Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, May 20, 2021

Plan the Bruce - Natural Legacy Options Interim Report

The Plan the Bruce Discussion Papers are the next step to setting out a policy framework for the collective Vision and Guiding Principles for growth and development in Bruce County forming the backbone of the new Official Plan. The Plan the Bruce: Natural Legacy Options Interim Report includes an overview of previously completed mapping and targets discussion papers, global, national, and provincial considerations for our Natural Legacy, a profile of the current Natural Legacy in Bruce County, by various components, options for including these various components within a natural environment system that includes natural heritage and water resources, and initial policy directions for consultation. The Interim Report was prepared by North South Environmental with support from Planning and Development staff and reviewed with Technical Advisory and Planning Advisory committees. More information and engagement tools can be at www.planthebruce.ca

Severance of Surplus Farm Dwelling in South Bruce

After a Public Meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved the severance of a 0.51 ha surplus farm dwelling lot from a 20.23 ha parcel at 803 Bruce Road 6, in the Municipality of South Bruce. An amendment to the Official Plan is required to allow a third parcel to be created from an original Crown surveyed lot and to allow the retained 19.72 ha parcel to be smaller than 40 ha. The undersized lot maintains the overall intent of agricultural policies. The farmable area will continue to be farmed in the same manner. The amendment will allow the applicants to sever a house that is surplus to their needs while contributing to the ongoing viability of their farm operations. The lands to be severed are also limited in size to accommodate the residence, accessory buildings, a well and the existing sewage disposal system. As little land as possible is to be removed from the agricultural area.

Proposed Changes to the Planning Act

The Planning and Development Committee approved that Bill 276, Supporting Economic Recovery and Competitiveness Act, 2001 report be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as Bruce County’s comments on the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting #019-3495. Bruce County is generally supportive of the Planning Act changes proposed through Bill 276, which would avoid many unintended mergers of property, reduce lapses in intended approvals, and provide a clear and unambiguous way to enable lots to merge to support land assembly. The comments note opportunities to support the implementation of these changes to align with Planning Act objectives around the division of land. In considering these changes which are beneficial in most cases, Bruce County also encourages the province to consider opportunities to address the minority of cases, mostly expected to relate to older lots, where there may be a public interest for lots that have merged per the current Planning Act provisions, to remain merged.

Delegation

• The Planning and Development Committee heard a presentation from Ryan Knight of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network Canada Foundation. The Afro-Caribbean Business Network was created to provide a resource to business owners in the community to help them succeed. The Foundation is seeking support from Bruce County to complete research of available land in the region and create a joint effort to build affordable housing in alignment with Federal Housing Strategy.

Declaration of Surplus Property and Conveyance to Abutting Landowner

The Transportation and Environmental Services Committee approved that the property in the Municipality of Brockton, being Part of Lot 19, Concession 1ND shown as Part 9 on Ministry Plan 2024-11 and as Part 9 on Plan 3R-10097 be declared surplus. The Transportation Department will be exempt from the requirement to obtain a valuation of the subject property as required by Section 6 of the County’s Sale of Real Property policy, as fair market value had been established by the Ministry of Transportation prior to the County purchasing the said property and registered as Instrument number BR167348. A by-law will be introduced to authorize the conveyance of Part of Lot 19, Concession 1ND shown as Part 9 on Ministry Plan 2024-11 and as Part 9 on Plan 3R-10097 to the abutting property landowner.

BR23 West Ridge on The Lake Subdivision Agreement for External Works with Financial Contribution

The Transportation and Environmental Services Committee authorized an Agreement between Bruce County and West Ridge on The Lake Inc., which sees Bruce County financially contributing towards the cost of certain infrastructure improvements to Bruce Road 23, including $10,000 towards improvements to be performed in the next year (2021-2022) and a maximum of $300,000 towards future proposed infrastructure improvements (2025-2031). Transportation and Environmental Services staff and the County’s Solicitor will review the status of County Road 23 in order to affect a Transfer in the Bruce County Land Registry Office (LRO#3) of County Road 23 from the Municipality of Kincardine to Bruce County.

Capital Projects Status Report – May 2021

The 2021 capital budget for the Transportation and Environmental Services Department (TES) is $11,790,401. Approximatively $3,250,000 is expected to be carried forward from previous years capital budgets. The following lists provide a status update of the TES capital projects for 2021:

• Cold in Place Recycling BR 3 and BR 4 east of Walkerton ($2,313,336)
• Micro Surfacing BR 2, 9, 19 and 29, West Road ($1,176,699)
• Widening and Rehabilitation BR 6East Mildmay to Grey Road 10 ($150,000)
• Cold in Place BR8, from BR 14 to Sauble Beach - Culvert replacements only, paving deferred to 2022 ($205,708)
• Pulverize, pave, and safety improvement at intersection BR 8 and 13 ($31,100)
• Replace Storm Sewer BR 15 Inverhuron ($35,000)
• BR 25 Improvements and BR 33 Realignment/New Construction. Phase 3 - BR 25 Bruce St to Goderich St. - Roundabout deferred to Phase 4 ($5,433,843)
• BR 25 Improvements and BR 33 Realignment/New Construction. Phase 4 - BR 33 - Ridge St to Hwy 21 ($710,000)
• BR 6 Teeswater Property settlement ($20,000)
• New Signage BR 12 Formosa ($33,000)
• KIPP Trail Kincardine, Financial Contribution ($70,000)
• Reconstruction BR 30 Chesley ($46,000)
• Rehabilitate and Reconstruct West Road ($150,000)
• Luminaires BR 2 and BR 3 intersection ($35,000)
• Luminaires BR 8 and BR 14 intersection ($30,000)
• Land Purchases at Hwy 9 and BR 1 ($54,000)
• West Ridge Development Kincardine Phase 1 ($10,000)
• Replace Durham St Bridge, BR 4, Walkerton ($50,000)
• Replace Steffler Bridge, BR 12 North of Belmore ($742,979)
• Replace Culvert BR 86 west of BR 7 ($230,500)
• Arran Township Shed Bridge, Invermay ($78,000)
• Oswald Bridge Replacement ($25,000)
• Repair Blackwell Bridge BR 23 ($742,000)
• Construction New McCurdy Bridge ($12,000)
• Replace Superstructure Reid Bridge, BR 6, West of Teeswater ($1,290,000)
• Replace Teeswater River Bridge BR 3 Paisley ($200,000)
• Repair Culvert BR 86 Lucknow east of Havelock St ($6,500)
• Repair Saugeen River Bridge BR 4 West of Hanover, financial contribution only ($364,000)
• Resurface the Rail Trail between Walkerton and Mildmay ($100,000)
• Expand the facilities at the Walkerton Yard ($75,000)

