Committee of the Whole - April 8, 2024

Please note that all Committee of the Whole decisions are subject to Council approval. The next Council meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding agenda items or decisions made at Committee or Council meetings, please email jgalvao@ramara.ca.

Bulk Water Rates and Usage

As directed by the Council at the February 26 Committee of the Whole meeting, staff provided a report outlining the bulk water rates of several other municipalities compared to the township’s current and July 1st rates. Staff also outlined the sales received over the last two years. With the construction and closure of the tower from July to October, the Brechin water tower brought in $29,100 in sales, comparatively to $44,700 in 2023. The Committee approved receiving it as information.

Flag Football Program

As directed by Council at the December 11, 2023, Council meeting, staff provided a report outlining the interest and possibility of starting a Flag Football team in Ramara.  Staff received interest from the community, so they propose facilitating a six-week Flag Football program called, “Thursday Night Lights” for grades seven to eight. The program would run Thursdays from September 12 to October 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Staff would research and apply for grants related to purchasing required equipment and advertise for volunteers to coat and assistant coach teams. The Committee approved the staff to implement a six-week after-school Flag Football program and apply for any applicable grants for equipment and supplies.

Baseball League

At the December 11, 2023, Council meeting, the Council directed the staff to provide a report regarding the history, interest, and next steps in creating and implementing a baseball league in Ramara. In the past, Ramara had the Ramara Youth Fastball League with seven teams and participants from Ramara and surrounding municipalities. However, the league disbanded in the 2010s due to decreased interest. In 2019, Ramara and Rama's recreation departments tried to start a fastball league partnership. Unfortunately, the program did not continue due to the lack of participants other than Tee Ball. Currently, the Township offers a six week Tee Ball program for four to six year olds.

To create and implement a baseball program, staff recommend that they meet with the local schools and survey the interest in a ball program. If there is interest, staff will then create a Terms of Reference for a Ramara Youth Baseball League Committee. The Committee, with staff representation, will organize the upgrade of the Ramara Centre Ball Diamond, purchase equipment and supplies, and run a baseball program for 2025. The Committee approved staff's recommendation.  

Implementation of Paid On-Street Parking (Honk) – Paradise Boulevard & Laguna Parkway (Lagoon City)

At the March 11 Committee of the Whole meeting, members of the Council requested staff to investigate the expansion of the Paid On-Street Parking area through Honk to be located on Paradise Boulevard and Laguna Parkway. The Committee approved the implementation of Paid Parking Zones in the following areas at a rate of $5 per hour:

• East side of Laguna Parkway from Concession Road 5 to 145 Laguna Parkway.
• North side of Paradise Boulevard from Paradise Boulevard to 350 metres to the west (before the bend in the road).

This expansion will include the three free parking spaces currently located at the Lagoon City trailhead for all trail users. All other Paradise Boulevard and Laguna Parkway areas will remain Resident Parking Only unless prohibited by signs.

Learn about parking in Ramara

Bylaw Enforcement 2023 year End and 2024 Quarter 1 report – Long Grass & Weeds and Property Standards Update

Staff provided an overview of statistics for the 2023 Bylaw and Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) in 2024. In 2023, the Bylaw Enforcement Department responded to 802 calls for service, compared to 455 calls in 2022. The top three calls for service are Short-Term Rental Accommodation, Canine Control, and Property Standards.

For the first quarter of 2024, the Bylaw Enforcement Department has responded to 67 calls, with the top three calls of service being Canine Control, Parking and Property Standards.

Property Standards and Long Grass Bylaw

The increase in calls related to Property Standards results from the joint partnership with the Building Department to address properties and buildings where building permits are issued, and the property is in contravention of the Property Standards Bylaw. As building inspectors encourage builders to move forward on projects and call for required inspection, township enforcement staff are helping address property conditions that are unrelated to the construction outlined in the building permit.

Concerning the Long Grass Bylaw, in 2023, the Bylaw Enforcement Department successfully retained the services of a reliable contractor and followed contravention procedures that had contravention actions billed back to homeowners. In 2024, all properties in 2023 subjected to enforcement action will receive a notice this spring advising them they will be fined and their grass will be cut without notice in 2024 if found in violation. The Committee approved to receive the report as information.

