Sep 25, 2023 City Council

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

JUST TO MR. GOULDING.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE, BUT SOME OF THESE REQUESTS, ARE THEY NOT PART OF OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN?

[00:05:07]

YES. THANK YOU.

THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP.

YEAH. A LOT OF THE ITEMS, AS I UNDERSTAND, HAVE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED, WOULD BE COMING OUT DURING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE INFORMED BY OUR FIRST PHASE OF OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN.

YEAH. SO WE WOULD SEE THIS THESE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THE NORMAL.

UM, OPERATIONS OF OUR REGULAR COUNCIL SCHEDULE.

I WOULD THINK A GOOD DEAL OF THIS MATERIAL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND JUST I WOULD SUPPORT ANY PETITION AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.

THAT'S THAT'S NICE TO SEE.

THAT MEANS YOU CARE.

WE THIS I KNOW THIS ARENA IS THE NEWEST SEMI.

I WOULDN'T CALL IT A DISASTER, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND IT ALL TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND WE HAVE TO GET THAT LOOKED AT AND FIGURED OUT.

BUT JUST GIVE US SOME TIME TO WORK ON THIS.

IT CAN'T BE A QUICK TURNAROUND.

WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN AND THAT THAT'S ALL I ASK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SO IT WILL BE REVIEWED, AS I SAID, AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

WE WILL PROBABLY BE USING THE ELLIOT LAKE WEBSITE OR THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKES WEBSITE TO INFORM YOU OF FUTURE PLANS.

AS COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF HAS STATED, THIS IS IN FLUX AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND IT'S NOT EASY TO HANDLE.

WE ARE TRYING FOR SURE OUR BEST.

THE TOWN HALL IS A SETTING THAT SORT OF GIVES US SOME FREEDOM.

SOME OF YOUR REQUESTS ARE ASKING FOR IT TO BE FORMALIZED, LIKE UNDER THE MUNICIPAL ACT.

AND THERE ARE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE FIND FRUSTRATING, FRANKLY.

AND SO I BELIEVE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TOWN HALL FORMAT, AND THAT'S NOT PART OF THE REQUEST IN THIS PETITION, WHICH MIGHT BE A COMPROMISE THAT WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE TO COME TO AGREEMENT WITH.

OKAY. UM, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY GET OUR INFORMATION OUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT.

AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE CAN SAY RIGHT NOW.

THAT BEING SAID, DO WE WANT TO VOTE TO RECEIVE THIS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR.

NONE ARE OPPOSED AND THAT IS CARRIED.

SO AT THIS POINT, IF ANYBODY WISHES TO LEAVE FEEL FREE TO GO.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[6. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS]

ITEM SIX PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS 6.1.

PRESENTATION FROM THE BDO CANADA LLP REGARDING THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE 2022 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

PRESENTERS JENNIFER ARCHAMBAULT, CPA, CA ACCOUNTING AND ASSURANCE PARTNER.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

WELCOME, JENNIFER.

MISS ARCHAMBAULT? KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE A FULL CROWD.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, I'M THE PARTNER THAT DEALS WITH THE CITY CITY'S AUDIT.

AND I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE DECEMBER 31ST YEAR END.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, STOP ME AS AS I GO ALONG AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.

SO WHERE I LIKE WHERE I LIKE TO START ALL THE TIME IS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT.

SO THIS IS BASICALLY THE ONLY THING THAT'S PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT IS BDOS OR THE AUDITORS TO COMMENT ON EVERYTHING ELSE IS MANAGEMENT'S STATEMENTS. AND THEY PUT THE STATEMENTS TOGETHER AND WE COME IN AND WE AUDIT THEM AND WE GIVE AN OPINION.

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT IS THE OPINION PARAGRAPH.

AND THAT'S WHY I'VE GOT IT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE IN THE RED BOX.

THE FIRST PART OF IT JUST GOES THROUGH WHAT WAS AUDITED.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART GOES THROUGH OUR OPINION.

AND IN THIS CASE, OUR OPINION IS THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE CITY AT AT AT DECEMBER 31ST, 2022.

SO IT'S A CLEAN OPINION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, WHAT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS HAD IN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

IT DOES GO ON FOR A COUPLE OF PAGES TO GO THROUGH MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

[00:10:01]

THE AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT REALLY WHAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT IS THAT OPINION PARAGRAPH.

SO THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU GO IN TO THE ACTUAL STATEMENTS IS A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION.

AND THIS IS AT A GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

SO ALL OF THESE BALANCES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE AS AT DECEMBER 31ST, 2022.

AND WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL START WITH THE FIRST SECTION, KIND OF THE ONE THAT'S OUTLINED IN RED, THE FINANCIAL ASSETS.

SO THIS IS ALL OF THE CITY'S CASH OR CASH LIKE ASSETS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY TOTALED $33,955,000 AT THE YEAR END.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPONENTS OF IT, IT'S MADE UP MAJORITY OF CASH THAT'S IN THE BANK OR INVESTMENTS THAT ARE INVESTED AT COST. OKAY.

THAT WAS THE MOST OF IT.

THERE IS SOME TAXES RECEIVABLE, JUST GENERAL IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, $1.3 MILLION.

THIS IS MONEY USUALLY GRANT IN THE FORM OF GRANTS THAT COME INTO THE CITY THAT JUST HAVEN'T BEEN RECEIVED YET.

AND IT IS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, IT'S NOTHING THAT IS PAST DUE, IF YOU WILL, AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE WAS NOHFC FUNDING THAT HADN'T BEEN RECEIVED IN REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE HST REBATE THAT THE CITY GETS IN THE AMOUNT OF 200 SORRY, $370,000 WAS NOT RECEIVED.

THOSE CAME IN AFTER YEAR END.

AND SO NOT AN ISSUE THERE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S BAD DEBTS IN THERE.

OKAY. SO LIKE I SAID, FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR THE CITY JUST SHY OF THAT $34 MILLION MARK.

THE NEXT THE NEXT SECTION GOES THROUGH THE LIABILITIES THAT THE CITY HAS.

SO ANYBODY THAT THE CITY OWES AT DECEMBER 31ST, 2022.

IN ALL IN ALL, THE LIABILITIES THAT THE CITY HAD WERE REALLY COMPARABLE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

YOU HAD YOUR NORMAL ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, WHICH ARE SERVICES THAT WERE GIVEN OR PROVIDED TO THE CITY.

YOU HADN'T PAID FOR YET TIMING ISSUES.

THEIR DEFERRED REVENUE IS THE GAS TAX.

SO IT'S ABOUT $2.8 MILLION OF GAS TAX THAT CAME INTO THE CITY.

YOU HAVEN'T USED IT FOR YOUR ROADS OR ANYTHING YET, SO IT'S SITTING THERE FOR IN THE FUTURE.

YOUR LONG TERM DEBT THAT GETS PAID DOWN REGULARLY AND YOU ACCRUED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

THOSE ARE SET UP AS PAYABLE AS THE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING SO THAT WHEN THEY RETIRE AND ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. THOSE ARE ALL COMPARABLE.

THE ONE ISSUE THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY SEE THAT IS POINTS OUT AS DIFFERENT IS THE ACCRUED LANDFILL CLOSURE COSTS ALMOST $4 MILLION IN COMPARISON TO $1.6 MILLION IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO WHAT THIS IS REPRESENTING IS AN EXTERNAL ENGINEER COMES IN AND LOOKS AT THE LANDFILL, DECIDES HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO CLOSE IT AND MONITOR IT. AS AUDITORS THEN LOOK AT IT AND BRING THAT VALUE INTO CURRENT DAY TOTALS. AND WE NEED TO REPORT IT AS A LIABILITY OF THE CITY FOR WHEN THE LANDFILL IS GOING TO BE CLOSED, WHICH IS ONLY AT 40%.

CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

SO. SORRY, 40% REMAINING.

SO THE BIG THING THAT MADE THINGS CHANGE IS INFLATION.

INFLATION AT DECEMBER 31ST, 2022 WAS 6%.

LAST YEAR, IN 2021, IT WAS ABOUT 3.4%.

SO WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT NUMBER THAT THE ENGINEER SAID IT'S GOING TO COST THE CITY TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL AND BRING IT BACK TO TODAY'S DOLLAR, INFLATION AT 6% VERSUS AT 3.3% IS GOING TO TOTALLY CHANGE THAT CALCULATION AND MAKE IT MUCH HIGHER.

SO THAT IS WHY THE ACCRUED LANDFILL COST IS LOOKING WAY HIGHER THAN THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

THE ACTUAL COST TO CLOSE THE SITE, AS DETERMINED BY THE THE ENGINEER IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THAN IN PRIOR YEARS.

IT'S JUST THAT INFLATION COST.

OKAY. SO IF YOU TAKE THE FINANCIAL OR CASH ASSETS OF THE CITY AND SUBTRACT THE LIABILITIES, YOU END UP WITH THE NET FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE CITY OF $21 ,020,000.

AND SO EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, IT MEANS IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE THE CITY RIGHT NOW, OR AT DECEMBER 31ST CAN TAKE THE MONEY OR CASH ASSETS IT HAS AND PAY OFF EVERY SINGLE DEBT IT HAS AND STILL HAVE $21 MILLION LEFT EARMARKED TO DO THE SERVICES THAT IT NEEDS TO PROVIDE TO THE RATEPAYERS.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PAY OFF THIS STUFF THAT ALREADY HAPPENED? YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THAT COVERED.

OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST SECTION IS THE NON FINANCIAL ASSETS.

[00:15:02]

A LOT OF TIMES THE BIGGEST NUMBER ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THIS IS ALL OF THE CAPITAL ASSETS THAT THE CITY HAS THAT ARE GOING TO LAST LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.

YOUR BUILDINGS, YOUR ROADS, YOUR SEWERS, YOUR EQUIPMENT, YOUR DESKS, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR? THERE'S ABOUT $3.4 MILLION OF ADDITIONS, MOSTLY ROAD ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, SOME POOL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND THEN THERE WAS SOME AMORTIZATION, WHICH IS THE USE OF THOSE ASSETS OVER THE YEAR THAT BROUGHT IT BACK DOWN TO THAT $34,880,000.

