Jan 15, 2024 City Council

[00:00:07]

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER.

ROLL CALL ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

ARE THERE ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST? GOING ONCE.

GOING TWICE? THERE ARE NONE. ITEM 4 ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES 4.1 DECEMBER 11TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING,

[4. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE MEETINGS? OKAY SEEING NONE.

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

ITEM FIVE, PUBLIC INPUT SESSION.

[5. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION]

MR. THOMAS, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING ACTING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MEMBERS OF STAFF.

MR. DEBORTOLI, WELCOME BACK TO THE TABLE.

I HAVE ENDEAVORED TO WRITE DOWN WHAT I USUALLY SAY IN ORDER TO BE SELF-LIMITING.

I HOPE IT WORKS.

SPEAK. IT'S WITH REGARDS TO ITEM 7.2 AND 7.3.

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER COMES AT A COST.

POWERS RESISTANCE TO TRUTH OR THE REJECTION OF THE TRUTH LENDS ITSELF TO EXPONENTIAL COSTS.

THE INABILITY TO ACCEPT THAT THE RULES HAD CHANGED AS WELL AS THE RESISTANCE STILL, TO ACCEPT ADJUDICATION OF THE FACTS HAS LEFT THE LOCAL ELECTORATE DISENFRANCHISED.

THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN CANNOT BE ONLY WITH THE 35% OF THE ELECTORATE THAT VOTED IN 2022.

LOOKING BEYOND THAT, IT MUST BE CONSIDERED THAT THE 65% WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION WILL VOTE WITH THEIR WALLETS.

THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY WILL REFLECT THE RESULTS OF THIS DECISION THIS EVENING.

WE ARE ALSO BEING VIEWED IN A WIDER LENS BY THE UPPER TWO TIERS OF GOVERNMENT TO SEE HOW WE PERFORM IN CLEANING UP OUR HOUSE.

FAILURE TO GOVERN IN A FAIR AND A DEMOCRATIC FASHION WILL NOT ONLY SET US DOWN THE WRONG PATH LOCALLY, IT WILL FURTHER DISTANCE US FROM THE REGAINING THE RESPECT OF OUR SUPERIORS.

THAT ULTIMATELY TRANSLATES INTO REJECTED FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.

IN FULL DISCLOSURE, YES, I RAN FOR THE OFFICE IN 2022.

AND IN SPEAKING TO THIS TONIGHT, IT IS IN NO WAY A POLITICAL REPRESENTATION OF MY INTERESTS.

REGARDING THE STAFF REPORT ON 7.2.

THE OPTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS ORDER WERE APPOINT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FROM QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO A APPLYING FROM THE PUBLIC.

NUMBER THREE, APPOINTING A CANDIDATE WHO RAN IN 2022.

AND LASTLY HOLDING A BY ELECTION.

THE COMMENTARY STATES THAT WOULD REQUIRE FIVE MONTHS OF STAFF'S TIME AND RESOURCES.

IT ALSO REQUESTS AN AUTHORIZED VOTE BY MAIL, IF APPLICABLE, AND VOTE TABULATORS AS A PREFERRED METHOD.

SORRY, MY PHONE JUST SKIPPED.

WHAT ABOUT ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE ELECTORATE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT TWICE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT MANNER.

THE QUESTION ARISES TO ALL OF YOU.

OH MY GOD.

WHO CAN BE THE MAYOR.

FORGIVE ME. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S DOING THIS.

ANY QUALIFIED ELECTOR CAN BE THE MAYOR.

ANYBODY WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BE RUN OR BE APPOINTED.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD THE HEAD OF COUNCIL HAVE? A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING AND MUNICIPAL ACT WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCEDURAL BYLAW.

A STUDENT OF BOTH AND RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION TO FACILITATE COUNCIL'S DECISIONS WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE RULES.

IN MY OPINION, AND FROM A LOT OF CHATTER ONLINE, WHICH MOST OF YOU PROBABLY DON'T LISTEN TO, THE ORDER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 3412 AS WAS POSTED ON THE AGENDA AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IT IS.

[00:05:04]

BEING THE HEAD OF COUNCIL IS NOW BEYOND THE USUAL CRITERIA OF POPULARITY AND COMFORT WITH THE STATUS QUO.

THE TIMES WE WERE IN COMMAND, A PRESENCE AND A COMMITMENT TO DELIVER GOVERNANCE IN ORDER TO REESTABLISH OUR COMMUNITY AS A QUALIFIED AND RESPECTED PARTNER, TO SECURE THE CONTINUING FUTURE AND PROSPERITY OF ELLIOT LAKE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

THAT'S MY COMMENTS ON 7.2 AND I TRIED TO KEEP IT BRIEF.

WITH REGARDS TO ITEM 7.3.

I BROUGHT THIS UP A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, AND I HOPE THAT AS AS A RESULT OF YOUR MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS, THE PUBLIC NEEDS CLARITY ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COURT ORDERED COST [INAUDIBLE] AND WHAT THE CORPORATION OF ELLIOT LAKE IS GOING TO DO IN EXECUTING RECOVERY. FOR THE UPWARDS OF $600,000 SPENT TO DATE ON LEGAL SERVICES OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CASE.

I KNOW IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE, I KNOW IT'S NOT PLEASANT, BUT IT IS A CORPORATION.

IT IS AN EXPENSE.

AND TO AVOID THE MISINFORMATION THAT KEEPS GOING BACK AND FORTH, I THINK A CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR.

HERE'S WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.

HERE'S WHY.

AND IT'S FOR OUR EXPENSES, NOT JUST THE COURT ORDERED COSTS.