Need to report a concern - Report it online

Distribution of Resident Parking Passes to Tenants not listed on the assessment roll

Since 2020, the Council has implemented parking restrictions along waterfront areas to help control parking in high-demand areas. In 2021, the restrictions included the implementation of the Resident Parking Pass Program, which allowed residents to park in designated areas. The passes are available to those who appear on the ownership or assessment roll; however, three different groups have come forward to request passes without their names appearing on the assessment roll. These groups include the yacht club land development, where the developer pays the taxes under one roll number and campground. Staff are suggesting that the Township continue to work with the identified groups and any new groups who may be eligible for passes annually and issue any required passes per our policy. The Committee approved continuing with the program as the staff suggested.

Purchase your 2024 Resident Parking Permit

Review of Township of Ramara Kiteboarding Bylaw 2020.53

At the Council meeting on March 25, 2024, Council requested a staff report to review the Township's Kitesurfing Bylaws and regulations. Since 2020, the Township has regulated kitesurfing as a result of increased use of outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the popularity of Lagoon City as a kitesurfing destination. Through Bylaw 2020.53 & 2021.38, the Township prohibits kitesurfing from all municipal properties from the Thursday prior to the May long weekend to the Thursday after the Labour Day Long weekend in September, with kitesurfing strictly prohibited from Simcoe Road and the Steps. The Committee approved to receive the report as information.

Draft Sign Bylaw

In 2023, Council requested that staff investigate and draft a sign bylaw to prohibit the placement of advertising signs on municipal property and create a process to regulate temporary event signage and real estate signs. The Draft Bylaw outlines the following provisions:

• Definition and distinction between signs, temporary event signs, real estate signs and open house signs, including exemptions for Federal, provincial and municipal regulatory signs and election signs,
• Regulations for the placement of advertising signs.
• Regulations and permit process for Temporary Event Signs.
• Regulations for the placement of real estate and open house signs

Committee did not approved for staff to forward the draft sign bylaw as presented to the Committee of the Whole to Council for approval.

Infrastructure Tenders

Committee awarded the following tenders for infrastructure projects and services.

Propane

Committee approved to contact with Parkland Fuel Corporation (o/a Sparlings Propane) for a three year term to supply the Township with Propane and storage tanks at an estimated bid price of $141, 261.98 per year.

Fuel

Committee approved to contact with Bowman Fuels for a three-year term to supply the Township with Gasoline, Diesel, Coloured Diesel and Heating oil at an estimated bid price of $257,772.21 per year

Gravel

Committee approved to contact with Robert E Young Construction Ltd. for the supply and application of gravel to various roads in the Township at bid price of $355,760 plus taxes.

Pulverizing

Committee approved to contact with Roto Mill for the pulverization of various roads in the Township to be completed in conjunction with surface at bid price of $9,388.80 plus taxes.

Slurry Seal

Committee approved to contact with Duncor Enterprises Inc. for the completion of slurry sealing on various roads in the Township at bid price of $103,306.95, plus taxes.

Streetlight Maintenance

Committee approved to contact with Black & McDonald Limited for the maintenance and repair of Township streetlights for the next three years at an estimated annual cost of $15,000, plus taxes.

Surface Treatment

Committee approved to contact with Duncor Enterprises Inc. for the completion of Double Layer Surface Treatment on various roads in the Township at bid price of $72,489, plus taxes.

Cemetery Grass Cutting

Committee approved to contact with 1000632697 Ontario Ltd., (o/a submit Property Group Simcoe Muskoka) for the grass cutting of three Township operated cemeteries at an estimated costs of $3,886.10, plus taxes.

Hot Mix Patching

Committee approved to contact with Marquis Snow and Ice for the completion of hot patching where required for a period of two years.

Parking Lot Line Painting

Committee approved to contact with Capital Parking Lot Painting for the completion of parking lot line painting for various parking lots in the Township at an estimated bid price of $2,406.04, plus taxes.

Reminders

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For More Information

For more details on any of these items, see the full meeting Agenda or view the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube Channel.

The Meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council Meeting Minutes are the official record of the meeting.