city council group pictureLaneways in Downtown Timmins could be one-way roads.

An update to the LED light project, a weight exemption at the Deloro Landfill and keeping Hydro One public are also on tonight’s council agenda.

Follow along my live blog starting at 6:00pm.

(Keep refreshing the page as the night goes along for updates.)

First, a shout out to a bunch of students from Ecole Don Bosco, who sang a very good rendition of the national anthem.

On to business.

We start with the relocation of Evans Street by Director of Public Works Luc Duval.

The city wants to purchase the land to relocate the shop in South Porcupine.

Duval says the building is over 75 years old, and capital upgrades aren’t justifiable for a building that old.

It’s also shown the potential for mould, and testing has been undertaken in the last two years.

They’ve looked at seven possible sites for the new public works shop, including rebuilding where they are now.

The others include:

  • the Ferguson Road site located at the corner of Crawford Ave. and Ferguson Road in South Porcupine (currently a vacant lot owned by the City)
  • Bruce Avenue site located at the corner of Bruce Avenue and Goldmine Road in South Porcupine (currently a vacant lot owned by the City)
  • Legion Drive site located at the corner of Legion Drive and Hellen Avenue in South Porcupine (Currently a vacant lot owned by the City)
  • On a triangular shaped lot on Duke, Gervais and Falcon Streets (currently where the Whitney Public Works Garage is; which is owned by the City)
  • 6075 King Street in Porcupine (privately owned; the property has been up for sale for more than a year)
  • 400 Crawford in South Porcupine (privately owned; the owner directly contacted the Engineering Department and a review of the site was completed)

The final offer for a recommended site on King Street is $1.1-million.

If all conditions are met, they would hope to take possession of the land on September 1st.

The total expected cost to move is between $2.4-million and $2.7-million.

Rinaldo asks what will happen to the Evans yard.  Duval says they’d like to maintain the yard for other things, and keep the land in city hands.

Bamford is happy that they’re looking at keeping the yard in the east end.

Wawrzaszek asks about the cost of hydro and natural gas to the buildings.  Duval says they’ve reviewed gas bills on the property, but doesn’t have the numbers on hydro costs.

He says he’d prefer a site on Bruce Avenue, believing everything should be under one roof and has cheaper lighting and heating options.

Duval says there’s always the option of a new building.

Dubeau reiterates a point Wawrzaszek made on travel times between the Timmins and South Porcupine shops.

Black points out that the estimated cost to move to a city-owned property is between $3.6-million and $4.1-million, compared to relocating to a privately-owned property of $2.7-million to $3.6-million or more.

The new location could last around 50 years.

This will come back at a later date.

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On to a loading zone in the downtown.

The BIA wants to dissolve a loading zone on the south side corner of Balsam Avenue and Third Avenue.

Marks mentions that the BIA board is in full support of this.

This will come back.

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Now to a petition to keep Hydro One public.

A letter from Katrina Miller says they want the city to support a motion to send to Queen’s Park, voicing their displeasure with the Liberal decision to sell off 60 per cent of their assets.

She also encourages people to visit www.keephydropublic.ca

Black says they’ve already approved a resolution in the past, but the more the merrier.  This is more of a coordinated effort for towns across the province and the more united the voices are, the better.

Doody brings up that at the NEOMA meeting, a resolution passed unanimously and any opportunity to reinforce the message is great.

Grzela says although he’s on the same page, he wanted to present some facts.

He says Manitoba and Quebec are in public hands, and remain among the least expensive places in the country for hydro.

This will be added for later.

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Up next is a request from Lanny of Lanny’s Chili Hut and Fries.

He was looking for $1,000 from the City to support their Canada Day event.

Instead, they say parking meters could be added.

They were initially rejected because they’re already doing something with Tourism Timmins.

Lanny met with Black to ask to bring this to council.

“The more, the merrier,” says Doody.

Rinaldo adds every year is different because of what day Canada Day falls upon.  She says they can’t support two events, as they anticipate a big crowd at Participark.

It is voted down unanimously.

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To the approval of three trucks from Timmins Garage.

It will cost just over $83,000.

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Now to a site servicing agreement for Roger Chartrand.

No questions and we move on.

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The city is now looking at turning the Downtown BIA laneways into one-ways.

Duval says there is a potential for collisions and frustration.

This would cover 12 laneways from Spruce Street and Mountjoy.

He says this is a great way to have logistical movements and less risk.

Tonight is a discussion into whether they will look into bringing this into effect.