WHICHEVER WAY YOU DECIDE, PLEASE MAKE THAT CLEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. THOMAS.

ITEM 6 THERE ARE NO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.

[7. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS]

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

MOVER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

ITEM 7.2.

REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLERK'S AND PLANNING SERVICES REGARDING FILLING THE VACANCY OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.

MISS BRAY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THIS ONE, PLEASE? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO THE REPORT BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING DETAILS THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL TO FILL THE VACANCY OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.

AS PER SECTION 261 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, COUNCIL MAY FILL THE VACANCY BY APPOINTING A PERSON WHO HAS CONSENTED TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE, OR THEY MAY HOLD A BY ELECTION.

THE REPORT PRESENTS FOUR OPTIONS, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER TO COUNCIL TO FILL THE VACANCY, THE FIRST THREE BEING APPOINTMENTS THROUGH EITHER THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EXISTING MEMBER OF COUNCIL. THE APPOINTMENT THROUGH AN OPEN CALL FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

THE APPOINTMENT OF A 22 MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDATE WHO RAN FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR.

THE FOURTH OPTION IS TO PASS A BYLAW REQUIRING A BY ELECTION.

THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HAS PROVIDED THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS FOR EACH OPTION, WHICH RANGE FROM $0 TO 59,000, AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REPORT.

COUNCIL MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO APPOINT OR HOLD A BY ELECTION WITHIN 60 DAYS OF DECLARING THE SEAT VACANT.

THE DATE OF VACANCY HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE DECEMBER 15TH, SO ACCORDINGLY, COUNCIL MUST DECIDE NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024.

SO, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL SELECT AN OPTION TO FILL THE VACANCY OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS BRAY.

WOULD ANYONE WISH TO FORWARD A MOTION? COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL GIVE CONSIDERATION TO OPTION ONE FILLING THE VACANCY FROM WITHIN CURRENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I WILL SECOND THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

DO WE WANT TO HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FIRST? COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

OBVIOUSLY NOT THE BEST POSITION TO BE IN AS A MUNICIPALITY.

HOWEVER, I THINK CONSIDERING WE'RE 14 MONTHS IN TO A FOUR YEAR TERM, A LOT OF TIME HAS BEEN EXPENDED ALREADY IN OUR CURRENT FORMAT, AND I BELIEVE TONIGHT'S DECISION IS ULTIMATELY TO FILL WITHIN.

[00:10:08]

I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

AS WAS INDICATED DURING PUBLIC PRESENTATION, FROM MR. THOMAS, THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO FILL THIS.

I BELIEVE PERSONALLY THAT IT IS THE PURVIEW OF THIS COUNCIL TO DECIDE.

WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS MUNICIPALITY AND THE MEMBERS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL THAT HAVE REACHED OUT, HAVE RECOMMENDED OR SUGGESTED THAT THEY WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TYPE OF APPROACH, CONSIDERING THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE TO DATE.

I'M PERSONALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO AS, AS I DID MOVE THIS FORWARD TO THE NEXT MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, SORRY. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

I HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

WHILE ALL FOUR OPTIONS DO HAVE THEIR OWN MERIT TO THEMSELVES, FOR MYSELF AND WHAT I FEEL IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF ELLIOT LAKE WOULD BE OPTION NUMBER ONE. NOT ONLY DOES IT SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN LED BY A CURRENT MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL AND CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE LAST YEAR, I THINK ACTING MAYOR WANNAN HAS DONE A VERY CREDIBLE JOB.

I AM QUITE CONFIDENT WHICHEVER MEMBER OF COUNCIL THAT WE DO DECIDE ON THAT WILL CONTINUE.

AND, THAT'S THE REASON THAT I REALLY FEEL THAT WE SHOULD JUST RUN WITH OPTION ONE.

THANKS. OKAY.

THANK YOU COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR BULL. THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP.

MORE OF A COMMENT.

I TOO AGREE WITH OPTION ONE.

I THINK WE'VE WORKED VERY WELL THIS YEAR FOR THE PAST YEAR, CONSIDERING ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUITY THAT WE'RE GOING FOR.

WE ALL SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE TO GET WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

AND LIKE COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SAID, ALL THE OTHER OPTIONS HAVE THEIR MERITS.

BUT I THINK OPTION ONE WILL HELP US MAINTAIN THE CONTINUITY THAT WE NEED AND, MAINTAIN, OUR TEAMWORK THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE DOING AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR BULL COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OPTION ONE.

NO MATTER WHAT DECISION WE MAKE TONIGHT, THERE WILL BE SOME PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH OUR DECISION.

AND THERE'LL BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH OUR DECISION.

WE'VE DONE ONE WHOLE YEAR SO FAR, AND WE COULD KEEP GOING WITH THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNCIL.

AND I GO FOR OPTION ONE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

I ALSO, AGREE WITH OPTION ONE.

ONE IS WE ARE JUST GETTING INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO ENTAIL.

BUT SAVING THE TAXPAYERS $60,000 FOR A BY ELECTION, DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT.

I THINK AS A COUNCIL, WE ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER AND, I AGREE WITH OPTION ONE.

OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

WELL, OPTION ONE SEEMS TO BE ON ORDER.

I AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE FAIRNESS OF THE PROCESS VERSUS PRACTICALITY OF THE PROCESS.

TAKING THE BUDGET INTO ACCOUNT AND IN ADDRESSING SOME COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC INPUT, ARE WE SET UP FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING YET, MISS BRAY? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. SO NO, WE ARE NOT AT THIS TIME.

