Combined - Committee of the Whole & Council - May 9, 2022

Mayor Update

Deputy Mayor Gough opened the meeting on behalf of Mayor Clarke as Mayor Clarke joined the meetings virtually due to feeling unwell.   

Committee of the Whole - Staff Reports

Amendment to Long Grass Bylaw

Council approved amending the Long Grass Bylaw 2021.46 to include new administrative fines and enforcement procedures. The amended bylaw will be presented at the June 27, 2022, Council meeting with the following proposed changes:

• When a complaint is received and confirmed by a Bylaw Enforcement Officer for non-compliance with the bylaw, an order is issued and will include an administrative monetary penalty (fine) of $100.
• Suppose a property owner fails to comply with the order and the Township contractor is required to cut the grass at the property. In that case, an additional $500 administrative monetary penalty will be added to the total invoice.
• When subsequent violations occur on a property that has failed to comply with an order, an additional $500 administrative monetary penalty will be added.

The Long Grass bylaw is in effect from June 1 to October 14 for properties zoned Village Residential, Hamlet and Shoreline Residential. It also applies to properties within the area known as Lagoon City, Bayshore Village, Val Harbour, Floral Park, Brechin and Oak Point Road. 

Sale of Surplus Lands Policy

Council approved the proposed Sale of Surplus Land Policy, and the bylaw will be presented at the June 27, 2022, Council meeting. The policy outlines how the Township of Ramara will dispose of surplus lands through an open and transparent process to ensure that the consideration for such disposal is fair, reasonable and in the best interest of the Township.

View the updated policy & forms 

Decommissioning Study of Two Water Systems

During the 2022 Budgetary process, Council approved for $50,000 to be spent on a decommissioning study that would review the possibility of decommissioning the Davey Drive and Park Lane water systems. The staff's report outlined other options for spending the money, including continuing with the decommissioning study, investigating the feasibility of expanding the system in South Ramara or putting the money back into reserves for future use/projects. Council approved using the $50,000 to investigate the feasibility of expanding the water system in South Ramara. 

Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) - Hotels, Resorts & Short Term Rental Accommodations 

Implementing a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) allows municipalities across Ontario to apply a mandatory rate on accommodations. The funds collected can then be reinvested in Tourism promotion and products. Committee approved implementing a 2% MAT tax on Hotels, Resorts and Short-Term Rental Accommodations starting May 1, 2023. At Council, Council approved deferring the decision until the June 27, 2022 meeting. 

RT07 - Tourism Relief Fund Grant

The Tourism Relief Fund is available to the tourism sector to provide funding up to $100,000 to help facilitate the recovery and long-term growth of the tourism economy. The funding is administered by Reginal Tourism Organization 7 (RT07) and is made possible by the Government of Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Council approved for staff to submit an application to improve the municipal trail between Brechin and Lagoon City.

Request for Quotations (RFQ) for Master Servicing Plan

A Master Servicing Plan outlines future requirements for servicing (water & sewer) in the Atherley, Rama Road and Uptergrove area. The Master Servicing Plan created in 2012 fulfills the requirements of Phase 1 & 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process; however, Phase 3 & 4 is required to determine the requirements to get these services constructed for both existing and future developments. Council approved for Staff to issue an RFQ to get the approximate cost for Phases 3 & 4.

Discretionary On-Site Sewage Re-Inspection Program Results

Council approved the Township of Ramara Discretionary on-site sewage system re-inspection program in 2019 for properties within 100 metres of all watershed areas in the Township. Due to the pandemic, Council deferred the program until 2021 and removed properties within the Lake Dalrymple and the Head River watersheds. In 2021, staff implemented two years of the discretionary program with 11 (1.9% of the properties inspected) inspections deemed low to medium risk and required no immediate action. Council approved the remaining 547 properties in the discretionary program to be completed in 2022 and for communications to be sent to all remaining properties. Residents can learn more about both the on-site sewage re-inspection program at www.ramara.ca/septicreinspection.

Listen to presentation

Read PowerPoint 

Back Yard Chickens - Residential Areas 

Council agreed to and directed staff to prepare a bylaw to amend the Township of Ramara Zoning Bylaw for a temporary use to regulate the keeping of chickens within residential areas. Staff will bring a report that will permit raising up to a maximum of five (5) hens, no roosters, within identified residential areas and would be subject to all zoning provisions and other applicable legislation. 

Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Housekeeping Amendments - Additional Residential Units, Agriculture Related Uses and On-Farm Diversified Uses

Council approved the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment to bring existing residential unit and agricultural use policies into conformity with Provincial legislation and County of Simcoe Official Plan Policies. Specifically, the OP and Zoning Amendment will permit the following:

• a second dwelling unit on a parcel within the AG zone and on farm diversified uses as identified in the amendment to the Zoning Bylaw.
• Additional residential units within an exiting dwelling, within an accessory building with a maximum of two additional residential units permitted accessory to the main dwelling in the following zones:
  • Hamlet (H)
  • Village Residential (VR)
  • Rural and Countryside Residential (RCR)
  • Agricultural (AG)
  • Rural (RU) 

Council - Consent Agenda

Ontario Land Tribunal Decision - File OLT-22-002101

Ontario Land Tribunal handed down its decision on April 29 in favour of the Appellant, Fowler Construction Company Ltd. (Fowler). Read the complete decision and overview of the case here. 

Bill 109 - More Homes for Everyone Act

As part of the 55 recommendations released by the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force Report, Bill 109 - the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 - received Royal Assent on April 14, 2022. The amendments outlined in Bill 109 made changes to five pieces of legislation including the Planning Act. Some of the changes to the Planning Act are outlined below: Gradual refund of fees for some planning applications due to non-decision Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator Complete application requirements for Site Plan Approvals Changes to Draft Plan of Subdivision Process A report with recommended changes to Township processes and relevant draft bylaws will be presented to Council at a future meeting.

2021 Building Activity Year End Summary

As a requirement of the Building Code, the Building department provided a 2021 Building Year-End activity summary of the past 12-month period that outlines the total fees collected, direct and indirect costs, breakdown of costs, and the reserve fund amount. In 2021, the Building department staff issued 480 permits with a total construction value of $59 million and completed 1774 inspections. 

Bills and Bylaws

Licensing Bylaw

Council passed a new Licensing Bylaw that regulates Hawkers & Peddlers, Refreshment Vehicles and Kennels. The new bylaw outlines formal licensing requirements and enforcement provisions that include administrative monetary penalties for offences under the bylaw. A new online application form will also be available to the public. The public can find more information at www.ramara.ca/businesslicensing. 

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