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Good morning, everyone. Welcome. To public works meeting twelve. 2024.

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Our last meeting. Before the new year. So lots to

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get through today. I'll call the meeting to order. And

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I'll go over to councilor armor for the land. Acknowledgement

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statement, please. Thank you, Chair Lorenz in the spirit of

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reconciliation, we wish to acknowledge the enduring relationship between indigenous

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people and the territories they traditionally occupy. We recognize and

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deeply appreciate the historic connection they have to this place,

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both the land and the water. We are grateful for

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the opportunity to meet here. And we thank all the

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generations of indigenous. People who have taken care of this

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place and continue to care for it, and we want

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to show a respect. Hundreds of years after the first

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treaties were assigned. They remain relevant today. May they guide

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your decisions. And actions we commit to learn to educate

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the honor sacred places and take actions towards real truth.

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And reconciliation, mitwitch. Thank you. There is no supplementary agenda.

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Committee members. Are there any pecuniary interest today? Okay. Seeing

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none. Thank you. We do not have any ceremonial or

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invited presentations or oral presentations. So that brings us to

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transportation. Mr. Misco going to give us a safety improvement

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on Muskoka road update. Thank you. Madam chair. This is

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one of three verbal updates for committee today. The first

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one is regarding. Some planned safety improvements on Muskoka Road

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118 within Bracebridge through an area known as the flats.

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We've initiated a comms plan. Committee may have read the

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email that was sent out. Yesterday with respect to what

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our intent is in this area. And essentially aligning safety

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and traffic improvements to improve traffic patterns and flow, reduce

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conflict through this area. We're restricting left turns to avoid

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this. There's a lot of conflicting turning. Movements coming out

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of numerous entrances through this area. That will include physical

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barriers and signage, including wayfinding signage for businesses to allow.

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Customers to navigate their way through the new routes. I'd

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like to just qualify that the measures that we're putting

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in are intentional. To reduce speeds and severity of collisions

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associated with them. So it will slow traffic down through

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the area and reduce some of the turning conflicts that

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we've observed based on the analysis completed the communications plan

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for this includes the email that was sent out to

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committee and Bracebridge councilors yesterday. We're currently going door to

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door for businesses in the area with a handout and

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information package to let them know what the plans are

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and provide contact information in the event that they have

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questions. We'll also be doing a social media blitz later

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this week on the updates as well. As a website

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that we can direct traffic to with faqs and an

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outline of what the intention is in the area. Once

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these temporary measures are in place, we'll start analyzing traffic

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patterns in the area and look at longer term solutions

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on how we can manage traffic through this area in

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a more efficient safe manner. Thank you, Mr. Ms. Go,

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are there any questions about that? Okay seeing none.

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Thanks and welcome. Improvements there. Yeah, you can keep on

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going. Thank you, madam Chair. The second update is regarding

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the area municipality roads maintenance service agreements. Committee may recall.

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I think it was in May. We brought a report

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forward with respect to the status of some of the

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agreements we had in place. We've had some discussions with

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the area municipalities since then, and we're working on. What

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their maintenance needs are and challenges are for summer of

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2025. Just a quick update with respect. To things that

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we're looking at or have either finalized with some of

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the areas Georgian Bay. We've taken over the summer maintenance

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of Muskoka Road twelve committee may be aware. Of that.

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So that's back within the district portfolio for summer maintenance.

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And that's being done through our MRMC contract with Fowler.

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So that's Muscoca. Roads maintenance contract. We've also related to

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the Muscopa 118 improvements. We're also actively talking with the

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town of Bracebridge on maintenance for winter through this stretch

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of 118, so that may become another candidate. To roll

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back into our roads maintenance contract. Under. District jurisdiction. And

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then the last thing I'd like to mention along these

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lines is we're completing a level of service review based

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on. Our recent traffic counts and determining kind of what,

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I guess confirming what our classification of roads are. And

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the associated levels of summer and winter maintenance that go

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with that. Happy to answer any questions on that one.

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Okay, committee, any questions? Okay. And last, certainly not least,

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thank you, madam Chair. The final one is just a

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quick update on the bay and beyond project in Gravenhurst.

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In the warfare proceeding eastwards to Gull Lake. It's shut

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down for the winter. Obviously. We got out about two,

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3 hours before that snow hit was the final demobilization,

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so. Just in time to open it up for traffic

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and start controlling snow through that area. We are. Releasing

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information on this on our website. Through our standard channels

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just. On the kind of an update on where we're

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at with respect to project progress. Like a report. We're

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just shy of 50% for stages one and two, so

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that's. This entire contract. So a little bit of catch

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up to do next year, but nothing to be alarmed

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about. And then we're going to be preparing a spring

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2025 startup. With a comms plan in advance to let

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the community know when we plan to go in. And

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what the new detour routes are for the next stage

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of construction. Thanks. Thank you, committee. Any questions on that?

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I have a comment. Thank God that road was open

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for that. I live just up the street from there,

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and I honestly thought about that while I was on

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my daily walk was. Small mercy. Okay. We're going to

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move right along to budgets and financial planning. The big

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show. So it is moved by councilor Rhodes. Second by

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chair Lehman that the rules of procedure relating to motions

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and debate be suspended for the duration of the budget

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discussions and that they be reinstated at the conclusion of

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said discussions. Committee. All in favor? Not carry. Thank you.

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Thank you, Madam Chair. And good morning, members of committee

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and any members of the public who may be tuning

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into the first of four budget presentations that will be

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delivered to each standing committee this week. To be followed

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by a summarizing summary. And presentation. Of the budget at

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the committee of the whole meeting scheduled for January 10.

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2025. Just to walk us through how the presentation will

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work today, I'll be giving a quick summary of the

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overall 2025 2026 budget, followed by a summary of all

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of the service. Level changes that have been included in

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the draft budget and proposed by staff, then I will

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pass it over to commiss. Commissioner Steele, as well as

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directors Misco and Curry to walk us through the remainder

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of the epw. Budget. So the first four slides in

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each standing committee presentation this week will provide committee committees

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with a high level overview of the 2025 2026. Tax

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supported budget and proposed service level changes. The first slide

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is a corporate level representation of the tax supported budget

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and the impact on a Muscoca residential taxpayer. For each

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$100,000 in assessed value. Overall, the tax supported budget reflects

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an estimated tax rate increase of 5.11%, or $16.52 per

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100,000 in assessed property value in 2025. And those numbers

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are 4.36%, or $14.84. In 2026. The increase can be

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broken down into the following categories. Inflationary pressure on base

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services, the affordable and attainable housing investment framework. Increased contributions

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to reserves, which support our investments in infrastructure and asset

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management planning. The local share and hospital capital contributions. And

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finally, Non housing related proposed service level changes. This slide

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is demonstrating that the 2025 2026 budget emphasizes. A significant

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investment. In affordable and attainable housing while maintaining current services

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and continuing to invest in infrastructure while meeting council's budget

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guideline increases of 5.1% and 4.5%. This slide breaks down

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the year over year increase by department. As represented in

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this slide, the overall net levy increase is 6.72%. That's

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the third line from the bottom. In 2025 and 5.97%

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in 2026. When growth and assessment is included, the year

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over year. Estimated tax increase is 5.11% in 2025 and

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4.36% in 2026. As represented in the previous slide, the

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draft budget. Includes increases to all capital reserves at or

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above the guidelines presented. In the district's asset management plan.

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This slide summarizes the strategic plan priorities that are addressed

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by the proposed service level changes included within the draft

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budget. Finally. This is the final slide in the

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summarizing slides at the front end of each presentation. And

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it summarizes the proposed service level changes for both years.

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First and foremost, staff have included an investment of over

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$1 million in both 2025 and 2026 to advance the

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affordable and attainable housing investment framework. Otherwise known as the

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big move on housing under priority area our communities and

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the objectives of housing. For everyone and community health and

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well being. Although council directed staff to include a service

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level change of 1.6 million to advance this plan over

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five years. It is important to remember that the framework

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was presented after the budget guideline had been approved. In

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order to meet the guideline, staff have presented a budget

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that considers the original eight year implementation plan. Also under

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this pillar is a service level change for administrative support

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for the newly launched Muscoca. Demand responsive transportation pilot program.

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The FTE impact for these initiatives is 1.83 in 2025

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and 1.9 in 2026. Under the pillar of our team,

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as well as the objective of community health and well

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being. Our service level changes related to the opening of

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the new fair verne long term care home. In 2026.

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This includes temporary HR support to get the new home

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up and running. With the appropriate level of staff and

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training, as well as proposed permanent staff with human resources

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given the significant increase in staffing. Finally, frontline staff. To

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staff the home have been included. The FTE impact of

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these initiatives is zero point 25. In 2025 for a

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portion of the temporary position, which is funded from an

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existing capital project. And has no net levy impact. In

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2026, there are 120.4.4 FTE, with the majority being frontline.

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Staff to support the increase in residents. Under the pillar

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of our environment and the objectives of taking action together

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and walking the talk. Staff have proposed service level changes

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in both 25 and 26 to support the district's corporate

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climate change action plan. The FTE in 2025 is two

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with no net levy impact as these positions will be

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funded from the climate change reserve funds that staff were

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directed to establish through the 2024 budget. Deliberations. The net

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levy impact in 2026 represents the first year of contributions

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to the climate change reserve. This is one year later

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than originally planned and proposed. In order to meet the

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approved guideline. Under the pillar of our services and our

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team, there are proposed service level changes for administrative support.

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In the Cao's office. And within facilities, which is also

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closely aligned with the additional housing units being brought online.

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A digital media specialist is proposed to meet council's objective

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of public engagement and the its security specialist FTE is

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being removed to allow for outsourcing of these activities to

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a contractor. Finally, a halftime position is proposed to support

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the early on program. Within children's services. The FTE impact

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of the changes under. This stream of service level changes

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are 1.9 in 2025 and zero in 2026. In total,

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there are 5.98 FTE proposed in 2025. And 121.94 proposed

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in 2026 with the vast majority, or 118 of those

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staff related to the frontline staff that will be needed

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to be in place. To provide safe and effective care

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for the residents of the new Fairvern long term care

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home. And with that, I will pass the baton over

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to Commissioner Steele. Thank you, Commissioner Olimer, and thank you,

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committee, for taking the time to allow us to walk

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through the budget today. So engineering and public works is.

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A highly regulated operation for the district. Ranging from meeting

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a minimum maintenance standards but also supporting the environment through

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regulations with respect to. Management of hauled sewage and that

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sort of thing. But one of the things that we're

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always challenged with is to provide those services cost effectively.

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And at the same time managing the expectations from the

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community. Certainly a resident would expect that their road is

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cleared first because that's the highest priority for them. And

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really focusing on our levels of service to ensure that

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the most benefit is arrived at within reasonable timelines to

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support the community is. A critical aspect of the work

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that the team does every day. We've implemented or we're

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in the middle of developing and implementing our dedicated strategy.

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For low volume roads to support the broader group of

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the community that perhaps. Doesn't see, sort of. That direct

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impact of daily traffic flows, but really to make the

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right investments in that infrastructure and then really focusing on

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our winter control efforts and making sure that we're putting

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the right material in the right places at the right

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times. So on this slide, we're sort of briefly showing.

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The services that we provide and some of the key

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aspects of our infrastructure. Almost 1600 lane kilometers of roads

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and 100 bridges are entrusted to our staff to operate,

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maintain and keep safe for folks. We patrol and service

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116,000 lane kilometers every year for winter service. And really

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keeping the environment safe. By managing and treating hauled sewage.

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Providing a direct benefit to residents who don't have access

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to water and wastewater service within the urban service areas.

239
00:17:04,683 --> 00:17:06,963
We treat 18 million liters of hauled sewage every year.

240
00:17:08,728 --> 00:17:13,017
In addition to that, We have. This team also focuses

241
00:17:13,017 --> 00:17:16,337
on delivering capital projects for the entire engineering public works

242
00:17:16,337 --> 00:17:21,468
group and last year. We had 30 projects that were

243
00:17:21,468 --> 00:17:24,468
in progress or completed, and so that's a significant investment.

244
00:17:24,468 --> 00:17:29,028
In capital for the district and really servicing every resident,

245
00:17:29,028 --> 00:17:32,668
business and visitor that goes through Muskoka. I think it's

246
00:17:32,668 --> 00:17:35,268
hard to imagine that they wouldn't drive on a district.

247
00:17:35,268 --> 00:17:40,471
Road benefit from hauled sewage. And for those. Who are

248
00:17:40,471 --> 00:17:44,271
interested in recreational boating and shipping. They certainly use the

249
00:17:44,271 --> 00:17:51,372
locks as well. This slide is actually quite. Proud to

250
00:17:51,372 --> 00:17:52,892
share this because I think it's some of the things

251
00:17:52,892 --> 00:17:58,838
that we think about. Every day, but forget. To demonstrate

252
00:17:58,838 --> 00:18:02,158
the benefits to the community. When we looked at how

253
00:18:02,158 --> 00:18:04,798
do we best as part of the strategic plan. We

254
00:18:04,798 --> 00:18:08,638
have a focus on increasing the pavement condition index for

255
00:18:08,638 --> 00:18:11,638
all the roads above. 55 and really looking at our

256
00:18:11,638 --> 00:18:15,358
first AI enabled analysis of the road conditions. And that

257
00:18:15,358 --> 00:18:19,417
gives us an objective perspective. On the condition of roads

258
00:18:19,417 --> 00:18:22,817
allows us to target and laser focus investments in areas

259
00:18:22,817 --> 00:18:26,111
that are going to provide. The best opportunities for the

260
00:18:26,111 --> 00:18:30,303
community, but also. Will inform the low volume road strategy

261
00:18:30,303 --> 00:18:33,503
to figure out how to prioritize those roads that perhaps

262
00:18:33,503 --> 00:18:39,196
were a little bit lower than. In somewhat disrepair, but

263
00:18:39,196 --> 00:18:42,036
allows us to prioritize those when we look at the

264
00:18:42,036 --> 00:18:48,291
entire network. Optimizing winter maintenance. Certainly the benefits. Of minimizing

265
00:18:48,291 --> 00:18:51,771
the amount of deicing chemicals applied to the roads. There's

266
00:18:51,771 --> 00:18:54,651
an environmental benefit. But there's also a financial benefit to

267
00:18:54,651 --> 00:18:57,731
the district. The less salt you put. On the roads,

268
00:18:57,731 --> 00:19:01,731
the less it costs, inevitably benefiting taxpayers. And really, the

269
00:19:01,731 --> 00:19:05,851
three r's of road winter maintenance are the right place,

270
00:19:05,851 --> 00:19:08,482
the right time, and the right amount, and. We've built

271
00:19:08,482 --> 00:19:11,082
that into our salt management plan, and that is being

272
00:19:11,082 --> 00:19:13,722
implemented on an annual basis. And you can see that

273
00:19:13,722 --> 00:19:16,928
in our annual assault report. Some of the things that

274
00:19:16,928 --> 00:19:21,008
are really special to us is really implementing tools for

275
00:19:21,008 --> 00:19:25,815
the public. To understand the business. So we've implemented the

276
00:19:25,815 --> 00:19:28,215
municipal five one one. So that anyone can look on

277
00:19:28,215 --> 00:19:30,415
our, on municipal five one one and see the current

278
00:19:30,415 --> 00:19:34,754
status of. The road network. It was especially important during

279
00:19:34,754 --> 00:19:37,114
the significant weather event. We had a couple of weeks

280
00:19:37,114 --> 00:19:40,074
ago to let people know what to expect. They can

281
00:19:40,074 --> 00:19:43,514
enter things into ways, for example, and then. Get diverted

282
00:19:43,514 --> 00:19:45,914
around. It works most of the time. It's not perfect,

283
00:19:45,914 --> 00:19:47,914
but it works most. Of the time. And so I

284
00:19:47,914 --> 00:19:50,634
think the real value there is if someone wakes up

285
00:19:50,634 --> 00:19:52,979
at 05:00 in the morning wants. To get off to

286
00:19:52,979 --> 00:19:55,699
work. Doesn't really understand the status of the road network.