OKAY. SO IF YOU ADD THE NET FINANCIAL ASSETS WITH THE NON FINANCIAL ASSETS, YOU END UP WITH THIS ACCUMULATED SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF $56,600,000, WHICH IS UP FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH IS GOOD.

AND WE'LL COME BACK TO WHAT THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.

OKAY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STATEMENT? OH, YES, MR. FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S TO YOU OR TO MS. SONNENBURG. THE LONG TERM DEBT OF $1.4 MILLION.

WHEN DO WE DECIDE TO START TO PAY IT DOWN? OR HOW DO WE GO ABOUT GETTING RID OF THAT? IT GETS PAID ONCE A YEAR FOR THE MOST PART.

THERE'S TWO PORTIONS.

THERE'S THE PLAZA, WHAT I'LL CALL THE PLAZA LOAN, WHICH IS THROUGH ONTARIO INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THEN THERE'S THE STREETLIGHTS WHICH HAVE BEEN AROUND.

THEY'RE ALMOST DONE.

SO REALLY WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS THE PLAZA LOAN, WHICH GETS PAID DOWN ONCE A YEAR AND YOU'VE BEEN MAKING YOUR PAYMENTS REGULARLY.

IT'S JUST A LONG TERM, LONG TERM LOAN AND IT'S REALLY CHEAP 3%.

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, DON'T QUOTE ME.

PARDON? 02.75. SO ROUNDED TO THREE.

YEAH. SO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST LONG TERM LOAN THAT YOU PAY THROUGH.

OKAY, WELL, THAT'S A GOOD RATE.

OKAY, THANKS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT STATEMENT, THE STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS.

SO THIS IS ALL OF THE TRANSACTIONS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR.

AND WE'LL CONCENTRATE ON THE CENTER COLUMN, WHICH IS THE 2022 COLUMN.

AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE REVENUE.

SO THE REVENUE THAT CAME INTO THE CITY ARE GENERATED THROUGH THE CITY DURING THE YEAR JUST SHY OF $34 MILLION.

FOR THE MOST PART PRETTY COMPARABLE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, TAXATION IS UP BECAUSE OF THE TAXATION BASE.

PROVINCIAL GRANTS ARE UP, USER FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES.

THAT'S REALLY THE WATER AND SEWER, THOSE ARE UP.

ONE OF THE BIGGER CHANGES THAT HAPPENED IS THAT OTHER LINE, THE CATCH ALL IT'S UP BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CITY OWNED LAND THAT WAS SOLD IN THE YEAR WHICH WAS WAS QUITE A LOT.

SO THAT'S SOME OF THE CHANGE THAT'S SITTING IN THERE.

SO THAT'S THE REVENUE.

AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK AT IT IN PICTORIAL FORMAT BECAUSE I FIND YOU CAN KIND OF GRASP BETTER LIKE WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM? AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE, YOU CAN EASILY SEE THERE'S THREE MAIN STREAMS OF REVENUE THAT COME INTO THE CITY.

YOUR LARGEST 40% COMES IN BY WAY OF TAXATION.

AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LAST YEAR'S GRANT, IT WAS SORRY, LAST YEAR'S CHART, IT'S 41%.

SO VERY, VERY SIMILAR.

PROVINCIAL GRANTS, 31%.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR AS WELL.

AND USER FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES, AGAIN, YOUR WATER AND SEWER, SOME OF YOUR LICENSING THINGS OF THAT MATTER.

YOUR YOUR DRAG RACES ARE IN THERE, YOUR STREET DANCE FEES, THOSE SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE SITTING IN THERE.

AND THAT'S 19% AND IT WAS LAST YEAR.

SO YOU COULD PRETTY MUCH TAKE LAST YEAR'S REVENUE STREAMS AND PUT IT ON THIS CHART AND IT'D BE VERY SIMILAR SO.

SO GOING MOVING ON TO EXPENSES THEN.

WHAT DID THE CITY SPEND ITS MONEY ON? FOR THE MOST PART.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EXPENSES SECTION THERE, THE MIDDLE COLUMN IS 2022.

IF YOU LOOK TO THE BUDGET COLUMN BESIDE IT, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE IN LINE WITH BUDGET OR UNDER AND THEN 2021 AS WELL COMPARABLE TO THAT TO THAT COLUMN AS WELL.

SO THAT'S GOOD. SO YOU WERE KIND OF WITHIN YOUR MEANS OR WITHIN THE BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE AREAS THAT ARE NOT THE THIRD ONE DOWN.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, IT'S UP A LITTLE HIGH.

A LOT OF FUEL COSTS WENT UP DURING THE YEAR AND THAT'S WHERE ALL YOUR MACHINERY FOR YOUR ROADS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT SIT.

SO THAT MAKES SENSE THAT IT WOULD BE HIGHER THAN MAYBE EVEN EXPECTED.

AS EXPECTED, THE REAL BIG CHANGE IS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

AND I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS.

THIS IS THE LANDFILL.

[00:20:01]

THE LANDFILL CHANGED.

WE HAD AN INCREASE THAT LIABILITY BY $1.9 MILLION.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE EXPENSE IS SITTING.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS YEAR AND WHY IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN BUDGETED BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEVER BUDGET FOR THAT.

YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED LAST YEAR THAT A DECEMBER THE INTEREST RATE WOULD HAVE BEEN 6%.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S KIND OF LOOKING OUT OF WHACK.

BUT AGAIN, OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS VERY COMPARABLE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND OR BUDGET.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE I LIKE THE GRAPHS.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE WHERE THE SPENDING IN THE CITY IS HAPPENING.

THE LARGEST THIS YEAR IS ENVIRONMENTAL.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE TO THE LANDFILL COST.

USUALLY THAT'S TOP THREE, BUT NOT USUALLY NUMBER ONE.

AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022, YOU'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION, YOUR ROADS BEING 19% AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.

PROTECTION IS YOUR FIRE AND POLICE AND AGAIN LAST YEAR WAS 20%.

SO AGAIN, THE SAME KIND OF SPENDING HAPPENING AND YOUR GENERAL GOVERNMENT AT 16%.

SO VERY, VERY SIMILAR SPENDING FROM YEAR TO YEAR FOR THE CITY.

ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE EXPENSES INSTEAD OF BY CATEGORY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT TYPE OF EXPENSES IT WAS OR BY OBJECT.

AND AGAIN, VERY EASY TO SEE YOUR TOP THREE AREAS OF SPENDING, SALARIES AND BENEFITS AT 32% WHILE YOUR SERVICE ORGANIZATION IT MAKES SENSE. YOU'RE PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE RATEPAYERS OF THE CITY.

SO THAT MAKES SENSE.

LAST YEAR WAS 34%, SO DOWN SLIGHTLY.

MATERIALS AND EXPENSES ARE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES 20% THE SAME AS PREVIOUS YEAR AND YOUR CONTRACTED SERVICES AT 28%.

AND THAT WOULD BE LIKE YOUR POLICE YOUR LANDFILL COSTS OR IN THAT CONTRACTED SERVICES.

SO AGAIN, REALLY COMPARABLE OVERALL.

IF WE BRING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER, YOU END UP WITH THIS REVENUE LESS EXPENSES [INAUDIBLE] REVENUE $ 33,800,000 EXPENSES AT $29,900,000.

YOU END UP WITH THIS ANNUAL SURPLUS OF $3,945,000.

SO THAT'S THE EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES DURING THE YEAR, AND THAT GETS ADDED TO THE OPENING BALANCE TO END UP WITH THIS ACCUMULATED SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF $56,000,662.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER THAT WE ENDED THE LAST STATEMENT ON.

SO WHAT DOES THIS REPRESENT? GREAT. WE HAVE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS OF $56 MILLION.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WELL, YOU CAN KIND OF BREAK THAT $56 MILLION DOWN INTO FOUR CATEGORIES.

AND SO HERE HERE'S KIND OF THE BREAKDOWN.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PORTIONS OF THAT $56 MILLION OF ACCUMULATED SURPLUS ARE RESERVES AND RESERVES ARE SURPLUSES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN PAST YEARS. THIS YEAR, 2022 COULD HAVE BEEN 1998 THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

REVENUE OVER EXPENSES ENDED UP WITH A SURPLUS.

AND THEN COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT SAY WE'RE GOING TO SET THAT SURPLUS ASIDE FOR FUTURE USE, WHETHER IT BE FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES.

HERE IS THE LARGE ONE, $19 MILLION FOR LANDFILL CLOSURE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO ALL IN ALL, THERE'S $29 MILLION THAT HAVE KIND OF BEEN EARMARKED OR SET ASIDE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.

SO THAT'S A BIG BULK OF THAT $56 MILLION.

THE LARGEST ACTUALLY COMPONENT IS THE EQUITY AND TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS.

AND THIS IS WHAT I HAD SAID WAS IT'S THE EQUITY THAT THE CITY HAS PUT INTO ALL OF ITS CAPITAL ASSETS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUILDINGS, THE THE ROADS.

THIS IS HOW MUCH HAS GONE IN AND IS SITTING IN THAT $56 MILLION.

THE THIRD COMPONENT IS THAT YELLOW ARROW, AND THAT'S THE OPERATING SURPLUS AND DEFICIT.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S ZERO.

AND THE REASON THAT IT'S ZERO IS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR.

ONCE YOU TAKE THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR, WHATEVER'S LEFT OVER OR WHATEVER, IT'S SHORT COMES OUT OF THE WORKING CAPITAL FUND.

AND DURING THE YEAR THERE WAS A WORKING CAPITAL TRANSFER, THAT OF $1.7 MILLION.

SO THERE WAS A SURPLUS DURING THE YEAR OF $1.7 MILLION GOES INTO THAT RESERVE BALANCE AND IT'S THERE FOR FUTURE USE.

OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM OF THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS IS THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S A LIABILITY THERE ALL DEBT.

AND THIS IS DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS THAT HAS NO EARMARKED REVENUE TO IT.

SO, YES, YOU HAVE LONG TERM DEBT THAT HAS TO BE PAID OR THE LANDFILL WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED.

[00:25:06]

BUT THERE'S NO SPECIFIC REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR IT YET.

SO IT'S JUST SITTING THERE AS THIS NEGATIVE COMPONENT OF ACCUMULATED SURPLUS.