Marks says his rationale makes sense and supports it.  He asks for this to be brought to the BIA board first so they can have some input.

This will come back.

oneways

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The lights have been ordered and LED lights will soon begin installation in the downtown.

Duval says what wasn’t in the scope was new poles in the BIA.  This will increase the cost from around $2.3-million to $2.6-million.  This will increase the payback from 5 years to 5.7 years.

He says they want to ensure the BIA has a great look, with only a slight modification of cost.

Duval says next year, they want to look at replacing poles at traffic lights.

Bamford says may as well do it right if we’re doing anything at all.

He adds that North Bay’s downtown has plenty of planters grown and we should follow their example.

The consensus looks as if it will pass.

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Purchase of a tandem goes for no questions, so this will come back for approval.

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Next is a by-law to allow a 100kg weight exemption for the Deloro Landfill.

Bamford says he didn’t support this before, and won’t support it now.

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Now to a lease renewal at Hollinger Park for D&M Recreation.

That’s the mini putt and batting cages.  That will come back.

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A deeming by-law for both 612 Lovers Lane and 310 Henry Street will come back.

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To a lease agreement with Jenica Butler, for non-motorized watercraft rentals.

Black says he has no issue with making Gillies Lake more accessible to recreational activities.  This is a low-impact use, compared to the Wakeboard Park proposal.

This would allow people to bring things like kayaks and other non-motorized materials to use on the lake.

This would be a five-year committment, but councillors seem to like having this term reduced.

There is also a concern on garbage and minimal discussions with the MRCA.

Butler is in chambers, and says the Venture Centre has given her $10,000.  She says she’d be fine in looking at two-years.

She says this would be to rent paddle boats and kayaks.

Butler adds she would consider getting into beverages down the line, but the new boardwalk at the other end of the lake works well with Lanny’s right there.

If approved, Butler says they’d be even ready to go by Wednesday.

This will come back for formal approval.

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A zoning amendment for the former Lionel Gauthier School.

This was previously looked at for apartment buildings.

They are essentially breaking down construction into three Phases.  The first one is to turn the school itself into a two-storey, 28-unit apartment.  The other two phases will see development of two more buildings on the same block.

There would also be one parking space for each unit.

Issues such as snow storage came up, and they say snow would have to be removed immediately.

He says there were a number of issues brought up by the public, including the parking.

Bamford says we need to stick to the by-laws as we have them, and stop giving exceptions.  This in response to the parking by-law being at 1.2 spaces per unit.

“We either respect our own by-laws, or we erase them,” he said.

Dubeau mentions that not everyone is going to have a vehicle, and going from 36 to 28 spots isn’t a huge difference.

Rinaldo says about 25% of the population has about two vehicles.  She adds the Official Plan isn’t law, but is the vision and the more we chip away from it, the more we swerve away from the vision.

She would like to see more green space, and it could bring a better feel to the neighbourhood.

Campbell says he won’t support the new buildings if there isn’t sufficient parking.

Bamford says we’re not talking about affordable housing.  This is market rent housing.  He says zone the school as is, and then come back and deal with the rest later.

The developer is in the room as well.

Peter Beaucage says less than 50% of the people at the developed building at the GV Hotel have vehicles.

In the new development, he wants to bring in more affordable housing and are looking at empty-nesters and working couples without kids.

Our vacancy rate is less than 2% right now.

Bamford argues that with dual-income couples, they would most likely have two vehicles.

Mark Jensen says maybe their by-laws on the subject are too restrictive.  He agrees they should be looked at.

The first building will not have an elevator, but the other two would be fully-equipped.

Beaucage says they’ve cut down the total number of apartments proposed from 100 to 93 to make sure there is sufficient green space.

This will come back later for approval.

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Next is from David Witzel, two letters from him in fact.

The first has to do with the removal of the prayer from council.

Bamford brings up that Witzel seemed upset that it wasn’t read out loud.

It isn’t being read out loud, and Rinaldo says the reasoning is the length, which takes up time to do business.

Campbell says whether or not the letter is read, they expect a response from council.

Palmateer points out that they literally get thousands of letters a year.

The second letter is his opinions for maintenance on rural roads.

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Next is other matters, and Doody on Dean Prentice.

He says there’s been an injustice that he hasn’t made it into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

One of the highest scoring left wingers in NHL history, going 23 years in the league.

He says Prentice practically made Andy Bathgate into the Hall of Famer he is in 11 seasons with the New York Rangers.