287
00:19:55,699 --> 00:19:58,739
Can self serve, look online and figure out the current

288
00:19:58,739 --> 00:20:01,739
status and then make decisions for their day to reduce

289
00:20:01,739 --> 00:20:05,653
the impact. And then even just improving our communication to

290
00:20:05,653 --> 00:20:08,453
let people know what to expect and how they could.

291
00:20:08,453 --> 00:20:13,093
Be impacted. We've seen that significant benefit through our capital

292
00:20:13,093 --> 00:20:16,013
projects, but certainly when their service disruptions, getting out to

293
00:20:16,013 --> 00:20:18,693
the community as quickly as possible with things that matter

294
00:20:18,693 --> 00:20:21,453
to them to make sure that they can make adjustments

295
00:20:21,453 --> 00:20:26,456
through our day. And then lastly, Members of committee. We're

296
00:20:26,456 --> 00:20:30,310
really excited about implementing the permit central program. It's an

297
00:20:30,310 --> 00:20:33,110
industry software that's available and will allow us to expedite.

298
00:20:34,752 --> 00:20:39,966
And expedite the permitting process so that if someone. Forgets

299
00:20:39,966 --> 00:20:42,806
that they needed an oversized permit and they're worried about

300
00:20:42,806 --> 00:20:44,766
it. On Saturday, they can go onto the website, they

301
00:20:44,766 --> 00:20:47,326
can enter the data, they can make their payment Monday

302
00:20:47,326 --> 00:20:51,396
morning. Staff will look at it, assess the application. All

303
00:20:51,396 --> 00:20:54,516
online, removing all the manual processes. And it's available when

304
00:20:54,516 --> 00:20:59,468
people need it and when it's convenient for them. So,

305
00:20:59,468 --> 00:21:01,348
really, these are some of the things that the team

306
00:21:01,348 --> 00:21:05,988
has done just through development and improvement. Over time, but

307
00:21:05,988 --> 00:21:08,308
we're really excited to implement a number of these things

308
00:21:08,308 --> 00:21:11,468
to really show the community that not only are we

309
00:21:11,468 --> 00:21:14,108
looking for the best ways to deliver the services, but

310
00:21:14,108 --> 00:21:16,108
we're doing it in a way that's open and transparent

311
00:21:16,108 --> 00:21:22,206
and shares the condition. As quickly as we can. So

312
00:21:22,206 --> 00:21:24,926
members of committee, the draft operating budget for the Engineering

313
00:21:24,926 --> 00:21:28,686
and Public Works Group is shown here. As Commissioner Olimer

314
00:21:28,686 --> 00:21:34,214
mentioned, the overall district budget. Is provided but for our

315
00:21:34,214 --> 00:21:41,177
department itself. We're looking at a 4.81%. Net levy increase

316
00:21:41,177 --> 00:21:46,657
for 2025 and a 3.93% net levy increase for 2026.

317
00:21:48,225 --> 00:21:55,758
And what this shows is about 37 million. In. Net.

318
00:21:57,045 --> 00:22:01,905
Levy for 2025 for our services. Which is a significant

319
00:22:01,905 --> 00:22:06,974
portion of the district's overall levy costs. But certainly when

320
00:22:06,974 --> 00:22:09,894
you think about the services that we provide and how

321
00:22:09,894 --> 00:22:15,645
we touch each resident, Seems like a reasonable number. I

322
00:22:15,645 --> 00:22:18,085
think the other important thing to note on this is

323
00:22:18,085 --> 00:22:20,725
the number of staff that are involved. In delivering those

324
00:22:20,725 --> 00:22:25,276
services. This department, or this part of the department is

325
00:22:25,276 --> 00:22:29,716
composed of just under 40 people delivering these complex services

326
00:22:29,716 --> 00:22:38,851
each and every day to residents. This shows. Really the

327
00:22:38,851 --> 00:22:44,300
breakdown of. What that levy, the impact that Levy has

328
00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:48,100
on an individual resident or individual property owner, and as

329
00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:52,860
commissioner Olimer mentioned. This is based on a per $100,000

330
00:22:52,860 --> 00:22:58,602
assessment, and we're looking at. For a typical resident. They

331
00:22:58,602 --> 00:23:03,002
would be impacted by about $127 for the entire year.

332
00:23:03,002 --> 00:23:08,601
But this focuses also on. The 400 million. Dollar capital,

333
00:23:08,601 --> 00:23:15,048
capital investment in infrastructure. Contributions to reserves that will continue

334
00:23:15,048 --> 00:23:17,128
and continue to grow as per asset management plan of

335
00:23:17,128 --> 00:23:21,408
25.8 million and then really a capital budget for 2025

336
00:23:21,408 --> 00:23:24,888
of 42 million, showing our commitment, our continued commitment to

337
00:23:24,888 --> 00:23:28,008
investing in infrastructure, getting the right projects completed at the

338
00:23:28,008 --> 00:23:32,681
right time. Members of committee. This is slightly different based

339
00:23:32,681 --> 00:23:39,310
on the 2026, but very similar. In the annual contributions

340
00:23:39,310 --> 00:23:46,697
and really focusing on. A slight increase. Of 130. Dollars

341
00:23:46,697 --> 00:23:56,336
per $100,000 investment. And this slide breaks down. The levee

342
00:23:56,336 --> 00:23:59,096
component by the function. And as you can see, the

343
00:23:59,096 --> 00:24:03,136
vast majority, that is, transportation. And roads, which is composed

344
00:24:03,136 --> 00:24:07,456
of 33 million, or 35, almost 35 million in 2026.

345
00:24:08,823 --> 00:24:11,823
Sewage lagoons, which includes hauled sewage and delivery of hauled

346
00:24:11,823 --> 00:24:15,928
sewage to our wastewater plants. And then the locks and

347
00:24:15,928 --> 00:24:18,728
public works admin, and we'll get into that in a

348
00:24:18,728 --> 00:24:22,985
little bit more detail later on in the presentation. The

349
00:24:22,985 --> 00:24:28,422
capital budget again, similar to. The expenditures is mainly focused

350
00:24:28,422 --> 00:24:31,062
on roads, investment, and I think the key component here.

351
00:24:32,704 --> 00:24:36,822
Is a continued investment in roads. Our average roads expenditures

352
00:24:36,822 --> 00:24:40,022
over the next ten years is about $40 million, but

353
00:24:40,022 --> 00:24:43,102
we'll see in the next few years a little bit

354
00:24:43,102 --> 00:24:46,582
higher level of investment, and that's mainly as the capital

355
00:24:46,582 --> 00:24:51,098
plans are developed. We fully implement the asset management plan

356
00:24:51,098 --> 00:24:53,618
and then using that PCI data, we'll be able to

357
00:24:53,618 --> 00:24:55,978
refine the capital program to make sure that we're making

358
00:24:55,978 --> 00:25:03,086
the right investments. In our roads. And similarly tracking upward.

359
00:25:03,086 --> 00:25:06,726
So we're going up from 42 million in 2025 to

360
00:25:06,726 --> 00:25:11,778
46. Million in 2026 and again. The continued investment in

361
00:25:11,778 --> 00:25:14,978
this infrastructure is important, but I think what's also important

362
00:25:14,978 --> 00:25:18,858
to share is in 25 and 26. All of those

363
00:25:18,858 --> 00:25:23,172
investments are funded through reserves, so they won't be. Council.

364
00:25:25,753 --> 00:25:29,553
's direction to continue to contribute to reserves helps make

365
00:25:29,553 --> 00:25:33,129
sure that we're prepared to make these investments. In these

366
00:25:33,129 --> 00:25:36,727
times and won't require any external funding. For that work.

367
00:25:38,387 --> 00:25:41,827
And so Public Works Administration. Now, the title of Public

368
00:25:41,827 --> 00:25:44,787
Works Administration isn't very clear on what that involves. But

369
00:25:44,787 --> 00:25:51,807
really, that's the capital teams that. Deliver. The ongoing capital

370
00:25:51,807 --> 00:25:54,647
program. And so a lot of these, a lot of

371
00:25:54,647 --> 00:25:59,599
this work. Is quite complex. Tendering is changing every day.

372
00:26:01,433 --> 00:26:04,193
We're seeing some real challenges in the regulatory environment when

373
00:26:04,193 --> 00:26:07,947
it comes to occupational health and safety. And even the

374
00:26:07,947 --> 00:26:10,987
Construction act changes, which are coming out again this year.

375
00:26:10,987 --> 00:26:14,027
And so really being able to navigate some of those

376
00:26:14,027 --> 00:26:17,547
challenges while ensuring that we're delivering the best value for

377
00:26:17,547 --> 00:26:23,237
taxpayer dollar. And really focusing this team. On funding the

378
00:26:23,237 --> 00:26:26,437
best path forward, best way to deliver a project, but

379
00:26:26,437 --> 00:26:28,837
also doing it in a way that's efficient and on

380
00:26:28,837 --> 00:26:32,406
time and on budget. And then last thing on this

381
00:26:32,406 --> 00:26:35,446
is really working on the roads rationalization study that was

382
00:26:35,446 --> 00:26:39,526
done. Earlier this year and really focusing on the appropriate

383
00:26:39,526 --> 00:26:42,926
capital investments with our partner municipalities tying in with their

384
00:26:42,926 --> 00:26:46,286
capital programs to make sure that we're not digging up

385
00:26:46,286 --> 00:26:53,312
a road that was just recently. Completed, and all these

386
00:26:53,312 --> 00:26:56,392
are balanced against levels of service that are expected from

387
00:26:56,392 --> 00:27:00,718
the community and members of committee around this table. And

388
00:27:00,718 --> 00:27:05,592
so, as I mentioned, members of council and committee. The

389
00:27:05,592 --> 00:27:10,523
expenses on this. Seems small at 87 or $90,000 in

390
00:27:10,523 --> 00:27:15,305
2025 and 2026, but. A lot of those expenses are

391
00:27:15,305 --> 00:27:18,585
funded through the actual capital projects that the team delivers

392
00:27:18,585 --> 00:27:21,225
on and so these are just sort of the leftover

393
00:27:21,225 --> 00:27:24,865
costs. And what I would say is the significant increase

394
00:27:24,865 --> 00:27:29,305
in 2025 is mainly related to the change in regulation

395
00:27:29,305 --> 00:27:35,064
from the professional engineers of Ontario. Requiring. Specific continuing education

396
00:27:35,064 --> 00:27:38,264
units. And so this is to allow for staff to

397
00:27:38,264 --> 00:27:40,784
take the appropriate training. So they can maintain their licensing.

398
00:27:42,612 --> 00:27:44,732
It's fairly small in the grand scheme of things, but

399
00:27:44,732 --> 00:27:47,812
significant when you look at the expenditures in this budget.

400
00:27:49,266 --> 00:27:51,866
And with that, members of committee, I'll hand it over

401
00:27:51,866 --> 00:28:01,626
to Director Misco. Thank you. And thank you, members

402
00:28:01,626 --> 00:28:05,986
of committee council. I'll walk through the transportation portion of

403
00:28:05,986 --> 00:28:10,013
the tax support budget presentation here. So I'll just jump

404
00:28:10,013 --> 00:28:15,106
right into it. Or not. So this outlines some of

405
00:28:15,106 --> 00:28:18,146
the buys and objectives within the transportation section of engineering

406
00:28:18,146 --> 00:28:20,998
and public works. Quite a number of bullets in there.

407
00:28:20,998 --> 00:28:23,358
I'd like to call attention to a few highlights. Within

408
00:28:23,358 --> 00:28:28,495
the traffic maintenance. And stormwater management portion. We're continuing to

409
00:28:28,495 --> 00:28:31,415
increase maintenance and upgrades to our traffic control infrastructure, and

410
00:28:31,415 --> 00:28:36,907
that's primarily related to. Aging overhead signals. So full traffic

411
00:28:36,907 --> 00:28:42,771
signals as well. As replacing and upgrading or installing new

412
00:28:42,771 --> 00:28:46,931
pedestrian crossings throughout our network as those needs arise, and

413
00:28:46,931 --> 00:28:50,771
then the last bullet is compliance with consolidated linear infrastructure

414
00:28:50,771 --> 00:28:54,291
requirements. And what that means is there's a regulatory requirement

415
00:28:54,291 --> 00:28:59,084
for us to start. Obtaining environmental compliance approvals for stormwater

416
00:28:59,084 --> 00:29:01,084
control. So that's kind of an emerging asset. That's coming

417
00:29:01,084 --> 00:29:05,482
through right now. That's. Taking up. Some of our time

418
00:29:05,482 --> 00:29:07,962
with respect to ensuring that we're complying with the requirements

419
00:29:07,962 --> 00:29:11,642
of that as they develop under winter maintenance. I think

420
00:29:11,642 --> 00:29:14,882
I mentioned earlier in the verbal update we're undertaking a

421
00:29:14,882 --> 00:29:18,979
network review to determine consistent levels of service. And the

422
00:29:18,979 --> 00:29:21,019
requirements for winter control, and that's based on a function

423
00:29:21,019 --> 00:29:25,499
of traffic volume and speed on the roadways and subsequent

424
00:29:25,499 --> 00:29:31,981
MMS requirements for snow depth and deicing. And removal of

425
00:29:31,981 --> 00:29:36,181
snow requirements to ensure compliance. And then the second last

426
00:29:36,181 --> 00:29:40,621
bullet. There is collaboration and assistance, probably in recent memory,

427
00:29:40,621 --> 00:29:43,501
during significant weather events and state of emergency declarations with

428
00:29:43,501 --> 00:29:48,283
the air. Municipal partners. Within the paved Roads section. Commissioner

429
00:29:48,283 --> 00:29:50,923
Steele mentioned development of a low volume road strategy. So

430
00:29:50,923 --> 00:29:53,763
more to follow on that in 2025, and it comes

431
00:29:53,763 --> 00:29:57,940
up again later in this presentation. As mentioned earlier, capital

432
00:29:57,940 --> 00:30:01,260
prioritization based on the results of that PCI or AI

433
00:30:01,260 --> 00:30:03,780
scan that we completed earlier this year. So that's continuing

434
00:30:03,780 --> 00:30:06,740
to inform our capital program, and then within bridges and

435
00:30:06,740 --> 00:30:11,994
culverts. The biggest consideration we've got on that outside of

436
00:30:11,994 --> 00:30:15,886
the critical maintenance of this infrastructure. Is just ensuring that

437
00:30:15,886 --> 00:30:19,486
the impacts to the public during these large projects are

438
00:30:19,486 --> 00:30:23,366
communicated clearly and in advance of construction. We saw that

439
00:30:23,366 --> 00:30:25,406
on the Taylor Road job and act in Ireland as

440
00:30:25,406 --> 00:30:30,471
well, which finished last year. An increasing expectation. And a

441
00:30:30,471 --> 00:30:34,031
recognized expectation in delivering communication to the public on what

442
00:30:34,031 --> 00:30:39,424
construction, how construction affects them. On their daily commutes. So

443
00:30:39,424 --> 00:30:42,384
this slide here kind of outlines the budget drivers for

444
00:30:42,384 --> 00:30:49,156
the year. I'll provide some notes to this not specifically

445
00:30:49,156 --> 00:30:52,876
shown on the slide there. We're seeing increases with respect

446
00:30:52,876 --> 00:30:56,876
to our paved roads in contracted services. So that's part

447
00:30:56,876 --> 00:30:59,715
of the increase that you're seeing this year. In that

448
00:30:59,715 --> 00:31:04,315
5.58%. And that's in relation. To contracted services just for

449
00:31:04,315 --> 00:31:07,195
routine maintenance on our roadways. So things like pothole filling

450
00:31:07,195 --> 00:31:10,875
or culvert replacements, so we're requesting a budget increase in

451
00:31:10,875 --> 00:31:14,723
that area of about 106,000. And then the two other

452
00:31:14,723 --> 00:31:17,043
biggest ones in here are related to maintenance and drainage

453
00:31:17,043 --> 00:31:20,443
and stormwater. Management. So once again, that's things like culvert

454
00:31:20,443 --> 00:31:24,123
replacement or increasing the capacity of culverts we're also seeing.