AND WHEN YOU ADD THOSE FOUR ITEMS UP, YOU GET THE $56 MILLION WHICH REPRESENTS THAT ACCUMULATED SURPLUS FOR THE CITY FOR THE YEAR. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE PRESENTATION I HAD.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING.

I WENT OVER TOO QUICKLY, TOO SLOWLY OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THANK YOU, MRS. ARCHAMBAULT.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

THIS IS ONLY FOR COUNCIL.

UM, ACTUALLY, YOU'RE NOT SLATED TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.

SORRY. THIS IS NOT AN OPEN HOUSE.

THIS IS A COUNCIL CHAMBER.

NOT THIS EVENING.

I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.

THROUGH YOU TO MISS ARCHAMBAULT.

THE MONEY IN THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT.

$2.6 MILLION IS JUST SITTING THERE.

IT WAS SITTING THERE IN 21.

SITTING THERE IN 22.

DOES THERE EVER COME A POINT WOULD THAT BE THAT WE SAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS MONEY IF IT'S JUST GOING TO SIT THERE? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL.

THERE IS A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION, THE RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND.

I'M SORRY. COUNCILLOR MANN.

IT MUST BE. OKAY.

YEAH. SO THERE IS A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT THAT BASICALLY AND BOARD THAT SETS AND YES, AND THAT'S THEIR DECISION.

BUT IT IS JUST SITTING THERE AND IT IS CASH.

OKAY. I GUESS I'LL FIND THAT OUT LATER THEN.

THANKS. DO YOU WANT TO? SORRY. THIS IS MAYBE FOR MS. SONNENBURG. SO THE $29 MILLION IN RESERVES THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST GRAB TOMORROW AND SPEND? CORRECT. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I WOULD SAY NO.

IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR SPENDING WILLY NILLY.

THEY'RE ALL EARMARKED RESERVES THAT ARE FOR PLANNED EVENTS AND THINGS THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO.

EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU MAY RECALL, HAVING BEEN THROUGH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, A DOCUMENT ON THE STATE OF RESERVES IS PREPARED AND WE DISCUSS ALL OF THE EXPENSES THAT HAVE COME FROM RESERVES THAT HAVE BEEN USED THAT SORRY, THAT RESERVES HAVE BEEN USED FOR AND ALSO THE FUTURE OF RESERVES.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE DO OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT PLANNING AS WELL.

LOOKING AT EMERGENT ISSUES WHERE WE KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR WE MIGHT REPLACE A ROOF AND SOMETHING, FIVE BIG TICKET ITEMS. AND WE PLAN TO DO THAT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE.

THEN IN THE FOLLOWING BUDGET CYCLE, WE REPLACE SIX DIFFERENT BUDGETED ITEMS AND THEN SOMEDAY DOWN THE ROAD WE ACTUALLY DO REPLACE THE AERIAL TRUCK.

AND SO ALL OF THOSE FUNDS ARE PLANNED AND SO THE RESERVES ARE MEANT TO COVER THOSE PLANNED FUTURE EXPENSES.

THANK YOU. MS. SONNENBURG.

THAT'S A GOOD REMINDER.

COUNCILLOR MANN THANK YOU.

WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. ARCHAMBAULT, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AGAIN THIS YEAR.

IT IS NICE TO HEAR THAT THE MUNICIPALITY IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL HEALTH.

HOWEVER, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF ASSETS EXAMPLE HILLSIDE DRIVE, WHICH IS COULD POTENTIALLY SCOOP UP HALF OF THAT. THAT RESERVE THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS WITH ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN AS WELL AS THE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF SUCH, IT'S WELL IN EXCESS OF $90 MILLION.

SO WHEN WE START TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE REALLY HAVE TO TEMPER OUR EXPECTATIONS OVER WHAT WE CAN TRULY AFFORD.

CONSIDERING SOME OF THE FINANCIAL GRANTS FROM THE PROVINCE AND THE FEDS ARE NOT NECESSARILY AVAILABLE TO OUR RIDING.

I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW.

YOUR WORSHIP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MANN.

OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN.

APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

NO PROBLEM. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES UP, I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE THROUGH AMY TO BE CONTACTED.

OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN.

OKAY. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE 2022 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND AUDITOR'S REPORT AS PRESENTED BY BDO CANADA

[00:30:08]

LLP, BE RECEIVED.

NONE ARE OPPOSED. AND THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. OUR SECOND PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IS FROM THE ELLIOT LAKE WATERFRONT OWNERS ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE 2023 INTRODUCTION. AND TONIGHT'S PRESENTER IS MRS. HEATHER MCCAMBRIDGE.

SORRY. I GUESS THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PRESENTERS NO, AND MY COLLEAGUE, CAROL GRIZZELL.

OKAY. I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE NAME.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR PERMITTING US TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ELLIOT LAKE WATERFRONT OWNERS ASSOCIATION.

IN 2004, THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE LAUNCHED A PROJECT TO SELL WATERFRONT PROPERTIES ALONG THE SHORES OF DUNLOP, QUIRKE AND POPEYE LAKES.

IT CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO BUY AFFORDABLE LAND IN A PRISTINE SETTING AND CUSTOM BUILD THE HOME OR COTTAGE OF THEIR DREAMS. NEWCOMERS TO THIS PROJECT SOON FOUND THEM IN A CITY THAT WAS LEARNING ABOUT DEVELOPING A WHOLLY UNIQUE NEW COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.

WITH THE ONSET OF PROPERTY SALES AND DEVELOPMENT, IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A NEED FOR OWNERS TO UNITE AS ONE VOICE.

FOUNDED IN 2006 ELWOA WAS FORMED AS AN ORGANIZED GROUP OF LANDOWNERS, FACED WITH THE MANY CHALLENGES OF RURAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.

WITH A CONSTITUTION AND A PURPOSE THEY COMBINE THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO ADDRESS COMMON ISSUES AND SHARE INFORMATION.

THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE WATERFRONT COMMUNITY.

THE PROJECT BEGAN WITH AN IDEA AND IT ROSE THROUGH THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE ACT WAS PASSED ON JUNE 29TH, 2001, WHEN THE LAST URANIUM MINE IN ELLIOT LAKE CLOSED IN 1996.

THE CITY'S ONLY SOURCE OF TAX REVENUE LAY SOLELY ON ITS RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE LEFT BEHIND.

AS SUCH, THIS AREA HAD A TAX RATE HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY IN NORTHERN ONTARIO.

CITY APPLIED FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATION TO FOR PERMISSION TO DEVELOP SHORELINE AND OTHER LANDS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES IN ORDER TO EXPAND ITS TAX BASE AND TO USE THE NET PROCEEDS OF THESE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE PAGE WITHIN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE'S WEBSITE REGARDING THE PROJECT.

OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES WITH WATERFRONT ACCESS AND LIFESTYLES.

THIS PROJECT HELPS ENCOURAGE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY AND THE REGION AND THE SPECIAL AND THE REGION AND ITS SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO. SO ONCE APPROVED, 255 LOTS WERE SURVEYED ON THREE LAKES AND WERE PLACED FOR SALE AT VARIOUS FIXED PRICES IN ANNUAL PHASES, BEGINNING 2004 ON DUNLOP AND QUIRKE LAKES AND ENDING IN 2008 ON THE POPEYE LAKES LOT.

PROSPECTIVE BUYERS CAMPED OVERNIGHT OUTSIDE THE SALES OFFICE AT THE PEARSON CENTER TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTY OF CHOICE.

AS A CONDITION OF THEIR PURCHASE PROPERTY OWNERS AGREED TO COVENANTS WHEREBY A CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE WAS TO ACHIEVE WITHIN WAS TO BE ACHIEVED WITHIN A SET TIME FRAME, OR THEY WOULD FACE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.

THE CITY'S EXPECTATION WAS THAT MOST PURCHASERS WOULD WOULD BE SEASONAL OCCUPANTS.

HOWEVER, AT THE MOMENT, WELL OVER 50% ARE NOW FULL TIME RESIDENTS.

GETTING THERE. A LITTLE ABOUT OUR THREE LAKES.

QUIRKE LAKE HAD 57 LOTS DEVELOPED.

A NEW MUNICIPAL BOAT LAUNCH WAS PROVIDED OFF SANDROCK ROAD.

WHILE THERE ARE PLANS IN THE EARLY DAYS TO ADD BOAT SLIPS AT THIS LAUNCH, THEY HAVE YET TO MATERIALIZE.

POPEYE LAKE HAD 17 LOTS DEVELOPED.

THERE WAS NO MUNICIPAL BOAT LAUNCH PROVIDED.

HOWEVER, A SMALL PUBLIC ACCESS REMAINS FOR SMALLER CARRY IN BOATS, CANOES OR KAYAKS.

DUNLOP LAKE BEGAN WITH 45 EXISTING RESIDENTS FROM PREVIOUS DAYS AND SAW AN ADDITIONAL 181 LOTS DEVELOPED.

THE EXISTING MUNICIPAL BOAT LAUNCH OFF HIGHWAY 108 WAS THE INTENDED LAUNCHING POINT FOR THE 37 NEWLY DEVELOPED WATER ACCESS ONLY PROPERTIES.

[00:35:01]

IT HAD A PROJECTED I'M SORRY, IT HAD A PROTECTED LAGOON LIKE AREA WITH MOORING FACILITIES, A LARGE PARKING LOT WITH AMPLE SPACE FOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS AND WOULD ALLOW WATER ACCESS ONLY RESIDENTS TO PROCEED INTO THE CITY CENTER FOR BUSINESS, RECREATIONAL AND PERSONAL NEEDS.

THIS LAUNCH ALSO BOASTS A PICNIC AREA AND WASHROOM FACILITIES TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS FOR WATERFRONT GUESTS, FOR WATER ACCESS ONLY GUESTS TO COME AND GO, AS WELL AS FOR THE NON RESIDENTS TO ENJOY DAYTIME RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

AN ADDITIONAL BOAT LAUNCH WAS EVENTUALLY PROVIDED ABOUT TEN KILOMETERS ALONG DUNLOP SHORES ROAD.

