top of page
Search

City Council - Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 7pm

Writer: Accountability TeamAccountability Team
Jan 2311 min read

Updated: Mar 3

Service Partners Budget, licensing of motorized watersports, Empower Simcoe presentation, changes to the Procedural Bylaw and Committee structure


Meeting Location: Council Chambers or online



All Council members present


🧑‍⚖️🫅 Student Mayor(s)

  • Nil



📜📜 Confirmation of the Minutes



🏆🏅 Awards and Recognitions


⛹️‍♀️🏆 Maple Ridge Senior Girls Basketball Team

  • Recognition of the team winning the 2024 OFSAA Girls' AAA Basketball Championship



📑🗂 Reports from Officers

  • Nil



🗣🎙 Deputations


💰📊 2025 Business Plan and Budget - Service Partners



💸⚖️ Tax Applications

  • Nil



📝📄 General Committee Report


Section A (reports received)

  • RECEIVED, unanimously

💸🤷 Affordability Committee

🚸🚨 Community Safety Committee

🏦🧑‍⚖️ Finance and Responsible Governance Committee


Section B (consent items)

⛵️🏢 Sea Cadets - Use of General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre

🧑‍🏫📺 Amendment to Procedural Bylaw

👥👥 Committee Updates

  • Proposal by Nuttall:  https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13667132&GUID=8752E28A-2450-4713-A951-2A369CD9ED58

  • Make changes to Advisory Committees:

    • remove Kungl from Active Transportation and Sustainability (at her request) and replace her with Morales

    • remove Hamilton from the County of Simcoe Human Services Committee (at her request)

    • add Nixon to the Town and Gown Committee

    • remove Riepma as Chair of Heritage Barrie and replace him with Kungl

  • Direct the City Clerk to review the membership and mandate of the Seniors and Accessibility Advisory Committee to ensure that the provisions of the AODA continue to be met, and report back to Finance and Responsible Governance Committee if changes are required

  • Create a Parking Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee to review on street parking standards in the City, including provisions for new developments, current practices and potential modernization, and report back to the Community Safety Committee by the end of Q2 in 2026, with the following composition

    • Thomson

    • Riepma

    • 3 citizen members

    • 1-2 representatives from the Development Community

💰📊 2025 Business Plan and Budget - Service Partners

  • Report:  https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13686445&GUID=0B208DB1-7723-4346-9943-D119D616CC3C

  • Approve the Barrie Police Services Board's funding request ($72.2M)

  • Approve the Barrie Public Library Board's funding request ($9.7M tax supported, $164.9K of Development Charges funding)

  • Approve the County of Simcoe budget request, including contributions to the County of Simcoe Capital Reserve ($32.9M total)

  • Approve the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority budget request ($376.5K tax supported, $1.1M of water rate funding)

  • Approve the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority's budget request ($475.4K tax supported, $83.9K water rate funding)

  • Approve the Barrie Area Physician Recruitment budget request ($60K)

  • Approve the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's budget request ($2.3M)

  • Amend Capital Project 001416: EMS Campus - Solar PV installation to reduce Tax Capital Reserve funding of $125K in 2025 and $400K in 2026 and replace with partner funding from the County of Simcoe for their portion

  • AMENDMENT by Thomson / Kungl

    • To separate the "2025 Business Plan and Budget - Service Partners" item and reintroduce it as Section H

    • CARRIED, unanimously

  • MOTION, as amended, CARRIED unanimously


Section C

💰✍️ Grant Applications

  • Harris declared a potential conflict, as he's connected to an application for this funding

  • Direct staff to forward the list of selected organizations to receive funding through the Bright Futures Grant to the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Committee for consideration

  • Once reviewed with the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Committee, staff may contact the successful applicants

  • Allocate $68,299 - $25,000 from the Council Strategic Priorities Account and $43,299 from the Reinvestment Reserve - to be distributed as follows:

    • $24K to the City of Barrie Nature Parks Play Program

    • $35K for day camp programs for high risk communities

    • $9,299 to top up the Bright Futures Grant funding to ensure the selected organizations receive full funding of their request

  • Any funds allocated to an organization that aren't used will be reallocated to reduce the City's funding towards the City of Barrie Nature Parks Program and day camp programs for high risk communities

  • Once funding is confirmed and accepted by the successful applications, Recreation and Culture Department to provide a memorandum to the Community Safety Committee detailing the successful applicants

  • Harris declared a potential pecuniary interest and did not vote

  • CARRIED, unanimously by all voting [Harris did not vote]


Section D

💰⛺️ Support of County Funding for Accommodations for Encampment Residents

  • Simcoe County Encampment Report:  https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13684917&GUID=D7A3B940-9E83-4360-A84B-C5BD4C40E149 

  • Endorse and support the County of Simcoe's application to the Province for funding under the Encampment Response Initiative (part of the Homelessness Prevention Program funding), and send correspondence to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

  • The County's Proposal:

    • Allows for the expansion of 226 temporary shelter spaces, January 1 through March 1

    • Requested $2,433K from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for the operational costs for temporary shelter spaces (including costs incurred by local bylaw services and site restoration)