455
00:31:25,546 --> 00:31:27,346
A large need for ditching and brushing requirements on our

456
00:31:27,346 --> 00:31:30,306
roadways. What that lets us do is maintain drainage on

457
00:31:30,306 --> 00:31:34,226
the roadways to protect that infrastructure and protect the road,

458
00:31:34,226 --> 00:31:38,786
base and road. Surface itself from frost heaven water damage.

459
00:31:38,786 --> 00:31:42,666
And that brushing increase also allows us to clear lines

460
00:31:42,666 --> 00:31:46,258
of sight, allow sunlight infiltration on our road. Roadways, we're

461
00:31:46,258 --> 00:31:48,498
noticing that we're sort of falling behind in that, so

462
00:31:48,498 --> 00:31:52,178
we're asking for an increase of about 35% to that

463
00:31:52,178 --> 00:31:57,133
specific item, and that totals out. At about $170,000. So

464
00:31:57,133 --> 00:32:01,413
this slide outlines some of our 2025 and 2026 capital

465
00:32:01,413 --> 00:32:04,173
projects, as well as the ten year capital forecast. So

466
00:32:04,173 --> 00:32:06,213
this is essentially a roll up of what our plans

467
00:32:06,213 --> 00:32:13,547
are. Within that, you'll see things like capital surfacing for

468
00:32:13,547 --> 00:32:18,347
2025 at 14.6. What that essentially enshrines is all of

469
00:32:18,347 --> 00:32:21,427
our paving program for 2025. So you're seeing everything we're

470
00:32:21,427 --> 00:32:24,747
intending to spend on either hot mix paving, high float

471
00:32:24,747 --> 00:32:27,587
paving. Or micro surfacing. So kind of that routine capital

472
00:32:27,587 --> 00:32:30,307
maintenance is all coming in at about 14.6. Million for

473
00:32:30,307 --> 00:32:34,227
2025, and the 2026 numbers for same are noted through

474
00:32:34,227 --> 00:32:37,963
there. There are a couple of projects that. We've got

475
00:32:37,963 --> 00:32:41,683
intended for 2025 and 2026 that aren't necessarily listed on

476
00:32:41,683 --> 00:32:47,203
here within the 2025 capital plan. We've got about $500,000

477
00:32:47,203 --> 00:32:51,283
allocated for roadside safety and improvements and that's. Things to

478
00:32:51,283 --> 00:32:56,003
respond for identified concerns like the 118 section of Muskoka

479
00:32:56,003 --> 00:32:59,603
Road. Sorry that Bracebridge section of Musk Road 118, as

480
00:32:59,603 --> 00:33:02,483
well as some potential improvements within the Torrance area on

481
00:33:02,483 --> 00:33:05,723
Muskok Road 169. We've also got a small amount alloc.

482
00:33:05,432 --> 00:33:09,462
Allocated 110,000 for species at risk mitigation and initiatives so

483
00:33:09,462 --> 00:33:13,467
we can support those as requests come in. To kind

484
00:33:13,467 --> 00:33:16,227
of provide an offset or mitigation for those, and then

485
00:33:16,227 --> 00:33:20,147
810,000. In traffic upgrades planned for 2025. And that speaks

486
00:33:20,147 --> 00:33:26,429
to the intersection upgrades, new pedestrian crossings. Noted. Within the

487
00:33:26,429 --> 00:33:29,789
2025 Capital plan is $2.8 million for low volume road

488
00:33:29,789 --> 00:33:32,509
upgrades, part of that is to initiate a study on

489
00:33:32,509 --> 00:33:34,469
how do we deal with these roads. What's the best

490
00:33:34,469 --> 00:33:38,849
alternatives for these instead of just. The standard full reconstruct.

491
00:33:38,849 --> 00:33:41,129
We've had a couple of meetings with consultants and contractors.

492
00:33:41,129 --> 00:33:43,729
At this point to see what information can we gather

493
00:33:43,729 --> 00:33:47,369
to best determine how to maximize investment on these roads

494
00:33:47,369 --> 00:33:51,919
and you'll see that. Increase. Jumps up to 8.5 million

495
00:33:51,919 --> 00:33:54,119
in 2026 as part of the capital plan, and then

496
00:33:54,119 --> 00:33:56,879
there's a future allocation for low volume roads from there

497
00:33:56,879 --> 00:34:00,925
forward within the ten year forecast. So onto one of

498
00:34:00,925 --> 00:34:08,596
our favorite locations, the poor Carling locks. So both the

499
00:34:08,596 --> 00:34:13,363
locks are basically. Run by district staff on a seasonal

500
00:34:13,363 --> 00:34:18,771
basis. We do note some challenges with maintaining levels of

501
00:34:18,771 --> 00:34:22,971
service at the locks, given the seasonality, recruitment and retention

502
00:34:22,971 --> 00:34:26,742
of staff is always a challenge. Every year. It is

503
00:34:26,742 --> 00:34:32,618
a medium length season. But our seasonal staff. So we're

504
00:34:32,618 --> 00:34:35,580
recruiting every year for those staff. And they're just retaining

505
00:34:35,580 --> 00:34:37,740
them, making sure that we can maintain that continuity year

506
00:34:37,740 --> 00:34:42,543
to year. To maintain those levels of service. We've also

507
00:34:42,543 --> 00:34:45,663
got some complex in water work currently underway at the

508
00:34:45,663 --> 00:34:49,689
Port Carlin pavilion. That's a large scale replacement. Of the

509
00:34:49,689 --> 00:34:52,529
decking, that end crib, and all the supports that you

510
00:34:52,529 --> 00:34:55,649
see in the photo. There underneath. So that's pretty critical

511
00:34:55,649 --> 00:34:57,969
for some of our commercial tourboat operators as well. As

512
00:34:57,969 --> 00:35:01,625
access for the public to the waterfront. Across the lock

513
00:35:01,625 --> 00:35:04,065
where you see the boat in the background there. We've

514
00:35:04,065 --> 00:35:09,585
also noted some substantial timber deterioration both above and below

515
00:35:09,585 --> 00:35:12,065
the waterline in this area. So we've got that exposed.

516
00:35:12,065 --> 00:35:15,545
Now, the plan is to work that into 2020. Five's

517
00:35:15,545 --> 00:35:17,865
work plan as well. And that'll include the area from

518
00:35:17,865 --> 00:35:21,790
the lockmaster cabin right out to the. Fish hatchery docks.

519
00:35:21,790 --> 00:35:25,753
You can see in the background there. So not quite

520
00:35:25,753 --> 00:35:28,433
as large of a scale of an increase compared to

521
00:35:28,433 --> 00:35:31,393
the transportation portfolio within the tax support budget this year.

522
00:35:35,812 --> 00:35:40,404
Notable. Increases within the locks are transferred to reserves of

523
00:35:40,404 --> 00:35:45,484
about $9,500 for 2025 and that's 2%. And that's just

524
00:35:45,484 --> 00:35:48,044
to increase the reserve contributions in recognition that. Some of

525
00:35:48,044 --> 00:35:49,844
the assets out there are starting to get aged, and

526
00:35:49,844 --> 00:35:52,644
we need to start saving for the replacement. And then

527
00:35:52,644 --> 00:35:56,044
there's some amortization for the large lock works completed a

528
00:35:56,044 --> 00:36:00,268
few years back. And that's an internal financing that we're

529
00:36:00,268 --> 00:36:04,074
still drawing down on to repay. Some of the ten

530
00:36:04,074 --> 00:36:06,714
year plans that we have at the locks. You'll see.

531
00:36:09,935 --> 00:36:13,375
We've got 291,000 for 2025, and then just shy of

532
00:36:13,375 --> 00:36:17,954
half a million. For 2026. As I mentioned earlier, the

533
00:36:17,954 --> 00:36:19,474
major works that we have going on there are the

534
00:36:19,474 --> 00:36:23,714
pavilion and a lot of the decking replacement to maintain

535
00:36:23,714 --> 00:36:29,074
trails and safety throughout the entire facility, and that includes

536
00:36:29,074 --> 00:36:31,114
that section from the locks cabin to the finger docks,

537
00:36:31,114 --> 00:36:35,434
currently at about $700,000 in capital upgrade are required. And

538
00:36:35,434 --> 00:36:38,618
that's in addition. To the 3.3 that we're investing into

539
00:36:38,618 --> 00:36:41,723
the pavilion for its replacement. So with that, I'll hand

540
00:36:41,723 --> 00:36:44,163
it over to, I think, Commissioner Steele again for the

541
00:36:44,163 --> 00:36:51,502
sewage. Balloons portion. Thank you, director Misco and council, our

542
00:36:51,502 --> 00:36:57,165
committee thank you. So sewage lagoons at the district are

543
00:36:57,165 --> 00:37:03,009
really intended. We're sort of envisioned to provide support to

544
00:37:03,009 --> 00:37:08,430
residential. Sepage receiving. One of the challenges that we're seeing.

545
00:37:09,941 --> 00:37:12,781
In our operations are changing nature of the material that

546
00:37:12,781 --> 00:37:16,958
we're receiving, and so. Whether it's material from a porta

547
00:37:16,958 --> 00:37:24,866
potty business. Or from a commercial operation. Where? They haven't

548
00:37:24,866 --> 00:37:27,426
or can't discharge into the wastewater stream. We're seeing the

549
00:37:27,426 --> 00:37:32,506
nature of the material received at these facilities changing. And

550
00:37:32,506 --> 00:37:35,786
one of the particular issues that we have is when

551
00:37:35,786 --> 00:37:37,826
you think about a lagoon, it's really just a pond.

552
00:37:37,826 --> 00:37:39,026
We let it sit. There for a period of time.

553
00:37:40,557 --> 00:37:42,477
It naturally breaks down, and then we discharge it to

554
00:37:42,477 --> 00:37:45,397
the environment. So there's no advanced. Treatment that takes place.

555
00:37:45,397 --> 00:37:48,997
And so when you start adding chemicals, deicing materials, that

556
00:37:48,997 --> 00:37:53,157
sort of thing. From example, porta potty waste. There's no

557
00:37:53,157 --> 00:37:56,957
processes to actually get rid of that. Material except for

558
00:37:56,957 --> 00:38:00,237
the natural organic processes. And so what we're finding is

559
00:38:00,237 --> 00:38:02,841
that. We're seeing more and more of those materials. Perhaps

560
00:38:02,841 --> 00:38:06,881
it's because other jurisdictions are shutting down that commercial discharge.

561
00:38:06,881 --> 00:38:09,841
And so they're landing in Muskoka, for example, and so

562
00:38:09,841 --> 00:38:11,561
one of the things that's on our minds is how

563
00:38:11,561 --> 00:38:14,401
do we do a better job of monitoring and making

564
00:38:14,401 --> 00:38:17,281
sure that each of those loads that are delivered to

565
00:38:17,281 --> 00:38:21,431
our facilities meet. The requirements of the. Discharge, but also

566
00:38:21,431 --> 00:38:23,871
don't have a downstream impact of the water courses because

567
00:38:23,871 --> 00:38:27,311
inevitably, if there's high salt content. It ends up in

568
00:38:27,311 --> 00:38:30,311
the watercourse. Salt is a pretty chloride. Is a pretty

569
00:38:30,311 --> 00:38:36,532
resilient chemical. And whatever lands in the pond. Lands in

570
00:38:36,532 --> 00:38:41,571
the watershed, and so focusing on that. We're implementing. See,

571
00:38:41,571 --> 00:38:46,713
on the capital program slide. Is increased availability of receiving

572
00:38:46,713 --> 00:38:50,706
facilities at our wastewater plants. They're more positioned to deal

573
00:38:50,706 --> 00:38:54,186
with sort of that complex waste material and so that's,

574
00:38:54,186 --> 00:38:57,352
more to come on that program. In the coming years.

575
00:38:58,546 --> 00:39:01,386
But I think that's really one of the challenges that.

576
00:39:03,401 --> 00:39:05,561
We have very little ability to predict the material that

577
00:39:05,561 --> 00:39:11,842
arrives. And again, just very straightforward. Similar to our composting

578
00:39:11,842 --> 00:39:14,882
operations, where we can only bring in certain materials because

579
00:39:14,882 --> 00:39:18,242
we're relying on bacteria to take care of that for

580
00:39:18,242 --> 00:39:24,666
us. So our budget drivers, the overall budget. For the

581
00:39:24,666 --> 00:39:28,906
sewage lagoons, and that includes receptage. Receiving facilities is just

582
00:39:28,906 --> 00:39:32,026
under $4. Million a year over the next couple of

583
00:39:32,026 --> 00:39:38,429
years. We have shown a decrease in 2025 in costs,

584
00:39:38,429 --> 00:39:42,917
and then. An increase slightly up in 2026, but overall,

585
00:39:42,917 --> 00:39:46,517
fairly even for that operation. I think what we'll see

586
00:39:46,517 --> 00:39:49,317
in the next couple of years, and perhaps later on

587
00:39:49,317 --> 00:39:52,597
this year, we'll be back to committee with a proposal

588
00:39:52,597 --> 00:39:55,117
on how to best manage some of those challenges. We've

589
00:39:55,117 --> 00:39:58,037
seen. And really, one of the things that's on our

590
00:39:58,037 --> 00:40:01,259
minds is, with respect, To ensuring we get the appropriate

591
00:40:01,259 --> 00:40:06,135
revenues for. The services we're providing. Some of our remote

592
00:40:06,135 --> 00:40:11,018
lagoon facilities. Are sort of where we expect the haulers

593
00:40:11,018 --> 00:40:13,378
to self report. This is how much I just. Charged.

594
00:40:13,378 --> 00:40:14,978
This is when I discharged. This is the material I

595
00:40:14,978 --> 00:40:19,538
discharged. And so, moving to a more sophisticated system that

596
00:40:19,538 --> 00:40:22,498
allows us to track better, make sure we're receiving the

597
00:40:22,498 --> 00:40:26,658
appropriate revenues, and then able to reinvest in the operation

598
00:40:26,658 --> 00:40:29,691
to continue providing that service. Is important. And what that

599
00:40:29,691 --> 00:40:32,331
might mean is looking at some of the lower used

600
00:40:32,331 --> 00:40:36,931
facilities that perhaps wouldn't justify a capital investment to really

601
00:40:36,931 --> 00:40:41,510
consider. Do you limit their operations? Do you perhaps temporarily

602
00:40:41,510 --> 00:40:44,462
close them, for example? But I think we'll be looking

603
00:40:44,462 --> 00:40:47,502
at that data carefully to see how many times they

604
00:40:47,502 --> 00:40:49,982
were used and whether it's worth continuing to keep them

605
00:40:49,982 --> 00:40:53,984
open. For now and perhaps in perpetuity. And so that

606
00:40:53,984 --> 00:40:58,086
more to come on that members of committee. As you

607
00:40:58,086 --> 00:41:00,766
can see here, as I mentioned, there's a number of

608
00:41:00,766 --> 00:41:05,944
investments in the operation. And mainly focused on building. Receiving

609
00:41:05,944 --> 00:41:10,384
facilities at our wastewater treatment plant. So Huntsville and golden

610
00:41:10,384 --> 00:41:15,406
pheasant. Project is underway right now as part of our

611
00:41:15,406 --> 00:41:20,026
current capital project and capital investment in Huntsville. And that

612
00:41:20,026 --> 00:41:23,860
one will be built when. The upgrades are commissioned, and

613
00:41:23,860 --> 00:41:28,220
then in 2026, we'll be looking at a treatment facility.