AND, WE ARE TO OFFER THE ELECTION IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THE REGULAR ELECTION WAS HELD THE FIRST TIME.

SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE VOTE BY MAIL AND TABULATOR VOTES.

AND THAT PROCESS WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS? CORRECT. SO THERE ARE TIMELINES STIPULATED IN THE MUNICIPAL ACT AS TO WHEN NOMINATION DAY STARTS, WHEN VOTING DAY TAKES PLACE.

SO I PUT A ROUGH, SCHEDULE IN THE REPORT THAT I THINK WOULD SAY JUNE 10TH, WE'D BE LOOKING AT AN ELECTION.

[00:15:07]

I DON'T THINK THAT'S PRUDENT AT THIS TIME.

AS COUNCILLOR BULL SAID, WE'VE MANAGED SHORT ONE MEMBER FOR THE YEAR.

AND WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST AND WE ARE MOVING THINGS FORWARD, AND NOBODY'S PERFECT OUT THERE.

BUT WE ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I AGREE, WE ARE GETTING ALONG.

AND I'M, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OPTION ONE AS WELL.

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

OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD, MR. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON WHAT COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SAID.

NO MATTER WHAT DECISION WE DO DECIDE, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY AND SOME WILL BE NOT HAPPY.

BUT I'M LEARNING IN THIS POLITICAL ROLE WE HAVE THAT IT'S POLITICS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND WE HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT OUR DECISION AND WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT OPTION ONE.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO SAY ONE LAST COMMENT TOO THEN COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

I THINK WE'VE APPROACHED OUR TERM ON COUNCIL IN A VERY SORT OF PRACTICAL AND FINANCIALLY CONSCIOUS WAY.

A NUMBER OF US HAVE REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC.

A NUMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAVE REACHED OUT TO US.

A NUMBER, OF WHICH HAVE GONE THROUGH REQUESTING TO HAVE A BY ELECTION.

BUT I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER IS FAR OUTWEIGHED BY THE NUMBER THAT SAID THAT WE SHOULD KEEP IT INTERNAL.

AND HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO JUDGE THAT? I'M NOT SURE.

THE COMMENTS OF 35% OF THE ELECTORATE DOING THE VOTES, THAT'S HOW WE'RE HERE.

AND SO WE'RE REPRESENTING, WE HOPE, MORE THAN 35%.

BUT WE ALL WERE VOTED INTO OUR POSITIONS BY THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THESE KIND OF DECISIONS.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.

WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THIS WAY FOR THE YEAR.

AND I THINK WE'VE DONE.

A DECENT JOB.

THERE'S LOTS TO DO.

THERE'S LOTS OF WORK TO KEEP GOING.

IT'S THREE MORE YEARS OF OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE ALL DEDICATED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S MY COMMENT.

OKAY. MISS BRAY, CAN YOU READ THE MOTION? CERTAINLY, YOUR WORSHIP, THAT THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR VACANCY BE FILLED BY APPOINTING A CURRENT MEMBER OF COUNCIL.

AND THAT THE CLERK PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE METHOD SELECTED BY COUNCIL, AND THAT THE CLERK BE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO PREPARE AND APPROVE MEETING PROCEDURES TO SUPPORT THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, AND THAT THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF A MAYOR TAKE PLACE AT THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED TO OCCUR ON FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024 AT 7:00 PM, AND THAT THE CLERK BRING FORWARD A REPORT TO THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING AS TO HOW THE SUBSEQUENT VACANCY ARISING FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR FROM EXISTING MEMBER OF COUNCIL WILL BE RESOLVED.

THANK YOU, MISS BRAY.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? OKAY, LET'S HAVE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 7.3 MEMO FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLERKS AND PLANNING SERVICES REGARDING CHRIS PATRIE VERSUS CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER AWARD OF COSTS.

AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH ADVICE THAT IS SUBJECT TO SOLICITOR CLIENT PRIVILEGE, IT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 2.392F OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT 2001.

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

A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

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

ITEM 7.4 MEMO FROM THE DIRECTOR, CLERKS AND PLANNING SERVICES REGARDING INTERIM CAO CONTRACT.

AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT IDENTIFIABLE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS ADVICE THAT IS SUBJECT TO SOLICITOR CLIENT PRIVILEGE, IT MAY

[00:20:02]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THIS MATTER BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECOND COUNCILLOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR AND NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED. PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[8. PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVER? COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR BULL.

MRS. LAURENCE, THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THERE WAS JUST AN ERROR IN THE DATE THERE.

IT SHOULD HAVE READ JANUARY 8TH BYLAW AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

SO WITH THE 2024 USER FEES, STAFF IMPLEMENTED A NEW SCHEDULE.

SCHEDULE M, THAT SOLELY REFERS TO LICENSES AND PERMITS TO OBTAIN FROM THE CITY.

THESE BYLAWS NEED TO BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE WORDING TO REFER TO THE MUNICIPAL USER FEES BYLAW, WHICH ALLOWS STAFF AND COUNCIL TO AMEND A CERTAIN SCHEDULE RATHER THAN THE ENTIRE BYLAW ITSELF.

THE MUNICIPAL USER FEES BYLAW IS REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ENSURE THAT THE FEES ARE COMPARATIVE TO NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES.

ADDING THIS WORDING WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE FEES, AND WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR STAFF TO KEEP TRACK OF THE LICENSES AND PERMIT FEES AND AMEND ANNUALLY OR AS OFTEN AS NEEDED.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MISS LAURENCE.

MRS. LAURENCE, SORRY.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

AS I MENTIONED AT COMMITTEE, I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUATION AND MODERNIZING THE BYLAWS.

