in front of the Post Office, two in front of the Hardware Store, and three near Foodland)
• Staff recommend that two additional 15-minute parking spaces be added by the Royal Bank and that four additional 15-minute parking spaces be added on Main Street (two in front of the Pharmacy, one at 82 Main Street, and one at 77 Main Street)
• Several requests were lodged to add an accessibility parking space near the pharmacy; one of the new 15-minute parking spaces will be accessible
• Council approved that two additional 15-minute parking spaces be added to 10 Webster Street by the Royal Bank; four additional spots be designated on Main Street, two at 76 Main Street (in front of the Pharmacy), one in front of 82 Main Street and one at 77 Main Street
McCurdy Parking Lot:
• Park Pass was implemented in 2021 at the McCurdy Drive parking lot and was successful
• A parking attendant was present during peak times
• 4-hour and 8-hour time slots were available for reservation
• Staff recommend continuing the use of Park Pass for the McCurdy Drive parking lot and that a parking attendant be present during weekends and peak times for the 2022 season ($240 per day for a parking attendant)
Resolution #31-02-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded by D. Myles
That Council receives MLEO Report No. 21-11 as information;
That North Shore Rd from Channel Rd to the turnaround be posted “No Parking” on either side and that additional signage be placed at McKague Road with a larger “No Exit” sign.
That the turnaround at the end of Channel Road be posted “no parking at any time”.
That the east side of Chi-Sin Tub Dik Road from the entrance of the Visitors Center south to the stop sign be posted as “No Parking”.
That the Tamarac Causeway be designated as “no parking” on both sides from Walter Charman Drive to 239 Tamarac Road.
That Byron Street be posted as “resident parking only” on both sides from Edgewood Street to the end of Byron Street.
That signage be placed in the Tobermory Community Centre parking lot indicating “No Oversized Vehicles Permitted”.
That the existing designated 15-minute parking spaces on the west side of the Tobermory Community Centre parking lot be changed to 30-minute parking spaces.
That the parking lot on Grant Watson remain status quo.
That Council requests that Parks Canada purchases additional signage similar to the signage on Elgin Street, to be placed in the parking lot on Grant Watson Drive to reiterate that “No Access to Parks or Parks Facilities can be obtained from the parking area”.
That Council dissolves the agreement with Parks Canada for parking on Little Cove Road and staff implement Park Pass within the parking area and place a full-time parking attendant at the parking lot to check for reservations, parking vehicles and to redirect overflow traffic.
That additional signage be purchased and placed on Little Cove Road near Highway 6 noting parking availability for the parking lot ahead.
That two additional 15-minute parking spaces be added to 10 Webster Street by the Royal Bank; four additional spots be designated on Main Street, two at 76 Main Street (in front of the Pharmacy), one in front of 82 Main Street and one at 77 Main Street.
That Park Pass continue operating within the McCurdy parking lot with a parking attendant present during weekends and peak times during the 2022 season.
Carried
Correspondence
1. Kara and Kyle Hellyer- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
2. Teresa Dunnigan and Ron Wright- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
3. Brock and Heather Merrifield- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
4. Brooke Psotka- Paid Parking- Information
5. Kathy Mason- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
6. Scott Merrifield- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
7. Aman Sohrab- Paid Parking- Information
8. Jill Martin- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
9. Tony Moon- Paid Parking- Information
10. Angela Elliott- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
11. Rayne Bryla- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
12. Marydale Ashcroft- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
13. S Wilson- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
14. Melanie Hepburn- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
15. Northern Bruce Peninsula Sustainable Tourism Advisory Group- Paid Parking- Information
16. Sue Dyment- Paid Parking- Information
17. Heather Bryans- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
18. Pat Bowerman- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
19. Leisa Mercer- Paid Parking- Information
20. Gerry Gregory- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
21. Barbara Dirckx- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
22. Scott and Carla Hellyer- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
23. Phillip Shearer- Paid Parking Lion’s Head- Information
Resolution #31-03-2021, Moved by M. Myles, Seconded by D. Myles
That the correspondence be received as information as printed and circulated.
Carried
Other Business
A subsequent Special Council meeting including a Public Meeting for comments will be scheduled in November/December regarding parking within the Municipality.
A webpage will soon be published on the Municipality’s community engagement page, Let’s Talk NBP (Bang the Table), to obtain public feedback regarding parking.
Reading of By-Laws
Resolution #31-04-2021, Moved by J. Mielhausen, Seconded by L. Golden
By-law No. 2021-102
Being a By-Law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Special Council Meeting of The Corporation of The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Held Monday, October 25, 2021
That the listed by-law(s) be given 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reading, and enacted.
Carried
Adjournment
Resolution #31-05-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded by J. Mielhausen
That the meeting adjourns at 12:16 p.m.
Carried