614
00:41:28,220 --> 00:41:32,260
Or a receiving facility at the Gravenhurst treatment plant, and

615
00:41:32,260 --> 00:41:38,117
that'll allow. Expanded opportunities for haulers to deliver their material

616
00:41:38,117 --> 00:41:41,437
in a way that's controlled, metered. And really the benefit

617
00:41:41,437 --> 00:41:42,757
for them is they're only going to pay for the

618
00:41:42,757 --> 00:41:45,557
cubic meters. They discharge because we'll be metering it. And

619
00:41:45,557 --> 00:41:47,277
so it's not just based on an estimate. It'll be

620
00:41:47,277 --> 00:41:50,237
based on the actual discharges, but we'll also be able

621
00:41:50,237 --> 00:41:55,151
to have an understanding of the nature. Of the material

622
00:41:55,151 --> 00:41:57,671
because we have chemical samplers and that sort of thing

623
00:41:57,671 --> 00:42:00,311
of the discharge and be able to manage them appropriately

624
00:42:00,311 --> 00:42:03,983
as part of the treatment process. And so with that,

625
00:42:03,983 --> 00:42:07,783
members of committee, that's our general overview of the budget.

626
00:42:10,228 --> 00:42:14,619
We'll just quickly run through a few summary slides. So

627
00:42:14,619 --> 00:42:18,099
for ensuring a public works. The net levy impact is

628
00:42:18,099 --> 00:42:23,859
about $37.5 million for 2025 and about 39 million in

629
00:42:23,859 --> 00:42:28,539
2026. As I mentioned before, our full time staff equivalents

630
00:42:28,539 --> 00:42:33,465
are flat at about just under 40 staff. And. That's

631
00:42:33,465 --> 00:42:35,265
district staff. We do have a number of services that

632
00:42:35,265 --> 00:42:38,985
are contracted out as you're aware. For example, road maintenance.

633
00:42:40,346 --> 00:42:45,297
And mostly road maintenance and certainly the capital program. But

634
00:42:45,297 --> 00:42:48,537
overall, I think it's a fairly flat budget. We've tried

635
00:42:48,537 --> 00:42:52,737
to keep the cost as close to under the guideline

636
00:42:52,737 --> 00:42:58,158
as possible. And again, the impact on the typical property

637
00:42:58,158 --> 00:43:07,698
owner. $127 in 2025 per $100,000 in assessment. And $130

638
00:43:07,698 --> 00:43:11,738
per $100,000 in assessment in 2026. And that really not

639
00:43:11,738 --> 00:43:14,178
only provides the day to day service, but also allows

640
00:43:14,178 --> 00:43:18,058
us to contribute to reserves to ensure intergenerational equity that

641
00:43:18,058 --> 00:43:21,774
we're making the right investments in infrastructure. And it's not

642
00:43:21,774 --> 00:43:25,808
going to unfairly burden future generations. If we don't contribute

643
00:43:25,808 --> 00:43:29,892
to those reserves. And so just a brief summary. Again,

644
00:43:29,892 --> 00:43:32,692
I think this is sort of the key components of

645
00:43:32,692 --> 00:43:35,492
the work we do. I won't reiterate it again, but.

646
00:43:37,340 --> 00:43:39,940
I think really it's a service that provides, that we

647
00:43:39,940 --> 00:43:44,500
provide to all residents, visitors and businesses across the district

648
00:43:44,500 --> 00:43:48,700
and really focusing on keeping roads safe, making sure we

649
00:43:48,700 --> 00:43:51,380
can get zigzagged across the district off the many lakes

650
00:43:51,380 --> 00:43:55,940
and rivers, treating the environment, treating sewage to ensure the

651
00:43:55,940 --> 00:44:01,129
environment's protected. And really focusing on delivering critical transportation projects.

652
00:44:02,424 --> 00:44:07,464
And the water wastewater projects to support future generations. And

653
00:44:07,464 --> 00:44:10,024
so when you think about it and the average property

654
00:44:10,024 --> 00:44:14,624
value of $300,000 in 2016. It's about a dollar a

655
00:44:14,624 --> 00:44:20,092
day. So all those services provide our property owners. These

656
00:44:20,092 --> 00:44:22,172
services for about a dollar a day when you factor

657
00:44:22,172 --> 00:44:26,612
into the costs and with that, members of committee happy

658
00:44:26,612 --> 00:44:33,211
to take any questions. Okay. Thank you for that. I'll

659
00:44:33,211 --> 00:44:35,571
say my thank yous now. I just want to thank

660
00:44:35,571 --> 00:44:41,013
the budget team. And the staff for putting this. In

661
00:44:41,013 --> 00:44:44,803
really understandable language for people, I think. That we can

662
00:44:44,803 --> 00:44:49,218
get bogged down with numbers, and I appreciate that. This

663
00:44:49,218 --> 00:44:54,706
is easy to read. Pretty explained very well throughout the

664
00:44:54,706 --> 00:44:58,026
presentation and without having to dive too far in, so

665
00:44:58,026 --> 00:44:59,986
thank you. For that. Thanks for all the hard work

666
00:44:59,986 --> 00:45:03,506
that goes into it from our directors and our budget.

667
00:45:03,506 --> 00:45:08,919
Team. So. I will now see. And I don't see

668
00:45:08,919 --> 00:45:16,978
any. Public participation. So. We will move forward with questions

669
00:45:16,978 --> 00:45:20,698
from committee, and I recognize. There are two council members

670
00:45:20,698 --> 00:45:25,397
here. And please give me a wave. If you want

671
00:45:25,397 --> 00:45:29,123
my attention. So, committee. Are there any questions? I'm going

672
00:45:29,123 --> 00:45:33,408
to go over to Councilor Kelly. Thank you. And through

673
00:45:33,408 --> 00:45:37,857
you. I wanted to say a few things. First of

674
00:45:37,857 --> 00:45:42,678
all, Excellent presentation. It's easy to read, it's easy to

675
00:45:42,678 --> 00:45:46,017
follow. I will get bogged down in numbers, but not

676
00:45:46,017 --> 00:45:49,718
today, because I brought the wrong darn book. But we'll

677
00:45:49,718 --> 00:45:53,753
have more for that later. I really think you've done

678
00:45:53,753 --> 00:45:56,873
an admirable job of coming in sort of with. A

679
00:45:56,873 --> 00:46:01,616
pretty tight budget or on a steer budget. So I

680
00:46:01,616 --> 00:46:03,736
don't really want to talk too much about the detail

681
00:46:03,736 --> 00:46:06,696
on the numbers, right? Now, but I would like, if

682
00:46:06,696 --> 00:46:09,016
I may, to talk a little bit about process and

683
00:46:09,016 --> 00:46:11,789
a bit. A little bit about timing. And ultimately a

684
00:46:11,789 --> 00:46:16,978
little bit about. Value. Here's my primary concern, and you're

685
00:46:16,978 --> 00:46:18,178
going to hear this if you don't. Hear it from

686
00:46:18,178 --> 00:46:21,722
me, you'll hear it from somebody. At each of the

687
00:46:21,722 --> 00:46:25,802
meetings starting today, this afternoon and two tomorrow and probably

688
00:46:25,802 --> 00:46:27,442
again when we get together as a committee of the

689
00:46:27,442 --> 00:46:32,910
whole. For whatever reason. Certainly in the township of Muskoka

690
00:46:32,910 --> 00:46:42,260
Lakes almost excluded the opportunity. For middle class people to

691
00:46:42,260 --> 00:46:46,636
buy or even rent. In the town. It's become too

692
00:46:46,636 --> 00:46:51,681
prohibitively expensive. As you know, we have a committee working

693
00:46:51,681 --> 00:46:56,403
on housing and homelessness. Part of my frustration. Got nothing

694
00:46:56,403 --> 00:46:59,736
to do or a little to do with you. Is,

695
00:46:59,736 --> 00:47:03,776
I think we're fighting against this sort of incrementally increase.

696
00:47:03,776 --> 00:47:07,310
We can measure it as small as we want. And

697
00:47:07,310 --> 00:47:10,750
it's dollar per 100,000. There are no $100,000 units in

698
00:47:10,750 --> 00:47:14,230
our town or on any of our towns. There's no

699
00:47:14,230 --> 00:47:17,230
$300,000 units. I'd be surprised if you could find a

700
00:47:17,230 --> 00:47:21,830
$500,000 unit, and as a result, I hear director Misco

701
00:47:21,830 --> 00:47:23,790
say you can't get people to work in the locks

702
00:47:23,790 --> 00:47:25,950
on a permanent basis. We can't get anybody to work

703
00:47:25,950 --> 00:47:32,849
anywhere. Because. There's no entry level. Opportunity for people to

704
00:47:32,849 --> 00:47:36,849
settle and live among us. Attendance or not attendance so

705
00:47:36,849 --> 00:47:42,764
much, but participation in arenas participation in organized sports. It's

706
00:47:42,764 --> 00:47:45,804
all diminishing. It's all going away because literally the types

707
00:47:45,804 --> 00:47:49,722
of people that build communities. Haven't got a place there

708
00:47:49,722 --> 00:47:53,282
anymore. We have 8000 people. Just a little under 8000.

709
00:47:53,282 --> 00:47:58,429
People on our sign. Welcome. To the township of Muskoka

710
00:47:58,429 --> 00:47:59,629
Lakes, and I'm going to tell you, and I know

711
00:47:59,629 --> 00:48:02,349
it sounds ridiculous. I get a great laugh every time

712
00:48:02,349 --> 00:48:04,909
I say I'm here from the township in Muskoka Lakes

713
00:48:04,909 --> 00:48:08,879
to talk about efficiency and price controls. But the 8000

714
00:48:08,879 --> 00:48:13,119
permanent residents, there are relatively modest means, and I can

715
00:48:13,119 --> 00:48:15,559
tell you probably half of them if they had to

716
00:48:15,559 --> 00:48:18,199
start all over. Couldn't afford to come back to live.

717
00:48:18,199 --> 00:48:21,479
Where they are right now. So part of my goal

718
00:48:21,479 --> 00:48:24,519
over these budget exercises is to make sure we're not

719
00:48:24,519 --> 00:48:28,658
making that situation anymore difficult or challenging or worse. Than

720
00:48:28,658 --> 00:48:31,822
it has to be. So I guess my first kind

721
00:48:31,822 --> 00:48:38,461
of questions. First one for Mr. Steele. Commissioner Steele. Commissioner.

722
00:48:38,461 --> 00:48:43,039
Yeah. Thank you. I'm always intrigued about the process of

723
00:48:43,039 --> 00:48:45,519
building a budget. I've built a few myself and I've

724
00:48:45,519 --> 00:48:48,479
overseen several being built, and you can get this kind

725
00:48:48,479 --> 00:48:51,639
of lazy approach. To just throw 10% on everything and

726
00:48:51,639 --> 00:48:58,331
we'll call it a day. You can get. This sort

727
00:48:58,331 --> 00:49:00,771
of. Let's break it down into fine components and figure

728
00:49:00,771 --> 00:49:03,491
out what's changed year over year. And what went over

729
00:49:03,491 --> 00:49:07,270
budget? What went under budget? So enlighten me a little

730
00:49:07,270 --> 00:49:12,612
bit. How do your department heads tackle the job of

731
00:49:12,612 --> 00:49:15,212
building a budget for an upcoming year or for five

732
00:49:15,212 --> 00:49:20,824
years out. Commissioner. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Kelly, for

733
00:49:20,824 --> 00:49:23,744
that question. And through you, Madam Chair. So the process

734
00:49:23,744 --> 00:49:27,024
really starts with. We start with the baseline budget from

735
00:49:27,024 --> 00:49:30,911
the prior year. But the teams are tasked to look

736
00:49:30,911 --> 00:49:33,631
at sort of what's our historical spend? What are the

737
00:49:33,631 --> 00:49:36,551
opportunities for adjustment. One of the challenges we have, especially

738
00:49:36,551 --> 00:49:39,351
on the transportation side, is we don't know what the

739
00:49:39,351 --> 00:49:40,911
weather is going to be like this year, and so

740
00:49:40,911 --> 00:49:43,271
we have to sort of take a general average of

741
00:49:43,271 --> 00:49:46,660
where we think will land. And in some years we

742
00:49:46,660 --> 00:49:50,300
are above the budget. In some years we're below the

743
00:49:50,300 --> 00:49:53,446
budget. But I think it's important. To, at least from

744
00:49:53,446 --> 00:49:56,286
that perspective on the roads operations side, we look at

745
00:49:56,286 --> 00:49:59,326
sort of the five year average, three year average. What's

746
00:49:59,326 --> 00:50:02,006
reasonable? Where do we have variances the prior year? And

747
00:50:02,006 --> 00:50:04,886
what was that caused by? And then refine it from

748
00:50:04,886 --> 00:50:06,926
there. So I think there's, a lot of work that

749
00:50:06,926 --> 00:50:11,166
happens in the manager, frontline, staff level. Well, I shouldn't.

750
00:50:11,166 --> 00:50:13,387
Say. I think I know that that happens because. I've

751
00:50:13,387 --> 00:50:17,647
seen the changes. But again, it's still an estimate, but

752
00:50:17,647 --> 00:50:20,767
we are respectful of making sure that it's. The appropriate

753
00:50:20,767 --> 00:50:23,407
amounts and so that there isn't sort of this over

754
00:50:23,407 --> 00:50:28,087
an over commitment. Of funding because inevitably that means it's

755
00:50:28,087 --> 00:50:30,247
more on the levee, and then that has the exact

756
00:50:30,247 --> 00:50:32,247
impact that you're talking about. And so what I would

757
00:50:32,247 --> 00:50:35,469
say is we critically look at it. And I would

758
00:50:35,469 --> 00:50:37,629
say that our frontline staff are looking at it to

759
00:50:37,629 --> 00:50:40,949
the minutiae. To the very detailed level. Like director Misco

760
00:50:40,949 --> 00:50:44,309
mentioned, we're underspending on brushing. But we're seeing impacts to

761
00:50:44,309 --> 00:50:47,669
the community, so we need to bump up the brushing

762
00:50:47,669 --> 00:50:50,909
investment. And does that mean that other areas drop down?