OVER THE PAST 19 YEARS, THE ELWOA ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE ESTABLISHED AN EXECUTIVE BOARD THAT HAD AN AREA REPRESENTATIVES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT GEOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS AS EACH AREA HAD SEVERAL UNIQUE NEEDS. WE JOINED THE FEDERATION OF ONTARIO COTTAGERS ASSOCIATION FOCA, WHICH REPRESENTS AND HELPS 250,000 WATERFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS REMAINED INFORMED ABOUT PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL ISSUES.

WE USE A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION TOOLS TO KEEP OUR MEMBERS INFORMED.

WE SEND OUT REGULAR BULLETINS AND NEWSLETTERS.

WE DEVELOPED A MEMBERS ONLY FACEBOOK PAGE.

WE DEVELOPED AND MANAGED OUR OWN WEBSITE.

WE ASSISTED THE CITY WITH THE SITE SELECTION OF QUIRKE LAKE MUNICIPAL BOAT LAUNCH.

WE WORKED WITH THE CITY OPP FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS TO ENSURE ALL PROPERTIES HAD OFFICIAL 911 NUMBERING AND COVERAGE ON THE EMERGENCY SERVICE MAPS. WE APPOINTED A REPRESENTATIVE TO LIAISE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE, GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BOAT LAUNCH FACILITIES.

WE WORKED WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A GUIDELINE FOR THE NEW PROPERTY OWNERS TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THEIR EVENTUAL APPLICATION FOR OCCUPANCY PERMITS.

WE WORKED WITH THE CITY TO HAVE THE GARBAGE DUMPSTERS ON STANROCK DUNLOP SHORES AND SOUTH BAY ROADS MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM HIGHWAY 108 SO AS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REFUGE REFUSE DROPPED OFF BY NON LAKE RESIDENTS.

WE BROUGHT THE CITY'S ATTENTION TO THE DIRE NEED FOR A LARGER SECONDARY PARKING FACILITY AT THE DSR MUNICIPAL BOAT LAUNCH.

WE [INAUDIBLE] LIAISED WITH THE CITY AND VIANET TO TEST TOWER RECEPTION AND BRING WI-FI CONNECTIVITY TO THE MAJORITY OF THE WATERFRONT RESIDENTS.

WE JOINED THE LAKE PARTNER PROGRAM, WHERE VOLUNTEERS FROM THREE LAKES PROVIDE ANNUAL WATER SAMPLES AND REGULAR.

STANDARD SENSHI SENSHI DISK READINGS TO THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND PARKS DORSET RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE COLLECTION OF THIS HISTORICAL DATA USED FOR SCIENTIFIC EVALUATIONS.

WE PRESERVE OUR DRINKING WATER QUALITY BY ENCOURAGING OUR MEMBERS TO PRACTICE APPROPRIATE SEPTIC TANK MAINTENANCE.

WE HAVE INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE THE DRAIN CLEAN DRY BOATING REGULATIONS TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF INVASIVE AQUATIC SPECIES INTO OUR LAKES.

WE PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BY ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO ADHERE TO THE CITY AND MNRF BUFFER CLEARANCE REGULATIONS.

WE OFFER SAINT JOHN'S AMBULANCE EMERGENCY FIRST AID COURSES TO OUR MEMBERS, THUS ENABLING THEM TO APPLY BASIC MEDICAL CARE, COVERING HEART ATTACK, DROWNING OR MAJOR WOUNDS WHILE AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF EMS. WE BECAME THE FIRST RECOGNIZED FIRE SMART COMMUNITY IN ONTARIO TO HELP MITIGATE THE RISK OF WILDFIRE.

WE INVITE SORRY.

WE INVITE INFORMATIVE GUESTS TO SPEAK AT OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE OUR MEMBERS ON ISSUES THAT CLOSELY AFFECT US.

WHILE ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED AS A COTTAGE LOT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MANY OWNERS WERE BUILDING GENERATIONAL HOMES IN WHICH TO LIVE AND RETIRE.

OUR TAXES ARE HIGH.

WHY? BECAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUES OF OUR HOMES EXCEED THE CITY'S PROJECTED EXPECTATIONS.

OVER THE YEARS, ELWOA HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE CAO BYLAW, PUBLIC WORKS AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

THESE EFFORTS WILL MOST CERTAINLY CONTINUE AS THEY ARE KEY FACTORS IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS WARRANT.

MOVING FORWARD, ELWOA WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE PROACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE STRATEGIC AND FISCAL PLANNING STAGES, PROVIDING INPUT TO THE GROWING AND JUSTIFIABLE NEEDS OF OUR LAKEFRONT COMMUNITY.

GIVEN THE AT LARGE OR NON WARD STRUCTURE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, WE FEEL THERE SHOULD BE MORE REGULAR AND DIRECT INTERACTION WITH THE COUNCIL.

THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE WITH THE INTENTION OF GIVING OUR PROPERTY OWNERS A MORE MEANINGFUL VOICE AND A MORE FORMAL EAR WITHIN THE LOCAL

[00:40:04]

MUNICIPALITY. ELWOAS MANDATE CONTINUES TO BE THE VOICE OF OUR WATERFRONT COMMUNITY, REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE, REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE NEEDS AFFECTING BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION.

WE WILL STRIVE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE LAND WE LIVE ON.

THE FOREST WE LIVE IN.

EXCUSE ME. I'M LOSING MY VOICE.

THE FISH AND WILDLIFE WE LIVE WITH AND THE THREE LAKES FROM WHICH WE TAKE OUR DRINKING WATER.

AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HEATHER AND CAROL.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOU, WORSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

IN ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU HAD LISTED.

YOU WERE REQUESTING A PRESENCE IN ANY DISCUSSIONS REGARDING TAXES.

OBVIOUSLY OUR BUDGET PROCESS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN FOR 2024.

ELWOA HAS IN THE PAST BEEN QUITE ACTIVE IN DISCUSSING WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THOUGHTS, VIEWS AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT AGAIN FOR THE UPCOMING CYCLE, WHETHER IT'S A WRITE IN OR A PRESENTATION TO COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILLOR MANN.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO WE DO. OKAY.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. THANK YOU, SIR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.

AND I REALIZED THERE WAS AN ASSOCIATION OUT THERE, BUT I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU DID ALL THOSE THINGS, AND YOU SHOULD BE, WELL, COMMENDED.

OKAY. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD GET A COPY OF THE WHOLE PRESENTATION? I CAN EMAIL NATALIE.

PERHAPS. YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[7. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS]

OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS.

7.1 IS A REPORT FROM TIM L DOLBY CONSULTING LIMITED REGARDING UPDATE ON RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR THE POSITION OF CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT IDENTIFIABLE INDIVIDUALS.

IT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 2392B OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THIS MATTER BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION? MOVER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE. THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED.

ITEM 7.2 REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING APPLICATION FOR THE ELLIOT LAKE DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE REPORT OF THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS DATED SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023, BE RECEIVED AND THAT CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE SUPPORT THE NOHFC APPLICATION FOR ELLIOT LAKE DOWNTOWN ART CENTER PROJECT AND THAT THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE COMMIT A CASH CONTRIBUTION OF $405,216 TO THE $810,431 PROJECT. $431 SORRY, AND THAT THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE WILL CONFIRM A COMMITMENT TO COVER ANY COST OVERRUNS IF THERE ARE ANY INCURRED . MOVER. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR BULL.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

SO THIS IS A FAIRLY ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT THAT'S COMING FORWARD TO COUNCIL TONIGHT.

IT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE NOHFC THAT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF ANY APPLICATION THAT WE MAKE TO THEIR PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

FRANKLY, I'VE BEEN LEANING ON MR. ANTUNES GOODWILL TO ASSIST ME IN PREPARING THESE REPORTS.

I'VE BEEN A BIT OVER CAPACITY THIS PAST WEEK AND INASMUCH AS HE'S SUPPORTED ME WITH THIS DOCUMENT, I THINK I COULD HAVE RECIPROCATED A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

SO WITH THIS ONE, BECAUSE THIS IS QUITE A CONVOLUTED PROJECT BECAUSE IT HAS A NUMBER OF FUNDERS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM, AND THE MOST OBVIOUS OF WHICH IS FEDNOR, WHO

[00:45:01]

COMMITTED THREE QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT.

AND ONE OF THE CARDINAL RULES WHEN APPROACHING TWO FUNDERS FOR A SINGLE PROJECT IS NEVER HAVE EITHER ONE FUND PORTIONS THAT THE OTHER IS ALREADY FUNDING AND WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.

AND SOME OF THE EAGLE EYED CONSTITUENTS IN OUR MUNICIPALITY MAY NOTICE THAT THE DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER PROJECT, THE EXPENSES FOR IT, ARE GREATER THAN $810,431.

THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COMMITMENT THAT FEDNOR MADE US.

MAKE FOR THEIR THREE QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION FUNDING AND THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT.

SO FORGIVE ME, I'M IMPROVISING WITH NUMBERS AND IT'S ALWAYS A DANGEROUS THING TO DO IN PUBLIC.

BUT OUR FEDNOR AGREEMENT REQUIRED US TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $938,000 AND IF WE MANAGE TO DO THAT, THEY WOULD ALLOCATE THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION TO US.

ALL OF THAT TRANSPIRED AND THEN SINCE THAT TIME WE HAD THE REMAINDER OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS $1.32 MILLION.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER IN JULY, WE ALLOCATED AN EXTRA A NUMBER OF EXTRAS TO THIS JOB, INCLUDING FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH ARE I'LL JUST BE TRANSPARENT AND SAY I FORGET IT'S IN THE RANGE OF $400,000.

YOU CAN WORK BACK THE MATH IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO DO SO, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT, IT WILL BE THE SUM OF $938,000 AND THE 810.

SO THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 938 AND 810, THE NOHFC HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE HAPPY TO PAY HALF OF THAT.

THAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR PROGRAMING.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY TO GET A RESOLUTION TO RECOUP ANOTHER $405,000 ON THIS PROJECT FROM ONTARIO SUPPORT.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, MR. GOULDING. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING. SO OF THAT, THAT $405,000, IS THAT INCLUDING WHAT WE WERE GOING TO APPLY TO NOHFC FOR THE FAÇADE? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS I JUST DETAILED 938 PLUS 810 WE'RE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FROM THE PROVINCE ON HALF OF THE 810 THAT WE HADN'T COMMITTED TO WITH FEDNOR PREVIOUSLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? JUST ONE QUESTION WITH THE FACADE REPAIRS, WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED DATE OF COMPLETION? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTORS QUITE REGULARLY LATELY, AND THERE I'VE ASKED THEM DIRECTLY ARE WE GETTING THIS DONE THIS FALL? AND THEY SAID YES.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A TARGET DATE OF NOVEMBER FOR TOTAL COMPLETION OF ALL OF THE PROJECT ASPECTS THAT WE'VE CONTRACTED FOR.