I BELIEVE THIS ONE, IF NOT, OR THE ONE THIS EVENING THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

I THINK THE LAST TIME IT WAS REVIEWED WAS 22 YEARS AGO.

SO AGAIN, LOTS OF WORK AND TO BRING US UP INTO INTO 2024.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY CLARIFY AND SPEED UP THE USER FEE BYLAW FOR FUTURE FUTURE REVIEWS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNCILLOR MANN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY SEEING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 8.2 MEMO FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK AND ACCESSIBILITY ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR REGARDING REPEAL OF BYLAW 20-19 AND 20-35 BEING A BYLAW TO PROMOTE AND REGULATE PHYSICAL DISTANCING DURING THE COVID 19 EMERGENCY.

AT THE JANUARY 8TH BYLAW AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT COUNCIL REPEALED BYLAWS 20-19, 20- 35. MAY I HAVE A MOVER AND A SECONDER? MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

MRS. LAURENCE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO, IN A REVIEW OF ACTIVE BYLAWS, STAFF HAVE NOTED BYLAW 20-19 BEING A BYLAW TO PROMOTE AND REGULATE PHYSICAL DISTANCING DURING COVID 19 EMERGENCY AND 20-35 AMENDMENT TO 20-19 ARE STILL IN EFFECT.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL REPEAL THESE TWO BYLAWS.

THANK YOU, MRS. LAURENCE.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

I WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO MOVE THIS COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, AS YOU WERE THE ONLY OTHER VOTING MEMBER OF COMMITTEE, SO YOU WERE A LITTLE HESITANT TO SECOND IT.

BUT, I RECOGNIZE THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF SOME OF THE OUTBREAKS THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE COMMUNITY.

JUST TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT EVEN THIS IS REPEALED, YOU KNOW, USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT IF YOU'RE FEELING WELL OR NOT WELL, PLEASE STAY HOME OR THINK ABOUT OTHERS.

THERE'S LOTS OF VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE SPREAD OF ANY TYPE OF ILLNESS IS IS MINIMIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MANN ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP. JUST A COMMENT.

THIS IS ONE BYLAW THAT I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND IT'S NICE TO PUT IT BEHIND US.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN THROUGH IT.

BUT AS COUNCILLOR MANN SAID, WE SHOULD USE OUR JUDGMENT.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY WILL.

[00:25:02]

OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 8.3, REPORT FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK AND ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR REGARDING AMENDING BYLAW NUMBER 22-100.

AT THE JANUARY 8TH BYLAW AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT BYLAW NUMBER 22-100 BEING A BYLAW TO REGULATE ANIMAL CONTROL AND ENSURE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE, BE AMENDED TO ADD THE TERMS POUND KEEPER AND AGENCY AND THEIR DEFINITIONS, AND THAT COUNCIL PASSED THE APPROPRIATE AMENDING BYLAW.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER, PLEASE? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR BULL.

MRS. LAURENCE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THE CITY HAS AN ANIMAL SHELTER LOCATED ON TIPPER ROAD.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SHELTER IS TO HOUSE STRAY, WANDERING, OR AT LARGE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN HUMANELY CAUGHT OR TRAPPED BY MUNICIPAL BYLAW MUNICIPAL BYLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE ALSO DESIGNATED AS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS FOR THE CITY.

THE CITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH VARIOUS PROVINCIAL STATUTES, HAS ALWAYS ENFORCED AND MAINTAINED AN ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW THAT REGULATES STRAY AND AT LARGE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND LICENSING, SAID DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS CURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS MENTIONED, SORRY, IN MY REPORT, IT WAS DETERMINED THROUGH THE CITY'S BYLAW DEPARTMENT THAT THE CITY'S ANIMAL CONTROL AND ENSURE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP BYLAW SHOULD BE AMENDED TO RECOGNIZE AND INCLUDE THE POSITION OF POUND KEEPER WITHIN THE BYLAW.

RECOGNIZING POUND KEEPER IN THE BYLAW WILL ALLOW FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR AGENCY TO ADJUST THE GAP IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND UTILIZE THE CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER BUILDING AS A METHOD OF HOUSING AND ISOLATING ANIMALS.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. LAURENCE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP WITH, OUR RECENT LOSS OF THE SIDE BUILDING.

A NUMBER OF AGENCIES IN THE CITY DO DEPEND ON HAVING ACCESS TO, SERVICES FOR ANIMALS. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD SO THIS AND OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MAY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. LET'S HAVE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR.

AND NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. REPORT FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK AND ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR REGARDING AMENDING BYLAW NUMBER 02-18 AT THE JANUARY 8TH BYLAW AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT SECTIONS 1.

10, 1.22, 18.

00, 18.01, 18.02, 18.03, 18.05, 23.06 AND AN ADDITION OF SCHEDULE N TO BYLAW 02-18 BEING A BYLAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF TRAFFIC WITHIN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE, BE AMENDED TO REFLECT CURRENT LANGUAGE RELATED TO ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND SHORT FORM WORDING, AND SET FINES, AND THAT COUNCIL PASSED THE APPROPRIATE AMENDING BYLAW.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER, PLEASE? COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

MRS. LAURENCE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

LANGUAGE IN THE CITY'S CURRENT PARKING AND TRAFFIC BYLAW REFERS TO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES, AND THERE IS NO SPECIFIC SCHEDULE WITH SHORT FORM WORDING OR SET FINES IN REGARD TO ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES TO BEGIN TO BRING THE CITY'S PARKING AND TRAFFIC BYLAW UP TO DATE STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED FIRST, THE ACCESSIBLE PARKING LANGUAGE AND DEFINITION ISSUE. TICKETS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THOSE PARKING IN AN ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACE WHEN THEIR MINISTRY ISSUED.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING PASS HAS NOT BEEN VISIBLE.