763
00:50:50,909 --> 00:50:54,389
Of course, because we'll look at. Oh. We're overspending on

764
00:50:54,389 --> 00:50:56,740
some other aspect. But I think the other part that

765
00:50:56,740 --> 00:51:00,385
we have to balance. Is the expectations from the community

766
00:51:00,385 --> 00:51:03,545
on level of service, because we can certainly cut back

767
00:51:03,545 --> 00:51:05,825
our levels. Of service, but there'll be a lot of

768
00:51:05,825 --> 00:51:07,825
folks knocking on our door to say why. Isn't my

769
00:51:07,825 --> 00:51:11,025
road plowed within 24 hours. And so it's just sort

770
00:51:11,025 --> 00:51:13,025
of. Finding that right balance. But what I would say

771
00:51:13,025 --> 00:51:15,465
is we take a hard look at all the areas

772
00:51:15,465 --> 00:51:18,488
of the budget. It won't be perfect because we don't

773
00:51:18,488 --> 00:51:22,346
know. What's going to come, but I can say with

774
00:51:22,346 --> 00:51:25,306
a level of certainty that that work. Is being done,

775
00:51:25,306 --> 00:51:27,866
and it's not as simple as rinse and repeat, as

776
00:51:27,866 --> 00:51:32,826
sort of you suggested. There's always opportunities for efficiencies. Like

777
00:51:32,826 --> 00:51:38,026
I mentioned in efficiency slide. Making incremental improvements, reducing the

778
00:51:38,026 --> 00:51:41,298
level of staff efforts. So the permit central is a

779
00:51:41,298 --> 00:51:46,474
perfect example of that. Historically, our process was someone phones

780
00:51:46,474 --> 00:51:49,114
in, says, I'd like a permit, we take that hands.

781
00:51:49,114 --> 00:51:51,674
It off to the permit person. They say submit an

782
00:51:51,674 --> 00:51:55,034
application, very manual processes, then they have to call the

783
00:51:55,034 --> 00:51:58,394
office and make a payment, for example. So implementing that

784
00:51:58,394 --> 00:52:02,914
very simple, low cost technology, not only reduces the staff

785
00:52:02,914 --> 00:52:06,653
time to. Deliver that service gives better customer service, but

786
00:52:06,653 --> 00:52:09,333
also, and I should say, the staff time in engineering.

787
00:52:09,333 --> 00:52:11,733
Public works, but it also reduces the impact to the

788
00:52:11,733 --> 00:52:16,052
organization because. For example, our friends in legal don't have

789
00:52:16,052 --> 00:52:18,012
to write up an agreement because we've got sort of

790
00:52:18,012 --> 00:52:21,572
boilerplate. And so really looking at the corporate benefits of

791
00:52:21,572 --> 00:52:25,856
finding implementation of technology. Ways to do things better and

792
00:52:25,856 --> 00:52:29,155
faster. But provide a higher level or better level of

793
00:52:29,155 --> 00:52:32,699
service. I hope that helps answer your question. I did.

794
00:52:32,699 --> 00:52:38,538
Thank you. Go ahead. Yes, Commissioner Almer. Thank you, madam

795
00:52:38,538 --> 00:52:41,378
chair. And I just wanted, I think commissioner Steele. Did

796
00:52:41,378 --> 00:52:46,258
a great job of starting the response to member Kelly's

797
00:52:46,258 --> 00:52:50,578
question, but I wanted to add on to the comments

798
00:52:50,578 --> 00:52:56,898
if possible. So Councilor Kelly mentioned that it's an austere

799
00:52:56,898 --> 00:53:00,898
budget for engineering and public works. This is absolutely an

800
00:53:00,898 --> 00:53:04,738
austere budget because a number of cuts were made to

801
00:53:04,738 --> 00:53:08,876
the budget. After the directors and the frontline staff had

802
00:53:08,876 --> 00:53:14,162
gone through. Those very detailed reviews of the line by

803
00:53:14,162 --> 00:53:18,362
line expenditures. So maybe just to give the rest of

804
00:53:18,362 --> 00:53:22,666
committee and any members who happen to be watching. An

805
00:53:22,666 --> 00:53:26,529
overview of our budget process. We do exactly that. We

806
00:53:26,529 --> 00:53:28,809
set basically our marching orders with council back in March.

807
00:53:30,152 --> 00:53:32,512
Based on what we can see, the increases to the

808
00:53:32,512 --> 00:53:35,912
base services will look like and then each of the

809
00:53:35,912 --> 00:53:39,072
directors and frontline staff and managers goes away and reviews

810
00:53:39,072 --> 00:53:41,512
their line lump by line. Budget to try to identify

811
00:53:41,512 --> 00:53:45,272
efficiencies. Look at what was overspent in previous years. Are

812
00:53:45,272 --> 00:53:48,712
there any opportunities to decrease those expenditures, balancing it with

813
00:53:48,712 --> 00:53:53,212
level of service? After all that work is done. We

814
00:53:53,212 --> 00:53:57,105
have a peer review process. And so once we have

815
00:53:57,105 --> 00:54:00,945
a draft budget in this year, we had, I think,

816
00:54:00,945 --> 00:54:03,585
two or three peer review meetings for the rate supported

817
00:54:03,585 --> 00:54:07,185
budget and then three peer review meetings for the tax

818
00:54:07,185 --> 00:54:11,923
supported budget. And really, what happens in those meetings is

819
00:54:11,923 --> 00:54:16,043
senior staff, all of senior staff, review the budget again.

820
00:54:16,043 --> 00:54:19,363
Line by line, and each director is invited to really

821
00:54:19,363 --> 00:54:23,763
defend the budget that they're putting. Forward and explain any

822
00:54:23,763 --> 00:54:27,363
increases and sometimes even decreases. So if we see something

823
00:54:27,363 --> 00:54:30,621
that looks like it, was over. Overspent in previous years

824
00:54:30,621 --> 00:54:34,695
and it hasn't been adjusted. We'll ask the question. It

825
00:54:34,695 --> 00:54:37,295
looks like you've missed something here. Or it looks like.

826
00:54:38,440 --> 00:54:41,440
You haven't decreased. This in accordance with what your previous

827
00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:46,596
year spends are why. So after that whole process was

828
00:54:46,596 --> 00:54:48,556
done, I have to be honest, we were still short.

829
00:54:50,036 --> 00:54:53,942
We needed to find. More savings to be able to

830
00:54:53,942 --> 00:54:57,955
hit guideline. And one of those extraordinary measures we took

831
00:54:57,955 --> 00:55:02,275
is we did reduce the proposed roads maintenance and operation.

832
00:55:02,275 --> 00:55:08,275
Budgets by a further 200,000 in 2025 and 662,000 in

833
00:55:08,275 --> 00:55:11,835
2026. And those are cuts that we are going to

834
00:55:11,835 --> 00:55:15,910
have to really. Evaluate and look at the level of

835
00:55:15,910 --> 00:55:18,590
service that's provided to be able to hit those guidelines,

836
00:55:18,590 --> 00:55:21,840
and so. I just wanted to make sure that we

837
00:55:21,840 --> 00:55:26,428
added that to commissioner Seal's comments because. I wanted to

838
00:55:26,428 --> 00:55:30,389
make sure I drew attention to that. Subsequent. I do

839
00:55:30,389 --> 00:55:33,869
thank you. I agree with you. I think it actually

840
00:55:33,869 --> 00:55:36,269
isn't quite on a steer budget. I didn't use that

841
00:55:36,269 --> 00:55:38,749
term because people think it's a compliment, but it's just.

842
00:55:38,749 --> 00:55:45,486
An expectation. So thank you for that. Okay. The only

843
00:55:45,486 --> 00:55:47,326
other big issue that I really want to throw, and

844
00:55:47,326 --> 00:55:51,126
it's to Commissioner Olimer. Or to CEO Stevens. I'm a

845
00:55:51,126 --> 00:55:56,569
little concerned that. We're making decisions in an environment where

846
00:55:56,569 --> 00:56:00,129
there are so many unknowns to come down. The pike.

847
00:56:00,129 --> 00:56:04,209
Everything from hospital local share. We've had the hospital kind

848
00:56:04,209 --> 00:56:09,003
of resolved for a while. And yet local share. I

849
00:56:09,003 --> 00:56:10,843
don't think we've had. Well, we haven't. Had a local

850
00:56:10,843 --> 00:56:13,843
share meeting. Maybe this year or since really early this

851
00:56:13,843 --> 00:56:18,063
year. And I realize they are not well or completely

852
00:56:18,063 --> 00:56:21,063
within. They're not at all within our jurisdiction. But the

853
00:56:21,063 --> 00:56:22,903
simple fact of the matter is they all come out

854
00:56:22,903 --> 00:56:25,823
of the same envelope and. If we don't build our

855
00:56:25,823 --> 00:56:28,583
budget as tight and efficiently as we can to take

856
00:56:28,583 --> 00:56:32,120
into. The fact that it can reach into every pocket

857
00:56:32,120 --> 00:56:33,840
I have. I only have a fixed amount of money.

858
00:56:35,270 --> 00:56:38,790
Things like the OPP budget, other unknowns that may well

859
00:56:38,790 --> 00:56:43,984
be lurking. I just don't know whether I realize in

860
00:56:43,984 --> 00:56:47,544
something like EPW, there probably is it's not like you

861
00:56:47,544 --> 00:56:50,464
can decide to not plow. We have a basic level

862
00:56:50,464 --> 00:56:55,301
of service. We have to uphold. Basically based on. The

863
00:56:55,301 --> 00:56:59,973
last ten days or 20 days. The ingredients. For a

864
00:56:59,973 --> 00:57:02,413
really strong level of servants or service are all in

865
00:57:02,413 --> 00:57:05,797
place because I was quite pleased. And not surprised, but

866
00:57:05,797 --> 00:57:09,386
quite pleased with. How it was all handled. I wouldn't

867
00:57:09,386 --> 00:57:12,889
propose changing that at all. But I'm really anxious that

868
00:57:12,889 --> 00:57:15,369
we're looking at this at 13. What is it? How

869
00:57:15,369 --> 00:57:21,438
much per 100,000? Again I forget. Anyone. I wrote it

870
00:57:21,438 --> 00:57:27,242
down. 1652 per 100,000. At Township in Moscow Lakes. We

871
00:57:27,242 --> 00:57:29,922
layered onto that another thirteen point nineteen cents per one

872
00:57:29,922 --> 00:57:36,380
hundred thousand. We've got education. We've got a local share.

873
00:57:36,380 --> 00:57:38,780
We got op. I don't know where the opp. Sits

874
00:57:38,780 --> 00:57:42,220
in this budget or how it washes out and anything

875
00:57:42,220 --> 00:57:44,420
else that might come along. Down the pike, we wind

876
00:57:44,420 --> 00:57:51,817
up with humongous headache. And if we're not organized efficiently,

877
00:57:51,817 --> 00:57:54,977
if we are not operating efficiently, if we're not financing

878
00:57:54,977 --> 00:57:58,617
our operations efficiently. We're passing along too much of a

879
00:57:58,617 --> 00:58:02,057
burden to people that we really need to see this

880
00:58:02,057 --> 00:58:05,257
place as a place to settle and grow a community

881
00:58:05,257 --> 00:58:08,976
and. That's really my single largest concern with all of

882
00:58:08,976 --> 00:58:12,676
this, so timing is a big one. I realize that

883
00:58:12,676 --> 00:58:17,033
you're never going to know perfectly everything. I'm nervous that

884
00:58:17,033 --> 00:58:19,473
we don't know enough about too many things, too many

885
00:58:19,473 --> 00:58:23,882
big. Ticket things to know how the. 1652 is going

886
00:58:23,882 --> 00:58:28,917
to plug into somebody's wallet. Sure. Madam chair. Perhaps I

887
00:58:28,917 --> 00:58:36,539
can start. Sure. With a response. Absolutely. There are quite

888
00:58:36,539 --> 00:58:43,072
a lot of unknowns, but. I think. That's generally the

889
00:58:43,072 --> 00:58:47,285
case when we're preparing the budget. With respect to the

890
00:58:47,285 --> 00:58:54,368
opp. The budget before committee today. Includes the full amount

891
00:58:54,368 --> 00:59:00,008
of the opp increase. The catch is we've used significant

892
00:59:00,008 --> 00:59:05,427
amounts. Of reserve. To pay that increased bill and then

893
00:59:05,427 --> 00:59:10,344
that reserve. Would be phased out over four years. We

894
00:59:10,344 --> 00:59:15,027
will have an amendment, a proposed amendment, later today. We

895
00:59:15,027 --> 00:59:20,147
have received preliminary information from Solicitor General's office that has

896
00:59:20,147 --> 00:59:26,164
significantly reduced the impact of. That increase in OPP costs.

897
00:59:26,164 --> 00:59:31,482
That being said, because we had used reserves. That's great.

898
00:59:31,482 --> 00:59:33,922
Now we don't have to use reserves. It doesn't really.

899
00:59:33,922 --> 00:59:38,754
Change the levy impact in 2025. It does reduce the

900
00:59:38,754 --> 00:59:41,754
levy in 2026 because we had been phasing out those

901
00:59:41,754 --> 00:59:44,674
reserves. And so we had been taking on that expenditure

902
00:59:44,674 --> 00:59:51,183
over time. But. I hear and understand the concern. There

903
00:59:51,183 --> 00:59:59,206
are a number of large. Commitments that. Have been. Considered.

904
00:59:59,206 --> 01:00:03,246
I wouldn't say necessarily made by council, but certainly considered

905
01:00:03,246 --> 01:00:06,526
and direction has been given. To staff to move forward

906
01:00:06,526 --> 01:00:13,188
with them. Councilor Kelly mentioned local share and hospital capital.

907
01:00:13,188 --> 01:00:19,720
That's. One affordable and attainable housing is a significant investment.

908
01:00:19,720 --> 01:00:22,680
I think we need to balance those needs. In the

909
01:00:22,680 --> 01:00:27,700
community. We recognize that. We need to increase affordable and

910
01:00:27,700 --> 01:00:31,940
attainable housing in Muskoka. But some of the other investments

911
01:00:31,940 --> 01:00:35,020
also include things like climate change. So we will be

912
01:00:35,020 --> 01:00:38,140
bringing forward a report later today about the corporate climate

913
01:00:38,140 --> 01:00:40,540
change action plan and what that looks like over the

914
01:00:40,540 --> 01:00:48,215
next ten years. So there are some significant investments. That

915
01:00:48,215 --> 01:00:51,775
staff have included in this budget and will continue for

916
01:00:51,775 --> 01:00:55,512
a number of years. And so one of the things

917
01:00:55,512 --> 01:00:58,792
that we can do is provide a very high level

918
01:00:58,792 --> 01:01:04,247
expectation of. What those directions mean on the tax rate

919
01:01:04,247 --> 01:01:09,298
for the next five to ten years. Even though we.

920
01:01:11,599 --> 01:01:14,959
Will find savings. We'll try to cut services where we

921
01:01:14,959 --> 01:01:18,439
can to be able to meet. The guidelines and directions

922
01:01:18,439 --> 01:01:21,799
set by council. The fact of the matter is we've

923
01:01:21,799 --> 01:01:27,495
committed to increasing investments in these very important projects. These

924
01:01:27,495 --> 01:01:30,575
projects are the ones that were identified as council's strategic

925
01:01:30,575 --> 01:01:34,375
priorities. And so I think it's appropriate that staffs responding

926
01:01:34,375 --> 01:01:37,607
to those priorities. But there is no doubt about it

927
01:01:37,607 --> 01:01:41,847
that those increasing investments will impact the tax rate for

928
01:01:41,847 --> 01:01:51,628
a number of years to come. I wrote down. During

929
01:01:51,628 --> 01:01:54,750
that stop approving things. I think that's what it comes

930
01:01:54,750 --> 01:01:57,470
down to. These are approved things that council have approved.

931
01:01:57,470 --> 01:02:00,928
And they got to be paid for. So I just

932
01:02:00,928 --> 01:02:06,332
summarized. I think that nicely. Okay, so I'm going to

933
01:02:06,332 --> 01:02:09,252
go over to councilor Rhodes, and then I see your.