SO. YEAH, BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CERTAINLY.

I WOULD EXPECT.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.

SO NO OTHER COMMENTS? SHALL WE HAVE A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

AND THAT'S CARRIED.

YEAH, WE CAN TAKE A QUICK PAUSE IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE CHAMBERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S A LOT.

OKAY. ITEM 7.3 MEMO FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING PROPERTY ON OAKLAND BOULEVARD.

AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY BY THE MUNICIPALITY.

[00:50:02]

IT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 2392C OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION THAT THIS MATTER BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. AND THAT'S CARRIED.

ITEM 7.4 REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING NOHFC APPLICATION FOR THE MECHANICAL UPDATES AT THE ELLIOT LAKE MUNICIPAL POOL PROJECT.

I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE REPORT OF THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS DATED SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023, BE RECEIVED, AND THAT THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE SUPPORT THE APPLICATION FOR THE MECHANICAL UPDATES AT THE ELLIOT LAKE MUNICIPAL POOL PROJECT, AND THAT THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE COMMIT A CASH CONTRIBUTION OF $1,581,651 TO THE $3,163,303 PROJECT. AND THAT THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE WILL CONFIRM A COMMITMENT TO COVER ANY COST OVERRUNS IF THEY ARE INCURRED.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THIS IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME REPORT PUT IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE SAME REASON.

IT'S A SIMPLER PROJECT IN TERMS OF FUNDING MODEL, AND IT'S WORDED IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY TO ALIGN WITH HOW THE NOHFC UNDERSTANDS THIS PROJECT TO BE WITH IN RELATION TO OUR PHASE ONE APPLICATION.

SO. MR. ANTUNES AND I HAVE HAD KIND OF AN OVERLAPPING CAREER AT OUR TIMES AT THE CITY WHERE HE WAS PREVIOUSLY A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER.

AND THEN I CAME INTO THE ROLE AND WE COLLABORATED QUITE A LOT, HANDING OFF PROJECTS ONE TO ANOTHER WHILE WE WERE DOING VARIOUS TASKS.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE POOL PROJECT.

SO LAST YEAR IN 2022, WE REALIZED A NUMBER OF REPAIRS TO THE AIR HANDLING UNITS AT THE MUNICIPAL POOL, AND THAT PROJECT COST IN THE RANGE OF 900.

WHAT WAS IT, 946? I WAS GOING TO SAY 950 SO THAT WE WERE CLOSE AND THE NOHFC WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO FUND HALF OF THAT PROJECT AND INVITED US TO TO APPLY FOR FUTURE WORK THAT MAY NEED TO BE DONE.

LAST SUMMER, IN 2022, MR. ANTUNES PUT IN A PHASE ONE APPLICATION JUST PROACTIVELY TO THE NOHFC UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE PROBABLY GOING TO BE FACED WITH A PROJECT THERE AND NOTIONALLY SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE RANGE OF $3 MILLION.

AND THE NOHFC INDICATED THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT A PROJECT OF THAT SIZE NOTIONALLY.

BUT AT THAT TIME IT WAS DESCRIBED AS MECHANICAL UPDATES AND FRANKLY, AT THAT TIME WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROJECT WOULD EXPAND TO ACTUALLY BE.

SO WHAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR NOW IS THE TOTAL SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE BEGINNING OF JULY THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY THINK OF REPAIRS TO THE POOL SHELL MORE THAN MECHANICAL UPDATES, BUT THEY DO COMPRISE MECHANICAL UPDATES AS WELL WITH THE PIPING THAT AND THE PUMPS THAT SERVICE THE WELL, THE POOL AND THE TRAINING POOL.

SO THAT'S A LONG WAY TO CLARIFY WHY IT SAYS MECHANICAL UPDATES.

BUT THE NOHFC IS COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS UP TO 50% OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.

WE UNDERSTAND THIS PROJECT TO BE ELIGIBLE AND WE'RE APPLYING FOR IT THAT SUPPORT.

ALL INDICATIONS ARE THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS COUNCIL RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE OUR APPLICATION AND HAVE IT OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GOULDING. AND MR. ANTUNES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING SO OR MR. ANTUNES. SO ONCE WE PASS THESE RESOLUTIONS, WHEN WILL WE HEAR BACK IF WE'RE GETTING THE MONEY? SO THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE DON'T KNOW.

THE NOHFC IS OVERSEEN BY A BOARD THAT MEETS IT SOUNDS VERY CLOAK AND DAGGER TO SAY IN SECRET, BUT REALLY IT IS IN SECRET EVEN ONTARIO'S STAFF CAN'T TELL US WHEN THEY MEET BECAUSE ONTARIO STAFF DOES NOT KNOW.

[00:55:02]

THIS BOARD IS MADE UP OF LOCAL PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL REGION IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NORTH.

AND IF THEIR MEETING TIMES AND IDENTITIES WERE KNOWN, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE PRESSURE THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO THESE BOARD MEMBERS.

AND SO ALL COMMUNICATION WITH THE NOHFC BOARD HAPPENS THROUGH A COMPUTER SYSTEM THROUGH ONTARIO STAFF.

SO WE NOTIONALLY WE KNOW THAT THEY MEET REGULARLY KIND OF QUARTERLY.

WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THEY PROBABLY HAD ONE TOWARDS THE END OF SUMMER.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY HAVE ONE BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHERE WE'RE CONSIDERED IN THIS APPLICATION, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S PUBLICLY KNOWN WHEN THESE PEOPLE MEET AND WHEN WE WILL HEAR AN ANSWER BACK.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE. SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE THROUGH YOU, MR. CHAIR FOR MR. BILL GOULDING, EVEN IF WE KNOW THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR RESPONSE ON THESE EXTRA GRANTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THE POOL RENOVATIONS ARE GOING AHEAD NO MATTER WHAT.

AND IT IS IT'S STILL SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN FEBRUARY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YEAH. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I'VE BEEN I MENTIONED THAT I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTORS REGULARLY.

IT'S THE SAME CONTRACTOR REALIZING THE DOWNTOWN ART CENTER AS THE POOL PROJECT.

OUR MEETING LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST WEEK.

TIME IS FOLDING OVER ON ITSELF FOR ME LATELY THEY SEEM TO INDICATE THAT IF IT'S A FEBRUARY OPENING, IT WOULD BE A LATE FEBRUARY OPENING AT THE SOONEST.

THEY'RE LOOKING MORE AT MARCH NOW BECAUSE OF DELAYS FOR THE POOL LINER AND BUT THEY'RE STILL SHOOTING FOR SPRING OPENING FOR SURE.

THIS IS SO WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE.

SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES, THE POOL PROJECT IS GOING FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT.

COUNCIL MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR, REGARDLESS OF FUNDING STATUS WITH THE NOHFC TO GET STARTED.

THE CONTRACTORS ARE ON SITE.

THEY ARE WORKING.

I'VE SEEN THEM WORKING.

WE KNOW THEY'RE THERE.

YEAH. SO THAT'S THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

THROUGH YOU, MR. CHAIR.

RUMORS OUT THERE ON THE SOCIAL LAND THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO COME INTO THIS CITY REGARDING GRANTS AND AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

DO YOU FEEL THAT OR DO YOU THINK WE SORT OF, LIKE, GET A GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY THAT COMES BACK HERE? THANK YOU THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO I THINK.

AND I THINK THAT IS A QUALITATIVE QUESTION.

I THINK THAT IF YOU SAY THAT WE GET ENOUGH OR NOT ENOUGH MONEY, IT'S DEPENDENT BOTH ON YOUR DESIRE AND PERHAPS COMPARED TO WHO ELSE? I THINK IT MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING EXERCISE TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE IN OUR GRANT APPLICATIONS COMPARED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND IF YOU WERE TO DO THAT ANALYSIS, I HAVE A VERY STRONG SUSPICION THAT YOU WOULD FIND THAT GRANT DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED FROM THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS SOMEWHAT CONSISTENTLY OVER COMMUNITIES IN ONTARIO ACCORDING TO THEIR POPULATION.

SO IF AND I THINK IT MATTERS WHO YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS.

SO IF YOU WOULD CARE TO COMPARE NORTH BAY TO ELLIOT LAKE.

WELL, NORTH BAY HAS ABOUT TEN TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE DO.

SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT THEY WOULD GET ABOUT TEN TIMES THE MONEY.

OR IF YOU DID THE SAME WITH SAULT SAINTE MARIE, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

AND I MEAN, I SEE THIS COME ACROSS SOCIAL AS WELL, AND I SEE SOME OF OUR MORE REGIONAL PARTNERS HAVING SUCCESS WITH APPLICATIONS AND.

MY RESPONSE TO THEIR SUCCESS IS THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR APPLICATION.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEIR SUCCESS TAKES AWAY FROM OUR SUCCESS.

IT'S NOT A ZERO SUM GAME.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

IF A BLIND RIVER OR A MASSEY OR A THESSALON HAS SUCCESS IN MAKING APPLICATION TO PROVINCIAL FUNDING, IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE'S AVAILABLE PROVINCIAL FUNDING FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS COULD BE SHIFTED TO OTHER LARGER REGIONS REGIONS IN THE PROVINCE EASILY.

SO. ALL INDICATIONS ARE FROM THE NOHFC, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVINCIAL FUNDERS, THAT

[01:00:03]

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR MONEY RIGHT NOW AND THEY WANT THEIR PROGRAM TO BE STRONG AND WELL FUNDED AND DISPERSED ON SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT I NEED TO THROW OVER TO MRS SONNENBERG BECAUSE I THINK SHE HAS A COMMENT ON THIS.

THANK YOU. MS. SONNENBURG. THROUGH YOU YOUR WORSHIP.

