Council Meeting Highlights - June 12, 2024

 Award of Merit Presentations 

The Mayor presented the Awards of Merit to the 2023 recipients, Rick Leaney and Michael Osborne, in recognition of their dedication to the Town Midland. This award was established in 1956 for Town Council to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community. See the Award of Merit page and gallery on the Town’s website. 

 Hero Centre (Waypoint Centre for Mental Healthcare) Presentation  

Council received a presentation from representatives from the Hero Centre at Waypoint Centre for Mental Healthcare on their transitional employment program. See the presentation. 

 Updates to the Animal Control By-law – Feeding Wildlife 

Council approved amendments that would repeal Animal Control By-law 2013-79 to prohibit feeding wildlife within the Town limits, including on private property, however the feeding of songbirds is still permitted as outlined in the by-law. Read the staff report and new by-law.  

 2024 Community Grant Program Recipients

Council approved the recommendations of the Community Grant Committee to award $40,000 in grant funding to nine local non-profit organizations through the Community Grant Program. Council also approved operations assistance (in-kind) to the Downtown Midland BIA for programs, as well as $20,000 to the Georgian Bay General Hospital for the purchase of equipment. The Community Grant Program was established by Council in 2019 to support local initiatives by non-profit organizations. Read the staff report outlining the successful applicants. 

 Town Financial Report – ending April 30, 2024

Council received a staff report outlining the overall financial picture of the Town’s operations including tax-supported operating, rate-supported operating, and the total capital program to the end of April 2024. The Finance department submits regular reports to Council to provide a transparent overview of the Town’s financial status to Council and the public. Council also approved staff recommended changes to the capital program as detailed in the report. Read the staff report.

 One World Music Festival – August 23 and 24

Council approved a request from Brookside Music Association to hold a liquor licenced area at their One World Music Festival on August 23 and 24 in Little Lake Park. This is the second festival to be organized in Midland by the organizers, with the event now spanning over Friday and Saturday nights. Read the staff report.

 Amendments to Composite Fees and Charges By-law

Council approved amendments to the Fees and Charges By-law to include updates to Harbour fees, NSSRC rentals and non-resident fees, Parks and Outdoor rental fees and Advertising fees at the NSSRC. These additional fees were considered after the earlier approval of the Fees and Charges By-law in February 2024. Read the staff report and fee schedule updates.

 Design Project – Relocation of Water Storage Facility and Booster Station

Council approved the budget to begin a design project for the relocation of a water storage facility and booster station at 837 Montreal Street, which was identified in the Town’s Water Master Plan as a long-term plan for being relocated. Engineering and Water Services staff requested the budget and project timelines be started earlier than expected as there may be the possibility for 837 Montreal Street to be utilized in the near future as a potential affordable housing development through the County of Simcoe. Read the staff report. 

 Media Relations Policy

Council approved a new media relations policy to formalize and document the current process for handling media inquiries for information, clarification, or interview requests. Read the report and policy.  

 Review of the Town’s Zoning By-law (housekeeping review)

Council approved a housekeeping review of the Town’s Zoning By-law to be completed internally by Planning staff.  A previous review of the Zoning By-law (2004-90) was last completed in 2017. The review will include considerations such as outdated regulations, inconsistencies, boundary adjustments, evaluation of regulations around new affordable housing policies at the Provincial level, clarification and revisions, updates to appendices, headings, and formatting of the document to make it more user friendly. Read the staff report.

 Planning Services Department Report and 2024 Strategic Land Use Initiatives

Council received the bi-annual Planning Services department report outlining Planning projects status and approvals for the first and second quarter of 2024. The report also included a staff request to reallocate funds from a Housing Needs Assessment project to a Cultural Heritage Evaluations project to ensure that listed cultural properties are protected from current provincial legislation which would adversely affect their status as of January 1, 2025. Read the staff report.

 Automated Speed Enforcement and Administrative Penalties Program

Council authorized staff to implement an automated speed enforcement (ASE) pilot program for a period of two years. Implementing an ASE would involve installing automated speed cameras and other technology to capture the speed of vehicles on Town roads, allowing the Town to issue speeding tickets. The project requires time to establish by-laws, policies, and contracts, and requires advanced notice and communication to the public prior to starting the program. Read the staff report

 Yonge Street Reconstruction Bike Facilities

Council received and endorsed recommendations from staff on bike facilities to be incorporated as part of the design of the Yonge Street reconstruction project. Staff were directed by Council at the March 20, 2024 Council meeting to bring back additional options for the design, which were outlined in this report. Council unanimously endorsed the option recommended by staff (Option 3 in the staff report) and approved the capital budget for the road reconstruction as part of the 2025 budget process. Read the staff report.

 Little Lake Park Stage and Bandshell Construction Project

 Council approved a staff recommendation that could allow the Little Lake Park stage and bandshell construction project to be completed in 2024. The project was in jeopardy of being cancelled after the May 22, 2024 Council meeting where Council denied the request to allocate additional funds for the bid that came in over budget. Completion of the project is tied to an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Grant and cancelling the project would require the funds be returned to the OTF if they are not spent in 2024. With Council’s approval, staff will work with the preferred proponent to find a solution that falls within the approved capital budget. Read the staff report.