ALL OF THE TICKETS THAT HAVE GONE TO COURT HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT DUE TO THE OUT OF DATE AND UNCLEAR LANGUAGE IN THE CITY'S BYLAW.

THE GOAL OF THE CITY'S BYLAW DEPARTMENT IS FIRST TO INFORM AND EDUCATE BEFORE ISSUING FINES.

HOWEVER, SOMETIMES ISSUING FINES ARE NECESSARY IF THE FORMER IS NOT WORKING.

THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE CITY HAS BEEN A LOSS IN COLLECTION OF FINES FROM TICKETS BEING THROWN OUT IN COURT.

THE CHART INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT SHOWS THE AMENDING SCHEDULE AND TO THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC BYLAW.

THIS IS A SMALL PORTION OF THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO THE CITY'S PARKING AND TRAFFIC BYLAW STAFF WILL BE DOING A DEEPER DIVE INTO THIS BYLAW OVER THE WINTER MONTHS AND

[00:30:01]

FOR NOW, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BEFORE MENTIONED AMENDMENTS BE MADE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MRS. LAURENCE.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. THROUGH YOU TO MRS. LAURENCE [INAUDIBLE] IF I TURN AROUND.

SO. OKAY, JUST.

I READ IT A COUPLE TIMES.

SO IS IT THE SIGNAGE DOESN'T PAIR UP WITH THE BYLAWS OR THE BYLAWS DON'T PAIR UP WITH THE SIGNAGE.

I JUST DON'T QUITE GET IT.

SO, IT'S THE WORDING IN OUR BYLAW.

I THINK THERE'S JUST SOME UNCLEAR DEFINITIONS AND WORDING THAT IF A TICKET DOES GO TO COURT, IT'S JUST THROWN OUT.

THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BYLAW.

SO, WE JUST NEED TO BRING THAT UP TO DATE OKAY.

SO, WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANY OF OUR SIGNAGE.

IT'S JUST SO WHEN THEY GET A TICKET IT HAS TO PAIR UP.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

OKAY. ANSWER MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, SEEING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

IT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 8.5 REPORT FROM THE MUSEUM CURATOR REGARDING CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND APPLICATION.

AT THE JANUARY 8TH RECREATION AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND TO SUBSIDIZE THE COSTS FOR EQUIPMENT AND RENOVATIONS IN THE CITY'S ARTS, HERITAGE AND CULTURAL FACILITIES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE SUBMISSION OF THIS APPLICATION? MOVER. COUNCILLOR BOLES SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

MS. D'AMATO, PLEASE.

THANK YOU THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

SO, THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL FOR STAFF TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND.

THE GOAL OF A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION WOULD BE TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE UP TO 50% OF ALL ELIGIBLE COSTS OF EQUIPMENT AND RENOVATIONS NEEDED IN THE CITY'S ARTS, HERITAGE AND CULTURAL FACILITIES.

THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND IS OFFERED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND IS AVAILABLE TO NON-PROFITS AND MUNICIPALITIES TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF PROJECTS WHICH SUPPORT THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS FOR ART, HERITAGE AND CULTURAL SPACES.

THE CITY HAS THREE FACILITIES WHICH FUNCTION WHOLLY OR IN PART AS CULTURAL SPACES.

THIS IS THE NEWLY ACQUIRED 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH PROPERTY, FORMERLY THE UNITED CHURCH.

THE DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER, FORMERLY THE REEL-TO-REEL THEATER, AND THE COLLINS HALL.

STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED NEEDS IN EACH OF THESE FACILITIES FOR, FROM THE MAJOR LIKE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS FOR THE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH FACILITY TO MINOR DEFICITS LIKE NEED FOR TRACK LIGHTING AT THE DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE ITEMS WE WILL BE SEEKING FUNDING FOR ARE MANDATORY FOR THE CITY'S THREE ARTS AND CULTURAL FACILITIES TO EITHER BE OPENED OR JUST OPERATING TO THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL. AND FOR THIS REASON, FUNDING LIKE THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN FROM OUR ARTS AND CULTURE RESERVE.

WELL, WE ARE APPLYING FOR THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION, WHICH IS UP TO 50% OF TOTAL ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS TO BE COVERED.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT OUR APPLICATION WOULD BE APPROVED ONLY IN PART, OR FOR A LOWER CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE FOR THE MULTIDISCIPLINE BUILDINGS LIKE THE COLLINS HALL AND THE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH PROPERTY, THE PERCENTAGE OF FUNDING WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF ARTS AND CULTURAL USE THAT THESE FACILITIES SEE SO MUCH HIGHER AT THE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH PROPERTY, AS MOST THE MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING WILL BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS ARTS AND HERITAGE AND THEN MUCH LOWER AT, SAY, THE COLLINS HALL, WHICH IS USED PREDOMINANTLY FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND OTHER EVENTS.

THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND IS A CONTINUOUS INTAKE PROGRAM.

SO, WHILE THERE ARE NO APPLICATION DEADLINES, WE DO WANT TO APPLY FOR THIS FUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THE FISCAL YEAR FOR THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ENDS ON MARCH 31ST.

SO, WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY POTENTIAL LEFTOVER MONIES IN THE FUND.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THE CANADA CULTURAL SPACES FUND AND THE VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, THE TURNAROUND PERIOD FOR A DECISION MAY BE LENGTHY.