I'D LIKE TO BRING COUNCIL'S ATTENTION BACK TO AGENDA PACKAGE PAGE 16 OF THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED TO US THROUGH BDO.

AND IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REVENUE SECTION THAT MRS. ARCHIBALD WALKED US THROUGH EARLIER THIS EVENING, WE CAN SEE THAT YEAR OVER YEAR AND BUDGET TO ACTUALS GRANTS ARE UP FOR THE CITY. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WHY WAS THE RECEIVABLES HIGH? ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM A PREVIOUS PAGE, WHY ARE RECEIVABLES A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST? AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT GRANTS ARE COMING.

WE JUST HADN'T REALIZED THE FUNDS IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT, IF YOU WILL.

HOWEVER, BACK TO AGENDA PACKAGE PAGE 16.

WE SEE A HEAVY DETAIL ON THE ACTUAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS FROM BOTH PROVINCIAL, FEDERAL AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE OTHER REVENUE THAT IS LISTED WITHIN THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINS OTHER MAGICAL RANDOM GRANTS THAT BOTH MR. ANTUNES AND MR. GOULDING HAVE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO HAVE ON THE GO, AND THAT'S WHERE WE REALIZE THAT REVENUE IS IN THAT SECTION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND SO THAT SPEAKS SOMEWHAT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY ACHIEVING SOME GRANTS TO OFFSET SOME OF OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

JUST A COMMENT FROM COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

YOU SAY LIKE THE SOCIAL MEDIA SAYS, WELL, WE'RE NOT REALLY GOING AFTER THE GRANTS.

WHEN WE GOT THE $750,000 TO WORK ON THE REEL TO REEL, DID THEY EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP.

JUST TO ADD TO THE COMMENTS OF MR. GOULDING AND MS. SONNENBURG.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABOVE AVERAGE IN SUCCESS WITH NOHFC HISTORICALLY, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER GRANTS THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE RATIONALE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE PROVINCE OR THE FEDS IS THEY'RE OVERSUBSCRIBED AND THEY'RE HEAVILY OVERSUBSCRIBED.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT SOME OF THESE INTO, AGAIN, PERSPECTIVE.

CLEARLY, THIS CORPORATION AND THIS BOARD THAT HAS AGAIN, BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDS THE NORTH, UNDERSTANDS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITIES LIKE ELLIOT LAKE, AND ULTIMATELY THERE IS ONLY ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

SO THERE'S SOME VERY, VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BE MADE, WHICH IS CLEARLY WHY THIS BOARD DOES A LOT OF WORK, YOU KNOW, OFF GRID.

AND I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE WHY THAT'S BEING DONE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MANN.

I JUST GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS WELL, THE SAME PRESENTATION WE JUST HAD FROM THE BDO.

IT WAS ACTUALLY BOILED DOWN IN A NICE PIE CHART.

AND THE CONSISTENCY OF THE GRANTS FROM OUR FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS IS THE SAME FROM THE YEAR TO THE YEAR TO THE YEAR.

AND WE DO THANK THEM VERY MUCH FOR ANY HELP THAT WE RECEIVE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

JUST ONE LAST COMMENT BY GOING TO THESE DIFFERENT CONFERENCE.

I THINK YOU'RE REALIZING THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN ONTARIO THAT IS KNOCKING ON THESE MINISTER'S DOOR.

THERE'S THOUSANDS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A DOLLAR OR TWO.

SO IT'S HARD TO DO A LOT OF PROJECTS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE GETTING BUT I THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY AND WE HOPE TO EVENTUALLY GET SOMEWHERE IN A COUPLE MORE YEARS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY. GOOD DISCUSSION.

NOW WE'LL VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

AND THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 7.5 REPORT FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING HYDRO ONE LAYDOWN AREA.

A REQUEST FOR LEASE AGREEMENT.

[01:05:01]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE REPORT FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023, BE RECEIVED, AND THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED TO BRING BACK A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH HYDRO ONE NETWORKS FOR A 0.6 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY 108.

MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

GOOD EVENING, YOUR WORSHIP AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MR. ANTUNES, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU.

INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY THAT'S PRESENTED TO US.

OUR FRIENDS AT HYDRO ONE ARE LOOKING FOR A LAYDOWN AREA.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO SOME WORK IN THE MUNICIPALITY BETWEEN THIS COMING OCTOBER ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO DECEMBER OF 2026.

THIS PROJECT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO CREATE A LAYDOWN AREA FOR WORK THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE MUNICIPALITY. THAT WAS A WIN WIN, CONVENIENT FOR OUR COLLEAGUES AT HYDRO ONE, BUT WITHOUT OFFERING A LOT OF IMPACT OR CREATING A LOT OF IMPACT WITH UNSIGHTLINESS FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY SINCE HIGHWAY 108 IS OUR MAIN THOROUGHFARE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.

SEVERAL BACK AND FORTHS GREAT PARTNERS TO WORK WITH.

SO ULTIMATELY WHAT WE SETTLED ON AND YOU CAN SEE IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE, THEY REACHED OUT AND SAID, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A ONE ACRE PARCEL.

I'LL BE HONEST, SOME OF THE FIRST SUGGESTIONS WERE TWO PARCELS RIGHT ON HIGHWAY 108, WHICH AGAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY UNSIGHTLY.

THROUGH COOPERATION, THE SITE THAT YOU SEE THERE IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE, ANYONE WHO'S DRIVING UP 108, IT'S THE BIG ELECTRIC GRID LOOKING FAR FROM A SPECIALIST IN HYDRO ITEMS. BUT IT'S THE HYDRO AREA THAT YOU SEE JUST PAST SIMPSON TRAILER PARK.

THE ITEM THAT YOU SEE, THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE CALLED PROPOSED RENTAL LOT.

HYDRO HAD QUITE A BIT OF TREED AREA PAST THE CUT THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

THE SUGGESTION WAS LET'S MAKE THE MOST OF THE LAND THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AND THEN LOOK AT GOING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ONTO MUNICIPAL LAND.

THE RED LINE THAT YOU SEE ON THERE, WE WENT WITH THREE COLORS.

THE RED LINE THAT YOU SEE IS THE BOUNDARY OF MUNICIPAL LAND IN THAT AREA.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS PUT 0.4 OF AN ACRE ON HYDRO'S LOT.

THE 0.6 OF AN ACRE ON OUR OWN LOT.

THE PROPOSAL FROM HYDRO ONE IS THAT THEY WILL DO THE SURVEYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO NOT GO ON TO THE PRIVATE LAND ON EITHER SIDE OF IT, AND THEY WILL HANDLE ALL CLEAR CUTTING AND PREPARATION OF THE LOT.

SO IT IS FORESTED NOW.

THEY WILL CREATE A SQUARE OR A BLANK LAY DOWN SQUARE IN THE AREA, BUT IT'S ALL BEING DONE AT THEIR EXPENSE AND AGAIN, NOT VIEWABLE FROM THE HIGHWAY. SO AGAIN, IN WORKING WITH THEM, ONE OF THE ULTIMATE THINGS IS TO HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON THE AESTHETICS OF DRIVING UP HIGHWAY 108.

IF COUNCIL IS AMENDABLE TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, THE LEASE RATE FOR THE PROPERTY WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR LEASE RATES FOR MUNICIPAL PROPERTY IS $0.50 PER SQUARE METER PLUS THE ADMINISTRATION FEE.

SO THAT WILL GIVE US A ANNUAL RENTAL OF 1214 PLUS ADMINISTRATION.

SO 1319 PLUS HST, WHICH OVER THE 38 MONTHS WILL NET OUT $4,176.83 TO THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO VERY LONG WINDED.

I APOLOGIZE, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. ANTUNES. LET'S JUST START.

CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT A LAYDOWN AREA IS AND ELABORATE ON WHAT THE USES WILL BE.

THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP.

YES, SIR. SO LAYDOWN AREA IS THEY ARE GOING TO BE UPDATING, AS WAS DESCRIBED TO ME, SOME POLES, EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE AREA, DIFFERENT TRANSFORMERS.

IF ANYONE'S DRIVEN UP HILLSIDE LATELY, JUST ACROSS FROM THE HILLSIDE CLINIC THERE IS AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE FOR MY IGNORANCE ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, BUT IT'S A TRANSFORMER LOOKING DEVICE IN A WOOD CRATE.

THEY'RE BASICALLY LOOKING FOR A SPOT TO STAGE THEIR EQUIPMENT WORK, BE IT FOR POLLS OR OTHER EQUIPMENT.

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE IT ON A SITE THAT'S FAIRLY SECURE AND WITH ACCESS TO THEIR LOT.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS THEY COME IN, BRING PRODUCT IN.

THEY JUST WANT A PLACE TO STAGE IT AS THEY GO ON AND WORK SO THEY DON'T BRING IT IN AND INSTALL IT RIGHT AWAY.

THEY BASICALLY WANT A SPOT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR WHY, IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, THE SUGGESTION WAS LET'S PUT IT IN A SPOT WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE IT DRIVING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY THIS TREED AREA IS BACK THERE.

I'M COMFORTABLE THAT DRIVING UP THE HIGHWAY, I PUT FEET TO PAVEMENT A LITTLE WHILE AGO INTO DIRT A LITTLE WHILE AGO TO HAVE A LOOK.

[01:10:03]

AND BARRING ANYTHING MAJOR, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD REALLY SEE FROM THE HIGHWAY.

AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW HIGH THEY PILE IT UP ON THEIR SITE, BUT I'M FAIRLY COMFORTABLE THAT IT'S THERE.

AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR SOON TO BE TENANT.

IF COUNCIL APPROVES, HYDRO KEEPS PRYING EYES OFF THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THEN IT ALSO DOESN'T MAKE IT UNSIGHTLY FOR OUR TOURISTS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU, I THINK BEYOND THE SMALL RENTAL INCOME WE'LL RECEIVE IS FINALLY AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM HYDRO ONE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE THEIR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE MANY FAILURES. AS WE BEGIN ANOTHER WINTER SEASON, POLES IN NUMEROUS PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE OLD AND NEAR FAILURE.

I WOULD SUGGEST, AND THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR MANN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

TO MR. ANTUNES. WELL, IT'S GOOD TO WORK WITH HYDRO, OBVIOUSLY.