    • Provides a safe and accessible way to transition individuals from encampments into safer, supported accommodations

    • Funds the return and restoration of impacted public spaces across Barrie, Orillia, Midland and Collingwood

  • Courser tried to get commitment that encampments would not be cleared without appropriate accommodations for those currently living in encampments - there were assurances that would be the case, although there were also statements that that would be the County's responsibility, so a firm commitment wasn't given

  • Nuttall called for a recorded vote

  • CARRIED, unanimously


Section E

🚤🛥️ Licensing of Watersports

  • Proposal by Hamilton:  https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13667160&GUID=CAA27031-07D1-4D29-AF32-09CCDCC6AA9F

  • Rescind the previous Council's decision to not allow operators to provide motorized activities on Barrie's waterfront

  • Direct staff to prepare a licensing protocol for the licensing of businesses operating motorized activities along the waterfront, including a limit on the vehicles permitted, fees and safety measures for their operation, and report back to General Committee

  • It's disappointing that there has been no explanation or discussion around why the previous decision should be rescinded BEFORE investigating the issue - why the rush to undo a previous decision without first gathering relevant information?

  • CARRIED, unanimously


Section F

📋🏛️ Conservation of Built Heritage Community Improvement Plan


Section G

🚫🏙️ CIHA / MZO Update for 175 & 199 Essa Road and 50 Wood Street (Fairgrounds)


Section H [as separated from Section B by amendment]

💰📊 2025 Business Plan and Budget - Service Partners

  • Report:  https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13686445&GUID=0B208DB1-7723-4346-9943-D119D616CC3C 

  • Approve the Barrie Police Services Board's funding request ($72.2M)

  • Approve the Barrie Public Library Board's funding request ($9.7M tax supported, $164.9K of Development Charges funding)

  • Approve the County of Simcoe budget request, including contributions to the County of Simcoe Capital Reserve ($32.9M total)

  • Approve the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority budget request ($376.5K tax supported, $1.1M of water rate funding)

  • Approve the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority's budget request ($475.4K tax supported, $83.9K water rate funding)

  • Approve the Barrie Area Physician Recruitment budget request ($60K)

  • Approve the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's budget request ($2.3M)

  • Amend Capital Project 001416: EMS Campus - Solar PV installation to reduce Tax Capital Reserve funding of $125K in 2025 and $400K in 2026 and replace with partner funding from the County of Simcoe for their portion

  • AMENDMENT by Thomson / Nigussie:

    • Amend paragraph 2 to add the following:

      • Approve the Financial Stabilization Reserve as discussed during the Barrie Public Library's January 15 presentation

      • Future Capital Expenditure Reserve to remain intact for its intended purpose (not to be renamed or used as discussed during the presentation)

      • Barrie Public Library Board requested to transfer up to 8.3% (equal to one month of operating expenses) of funding in Future Capital Expansion Reserve to the Financial Stabilization Reserve

      • An additional 1% ($98,000) reflective of the current Barrie Public Library budget request identified on page 301 be allocated to the Barrie Public Library Future Capital Expenditure Reserve, and the tax levy be increased by $98,000

      • Establish Capital Project "Barrie Northwest Boutique Library", with intended funding for $150,000 from Development Charge Reserve to allow for staff in Corporate Facilities, in consultation with the Barrie Public Library staff, to undertake initial design and required preliminary work to include investigation of potential locations, and report back to General Committee once completed

    • Add paragraph 3 (and renumber the following as appropriate)

      • Staff in the Financial Department to develop a list of reporting requirements to be followed by the Barrie Public Library Board when presenting their annual budget request to City Council, and report back to Finance and Responsible Governance Committee with the list

    • CARRIED, unanimously

  • AMENDMENT by Morales / Harvey

    • Provide $20,000 to the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame for ongoing operating costs, funded from the Tourism Reserve

    • CARRIED

  • Nuttall called for a recorded vote

  • MOTION, as amended, CARRIED unanimously



⏸️⏯️ Deferred Business

  • Nil



➡️📜 Direct Motions


Nuttall moved these to after the presentation



🧑‍🏫📑 Presentations


🫂💪 Empower Simcoe



➡️📜 Direct Motions


🙋⏱️ Direct Motion Without Notice - Response to Tariffs

  • MOVED by Nuttall (no seconder required):

    • WHEREAS if Ontario were a standalone country, it would be the United States' third largest trading partner with a near-perfect balance in two-way trade totalling $493B in 2023, employing millions of workers on both sides of the border, and

    • WHEREAS the City of Barrie is a member of the Ontario Big City Mayors Caucus who work collaboratively at the Provincial and Federal levels to promote awareness, advocacy and strategic policy initiatives to further strengthen the Canadian economy through advancements and investments including but not limited to the automotive sector, and

    • WHEREAS Premier Doug Ford has outlined the Province of Ontario's forthcoming Fortress AmCan Plan which focuses on strengthening trade between Ontario and the U.S. on key issues including National Security, integrated and safe electricity grids, building out mineral supply chains and advanced manufacturing supply chains while bringing good jobs back for workers on both sides of the border, and