THE STANDARD APPLICATION PROCESSING TIME IS 30 WEEKS.

WE ARE STILL IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF THE APPLICATION AT THE MOMENT, SO CERTAIN REQUESTS MAY BE ADAPTED DEPENDING ON ELIGIBILITY AND NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR PROGRAM ADVISOR. WE ARE ENCOURAGED.

WE WERE ENCOURAGED IN INITIAL STAGES WITH OUR ADVISOR TO SEEK FUNDING FOR ALL THREE FACILITIES UNDER ONE APPLICATION.

BUT IF THIS RECOMMENDATION CHANGES AS WE FURTHER DEVELOP OUR PROPOSAL, WE WILL FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH FACILITY AS IT REQUIRES THE MOST FUNDING TO MAKE IT

[00:35:03]

SO, WITH COUNCIL SUPPORT, STAFF WILL PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO GO INTO MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS, THE NEEDS THAT STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED FOR EACH FACILITY, OR IF YOU OTHERWISE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MS. D'AMATO VERY INFORMATIVE REPORT.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? COUNCILLOR BULL. THANK YOU.

YOUR WORSHIP. AT COMMITTEE, WE DID DISCUSS THIS, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS.

AND MS. D'AMATO ANSWERED THEM ALL IN HER PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET STARTED EARLY, BUT DID YOU SAY 30 WEEKS TO GET A ANSWER? THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP TO COUNCILLOR BULL? YES. IN FURTHER SPEAKING WITH OUR PROGRAM ADVISOR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT 30 WEEKS IS A NORMAL PROCESSING TIME.

SO, WHILE IT COULD BE MUCH LESS THAN THAT, THAT IS THE AVERAGE.

SO, JUST TO MANAGE OUR EXPECTATIONS WITH THE RESPONSE.

FOLLOW UP. I GUESS, ONCE WE DO GET THE ANSWER, WE'LL BE READY TO START AND GO AHEAD WITH THE RENOVATIONS WHEREVER. IF WE GET ALL THREE PROJECTS, HOPEFULLY.

BUT AT LEAST WITH 40 HILLSIDE.

THROUGH YOU YOUR WORSHIP.

YES, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.

THROUGH CREATING THIS APPLICATION, WE'RE IDENTIFYING A BUDGET AND A TIMELINE.

SO AS SOON AS WE HAVE IF WE DO RECEIVE THE FUNDING, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INITIATE THE PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOUR WORSHIP. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE A QUESTION TILL I HEARD 30 WEEKS.

SO, 30 WEEKS IS LIKE SEVEN MONTHS.

IS THAT MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT GETTING THIS STARTED DOWN AT 40 HILLSIDE? OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO APPLY, AND IT MAY BE QUICKER AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD.

AND IF WE GET THE GRANT THAT'S GREAT.

OR ARE WE GOING TO A STANDSTILL OR.

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

YES. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP TO COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

AT THIS TIME, I CAN'T SAY A DEFINITE TIMELINE.

WE WOULD HOPE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT.

REGARDLESS, WE WILL BE OPENING AND OPERATING OUT OF THE 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH PROPERTY.

SO, WHETHER WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO INITIATE THE PROJECT BEFORE HEARING BACK, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT TIMELINE YET, BUT REGARDLESS, WE WILL BE GOING AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT, HOPEFULLY WITH FUNDING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU. MR. WARREN. YOUR WORSHIP, DO WE HAVE? CAN WE GET THE GRANT? ACCEPTED, BUT START TO WORK SOONER.

OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ANSWER ON THE GRANT BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THIS? THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP TO COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

IT IS POSSIBLE IF WE IDENTIFY IN OUR TIMELINE THAT OUR PROJECT START DATE IS FEBRUARY 15TH AND ANY COSTS OCCURRED AFTER THAT TIME.

THEY WOULD BE APPLICABLE FOR THE GRANT.

IF WE DO RECEIVE THE FUNDING, WE JUST CANNOT START ON THE PROJECT.

IF WE CANNOT USE ANY FUNDING UNLESS WE DO IT AFTER OUR INDICATED START DATE, WHICH AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT.

WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITE TIMELINE YET.

THANK YOU. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST BEING USED TO START THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR GRANTS FOR OUR CULTURAL BUILDINGS. THE OTHER PLANS CAN STILL BE PLANNED.

TODAY'S NOT THE DAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.

THEY WILL BE GETTING STARTED EVENTUALLY.

BUT THIS IS TO ALLOW MS. D'AMATO TO START THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE GRANTS.

WE'RE STILL IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, IF YOU REMEMBER.

WE'RE GETTING STARTED.

WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE BUDGETARY QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME AND MOVE FORWARD ON PLANS THAT WAY.

BUT FOR NOW, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST VOTE AND GET THE APPLICATION GOING, ESPECIALLY IF THE MAX IS 30 MONTHS OR 30.

YEAH, 30 WEEKS, 30 MONTHS.

SAYONARA. SO, IS THAT CORRECT UNDERSTANDING, MR. MEADOW? THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

[00:40:05]

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM NINE. THERE'S NO OUTSIDE BOARD OR COMMITTEE REPORTING.

THERE'S NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

THERE ARE NO PETITIONS.

THERE ARE NO CORRESPONDENCE.

THERE ARE NO NOTICES OF MOTION.

ITEM 14.

[14. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR THE HISTORICAL AND PRESENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK CANADIANS AND RECOGNIZES THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO CANADA.