KEEP GOING ON OUR GOOD BOOKS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FEW PROJECTS ON THE GO WITH THEM.

JUST A QUESTION.

IF THEY DON'T BRING IN THEIR OWN CREWS TO GET RID OF ALL THE TREES AND GET THAT ALL PREPPED.

YOU'LL MENTION TO THEM THAT WE HAVE LOCAL LOGGING COMPANIES HERE AND HELP THEM OUT? THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP.

ABSOLUTELY. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT AS WITH SURVEYING, HYDRO HAS VERY POWERFUL AND THEIR OWN ACCESSIBLE CREWS TO DO A LOT OF THIS WORK.

BUT AGAIN, FOR THE MEANING OF OUR LOGGING GROUPS THAT WE DO HAVE, IF THERE IS A REACH OUT TO CONTRACTORS, WE WILL CERTAINLY SHARE.

BUT HYDRO DID STATE THAT BETWEEN THE SURVEYING AND THE CLEARING, THEY WOULD DO IT IN HOUSE JUST FOR COST CONTROL ON THEIR SIDE.

OKAY. THANKS.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD POINT, COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

WOULD THEY ALSO CONSIDER CONTRACTING OUR LOCAL LOGGERS FOR THEIR FUTURE BIG PROJECTS GOING DOWN THE ROAD ? THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP WITH THE MY CONTACT AT HYDRO, I'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE THAT AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND BRING UP WHO WE HAVE AND HAVE THAT AS AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY.

AND REMIND THEM OF THE POSITION THAT'S HAPPENING IN ESPANOLA AS WELL.

THANK YOU. SO AFTER USE, IS THERE ANY REMEDIATION THAT THEY WILL DO ON THEIR PART AFTER THE LEASE . THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP? THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAND AS FAR AS REMEDIATION, THEY'RE GOING TO CLEAR.

IT'S ONLY HELD FOR STORAGE.

SO AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE AREA OTHER THAN THE CUTTING OF THE WOODS THAT ARE THERE, IF WE CHOOSE IN OUR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO OUTLINE ANYTHING ELSE.

IF IT'S COUNCIL'S WISH TO HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN PLAY AS FAR AS AS REPLANTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN SUGGEST THAT.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY WILL CLEAR OFF THE AREA AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER LAND LEASE, THEY ARE ARE BOUND TO CERTAIN OUTLINES IN THE LEASE.

BUT THERE IS NO REMEDIATION TO BE DONE ON THE SPOT PER SE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY FUTURE USE PLANS FOR AN OPEN LOT THAT'S CLOSE TO THERE? NO. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE INITIAL SUGGESTIONS WAS TO HAVE THEM CLEAR CUT THE LOT AND HAVE IT SERVE AS A STAGING AREA FOR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. BUT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BACK AND FORTH WAS WE CAN MAKE YOU A STAGING AREA, BUT YOU'LL HAVE THREE YEARS OF POLES AND WHATEVER LAID OUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND OUR EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.

SO AND THEN AS FAR AS A CONVENIENCE AREA FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE AREAS AROUND THIS SPOT ARE NOT MUNICIPALLY OWNED.

THE AREAS THAT ARE MUNICIPALLY OWNED TO THE NORTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MILLIKEN MINE ROAD, AGAIN PUT FEET TO, I'D SAY PAVEMENT, BUT THERE WAS NO PAVEMENT THERE, FEET TO A LOT OF DIRT AND ROCK. AND FROM A TOPOGRAPHICAL STANDPOINT, THEY WANT SOMETHING.

THEY'RE GOING TO CLEAR. IT'S FLAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO LAY DOWN, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MILLIKEN MINE ROAD AND 108, WHERE THE CITY DOES OWN MUNICIPAL LANDS.

THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY THAT PRESENTED ITSELF AS A FLAT, EVEN ACCESSIBLE AREA.

ONE OF THE BIG REASONS FOR THIS ONE IS THEY CAN START WORKING FAIRLY QUICKLY.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DIAGRAM, THEY HAVE A DIRECT DRIVEWAY AND ACCESS POINT THAT THEY USE NOW OFF OF HIGHWAY 108 INTO THEIR AREA, WHICH THEY CAN

[01:15:09]

CONTINUE RIGHT ON TO THEIR SPOT.

ANY OF MY HAREBRAINED SUGGESTIONS TO DO SOMETHING ON MILLIKEN MINE ROAD WOULD HAVE CREATED THE OR WOULD HAVE HAD THE NEED TO CREATE AN ENTRANCE WAY, A DRIVEWAY, A CULVERT.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE COST INVOLVED TO THEM AT THAT POINT WHERE THIS BECAME CHOPPED DOWN, THE TREES PAT DOWN THE LAND AND WE'VE GOT OUR LAY DOWN AREA.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

NONE ARE OPPOSED AND THAT IS CARRIED.

REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS BE RECEIVED AND THAT COUNCIL ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH, AND THAT FUNDS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION BE DRAWN FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURE RESERVE AND THAT THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW BE PASSED TO ENACT THIS DECISION.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER? COUNCILLOR SEIDEL SECONDER COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

I'M SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO SEE THIS COME FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN OPEN SESSION.

NOT ONLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT BECAUSE I'VE HAD QUITE A LOT OF CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT ASKING ABOUT WHAT OUR INTENTIONS WERE WITH THIS PROPERTY THAT I COULDN'T OPENLY DISCUSS.

SO SOME TIME AGO, I'M SURE COUNCIL IS AWARE WE RECEIVED DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE PROSPECTS OF ACQUIRING THIS PARCEL IN CLOSED SESSION. AND AS A STAFF PERSON, THAT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT I CAN DISCUSS PUBLICLY, AND I THINK THAT CAUSES QUITE A BIT OF CONFUSION WITH CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY HEAR THINGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I AS STAFF, WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THERE THAT KIND OF BREEDS MISTRUST BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP TO SOMETHING.

AND I GUESS IN A CERTAIN MANNER OF SPEAKING, WE ARE WE'RE EXECUTING COUNCIL'S WILL IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.

BUT I'VE BEEN ASSURING THE PUBLIC FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE MONTHS NOW THAT IF COUNCIL'S WILL IS TO PURCHASE A PIECE OF LAND, THEN THEY WILL DO SO IN OPEN SESSION BEFORE EVERYBODY.

AND TONIGHT'S FINALLY THE NIGHT WHERE YOU GET TO DELIBERATE WHETHER YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.

SO WITH THAT LONG PRELUDE, THE UNITED CHURCH, LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL, IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND STAFF HAS BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE THE TREASURY COMMITTEE OF THAT ORGANIZATION AS THEY SEEK TO DISPERSE THE ASSET FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION.

AND IN DOING DUE DILIGENCE WITH THAT, WE TASKED TULLOCH ENGINEERING TO DO A BUILDING ASSESSMENT. A CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING.

AND THE REPORT THAT CAME BACK COUNCIL HAS REVIEWED ALREADY IN CLOSED.

BUT IT INDICATED THAT IT'S A VERY SOUND BUILDING WITH FEW CONCERNS ON THE INSPECTOR'S PART.

AND SO THE REPORT THAT'S IN FRONT OF COUNCIL TODAY IS SEEKING RECOMMENDING THAT WE PASS THE APPROPRIATE BYLAWS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT PURCHASE SALE.

BUT IT ALSO KIND OF TACITLY ASKS FOR DIRECTION ON GIVING STAFF THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND MORE FULLY DEVELOP A USE PLAN FOR THE FACILITY.

THERE'S ONE PROPOSED IN THE REPORT THAT.

KIND OF IDENTIFIES OUR LACK OF A MUSEUM FACILITY AS A RESULT OF THE PEARSON LOSS IN 2018 AND IDENTIFIES THIS PROPERTY AS A CANDIDATE FOR USE FOR THAT TYPE OF FACILITY.

IT ALSO IDENTIFIES THE FACT THAT THIS IS A VENUE, A PERFORMANCE VENUE AT ITS HEART FOR SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND USING THE SPACE AS KIND OF A MULTIFUNCTIONAL FACILITY MAKES SOME SENSE AS WELL FOR SMALLER, MORE INTIMATE PERFORMANCES.

I THINK THAT WE'LL FIND THAT THE CAPACITY FOR LARGE SCALE PERFORMANCES ISN'T QUITE THERE IN THE WAY THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING

[01:20:03]

THAT STAFF CAN WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND AND PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH SOME GUIDANCE ON.

BUT AT THIS TIME WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR WELCOME CENTER NEEDS, WITH OUR MUSEUM NEEDS, WITH USING THE FACILITY IN A LIMITED WAY AS A PERFORMANCE VENUE AND ALSO OUTLINING THAT HAVING AVAILABLE SPACES TO GATHER ALIGNS WITH OUR EMERGENCY PLANNING IN A WAY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE WARMING SHELTERS IF REQUIRED.

PLACES OF ASSEMBLY DURING EMERGENCIES AS WELL, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD COME TO PASS AND WE HOPE IT DOESN'T.

I'VE OUTLINED A NOTIONAL SCHEDULE FOR WHAT A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR A PROPERTY SUCH AS THIS MIGHT TAKE.

IT'S REALLY NOTIONAL AND HIGH LEVEL, BUT IT KIND OF MANAGES THE EXPECTATION THAT IT SHOULD WE PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY AND DEVELOP A REFINED USE PLAN FOR IT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REALIZE A PROJECT SO THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO USE, AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN THROUGH 2024.

I THINK I'M OPEN TO WHATEVER I COULD DRONE ON FOREVER GUYS, THIS IS.

THANK YOU, MR. GOULDING.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU. MR. CHAIR, I.

I WANT TO THANK THE UNITED CHURCH IN TOWN FOR COMING OUT AND GIVING US THIS PROPERTY OR LETTING US BUY THIS PROPERTY AT SUCH LOW, LOW PRICE COMPARED TO OTHER HOUSES.

I KNOW THAT THEY'VE MADE LOTS OF RENOVATIONS THERE, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A BIT OF A BRIDGE THAT WE NEED FOR NOW.

AND I'M SURE THAT THAT FACILITY WILL BE USED A LOT BY THE CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO PURCHASE A HERITAGE BUILDING BECAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT'S CONSIDERED.