934
01:02:09,252 --> 01:02:14,933
Hand chairly. Thank you. Through your chair, Lorenz. Absolutely agree.

935
01:02:14,933 --> 01:02:18,533
I'm a little nervous about the budget for sure. But

936
01:02:18,533 --> 01:02:21,213
I guess my question goes against that. And I also

937
01:02:21,213 --> 01:02:23,253
agree that there's people struggling we need to make sure

938
01:02:23,253 --> 01:02:27,103
that it's affordable. But the reduction in the roads budget

939
01:02:27,103 --> 01:02:30,499
was something that really jumped out to me because. People

940
01:02:30,499 --> 01:02:33,419
think garbage and roads is what I pay for my.

941
01:02:33,419 --> 01:02:37,207
For my taxes. And so I guess my question is

942
01:02:37,207 --> 01:02:40,087
maybe if you can kind of ease my little anxiety

943
01:02:40,087 --> 01:02:43,607
on that piece. But also my second question would be,

944
01:02:43,607 --> 01:02:46,247
is there a space in this budget for you? Commissioner

945
01:02:46,247 --> 01:02:51,055
Steele that. You are very worried about. Have we cut

946
01:02:51,055 --> 01:02:53,495
back so far to try to meet these targets? And

947
01:02:53,495 --> 01:02:58,056
that was the direction to staff and. That's not a

948
01:02:58,056 --> 01:03:00,896
slight against staff by any means, but is there a

949
01:03:00,896 --> 01:03:03,536
space that you're. Not going to sleep well for the

950
01:03:03,536 --> 01:03:06,913
next year or two years. That we need to at

951
01:03:06,913 --> 01:03:11,027
least be thinking about. And yeah, that roads piece. Was

952
01:03:11,027 --> 01:03:14,676
one that really stuck out to me. Commissioner Steele. Thank

953
01:03:14,676 --> 01:03:18,465
you, madam Chair. I think the one thing that's important

954
01:03:18,465 --> 01:03:22,105
to understand. So we've certainly adjusted the budget on the

955
01:03:22,105 --> 01:03:26,665
roadside, mainly focusing on sort of the variable cost and

956
01:03:26,665 --> 01:03:29,425
sort of that five year three year average, and so.

957
01:03:30,911 --> 01:03:33,911
The risk in our minds is that if a road

958
01:03:33,911 --> 01:03:36,271
needs to be plot, we'll still plow it. And so

959
01:03:36,271 --> 01:03:39,409
we will inevitably. Have a variance at the end of

960
01:03:39,409 --> 01:03:41,729
the year, so the risk is that we could be

961
01:03:41,729 --> 01:03:45,346
over. On that budget. And it's really thinking about, right,

962
01:03:45,346 --> 01:03:51,448
sizing the costs compared to. What we're budgeting. Like I

963
01:03:51,448 --> 01:03:53,768
mentioned earlier, we sort of start with a five year

964
01:03:53,768 --> 01:03:57,947
average. We say, realistically, what do we expect? Are there

965
01:03:57,947 --> 01:04:02,339
opportunities to find efficiencies? And certainly looking. At. I guess

966
01:04:02,339 --> 01:04:03,939
what I would say is it's not like someone went

967
01:04:03,939 --> 01:04:05,739
and said just put a knife to it and cut

968
01:04:05,739 --> 01:04:08,259
that out. I think it was still strategic on how

969
01:04:08,259 --> 01:04:10,419
can we refine it just a little bit more? And

970
01:04:10,419 --> 01:04:14,379
as Commissioner Oliver mentioned, yes, it was further. Cuts across

971
01:04:14,379 --> 01:04:16,819
the board to figure out how we fit into that

972
01:04:16,819 --> 01:04:20,339
sort of lens, but I think the risk, sort of

973
01:04:20,339 --> 01:04:22,874
the day to day things. That keep us up for

974
01:04:22,874 --> 01:04:26,434
night are plowed roads, potholes filled, that sort of thing,

975
01:04:26,434 --> 01:04:30,109
and. So perhaps. We can still sort of refine our

976
01:04:30,109 --> 01:04:34,927
operations to make sure we fit in with. Those guidelines.

977
01:04:34,927 --> 01:04:37,607
And if we have a significant weather event that blows

978
01:04:37,607 --> 01:04:41,328
the budget, then. We'll still provide that service. And I

979
01:04:41,328 --> 01:04:45,888
think that's perhaps that's the message here is we believe

980
01:04:45,888 --> 01:04:48,768
this is the best foot forward, but we don't know

981
01:04:48,768 --> 01:04:52,365
what's going to happen, and certainly the weather. Is very

982
01:04:52,365 --> 01:04:55,685
variable and can have a significant impact. Last year we

983
01:04:55,685 --> 01:05:00,418
had very few. Snow events, so we were able to

984
01:05:00,418 --> 01:05:04,333
use some of those dollars. And doing additional maintenance that

985
01:05:04,333 --> 01:05:06,493
we needed to do because of the conditions. And so

986
01:05:06,493 --> 01:05:09,940
I guess. I've sort of left it as a long

987
01:05:09,940 --> 01:05:11,820
answer, but the short answer is, I don't. Think there's

988
01:05:11,820 --> 01:05:15,377
things. I mean, I don't sleep very much anyways. But

989
01:05:15,377 --> 01:05:18,417
I think there's nothing specific in this budget that says,

990
01:05:18,417 --> 01:05:20,657
wow, that's a huge mistake, and I wish we didn't

991
01:05:20,657 --> 01:05:23,537
do it. I think we'll still continue. To manage that.

992
01:05:25,299 --> 01:05:28,598
Like we do with most of our operations and. The

993
01:05:28,598 --> 01:05:30,158
real risk is there could be a variance at the

994
01:05:30,158 --> 01:05:37,488
end of the year. If that helps. Chair Lehman. Thanks,

995
01:05:37,488 --> 01:05:39,728
madam chair. A couple of comments and a couple of

996
01:05:39,728 --> 01:05:43,048
questions, I guess. So. Just picking up. On that topic.

997
01:05:44,915 --> 01:05:48,435
In the budget binder, it indicates that the total expenditure,

998
01:05:48,435 --> 01:05:51,675
capital expenditure on roads and bridges, goes from 33 is

999
01:05:51,675 --> 01:05:56,195
proposed at 33 million in 2025, goes up to 39

1000
01:05:56,195 --> 01:06:00,035
in 2026. So on the capital side. I mean, that's

1001
01:06:00,035 --> 01:06:07,041
a 20% increase. In investment in roads. Just between this

1002
01:06:07,041 --> 01:06:09,961
year's budget or next year's budget. I guess between 25

1003
01:06:09,961 --> 01:06:14,641
and 26, and I know that 33 is up. From

1004
01:06:14,641 --> 01:06:20,867
2024. I guess. The moving parts in this. Because the

1005
01:06:20,867 --> 01:06:24,507
same thing that councilor Rhodes mentioned jumped out at me

1006
01:06:24,507 --> 01:06:29,427
is the operating cut. If you will. Or the use

1007
01:06:29,427 --> 01:06:31,907
of a different five year average, I suppose, is what

1008
01:06:31,907 --> 01:06:37,622
I'm hearing to establish the annual envelope. And I'm sure

1009
01:06:37,622 --> 01:06:42,627
if we took December 2024, As our spending example, we'd

1010
01:06:42,627 --> 01:06:46,434
need to allocate three times as much money. But to

1011
01:06:46,434 --> 01:06:50,236
your very good point, Commissioner Steele. We barely had a

1012
01:06:50,236 --> 01:06:52,916
winter last year, so it varies so much, and it's

1013
01:06:52,916 --> 01:06:57,430
varying even. More. And into that challenge. Comes. What's the

1014
01:06:57,430 --> 01:07:01,770
right number to budget? I took some comfort from that

1015
01:07:01,770 --> 01:07:04,250
comment, though, that says we're not going to not do

1016
01:07:04,250 --> 01:07:07,871
it if the weather is bad. We're going to take

1017
01:07:07,871 --> 01:07:10,551
care of the essential services, and then we're going to

1018
01:07:10,551 --> 01:07:14,111
manage. However, the budget variances end up working out. But

1019
01:07:14,111 --> 01:07:19,331
I guess the question that it raises. Is. I know

1020
01:07:19,331 --> 01:07:21,611
there is a practice in some municipalities where if the

1021
01:07:21,611 --> 01:07:25,931
winter control budget is underspent instead of sort of spending

1022
01:07:25,931 --> 01:07:29,411
the extra on additional operating maintenance, you put it in

1023
01:07:29,411 --> 01:07:33,932
a reserve. Against a bad winter. Is that not our

1024
01:07:33,932 --> 01:07:43,515
typical procedure? Thank you, madam. Chair, perhaps? I'll try and

1025
01:07:43,515 --> 01:07:48,895
respond to that one. For chair Lehman. We don't have.

1026
01:07:50,538 --> 01:07:53,818
A separate winter maintenance reserve. We have a single roads

1027
01:07:53,818 --> 01:07:57,018
capital reserve, and so that is where we would draw

1028
01:07:57,018 --> 01:08:03,717
those funds from in the event of a variance. So

1029
01:08:03,717 --> 01:08:06,437
in the past, I think there has been some conversation

1030
01:08:06,437 --> 01:08:12,628
about a winter maintenance. A separate winter. Maintenance reserve. However,

1031
01:08:12,628 --> 01:08:16,893
for the time being, We've simplified it and used the

1032
01:08:16,893 --> 01:08:22,882
Rhodes Capital Reserve. Okay, so I guess the overall question,

1033
01:08:22,882 --> 01:08:26,002
staying with the big pictures within EPW for this meeting.

1034
01:08:27,726 --> 01:08:30,846
This budget is proposing a substantial increase in capital expenditure

1035
01:08:30,846 --> 01:08:33,126
on roads, so we're going to fix more roads over

1036
01:08:33,126 --> 01:08:36,398
the next couple of years. The risk is that we're

1037
01:08:36,398 --> 01:08:39,398
going to run a negative variance within the operating and

1038
01:08:39,398 --> 01:08:44,496
maintenance. Line. But the overall spending decisions that you are

1039
01:08:44,496 --> 01:08:48,456
proposing to committee and to council are a substantial increase.

1040
01:08:48,456 --> 01:08:53,456
In expenditure on fixing roads that's funded by a reserve

1041
01:08:53,456 --> 01:08:57,393
transfer. Which increases at 5% a year. And as I

1042
01:08:57,393 --> 01:09:01,073
understand it, that 5% wasn't. Changed despite the budget pressures

1043
01:09:01,073 --> 01:09:10,632
this year. Almer. Thank you, madam Chair. Excellent question from

1044
01:09:10,632 --> 01:09:17,497
Chair Lehman. The Rhodes contribution was maintained. At 5% increase.

1045
01:09:18,872 --> 01:09:22,075
Really? What? That is? It's a bit of a holdover.

1046
01:09:24,278 --> 01:09:27,118
We have to prepare an asset management plan that considers

1047
01:09:27,118 --> 01:09:32,309
a full financing plan. Of our program in July of

1048
01:09:32,309 --> 01:09:36,069
2025, so we're planning to bring that forward to committee

1049
01:09:36,069 --> 01:09:40,786
and council. In May and June this year, and so

1050
01:09:40,786 --> 01:09:45,306
that will be taking a longer term look at what

1051
01:09:45,306 --> 01:09:48,186
the investment in those capital reserves needs to look like

1052
01:09:48,186 --> 01:09:53,459
over the next ten and 20 years. It seemed. A

1053
01:09:53,459 --> 01:09:58,739
little premature to increase the roads capital reserve contributions before

1054
01:09:58,739 --> 01:10:07,942
that work had been completed. Okay. I appreciate that. That's,

1055
01:10:07,942 --> 01:10:10,836
I think, a discussion that. We'll all sort of look

1056
01:10:10,836 --> 01:10:14,984
forward to, because that right sizing. Of the infrastructure spend.

1057
01:10:16,494 --> 01:10:20,254
To meet whatever level of deficit we believe continues to

1058
01:10:20,254 --> 01:10:23,802
exist. And how far we can go in addressing that.

1059
01:10:23,802 --> 01:10:27,282
Sounds like it'll be some work for 2025, and presumably

1060
01:10:27,282 --> 01:10:30,922
in the 2026 economic update, there's the potential to adjust.

1061
01:10:30,922 --> 01:10:34,402
Okay. My other question. Then you had to know this

1062
01:10:34,402 --> 01:10:38,414
was coming. Director Misco on roads. What are the plans

1063
01:10:38,414 --> 01:10:43,294
for that LVR investment in 2025 and 2026? Which roads

1064
01:10:43,294 --> 01:10:47,030
are going to get done. Direct to me, scope. Thank

1065
01:10:47,030 --> 01:10:49,790
you. Through you, madam Chair. I'll just pull up my

1066
01:10:49,790 --> 01:10:52,470
notes. Here because I have some of them listed in

1067
01:10:52,470 --> 01:10:59,239
case I was asked. So currently, right now, the status

1068
01:10:59,239 --> 01:11:02,599
of the low volume road strategy is related to we've

1069
01:11:02,599 --> 01:11:08,249
onboarded a consultant. We've met with contractors. On how best

1070
01:11:08,249 --> 01:11:10,129
to manage these. How do we maximize the investment on

1071
01:11:10,129 --> 01:11:11,809
these? So the plan is to work through that this

1072
01:11:11,809 --> 01:11:16,009
winter. Gather things like geotechnical information. What's the road? Bedlike.

1073
01:11:16,009 --> 01:11:19,169
What are the road conditions like? Obtain that data at

1074
01:11:19,169 --> 01:11:23,397
the same time we're reviewing kind of. What new practices

1075
01:11:23,397 --> 01:11:25,797
are within the industry instead of just a standard you're

1076
01:11:25,797 --> 01:11:28,517
going to need. X amount of granular b, x amount

1077
01:11:28,517 --> 01:11:30,917
of granular a, and x amount of asphalt to fix

1078
01:11:30,917 --> 01:11:36,073
this road. Are the things like geotextiles, concrete stabilized bases

1079
01:11:36,073 --> 01:11:38,956
that we can start to look into. That will make

1080
01:11:38,956 --> 01:11:41,796
up part of that investment for 2025 is to potentially

1081
01:11:41,796 --> 01:11:47,127
pilot some of these. New alternatives within our road network.

1082
01:11:47,127 --> 01:11:49,247
On the list for that would be right now, as

1083
01:11:49,247 --> 01:11:51,687
part of the assignment on the list is geotechnical analysis

1084
01:11:51,687 --> 01:11:54,807
on twelve Mile Bay roads on the scoker. Road twelve

1085
01:11:54,807 --> 01:11:57,447
Muskoka Road 51, which is Echo Lake road at Muskoka.

1086
01:11:57,447 --> 01:12:00,567
Road 14, which is Fraserburg Road. So those are kind

1087
01:12:00,567 --> 01:12:02,927
of our three. That's the three that are making up

1088
01:12:02,927 --> 01:12:07,512
part of this assignment. We've got capital plans for 2025.

1089
01:12:07,512 --> 01:12:11,752
2026. Right now, assigned to what? I'll? Call lower volume

1090
01:12:11,752 --> 01:12:17,112
roads is Muskoka Road 1213, 32 and 51 all have

1091
01:12:17,112 --> 01:12:20,432
allocated capital funding, and the intent is to fund those

1092
01:12:20,432 --> 01:12:24,853
improvements from the low volume road strategy. Recognizing that our

1093
01:12:24,853 --> 01:12:29,613
investment will increase into 2026 once we've kind of finalized.