AND WHEREAS, DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY BLACK CANADIANS TO OUR COLLECTIVE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE RECOGNIZES AND VALUES THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND ADVANCES THAT BLACK CANADIANS HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TO CANADIAN SOCIETY.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE RECOGNIZES THE THEME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 IS BLACK RESISTANCE, CELEBRATING THE WAYS IN WHICH BLACK PEOPLE HAVE RESISTED OPPRESSION, DISCRIMINATION, AND PREJUDICE OVER HISTORY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ACTING MAYOR ANDREW [INAUDIBLE], DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2024 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE HERITAGE AND CULTURE AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE ELLIOT LAKE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? COUNCILLOR BULL.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS ANYTHING.

WINTER FEST WILL BE BEFORE OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WILL IT NOT? THE NEXT. AM I OFF BY 12? AM I OFF, AM I RIGHT? NO, YOU'RE CORRECT, I BELIEVE.

WELL, MAYBE WE JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WINTERFEST IS COMING.

FEBRUARY 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH, I BELIEVE.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE HEADQUARTERED AT SPINE BEACH.

IF I'M CORRECT, THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY SNOWSHOEING, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, FAT BIKING, THEY CALL IT, I IMAGINE.

AND MAYBE A BONFIRE.

AND I DON'T HAVE IT ALL IN MY HEAD, BUT JUST FROM WHAT I'VE READ.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

PERHAPS WE CAN ASK MR. ANTUNES TO HELP OUT WITH OUR COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

JUST ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

IF THEY GO INTO THE SEARCH BAR AND THEY TYPE IN WINTER FEST, THEY WILL SEE THE SCHEDULE THAT IS POSTED THERE.

THE 2024 WINTER FEST, POSTER IS ONLINE, ON OUR CITY WEBSITE.

AND CERTAINLY, THEY CAN TUNE IN TO ANY OF THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA SITES WHERE WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT OF WHAT EVENTS ARE GOING ON.

BUT FEBRUARY 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF FANTASTIC, EVENTS PLANNED.

SO CERTAINLY, FOLKS CAN REACH OUT, OR GO TO THE WEBSITE, AND CERTAINLY THEY CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO, STAFF AND WE CAN GET A COPY TO THEM AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. ANTUNES.

SORRY. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE FIRST.

THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A WINTERFEST DANCE HAPPENING IN THE CONSOLE BY ARIEL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED BY LIAM KEARNEY.

HE'S PLAYING ON THE.

SATURDAY NIGHT, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A KIDS AND ADULTS SHOW ON SUNDAY.

AND THE TICKETS FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT IS $35.

AND FOR THE KIDS, ADULTS AND KIDS SHOW AT $10 FOR ADULTS AND $45 FOR KIDS.

AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE AT THE AERIAL OFFICE OR AT ALPINE FLOWERS AND GIFTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF, JUST TO SHOUT OUT, I WAS OUT SATURDAY ON THE HILL SKIING AND TO THE CREW AT MOUNT DEW FOR ITS OPEN.

AND WITH THIS COLDER WEATHER THIS WEEK, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A LOT MORE SNOW.

SO, I'M SURE THE MAJORITY OF THE HILLS SHOULD BE OPEN THIS WEEKEND, BUT A LOT OF HARD WORK PUT IN BY EVERYBODY OUT THERE, AND IT'S EXCELLENT AND REALLY GOOD FOR ALL THE KIDS AND EVERYBODY I SAW OUT THERE HAVING A GREAT DAY.

[00:45:04]

NO. OKAY, JUST ONE LAST ANNOUNCEMENT.

JUST REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

I KNOW WINTERFEST IS COMING.

WINTER IS ALMOST FULLY HERE, BUT NOT ALL CONDITIONS OUT THERE ARE SAFE.

SO BE CAREFUL ON THE RIVERS, THE LAKES, AND EVEN ON SOME OF THE TRAILS.

THERE'S BEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE ICE ALREADY.

LET'S STOP THAT ALTOGETHER.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

[15. ADDENDUM]

WE DO HAVE AN ADDENDUM.

SO, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE ADDENDUM BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA? A MOVER PLEASE. COUNCILLOR MANN? SECONDED. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

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

ITEM 15.1 IS A REPORT FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING 2024 DRIFT SKATE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL.

AT THE JANUARY 9TH MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE RENEWAL OF DRIFT SKATE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR 2024 AT AN UPSET LIMIT OF $6,888 PLUS TAX.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER, PLEASE? COUNCILLOR BULL. SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR MANN, MR. ANTUNES. GOOD EVENING, YOUR WORSHIP.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT, AS ALWAYS.

I WILL START OFF WITH SOME GOOD NEWS.

COUNCIL DID, OUR COMMITTEE DID TASK STAFF WITH A FEW QUESTIONS, AND SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PRICING.

SO, I WILL START OFF WITH THE REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT STAFF DID COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT DRIFT SCAPE.

AND THEY VERY MUCH VALUE ELLIOT LAKE AS A PARTNER.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND AS DO THE FOLKS AT DREAMSCAPE.

SO, THEY HAVE CUSTOMIZED A BIT OF A PLAN FOR US BASED ON SOME OF THE USAGE THAT WE'VE HAD.

THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR, STAFF DID GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP.

SO, MS. D'AMATO, MISS DOYLE, MR. HURD AND I, WITH THE TEAM AT DREAMSCAPE, REVIEWED WHAT WE WERE USING.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, TO START OFF, THE PRICE, WE'VE NEGOTIATED HAS GONE FROM 68 TO 88 DOWN TO 58, 63.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OFF JUST OVER $1,000 ON THE COST, WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT TO USAGE OF THE APP OR WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO THIS POINT.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE DID GO THROUGH THIS FAIRLY, IN DEPTH AT COMMITTEE.