    • WHEREAS the Federal Government has established the Canada - U.S. Relations Council to support the Federal government as it deals with the possible U.S tariffs that include representatives from the auto sector unions, various industries and agriculture, and

    • WHEREAS trade between Ontario and the U.S. is very important to our residents, our local economies, and requires all levels of government to work together in the best interest of those residents, and

    • WHEREAS according to data from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, municipalities in Ontario are expected to spend between $250 and $290B on infrastructure in the next ten years, and

    • WHEREAS municipalities have traditionally been prevented by trade agreements from giving preference to buy Canadian,

    • THEREFORE be it resolved that the City of Barrie call on the Prime Minister, Federal Ministers and the Federal Government's newly-established Canada - U.S. Relations Council to take any and all measures to protect the interests of the Province of Ontario in any upcoming trade negotiations, and

    • That the City of Barrie offer its support and assistance, including formal delegations by the Mayor, CAO and/or their designates to the Federal and Provincial Governments to strike a deal with the U.S. that will benefit all involved when it comes to strengthening our economy and keeping Ontario jobs intact, and

    • That the City of Barrie calls upon the Federal and Provincial Governments to remove any impediments to municipalities discounting American companies for capital projects and supplies

  • CARRIED (vote not visible)



🗺️🦹 Direct Motion Without Notice - Hemson Joint Land Analysis Study

  • REQUEST to present by Thomson / Kungl

    • APPROVED unanimously

  • MOTION by Thomson / Kungl

    • That City staff initiate a non-standard procurement process to retain Hemson Consulting to continue the work with the City and the Provincial Facilitator building on their initial findings through the Joint Needs Analysis Study with budget allocated up to $200K funded through the Reinvestment Reserve

    • That this work be undertaken in phases, and the first phase will include the following:

      • identifying and delineating additional lands outside of the City of Barrie boundaries in the Townships of Springwater and Oro-Medonte that could address the requirements of the City of Barrie, Township of Springwater and Township of Oro-Medonte as set out in the Stage Two Joint Needs Analysis Study, and

      • further assessment of the City of Barrie's infrastructure and service capacity to support the identified 930 developable hectares from the Stage Two Joint Needs Analysis Study,

    • That staff report back to General Committee on the additional studies and phases of work once complete

  • Riepma commented that the City shouldn't be limiting its report to just the lands of Springwater and Oro-Medonte, but should expand to include existing Barrie and Innisfil lands, because there might be much better-suited land elsewhere

    • Prowse explained that wasn't in the Facilitator's mandate at this time

  • Courser asked who gave the orders to restrict to lands in just Springwater and Oro-Medonte?

    • Prowse answered it was a series of presentations by Nuttall to the other two municipalities, and Oro-Medonte asked for the facilitator, since they did not agree with the presented request

  • CARRIED [FOR: Nixon, Kungl, Thomson, Nigussie, Harvey, Harris, Morales, Hamilton; AGAINST: Riepma, Courser] (vote shown, but in a small window - please correct us if we are recording incorrectly!)


⎈🛥️ Direct Motion Without Notice - Partner Merchant Agreement Adeun Canada Limited and Adeun HV (unsure of spelling, please correct us!)

  • REQUEST to present by Kungl / Thomson

    • APPROVED (vote not shown)

  • MOTION by Kungl / Thomson:

    • That the Chief Administrative Officer be granted authority to execute a Partner Merchant Agreement and related documents with Adeun Canada Limited and Adeun HV as the City's ultimate beneficial owner of the agreement as defined by Adeun and in accordance with European financial regulations for the provision of services related to FIN-2024-087P Marina Management Software

  • CARRIED unanimously



🙋❓ Enquiries of Staff

  • While we don't generally transcribe these, unless they relate directly to a campaign we're advocating for, we are concerned with Deputy Mayor Thomson's "enquiry" - which he himself acknowledged was a statement and not a question (jokingly asking "do you agree?" when finished). His "enquiry", and Mayor Nuttall's follow-up to the "enquiry" sounded dangerously close to a campaign speech for the current Provincial Government and local incumbent Provincial MPPs - on this, the day the writ dropped for the Provincial Election. thus seemingly either in violation or barely toeing the line of the City's Policy CO7 - Use of Corporate Resources For Election Purposes, as well as the Canada Elections Act, and Sections 11 & 12 of the City's Code of Conduct.



📜📜 Bylaws


🏘️🗺️ Bill 010 - Part Lot Control Exemption - 86 & 88 Sagewood Avenue


🏘️🗺️ Bill 011 - Part Lot Control Exemption - 56 & 58 Sagewood Avenue


🏘️🗺️ Bill 012 - Part Lot Control Exemption - 52 & 54 Sagewood Avenue


🧑‍🚒🚒 Bill 013 - Deputy Fire Chief


👥👥 Bill 014 - Committee Updates and Executive Committee


🧑‍⚖️👥 Bill 015 - Amendments to Procedural Bylaw


📜✅ Bill 016 - Confirmation Bylaw
















 
 

Comments

Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page