1094
01:12:31,076 --> 01:12:33,036
Had a chance to assess what these new treatments look

1095
01:12:33,036 --> 01:12:37,074
like and how they perform as well. And making sure

1096
01:12:37,074 --> 01:12:38,674
that the investment that we're looking to put on these

1097
01:12:38,674 --> 01:12:41,848
roads. Is going to get us the bang for the

1098
01:12:41,848 --> 01:12:45,608
buck that we're looking for, short of. Just that $1.5

1099
01:12:45,608 --> 01:12:48,648
million to reconstruct. Can we spend that money better and

1100
01:12:48,648 --> 01:12:53,553
maximize the length of improvement we're able to undertake. I

1101
01:12:53,553 --> 01:12:55,353
hope that helps answer your question a bit there. It

1102
01:12:55,353 --> 01:12:58,633
does, yeah. Thanks very much. My last question. Or maybe

1103
01:12:58,633 --> 01:13:01,673
just the comment, madam chair, because I recognize there's a

1104
01:13:01,673 --> 01:13:04,713
number of budget meetings yet to come. It strikes me

1105
01:13:04,713 --> 01:13:09,775
in reading the budget. That one of the major challenges.

1106
01:13:11,119 --> 01:13:13,599
We are managing to your point, madam Chair, is we've

1107
01:13:13,599 --> 01:13:19,039
made some expensive commitments to tackle. Some expensive problems. Mayor

1108
01:13:19,039 --> 01:13:22,559
Kelly rightly has said housing at the top of that

1109
01:13:22,559 --> 01:13:25,673
list. For two years now, we've talked about how that

1110
01:13:25,673 --> 01:13:29,833
affects everything in Muskoka from the economy to every aspect

1111
01:13:29,833 --> 01:13:36,237
of life here, and healthcare and everything else. But then

1112
01:13:36,237 --> 01:13:39,758
we had some late breaking bad news. And then some

1113
01:13:39,758 --> 01:13:42,798
even later, breaking good news that some of that bad

1114
01:13:42,798 --> 01:13:44,798
news wasn't going to hit us. And that was the

1115
01:13:44,798 --> 01:13:50,684
opp cost increase. Notwithstanding all of that. It's sort of

1116
01:13:50,684 --> 01:13:54,193
shaking out, as I understand it, reading the budget. We're

1117
01:13:54,193 --> 01:13:57,833
trying to manage, amping up our pace of investment into

1118
01:13:57,833 --> 01:14:01,850
some really important things. Housing, obviously at the top of

1119
01:14:01,850 --> 01:14:08,230
that list, but also asset management also. Climate change. And

1120
01:14:08,230 --> 01:14:10,350
certainly the things we've been asked to do that are

1121
01:14:10,350 --> 01:14:14,294
outside our remit like a hospital local share. So the

1122
01:14:14,294 --> 01:14:16,934
challenge we've got, sort of strategically, I think, with the

1123
01:14:16,934 --> 01:14:20,374
math, is you're. Trying to reach an increased pace of

1124
01:14:20,374 --> 01:14:24,745
investment. But we know that doing all of that in

1125
01:14:24,745 --> 01:14:28,305
one year would be prohibitively expensive for our residents in

1126
01:14:28,305 --> 01:14:32,665
terms of the level of tax increase required. The district

1127
01:14:32,665 --> 01:14:36,505
is in excellent financial condition due to excellent work by

1128
01:14:36,505 --> 01:14:40,545
staff and previous counsels and so we try and mitigate

1129
01:14:40,545 --> 01:14:45,293
that through smoothing strategies. That slow, that pace of increase.

1130
01:14:46,659 --> 01:14:48,659
And still try and move us forward in the meantime.

1131
01:14:50,721 --> 01:14:52,681
And I guess my comment, madam chairs, that comes through

1132
01:14:52,681 --> 01:14:54,961
in this presentation, it comes through in the overall document.

1133
01:14:56,317 --> 01:14:59,437
That as an example, if we're trying to move from

1134
01:14:59,437 --> 01:15:04,643
where we are today, To. Doing 50% more five years

1135
01:15:04,643 --> 01:15:08,474
from now. You don't do that 50% in one year

1136
01:15:08,474 --> 01:15:11,034
or two years, you do that 5%. Over ten years

1137
01:15:11,034 --> 01:15:14,594
or 6% over eight years, and you've made some choices

1138
01:15:14,594 --> 01:15:17,872
around how we do that. And the math plays out

1139
01:15:17,872 --> 01:15:21,764
this way. I guess, members of committee, the comment I

1140
01:15:21,764 --> 01:15:26,804
would make. Starting at the start of this process. Is,

1141
01:15:26,804 --> 01:15:29,044
I think let's learn what our residents are getting for.

1142
01:15:30,993 --> 01:15:32,953
That investment, and I think that's very well documented in

1143
01:15:32,953 --> 01:15:37,225
the presentation. And then there's choices around those priorities and

1144
01:15:37,225 --> 01:15:40,597
how quickly we hit them. But the other comment I

1145
01:15:40,597 --> 01:15:45,808
would make is that. If there's a positive of our

1146
01:15:45,808 --> 01:15:48,968
financial condition. We've talked about this often in our first

1147
01:15:48,968 --> 01:15:53,749
two budgets. It's that we have some degree on the

1148
01:15:53,749 --> 01:16:00,279
capital side of flexibility. To. Handle these different, very expensive

1149
01:16:00,279 --> 01:16:03,679
projects. And I know Commissioner Olimer's head is probably exploding

1150
01:16:03,679 --> 01:16:07,014
when I say that, because. We've already made commitments to

1151
01:16:07,014 --> 01:16:11,254
things like the Fairvern home and other projects, and so

1152
01:16:11,254 --> 01:16:14,305
that flexibility. It's not like there's a big chunk of

1153
01:16:14,305 --> 01:16:16,465
money sitting in the drawer that we can deploy to

1154
01:16:16,465 --> 01:16:21,978
offset the tax increases. But I think the comment I'm

1155
01:16:21,978 --> 01:16:25,298
making, Madam chair, is we, as committee and committee of

1156
01:16:25,298 --> 01:16:28,858
the whole will need to balance those priorities and how

1157
01:16:28,858 --> 01:16:33,382
quickly we accomplish them. And then decide what, if any,

1158
01:16:33,382 --> 01:16:39,581
fiscal impact on the corporation. We're willing to stomach. Associated

1159
01:16:39,581 --> 01:16:43,661
with those smoothing strategies because they're already in here. But

1160
01:16:43,661 --> 01:16:46,381
those are choices that we make as well to try

1161
01:16:46,381 --> 01:16:49,421
and offset the impact on our taxpayers. Anyway, I'll end

1162
01:16:49,421 --> 01:16:53,341
my remarks there. But I think staff of the presentation

1163
01:16:53,341 --> 01:16:56,421
and I think as one of our major priorities. Coming

1164
01:16:56,421 --> 01:17:00,300
through in here, which is roads. That one number pops

1165
01:17:00,300 --> 01:17:03,020
out on the roads. The annual envelope for operation and

1166
01:17:03,020 --> 01:17:06,077
maintenance. But what's very important, I think, for us to

1167
01:17:06,077 --> 01:17:09,237
communicate and understand is this is a budget for increased

1168
01:17:09,237 --> 01:17:12,357
investment in roads, and there is further work coming in

1169
01:17:12,357 --> 01:17:16,717
2025 to further right. Size that investment. Thanks, madam chair.

1170
01:17:18,223 --> 01:17:24,961
Okay, committee, any other questions? Councilor armor? Thanks very much,

1171
01:17:24,961 --> 01:17:27,921
chair Lorenz, just more of a comment. It was nice

1172
01:17:27,921 --> 01:17:31,161
to see the budget or for EPW to come in

1173
01:17:31,161 --> 01:17:34,281
for staffing compliment, to see the state and status quo.

1174
01:17:34,281 --> 01:17:36,441
Because that's one thing we always hear about, is that

1175
01:17:36,441 --> 01:17:39,121
we're always building the empire hiring more people. So I

1176
01:17:39,121 --> 01:17:45,039
just want to say. Thanks for that. It's nice to

1177
01:17:45,039 --> 01:17:54,615
see. Okay. Any other questions? I've got one.

1178
01:17:56,741 --> 01:18:01,550
So. We talk about needs and wants, and when we

1179
01:18:01,550 --> 01:18:04,150
see the numbers for the locks and I'm. Not saying

1180
01:18:04,150 --> 01:18:07,110
I'm not trying to pick on the walks, but we

1181
01:18:07,110 --> 01:18:12,942
see the numbers. For the locks. 6000 users, what, 6

1182
01:18:12,942 --> 01:18:21,357
million over the next. So many years. Do we see

1183
01:18:21,357 --> 01:18:23,917
other than a nice to have, nice to be able

1184
01:18:23,917 --> 01:18:29,082
to go from Joe to Rosso or Lake Muskoka. Instead

1185
01:18:29,082 --> 01:18:30,962
of having to trailer your boat from one lake to

1186
01:18:30,962 --> 01:18:34,910
the other. Considering that you can access port Carling from

1187
01:18:34,910 --> 01:18:39,320
either side of the lakes. Is there a huge economic

1188
01:18:39,320 --> 01:18:44,535
driver for the locks? Do we see commerce being built

1189
01:18:44,535 --> 01:18:48,095
around this investment? Because it's an awful lot of money.

1190
01:18:52,106 --> 01:18:55,506
In my opinion, that's a lot of affordable housing units,

1191
01:18:55,506 --> 01:19:00,358
I guess. So just a quick question about that. And

1192
01:19:00,358 --> 01:19:05,654
again, I know that. We have the. Because I've been

1193
01:19:05,654 --> 01:19:08,934
there. I've done it. I've gone through it. I. Appreciate

1194
01:19:08,934 --> 01:19:12,570
that. It's a lovely afternoon. But I could eat at

1195
01:19:12,570 --> 01:19:17,746
turtle jocks from either side of the locks. So my

1196
01:19:17,746 --> 01:19:21,273
question is. Do we see a huge boost in commerce

1197
01:19:21,273 --> 01:19:24,184
because of those locks? Do you want me to take

1198
01:19:24,184 --> 01:19:32,437
that, commissioner? So thank you for your question. We have

1199
01:19:32,437 --> 01:19:37,117
not analyzed the economic impact of the locks. Certainly, if

1200
01:19:37,117 --> 01:19:39,917
that's something that committee wanted us to sort of tackle.

1201
01:19:41,256 --> 01:19:43,743
We could look at. What the cost of doing a

1202
01:19:43,743 --> 01:19:46,493
review. I'm thinking that the last time we've sort of

1203
01:19:46,493 --> 01:19:49,693
done direct and indirect economic impact of things. It's more

1204
01:19:49,693 --> 01:19:51,493
of the airport is where we've done that sort. Of

1205
01:19:51,493 --> 01:19:54,291
work. And so we could do that analysis to say,

1206
01:19:54,291 --> 01:19:59,307
what is that supporting? The history of this is and

1207
01:19:59,307 --> 01:20:02,227
why it's in the district is that it was provincially.

1208
01:20:02,227 --> 01:20:09,500
An asset originally. It is obviously substantial infrastructure like, there's

1209
01:20:09,500 --> 01:20:11,420
no doubt on that, and we certainly have more. Work

1210
01:20:11,420 --> 01:20:17,266
to do on assessing. That infrastructure. And its state of

1211
01:20:17,266 --> 01:20:22,936
repair and cost. Costs of renewal. But it was downloaded

1212
01:20:22,936 --> 01:20:24,656
to the district. And the reason that it was at

1213
01:20:24,656 --> 01:20:28,463
that level is because. It was so significant. It was

1214
01:20:28,463 --> 01:20:33,450
considered regional because of the level of the infrastructure. It

1215
01:20:33,450 --> 01:20:35,930
is the only locks that the district has, certainly, and

1216
01:20:35,930 --> 01:20:38,570
I know that there's probably some area municipalities that would

1217
01:20:38,570 --> 01:20:40,810
like to upload their locks, and we will say, no,

1218
01:20:40,810 --> 01:20:44,408
thank you. But they're at a much lower, smaller level.

1219
01:20:45,786 --> 01:20:49,487
Than. What we have at poor carling. But if it's

1220
01:20:49,487 --> 01:20:52,683
of the interest. Of. So you see the utilization for

1221
01:20:52,683 --> 01:20:55,563
sure. That's just of the big locks, the small. Locks

1222
01:20:55,563 --> 01:21:01,257
can get used far more substantially because. They're self managed.

1223
01:21:01,257 --> 01:21:03,177
And certainly we can ask the councilors what they see

1224
01:21:03,177 --> 01:21:05,977
in port. Carling. I know it's very busy during the

1225
01:21:05,977 --> 01:21:09,217
summer. Obviously not as busy in the winter. But we

1226
01:21:09,217 --> 01:21:12,575
can do that sort of analysis if you want. I

1227
01:21:12,575 --> 01:21:19,364
did. Thought I saw Councilor Kelly make a move first.

1228
01:21:19,364 --> 01:21:21,364
But I do see your hand, councilor. Cooper. So I'll

1229
01:21:21,364 --> 01:21:25,052
go to you after that. Councilor Kelly. No. I thought

1230
01:21:25,052 --> 01:21:27,452
you had leaned in. Yeah, I thought you were calling

1231
01:21:27,452 --> 01:21:33,255
on councilor. Cooper. I just saw your reaction first. I

1232
01:21:33,255 --> 01:21:35,575
don't know how to respond to that. I suppose we

1233
01:21:35,575 --> 01:21:37,375
could fill it full of. Dirt and plant roses in

1234
01:21:37,375 --> 01:21:41,295
it and call it a rose garden. But the fact

1235
01:21:41,295 --> 01:21:48,029
is, If you want to accelerate the pace and the

1236
01:21:48,029 --> 01:21:51,269
stress to try to remove ourselves from the district. I

1237
01:21:51,269 --> 01:21:54,225
think that would be a good first step. I don't

1238
01:21:54,225 --> 01:21:59,365
know. I have no comment. I mean. You're never going

1239
01:21:59,365 --> 01:22:02,365
to make economic sense, I suspect. Although I will tell

1240
01:22:02,365 --> 01:22:05,045
you a lot. Of the traffic that you can't record,

1241
01:22:05,045 --> 01:22:07,405
whether it's 6000 passages a year. I think that was

1242
01:22:07,405 --> 01:22:11,667
the number. The ones that you can't just winch out

1243
01:22:11,667 --> 01:22:15,627
onto an easy loader trailer are the barges full of

1244
01:22:15,627 --> 01:22:18,907
building materials that go through every single day. So it

1245
01:22:18,907 --> 01:22:21,547
is a main transportation route for that. I guess there's

1246
01:22:21,547 --> 01:22:25,403
workarounds. We could have barges on both sides. But the

1247
01:22:25,403 --> 01:22:29,960
fact is, it's a historical part of. A cultural part.

1248
01:22:31,376 --> 01:22:36,395
Of our township. I can tell you, it will be

1249
01:22:36,395 --> 01:22:40,755
going nowhere if the district chooses, for whatever reason, not

1250
01:22:40,755 --> 01:22:43,435
to. Continue to fund it, I guarantee you it won't

1251
01:22:43,435 --> 01:22:47,993
become anything other than what it is. I was just

1252
01:22:47,993 --> 01:22:49,993
trying to point out that that's a lot of money.