THE VALUE OF DRIFT SCAPE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO BE THE TOURIST TOURISM GUIDE IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS AS THEY COME TO VISIT THE CITY.

SO, AS OPPOSED TO REHASHING EVERYTHING OUT.

I WILL JUST LEAN ON COUNCIL AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD POST THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. ANTUNES.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

IT'S JUST A COMMENT.

WE DID HASH THIS OUT PRETTY GOOD AT COMMITTEE, BUT ONE POINT THAT WAS LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT MANITOULIN AND BLIND RIVER SIGNED UP FOR IT.

I'M PRETTY SURE LAST YEAR.

RIGHT. MR. ANTUNES? THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I BELIEVE IT WAS.

SORRY. LAST YEAR WAS 20, 23, SO I'M STILL NOT FULLY IN 2024.

SO. YES, SIR. IN IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023, MANITOULIN BIKING AND BLIND RIVER HAD SIGNED UP AS WELL.

SO, I THINK THIS IS A TYPE OF SUBSCRIPTION THAT THE FIRST YEAR THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GROWING PAINS GETTING IT SET UP AND EVERYTHING.

AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GO AHEAD WITH IT AND SEE WHAT WE GET THIS YEAR.

BASED ON ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD, ESPECIALLY THE FACT, AS YOU SAY, IT'S STARTING TO GROW UP NORTH, AND IT IS IT IS QUITE A FEW USERS OUT THERE NATIONALLY.

SO, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

DID WE GET ANY INFORMATION ABOUT TERM? IS THIS A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION? IS THERE, YOU KNOW, REBATES FOR MULTI-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION.

YES, SIR. YOUR WORSHIP.

THE TERM IS, IS A ONE-YEAR TERM.

IF WE DID EXTEND TO TWO YEARS, IT WOULD BE A 10% DISCOUNT.

IF WE EXTEND IT TO THREE YEARS, IT WOULD BE A 15% DISCOUNT.

THAT WOULD FULLY COME DOWN TO COUNCIL'S FAITH IN WHAT THIS WOULD BE AFTER YEAR TWO.

IF I COULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, AND WE DO GET TRUE PROOF IN THE PUDDING AFTER YEAR TWO, THEN CERTAINLY WE CAN LOOK AT THE VOLUME DISCOUNTS.

BUT I WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO COUNCIL TO DECIDE.

BUT IT IS 10% ON TWO YEARS AND 15% ON THREE YEARS.

OKAY, SO IT MAY BE PRUDENT TO DO ONE MORE YEAR AND HAVE THIS COMPANY REVIEW OUR USAGE ONCE AGAIN.

I THINK SO TOO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[00:50:02]

WE DID AT COMMITTEE DISCUSS THE PRICE OF THIS PROGRAM AND WE THOUGHT IT IS A LITTLE PRICEY FOR WHAT IT IS. BUT WE THOUGHT ALSO THAT THE FIRST YEAR WAS JUST A GROWING PAIN YEAR, AND WE THOUGHT, WE'LL GIVE IT A SECOND YEAR TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.

AND IF IT DOES GO LIKE IT'S GOING, IT SEEMS TO BE GOING VERY WELL.

THEN MAYBE WE'LL GET INTO THE THREE-YEAR TERM OR TWO-YEAR TERM, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S A LITTLE PRICEY, BUT I THINK WE'LL GIVE IT A SECOND YEAR.

SEE HOW IT GOES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR BULL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOPE.

SEEING NONE. LET'S ALL VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED.

THAT IS CARRIED 16.

[16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BY-LAWS]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-01 BE PASSED? A MOVER. COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

ITEM 16.2 WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.

THIS ITEM WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO A FUTURE MEETING OF COUNCIL.

ITEM 16.3 BYLAW 20 4-03.

BEING A BYLAW TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO, FEDNOR, WITH RESPECT TO THE INSTALLATION OF A LIFT STATION ON FOX DRIVE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 20 4-03 BE PASSED? A MOVER COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED 16.4 BYLAW 24-04 BEING A BYLAW TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH DENIS GRATTON CONSTRUCTION LIMITED WITH RESPECT TO HILLSIDE DRIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 20 4-04 BE PASSED? MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

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

16.5 BYLAW 24-05 BEING A BYLAW TO AMEND SIGN PARKING AND TRAFFIC, TAXI NOISE AND MOBILE VENDOR AND PEDDLERS' BYLAWS TO REPLACE THE FEE SCHEDULES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 204-05 BE PASSED? A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED. COUNCILOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

16.6 BYLAW 24-06 BEING A BYLAW TO AMEND BYLAW NUMBER 22-100.

A BYLAW TO REGULATE ANIMAL CONTROL AND ENSURE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF POUNDKEEPER AND AGENCY.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 20 4-06 BE PASSED? A MOVER. COUNCILLOR BOLE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

16.7 BYLAW 2407 BEING A BYLAW TO AMEND THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC BYLAW.

TO AMEND WORDING FOR ACCESSIBLE PARKING.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-07 BE PASSED? A MOVER. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDER.

COUNCILOR SIDEL.

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

[17. CLOSED SESSION]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL PROCEED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 7:53 P.M.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO COUNCIL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 8:57 P.M.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED 18 CONFIRMATORY BYLAWS.

[18. CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW]

HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-08 BE PASSED.

MOVER. COUNCILOR BOLES SECONDED.

[00:55:02]

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT THE HOUR OF 8:57 P.M.

MOVER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

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

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.