LIKE WE HAVE NO WELCOME CENTER.

WE HAVE NO MUSEUM.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND AND AS YOU SAY, MAYBE, HOPEFULLY GET SOMETHING GOING IN THERE DURING THE 2024.

OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL OUR MUSEUM ARTIFACTS FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS KEEPING THEM, YOU KNOW, IN SPECIAL STORAGE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO IT'S TIME THAT WE WE GET THAT GOING.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE HOLY TRINITY TRUSTEES FOR GIVING US SUCH A GOOD VALUE FOR THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I THINK IT IS A VERY GENEROUS THING THAT THE HOLY TRINITY UNITED CHURCH TRUSTEES HAVE COME TO US. IT'S BITTERSWEET KNOWING THAT THEY'RE YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GO TO CHURCH AND THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO AFFORD IT.

THAT IS A VERY SAD PART OF THIS.

SO TAKING THAT AND TURNING IT INTO A GOOD THING I THINK IS AMAZING.

I DO SEE POTENTIAL FOR MANY THINGS WITH THIS BUILDING.

WHETHER WE HAVE A VERY SOUND PLAN AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE WORKING PRETTY CLOSELY TO WHAT MR. GOULDING HAS OUTLINED.

BUT IT OFFERS US FLEXIBILITY AND THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGES IN SOME INFRASTRUCTURE COMING SOON.

AND TO HAVE A BUILDING LIKE THIS TO ALLOW US TO MOVE THINGS FROM HERE TO THERE TO THERE, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING PROGRAMING THAT THE CITY HAS LOST IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT BUILDING FOR THE HISTORY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL HISTORY THERE, BUT NOT THAT THAT REALLY MATTERS, BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO OUR PUZZLE FOR OUR PLAN MOVING FORWARD.

[01:25:02]

OKAY. AND YOU KNOW, THE PRICE, I AGREE, IS VERY, VERY AFFORDABLE.

IT IS A STURDY, STURDY BUILDING.

WE'VE MADE SURE OF THAT.

AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS PURCHASE OF AGREEMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, LET'S HAVE A VOTE.

ITEM 7.7 REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING AWARD TENDER FOR HIGHWAY 108 NORTH WATER AND SEWER PROJECT.

NONE ARE OPPOSED.

AND THAT IS CARRIED.

OH, SORRY. I'LL TAKE A QUICK PAUSE.

OKAY. REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING AWARD TENDER FOR HIGHWAY 108 NORTH WATER AND SEWER PROJECT.

WHERE DID THAT GO? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL RECOGNIZES 823292 ONTARIO LIMITED OPERATING AS JI ENTERPRISE AS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER FOR RDS 23-06, AND THAT COUNCIL PASSED THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH 823292 ONTARIO LIMITED OPERATING AS JI ENTERPRISES TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AS DESCRIBED IN RDS2306 FOR PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,156,010.90 PLUS HST, AND THAT FUNDS BE DRAWN FROM THE MUNICIPAL WATER WASTEWATER RESERVE.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THIS IS A BIT CATHARTIC FOR ME AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN A PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE SPRING TO TRY AND REALIZE A SET OF TENDER DOCUMENTS.

WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY THROUGH LAST WINTER, TO BE HONEST.

THIS PROJECT FORMED PART OF THE 2023 CAPITAL BUDGET.

AND IT WAS I BELIEVE IT WAS ALLOCATED IN THAT BUDGET AS A $3 MILLION PROJECT.

I WAS SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO SEE THE PROJECT COME IN AT JUST OVER $3 MILLION.

FRANKLY, WHEN THE BUDGET WAS PREPARED, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF WORK INVOLVED, SO THAT WAS QUITE LUCKY.

SO THE PROJECT OVERALL SEEKS TO RELOCATE THE WATER AND SEWER LINES THAT CURRENTLY RUN FROM WEST VIEW PARK THROUGH TO THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING IN THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL AREA BENEATH THE LAKE.

IT SEEKS TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE LAKE AND PUT THEM INTO THE GROUND ALONGSIDE THE ROAD FOR THE MOST OF THE PATHWAY ALONG 108 TO GO AND SERVICE THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL AREA.

PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS, BUT NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT THANKFULLY THE WATER SUPPLY LINE HAS A HISTORY OF LEAKING AND BEING REPAIRED, NOT THE SEWAGE LINE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OR ANYONE ELSE'S.

SO THIS HAS BEEN ON STAFF'S RADAR FOR A WHILE.

PRIOR TO MY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY AS AN EMPLOYEE, THE PREVIOUS MEMBERS OF STAFF HAVE APPLIED FOR ICIP FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. SO THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $1.3 MILLION THAT ARE COMMITTED TO ELLIOT LAKE FOR REALIZING THIS PROJECT.

SO. WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE IT REALIZED SOON.

WE SET A PROJECT SCHEDULE THAT WAS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE IN THAT WE LET THE BIDDERS IDENTIFY WITHIN PARAMETERS HOW THEY WOULD APPROACH THE PROJECT.

WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WANTED TO GET STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE WANTED A FALL START.

WE REALIZED THAT THE BUILDING SEASON MAY NOT EXTEND LONG ENOUGH THIS FALL FOR THEM TO REALIZE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT.

SO RATHER THAN COMMITTING THEM TO WORK THROUGH THE WINTER AT AN INCREASED COST OR DELAY THE PROJECT, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T MEET OUR OBJECTIVES TO GET MOVING BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO GET GOING.

WE SET A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKS THAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS ABLE TO ALLOCATE AS THEY SAW FIT TO REALIZE WHATEVER PORTIONS OF THE

[01:30:08]

PROJECT THAT THEY SAW FIT IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE.

MEETING BOTH THEIR NEEDS TO REALIZE LOGISTICS AND OUR NEEDS TO DRAW COSTS DOWN AND GET SOMETHING DONE QUICKER.

I THINK IT WAS AN APPROACH THAT IT WAS REALLY GOOD AND ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT USING IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN REFINE THIS PROCESS TO TRY AND REALIZE PROJECTS IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR VENDORS AND FOR THE CITY AS WELL.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. GOULDING. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES. THIS PROJECT'S BEEN ON THE RADAR FOR OUR WHOLE TENURE YEARS SO FAR.

I'M GLAD IT'S COME TO AT LEAST THE TENDER POINT, AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY NOT TO MOVE AHEAD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED.

[8. PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS]

ITEM EIGHT PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

THERE ARE NONE.

ITEM NINE OUTSIDE BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTING THERE'S NONE.

[10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]

UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

KIND OF HAD AN UPDATE ALREADY ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE.

WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION ON RESIDENTIAL WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS.

10.3 MEMO FROM THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR REGARDING 2023 SANTA CLAUS PARADE AT THE SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 381-23 WAS MOVED BY COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MANN, THAT THIS MATTER BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TO SET A DATE FOR THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE.

SO MAY I NOW HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT TO HOST THE 2023 SANTA CLAUS PARADE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE 1ST, 2023, AND THAT THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW BE PASSED TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE ONTARIO AVENUE FROM 5:45 P.M.

TO 7:30 P.M.

ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, 2023.

ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? SORRY. WHO'S THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR? OKAY. GO AHEAD, MS. KLUKE. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

YEAH, WE MS. DOYLE SPOKE TO SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR THE PARADE TO TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST.

SO THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING MOVING FORWARD.

NO CONFLICTS WITH.

NO. OKAY. SO THIS IS A GOOD SET DATE.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP. I DID SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF THE BUSINESSES ALONG THAT ROAD, AND THEY'RE VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS COMPROMISE AND MOVING UP THE DATE AND THEY EXTEND THEIR THANKS. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU, MR. CHAIR. WAS SANTA CLAUS CONTACTED? AND IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH HIS SCHEDULE?.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

OKAY, LET'S HAVE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY, SO WE'VE DONE THAT.

[12. CORRESPONDENCE]

SO THERE'S NO CORRESPONDENCE, NO NOTICES OF MOTION.

COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[14. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

I'D LIKE TO START WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

EACH YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH MARKS THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

THE DAY HONORS THE CHILDREN WHO NEVER RETURNED HOME AND SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

PUBLIC COMMEMORATION OF THE TRAGIC AND PAINFUL HISTORY AND ONGOING IMPACTS OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SPEND THE DAY REFLECTING.

WE WILL HAVE LINKS TO THE EVENTS PREPARED ON THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES LATER THIS WEEK.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CITY HALL AND OUR OTHER OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY THE 29TH, IN OBSERVANCE OF THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

AND THE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE ARTS CLUB IS PLEASED TO PRESENT THE 43RD 43.

SORRY, VERY TALENTED ARTISTS THIS YEAR.

THE TOUR TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH FROM 9 A.M.

[01:35:04]

TO 5 P.M. IS A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE ARTISTS, LEARN THEIR CREATIVE PROCESSES, AND MAYBE EVEN TAKE HOME A SPECIAL PIECE THAT CATCHES YOUR EYE.

THE ARTS CLUB'S GOAL IS TO PROMOTE APPRECIATION OF ART IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY THE TOUR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND VENUE INFORMATION, AGAIN, VISIT ELLIOTLAKE.CA/ARTSONTHETRAIL.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY, GREAT. THERE'S NO ADDENDUMS. SO WE WILL GO INTO INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BYLAWS.

[16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BY-LAWS]

16.1 BYLAW 23-87 BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE BETWEEN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE AND TRUSTEES OF HOLY TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF ELLIOT LAKE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 23-87 BE PASSED? A MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED COUNCILLOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED.

16.2 BYLAW 23- 88.

BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE AN AGREEMENT WITH JI ENTERPRISES WITH THE RESPECT TO PROJECT NUMBER 23-06 BEING HIGHWAY 108, SEWER AND WATER IMPROVEMENTS.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 23-88 BE PASSED? MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

[17. CLOSED SESSION (if applicable)]

CLOSED SESSION.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL PROCEED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 8:37 P.M..

MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 9:46 P.M..

MOVER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

CONFIRMATORY BY LAW 18.1 BYLAW 23-89 BEING A BYLAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.

THAT'S CARRIED.

[18. CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 23-89 BE PASSED? MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

ALL IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT THE HOUR OF 9:46 P.M.? MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.