1253
01:22:49,993 --> 01:22:56,046
That's. All, but we'll go to councilor Cooper. Thank you,

1254
01:22:56,046 --> 01:23:02,210
chair. Not having used the lock. And from Georgia Bay.

1255
01:23:02,210 --> 01:23:06,019
I will say, though, that. Strikes me that it might

1256
01:23:06,019 --> 01:23:12,107
be a rather important facility for. The highest paying taxpayers,

1257
01:23:12,107 --> 01:23:15,067
your seasonal residents, and I don't think they'd be very

1258
01:23:15,067 --> 01:23:18,907
happy. That's just my guess. But I'm sure other counselors

1259
01:23:18,907 --> 01:23:20,787
can respond. I think I heard a little bit about

1260
01:23:20,787 --> 01:23:25,068
that already. Yes, a lot of money. But you're getting

1261
01:23:25,068 --> 01:23:27,268
collecting a lot of money from that group. Thank you.

1262
01:23:29,010 --> 01:23:35,734
I agree about the nostalgia. I was just asking. It's

1263
01:23:35,734 --> 01:23:39,495
time to ask the question. I personally think, in response

1264
01:23:39,495 --> 01:23:44,193
to these comments, that. It would be interesting to know.

1265
01:23:45,663 --> 01:23:48,223
What and how many barges do go through and all

1266
01:23:48,223 --> 01:23:52,231
those things. I think it's important. To report. When again,

1267
01:23:52,231 --> 01:23:54,031
we spend a lot of money on a lot of

1268
01:23:54,031 --> 01:23:57,356
things and we talk needs and wants. I did see

1269
01:23:57,356 --> 01:24:01,445
Councilor Burry wanted to chime in. Thank you. I have

1270
01:24:01,445 --> 01:24:04,405
a little bit of knowledge of the lock, and I'm

1271
01:24:04,405 --> 01:24:06,685
the treasurer of the museum, which is the tenant of

1272
01:24:06,685 --> 01:24:09,805
the district on the little island that is between the

1273
01:24:09,805 --> 01:24:13,685
locks. I'll point out that there are two locks. There's

1274
01:24:13,685 --> 01:24:17,903
a big lock. That is maintained by the district and

1275
01:24:17,903 --> 01:24:21,978
has human capital. To operate it and a small lock

1276
01:24:21,978 --> 01:24:25,778
that can let the boats through, which is completely unattached.

1277
01:24:25,778 --> 01:24:29,815
To the big lock. Making an economic sense of the

1278
01:24:29,815 --> 01:24:34,485
big lock. Chair Lorenz. I'd point out that the Winona

1279
01:24:34,485 --> 01:24:38,405
from the Muska Discovery center comes through the locks several

1280
01:24:38,405 --> 01:24:41,845
times a week to go to Rosso and to joe

1281
01:24:41,845 --> 01:24:46,844
the peerless. Goes through every day. There'd be a whole

1282
01:24:46,844 --> 01:24:49,164
pile of people that would be ecstatic if we close

1283
01:24:49,164 --> 01:24:51,204
the lock because then we wouldn't have to wait for

1284
01:24:51,204 --> 01:24:54,044
the lift bridge. And when the lift bridge goes up.

1285
01:24:55,448 --> 01:25:00,150
The backup. Can be three and 4 km long. During

1286
01:25:00,150 --> 01:25:04,239
rush hour. And believe me, the mayor and I can't

1287
01:25:04,239 --> 01:25:06,359
count the number of calls we have on that the

1288
01:25:06,359 --> 01:25:09,799
bigger concern I think we should have as counselors and

1289
01:25:09,799 --> 01:25:13,359
for public works is that the hydraulics that operate the

1290
01:25:13,359 --> 01:25:18,343
lift bridge. I'll start with antiquated and go south from

1291
01:25:18,343 --> 01:25:23,741
there. They're held together by duct tape and binder twine.

1292
01:25:25,184 --> 01:25:28,104
If something goes wrong with those hydraulics, we're in big

1293
01:25:28,104 --> 01:25:32,264
trouble. Especially if it's. Stuck in the open position in

1294
01:25:32,264 --> 01:25:37,563
rush hour during the summer. And I know that it's

1295
01:25:37,563 --> 01:25:40,763
very old equipment and that our staff have done a

1296
01:25:40,763 --> 01:25:45,285
remarkable job keeping it together. And for that we're very

1297
01:25:45,285 --> 01:25:50,165
appreciative. But lift bridges are problematic. You can lose your

1298
01:25:50,165 --> 01:25:54,125
top. There's all kinds of problems associated. So it's not

1299
01:25:54,125 --> 01:25:59,078
just the lock. It's the road which is District Road

1300
01:25:59,078 --> 01:26:05,669
118. And a lift bridge. So I'd love to see

1301
01:26:05,669 --> 01:26:09,612
the economic piece. I'm all in favor of user pay.

1302
01:26:09,612 --> 01:26:12,612
I'm not sure how much my friends. At the Muskoka

1303
01:26:12,612 --> 01:26:15,292
Discovery center are going to be interested in having their

1304
01:26:15,292 --> 01:26:19,875
fees ratcheted up to pay for it, though, because. We've

1305
01:26:19,875 --> 01:26:22,635
decided that there are other things, like overpaying for Fairvern,

1306
01:26:22,635 --> 01:26:26,635
that are. Higher priorities for us as a council. And

1307
01:26:26,635 --> 01:26:29,035
I'll apologize for my tirade and thank you for hearing

1308
01:26:29,035 --> 01:26:35,386
me. Okay, I guess. I wanted to ask, as far

1309
01:26:35,386 --> 01:26:37,946
as the safety of the hydraulics of the bridge, I

1310
01:26:37,946 --> 01:26:40,946
think. We need to address that, because being held together

1311
01:26:40,946 --> 01:26:45,775
with duct tape is. Probably. I would suggest it's probably

1312
01:26:45,775 --> 01:26:50,361
not true, so let's clarify that. Thank you, madam Chair.

1313
01:26:54,068 --> 01:26:56,748
So absolutely. The equipment at the lift bridge is older.

1314
01:26:56,748 --> 01:26:59,948
It's certainly the original vintage of the equipment. And it's

1315
01:26:59,948 --> 01:27:03,871
not to say that. It can't be continually operated. It

1316
01:27:03,871 --> 01:27:06,351
is certainly something that's on our radar every time there's

1317
01:27:06,351 --> 01:27:09,905
a lift to make sure that. We've made sure that

1318
01:27:09,905 --> 01:27:13,385
all the maintenance is done appropriately. We had an emergency

1319
01:27:13,385 --> 01:27:16,785
purchase. I believe last year to make sure that it

1320
01:27:16,785 --> 01:27:22,124
was properly operating without incident. Understand that there's always that

1321
01:27:22,124 --> 01:27:24,924
risk on any movable bridge that it could get stuck.

1322
01:27:24,924 --> 01:27:29,024
In the open position. And especially significant for Port Carling

1323
01:27:29,024 --> 01:27:32,824
because the diversion route is ours. And so I appreciate

1324
01:27:32,824 --> 01:27:35,024
that. I think the other important thing that I would

1325
01:27:35,024 --> 01:27:39,456
share. So I understand that concern from the community is

1326
01:27:39,456 --> 01:27:42,056
through our transportation master plan. We will be looking at

1327
01:27:42,056 --> 01:27:46,176
redundancies in the road network. And so things like that,

1328
01:27:46,176 --> 01:27:48,216
if there's an incident, what do we do? What's the

1329
01:27:48,216 --> 01:27:53,216
appropriate diversion? And so we are thinking about that. Now,

1330
01:27:53,216 --> 01:27:55,416
and we'll continue to make the appropriate investments in the

1331
01:27:55,416 --> 01:27:59,376
infrastructure so that it can be reliably operated again. Just

1332
01:27:59,376 --> 01:28:02,492
like anything, there's always a risk. And so we try

1333
01:28:02,492 --> 01:28:04,412
not to do it on Friday afternoons of a long

1334
01:28:04,412 --> 01:28:08,933
weekend because that's. When bad things happen. So I would

1335
01:28:08,933 --> 01:28:12,813
say with confidence that the team is doing everything needed

1336
01:28:12,813 --> 01:28:16,973
to do to make sure that it operates appropriately. Is

1337
01:28:16,973 --> 01:28:20,253
there an appropriate investment replacing that entire bridge? I would

1338
01:28:20,253 --> 01:28:23,973
say probably not, because we're able to maintain and operate

1339
01:28:23,973 --> 01:28:27,791
the equipment appropriately. I believe in director Misco can correct

1340
01:28:27,791 --> 01:28:30,231
me. We did a recent upgrade of the electrical system.

1341
01:28:30,231 --> 01:28:33,631
In that area. To provide better reliability of the equipment.

1342
01:28:33,631 --> 01:28:38,141
We've got new controls. That are going in or have

1343
01:28:38,141 --> 01:28:42,379
gone in, and so. There will be investment or continued

1344
01:28:42,379 --> 01:28:45,699
investment in infrastructure so that it is reliable. The last

1345
01:28:45,699 --> 01:28:47,179
thing we want to do is to send a note

1346
01:28:47,179 --> 01:28:50,285
out to say, hey, by the way. We'll probably put

1347
01:28:50,285 --> 01:28:54,024
it on municipal 5111 and just pretend like. It didn't

1348
01:28:54,024 --> 01:28:58,932
happen. But. The bridge is stuck open and so find

1349
01:28:58,932 --> 01:29:01,132
another route, and we certainly don't want to do that.

1350
01:29:02,568 --> 01:29:05,162
And definitely don't want to do that. So what I'd

1351
01:29:05,162 --> 01:29:07,842
say is there's ongoing investment, and we're making sure that

1352
01:29:07,842 --> 01:29:11,802
the bridge functions reliably, and I can almost guarantee there's

1353
01:29:11,802 --> 01:29:15,886
no duct tape. Or binder twine in the operation. But.

1354
01:29:17,246 --> 01:29:22,090
I get the comment. Chair. Lee min, you add something?

1355
01:29:22,090 --> 01:29:26,178
Yeah, just quickly. Madam chair. I think it's a fair

1356
01:29:26,178 --> 01:29:28,258
question to ask, and it comes up every year. I

1357
01:29:28,258 --> 01:29:30,778
mean, it's a million dollar budget to run the port

1358
01:29:30,778 --> 01:29:34,182
carling locks. However. You got to get into the next

1359
01:29:34,182 --> 01:29:37,422
level of numbers. Half of that is the reserve contribution

1360
01:29:37,422 --> 01:29:41,142
for capital. So that's to fix the problem. Councilor Bury's

1361
01:29:41,142 --> 01:29:45,662
problems Councilor Burry. Is rightly talking about maintaining aging infrastructure

1362
01:29:45,662 --> 01:29:51,597
that is critically important to the summer operation. Of some

1363
01:29:51,597 --> 01:29:55,849
key pieces of the Muskoka tourism economy. The question I

1364
01:29:55,849 --> 01:29:59,917
would have. And credit to staff the poor Carling Locke's

1365
01:29:59,917 --> 01:30:05,454
operating budget. Is proposed to remain almost flat. So there's

1366
01:30:05,454 --> 01:30:09,054
no increase in ballooning cost on the operating side, it

1367
01:30:09,054 --> 01:30:12,094
is that capital. Piece. The question I would have is

1368
01:30:12,094 --> 01:30:15,734
it shows 100, and I think 27 grand here for

1369
01:30:15,734 --> 01:30:21,003
revenue. I'm assuming that's just the big lock. Mr. Misco.

1370
01:30:23,125 --> 01:30:24,845
Thank you. Through you, madam chair. That would include the

1371
01:30:24,845 --> 01:30:28,365
big lock and small lock passages. Okay, so. That actually

1372
01:30:28,365 --> 01:30:31,525
is both. And does the 6000 number include both locks?

1373
01:30:31,525 --> 01:30:33,485
I thought I heard that was just the big lock,

1374
01:30:33,485 --> 01:30:40,488
correct. That's primarily the large locks. Counting traffic through the

1375
01:30:40,488 --> 01:30:43,648
small locks. It's an unstaffed location, so it's paid per

1376
01:30:43,648 --> 01:30:47,118
use as you go through, so. We don't have the

1377
01:30:47,118 --> 01:30:49,278
best numbers on that side of the locks. Yeah, okay.

1378
01:30:51,356 --> 01:30:57,884
I'll leave that alone. Thanks. Madam. Chair. Okay, committee. Okay,

1379
01:30:57,884 --> 01:31:04,839
healthy discussion. I guess. Do I have something to read?

1380
01:31:08,171 --> 01:31:13,283
Thank you. It is moved by Chair Lehman, second by

1381
01:31:13,283 --> 01:31:19,003
Councilor Laquis, that the 2025, 2026 draft tax supported operating

1382
01:31:19,003 --> 01:31:21,923
and capital budget and forecast for the engineering and Public

1383
01:31:21,923 --> 01:31:26,483
Works Department, dated January 10, 2025, be endorsed and forwarded

1384
01:31:26,483 --> 01:31:29,843
to the committee of the whole council for further consideration.

1385
01:31:30,642 --> 01:31:40,083
Any more discussion. Okay. Thank you. All in favor? And

1386
01:31:40,083 --> 01:31:48,723
that carries. Thank you. So I

1387
01:31:48,723 --> 01:31:58,651
see. No motions. Any new business? Committee.

1388
01:32:00,253 --> 01:32:05,606
Okay seeing none. It is moved by Councilor La. Quiet.

1389
01:32:05,606 --> 01:32:08,806
Second by councilor armor that we do now retire. To

1390
01:32:08,806 --> 01:32:11,926
Engineering and Public Works Committee and closed session to discuss

1391
01:32:11,926 --> 01:32:14,926
a matter before the Ontario land tribunal. Pursuant to the

1392
01:32:14,926 --> 01:32:21,794
following subsections of section two, three, nine, Two of the

1393
01:32:21,794 --> 01:32:28,167
Municipal Act 2001, as amended. Litigation or potential litigation, including

1394
01:32:28,167 --> 01:32:32,167
matters before administrative tribunals affecting the municipality or local board.

1395
01:32:34,366 --> 01:32:37,566
And advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege, including

1396
01:32:37,566 --> 01:32:39,606
communications necessary for that purpose.

1397
01:32:50,035 --> 01:32:53,155
Okay. Thank you. Welcome back. It is moved by chair

1398
01:32:53,155 --> 01:32:57,155
Lehman, second by council roads, that staff be directed to

1399
01:32:57,155 --> 01:33:00,115
proceed with the direction provided in the preceding closed session

1400
01:33:00,115 --> 01:33:09,687
as outlined in confidential report pw. Twelve 2024 one.

1401
01:33:11,326 --> 01:33:16,120
Committee. All in favor? Nycari. Thank you.

1402
01:33:23,239 --> 01:33:32,186
And again, thanks. For a great year before we adjourn

1403
01:33:32,186 --> 01:33:35,793
this meeting. There's been a lot of work done around

1404
01:33:35,793 --> 01:33:39,553
the district of Muskoka, some really good discussions at this

1405
01:33:39,553 --> 01:33:42,753
table, and so I thank you for your time and

1406
01:33:42,753 --> 01:33:46,193
attention. Thanks to staff. So it is moved by councilor

1407
01:33:46,193 --> 01:33:49,753
Cooper, second, by councilor Kelly, that engineering and public Works

1408
01:33:49,753 --> 01:33:55,698
committee adjourns to meet again on Wednesday, January. 22nd, 2025,

1409
01:33:55,698 --> 01:33:57,578
at 09:00 a.m. Or at the call of the chair.

1410
01:33:59,536 --> 01:33:59,696
All in favor?