Doody says they should remind the Hockey Hall of Fame of his records.

“It’s been too long that he’s been overlooked,” he said.

44 former NHL players are from Timmins.

“He was an All-star on the ice, and an All-Star off the ice,” he added, saying Prentice still operates the Christian summer school of hockey.

Black says they will definitely draft a letter, and send it to the Hall of Fame committee.

Marks says this is the final day of the Spring Bear Hunt, and would send a letter to the ministry so they stay ahead of the curve.

Doody also making mention that citizens need to look into the news more often, and recognize the positives going on instead of focusing on the negatives.

He cites among other things the Timmins Economic Pulse, which came out with stats on housing, population and more.

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They are now taking a five-minute break before moving on to the regular meeting.

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Starting off with the Francophonie 400.

They are looking to authorize the use of both flower beds in front of city hall, the Shania Twain flower bed at Hollinger Park, use of 100 banner holders at the bridges and selected points around the city and a permanent flag pole in front of city hall.

Bamford says this is a chance to talk to planning, and look at a way of creating or upgrading our flagpoles with lighting, if council agrees.

He says we already have no room for the provincial flag, as they fly flags for some non-profit groups.

The initial resolution is passed.

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Now they are asking about waiving tipping fees for volunteers and community groups.

Black thanks all the work being done, as over 30,000 lbs of garbage has been picked up so far.

This passes unanimously.

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Now to the Karl Habla Canada Day Walk.

This is an annual event, and is pretty straight-forward.

It is passed unanimously.

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Now to support the Town of Aurora and their battle to keep door-to-door delivery.

It is passed.

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Next is the hosting of the Timmins Golden Trails Half Marathon.

This goes Sunday, August 16th, and consists of a 2km and 5km fun run/walk, and a 21.1km run/walk and relay starting at the Timmins Regional Athletics and Soccer Complex.

It is passed.

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To the NOHFC funding, to support an application in regards to the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge.

It is passed.

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Next is a request for baseball fields, to waive the fee for rental costs for the Vipond Field and Bozzer Field for a fundraiser softball tournament.

It goes July 10-12.

The previous discussion talked about where they would get insurance, and now with insurance, council is approving it.

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To the HR Bielek Report.

This is to approve the elderly person’s centre annual program.

It is approved.

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To the Canadian Breast Cancer Run for the Cure.

It is hosted by CIBC, and will be held October 4th, for a 1km fun walk, and 5km run starting at Hollinger Park.

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The final report is a noise exemption for Ribfest.

Ribfest is June 26-28th at Participark.

They’re also looking for the exemption for Canada Day.

It is passed.

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The last is the Hydro One report.

It is passed.

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By law time!

First is a deeming by-law for 612 Lovers Lane, which is passed.

Deeming by-law for 310 Henry Street is passed.

Traffic by-law for stop signs is passed.

Lease agreement with Jenica Butler on boardwalk rentals.   This is for a one-year plus a one-year extension, which is passed,

Amending the by-law for 88 Rea Street South.  This is for the Lionel Gauthier School.

 

Still plenty of discussion on the issue, due to the parking.  Everyone votes in favour of passing this by-law, except Campbell.

Next is the transfer of land from the city to the MRCA.  This land is the parking lot on Highway 655.

This is passed.

Next is the appointment of a municipal law enforcement officer at the Victor M. Power Airport.  It is passed.

Lease agreement with D&M Recreation is passed.

Agreement with Northern Industrial Services Group, this in regards to the disposal of dewatered sludge, grit and rags is passed.

Agreement with Timmins Garage for the purchase of three work trucks is passed.  Wawrzaszek voted against it.

Purchase agreement for property on King Street is passed.  Wawrzaszek, Dubeau and Campbell voted against it.

Purchase of a tandem for public works is passed.  Wawrzaszek votes against it.

This will cost just over $214,000.

Next is to amend a garbage by-law to turn the exemption at Deloro Landfill from 125kg to 100kg.

Bamford is against this motion.

“We’re in the business of providing service,” he said.

Rinaldo says what’s the point of the budget process, if we’re going back on everything we agreed upon in less than four weeks.

“It’s not right to keep changing this,” she added.

Marks says he’s not in favour of this “nickel and diming.”

Palmateer says this is just to amend the by-law they looked at in March.

Grzela, Rinaldo, Wawrzaszek, Dubeau and Black vote in favour, while Doody, Campbell, Bamford and Marks voted against it and it passes.

and council is adjourned!