2021 Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Collection Program Update

A January 21, 2021 report on the 2021 Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Collection Program reported that the Town of Hanover had requested that their residents be allowed to participate in the Walkerton events. Following the review of Walkerton’s past event costs and researching logistics as to how an arrangement of this nature would be coordinated, a letter was sent to Hanover’s CAO indicating that, should the Town of Hanover choose to participate in the two Walkerton collection events, the cost per-vehicle fee (and additional loads exceeding 54 litres) will be charged at $45. The annual administration fee would be $1,500, plus applicable taxes. The Town of Hanover would also be required to have a staff member present to assist in checking and tallying the residency of the attendees. The labour and time cost of that individual would be the responsibility of the Town of Hanover. A letter was received from the Town of Hanover indicating that Town Council considered Bruce County’s proposal and have respectfully decided not to participate in the Bruce County’s MHSW events at this time. Council directed that their gratitude for being considered for this service be extended and that the Town of Hanover would gladly be open to discussing any future opportunities or partnerships with Bruce County

2020 Waste Management Update

Despite being identified as an essential service, there was a reduction in the planning activities and service delivery for waste management programs due to COVID-19. Many new regulations have been put in place to support changes in provincial legislation. Two new regulations include the Waste Free Ontario Act and the Environmental Protection Act. The Blue Box program is still missing detailed direction on how to implement the program and how it will be enforced. Bruce County’s overall landfill capacity is estimated to have 32 years remaining life cycle. A forecasted shortage of landfill capacity is an issue across the province. Developing a new landfill site is a lengthy (10 years) and costly endeavour, with no guarantee of approval. There is concern that some landfill sites may reach their capacity without a replacement in place. Hence the priority to develop programs to increase waste diversion. The average landfill rate is estimated at 55,400m3. The MHSW program diverted 95.03 tonnes of waste in 2020. The Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR) Blue Box program diverted 5561.19 tonnes of waste in 2020. In 2021, the new Blue Box legislation and the Cleanfarms Agricultural Waste Recycling trial project should be in place. The County will investigate the development of new waste diversion programs with a view to have a proposal for the 2022 business plan. The development of a new County Waste Management Master Plan will be proposed in the 2022 business plan and budget. The current balance of the Waste Management Reserve Fund is $180,000. The current balance of the Waste Management Future Planning Reserve fund is $1,086,000.

Bruce County Housing Corporation Meeting Update

The Bruce County Housing Corporation:

• authorized the sale of the property at 1034 Queen St., in the Municipality of Kincardine. The sale of 1034 Queen St. will close on June 1, 2021.
• authorized to execute the special resolution changing the registered head office of Bruce County Housing Corporation to 30 Park St., Walkerton.
• approved a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation loan agreement, borrowing up to $10,231,957 for the Co-Investment Fund for the new development at 529 Gary St., in the Municipality of Kincardine.

Co-Investment Fund Loan

The Human Services Committee authorized the Warden & Clerk to execute the Subordination Agreement, the PPSA Confirmation, and any other documents necessary to effect Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation requirements for the Co-investment Fund loan. Bruce County Housing Corporation has been approved by CMHC to borrow $10,231,957, consisting of $9,535,284 in a repayable loan and $696,673 in a forgivable loan.

2021 Q1 Annual Business Plan Update

Bruce County Council received and approved the 2021 Annual Operating and Capital Budgets and associated departmental business plans in the fall of 2020. At that time, the County and surrounding communities continued to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, the County was back into lockdown which continued into the middle of Q1, 2021. By the end of Q1, with COVID variants increasing and case counts growing, the province moved towards further lockdowns, which were implemented early in Q2. During the first quarter of 2021, County staff:

• Continued to ensure essential safety measures to address COVID challenges including mandatory weekly (or more frequent) COVID testing for all Long Term Care staff.
• Supported access to vaccinations for all LTC residents and staff, Paramedic staff, and other essential caregivers for all willing to be vaccinated (1st and 2nd doses)
• Transitioned (once again) to virtual services and online delivery at the County Libraries and the Museum
• Enhanced computer and IT access to ensure continued service delivery.
• Continued increased social media and website postings to share updated information on County Council, community stakeholder and corporate activities and actions
• Worked collaboratively with Public Health, all Bruce County local municipalities, Grey County, and community stakeholders to shared information and best practices and supported staff resources for vaccination hubs in Grey and Bruce County
• Continued to support Bruce County staff with alternative work options, enhanced communications and additional supports to manage pandemic challenges and anticipated lockdown.

This publication identifies highlights from recent Bruce County Council and Committee meetings. Bruce County’s Office of the CAO maintains complete agendas and minutes from all Council and Committee meetings, which can be reviewed at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes