May 26, 2025 City Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

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

MONDAY, MAY 26TH, 2025, IT'S7:00 P.M. I'LL CALL TO ORDER.

ROLL CALL. ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. ARE THERE ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

[3. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

REGARDING ITEM 17.1 WITH REGARDS TO A SALE OF LAND ON OAKLAND BOULEVARD, AS MY SON WORKS FOR THE COMPANY INVOLVED, I HAVE AN INDIRECT PECUNIARY INTEREST. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER DECLARATIONS? GOING ONCE, TWICE. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES.

[4. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES]

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? CARRIED.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC INPUT THIS EVENING. WE DO HAVE REFO.

[6. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS]

AND THIS EVENING'S PRESENTER IS CONSTANCE SEAR, PRESIDENT.

WELCOME. AND DO EVERYTHING IN ENGLISH YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.

IS YOUR GREEN LIGHT ON THE MICROPHONE? JUST PUSH THE BUTTON.

PUSH. THERE YOU GO. I WAS LOOKING FOR PUSSY. I COULDN'T FIND IT.

EXCUSE ME. THAT'S OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME HERE TONIGHT AND GIVE YOU A SHORT PRESENTATION.

WE KNOW THAT YOUR AGENDA IS VERY HEAVY. AND SO, WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU ALLOWING US TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.

I AM MY NAME IS CONSTANCE CYR. I'M PRESIDENT OF RAFO, WHICH IS RE-GROUPEMENT DES ASSOCIATIONS FRANCOPHONES DE L'ONTARIO.

WE ARE A SMALL ORGANIZATION HERE IN ELLIOT LAKE.

WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL OF FIVE PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SITTING HERE IN THE ROOM.

WE HAVE LOUISE CHARBONNEAU, WHO IS OUR PROJECT AND ACTIVITY MANAGER, IF YOU CAN SAY.

AND SHE'S ALSO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.

WE HAVE JEAN SAVAL, WHO IS OUR DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE, AND I GOOGLED IN ENGLISH AND IT SAYS GENERAL DIRECTOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CORRECT WORD, BUT THAT'S WHAT SHE IS.

AND THEY BOTH WORK CLOSELY AS A TEAM. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.

AND I HAVE TO PRESS A BUTTON. OKAY. RAFO FOREIGNER IS A NONPROFIT OR NOT FOR PROFIT FRANCOPHONE CORPORATION.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED HERE IN ELLIOT LAKE IN 1984, SO WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

OUR GOAL TONIGHT IS TO JUST SAY BONJOUR, HERE WE ARE.

AND THIS IS WHO WE ARE, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO WE WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE NORTH SHORE, ELLIOT LAKE AND THE NORTH SHORE FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT INCLUDES ELLIOT LAKE AND THEN ALL THE WAY FROM MASSEY TO IRONBRIDGE.

SO WE WE ARE TRYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO GROW AND TO INCLUDE AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST.

OUR FOUR STRATEGIC PILLARS GROWTH AND VITALITY, ATTRACTION AND RETENTION, PARTICIPATION AND CELEBRATION, CONSULTATION AND ORGANIZATION. SO BASICALLY, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE A SMALL ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GROW, INVOLVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

NOT ONLY FRANCOPHONE PEOPLE, BUT FRANCOPHILES I BELIEVE IS A WORD IN ENGLISH.

ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FRENCH LANGUAGE WHO ARE WHO ENJOY THE FRENCH CULTURE.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO INVOLVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT AS MANY PEOPLE TO OUR GROUP AS POSSIBLE.

AND THE LAST ONE SAYS CONSULTATION AND ORGANIZATION.

SO IF EVER WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE THAT MOVED ELLIOT LAKE AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHERE, WHERE FRENCH SERVICES ARE OR THEY CAN GET HELP WE ARE THERE TO HELP THEM.

CONSULTATION. I BELIEVE WE DID A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE CITY WITH THE KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE.

I THINK WE TRANSLATED FOR YOU A LITTLE LOCAL BLURB OF SOME SORT.

[00:05:02]

SO LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO TO PROMOTE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.

OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. RAFO HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW GOOD, REALLY NICE ACTIVITIES.

BEFORE I WAS INVOLVED WITH RAFO, THEY DID HAVE SOME LEADERSHIP CAMPS FOR YOUTH.

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE BLIND RIVER AREA, AND THESE WERE SELF-DIRECTED LEADERSHIP CAMPS WHERE THE STUDENTS HIGH SCHOOL AGE WERE INVOLVED AND THEY CREATED THEIR OWN TASKS, THEIR OWN PROJECTS TO CELEBRATE THEIR FRENCH CULTURE.

AND THEY BROUGHT THAT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO THEIR SCHOOLS. SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THEM.

FOR MOST, FOR ALL OF THEM. I'M SORRY. AND WE HOPE MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN.

LAST YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH ALGOMATRAD. THEY ARE AN ORGANIZATION.

THEY ARE BASED IN SAULT STE. MARIE. AND WE ORGANIZED A DAY OF MUSIC, A DANCE, GOOD FOOD.

AND WE CELEBRATED THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING. IT WAS CALLED LA CABANA.

SO BASICALLY THE SUGAR SHACK AND WE WERE AT CAMP THOMPSON.

THE ATTENDANCE WAS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE. PEOPLE SHOWED UP, THEY DANCED, THEY DID SOME SQUARE DANCING.

THEY DID SOME SNOWSHOEING. WE PARTNERED WITH THE COUREURS DES BOIS FROM ELLIOT LAKE.

AND THEY BROUGHT THEY GUIDED OUR GUESTS THROUGH SOME SNOWSHOEING ACTIVITIES, WHICH WAS REALLY NICE.

WE HAD MAPLE TOFFEE ON SNOW, AND THAT WAS POPULAR.

SOME PEOPLE WENT TWICE AND THREE TIMES. IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

SO, WE HAD THAT FOR THE ATTENDEES, THE CLUB DES ÉTOILES, WHICH IS OUR SENIORS GROUP HERE IN ELLIOT LAKE, ALSO PARTNERED WITH US, AND THEY PREPARED A TRADITIONAL MEAL FOR ALL THE GUESTS.

WE HAD WE HAD OH, BOY. WE HAD PORK AND BEANS; WE HAD SUGAR PIE.

WE HAD ALL KINDS OF DELICIOUS FOOD ALL PREPARED IN OUR FRENCH CULTURE WITH OUR FRENCH CULTURE RECIPES. AND WE ALSO HAD REALLY GOOD MUSICIANS THAT SHOWED UP.

WE HAD MUSICIANS FROM QUEBEC. THEIR NAME WAS RÉVEILLON.

SO, THEY CAME ALL THE WAY TO ELLIOT LAKE, AND THEY ENTERTAINED WITH SOME CHANSONS.

AND THOSE ARE SONGS THAT YOU SING, AND YOU ANSWER BACK.

AND PEOPLE HAD A BLAST. WE HAD LIAISONS THERE FROM BLIND RIVER, AND THEY ALSO SANG FOR US, AND WE HAD MONSIEUR LEMIEUX. I BELIEVE HE'S FROM BLIND RIVER.

AND HE ALSO DID SOME SINGING, AND THE PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED SOME SQUARE DANCING.

SO, THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE UP THERE ON THE SCREEN IS FROM THE ACTUAL EVENT IT WAS AT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED IT, BUT IT WAS AT CAMP THOMPSON.

IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO HOLD SUCH AN EVENT. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CONSEIL PUBLIC DU GRAND NORD, WHICH IS THE FRENCH PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD SPONSORED A SOIREE FOLKLORIQUE AT THE FRENCH HIGH SCHOOL HERE, ÉCOLE PUBLIQUE DU VILLAGE AND ÉCOLE FRANCAISE DES JEUNES, WHERE AGAIN, WE HAD A NIGHT OF DANCING, SQUARE DANCING, A LITTLE BIT, A LOT OF SINGING AND AGAIN TRADITIONAL MEALS.

THAT WAS AGAIN PREPARED BY OUR LOCAL SENIORS CLUB HERE IN ELLIOT LAKE.

EVEN THE STUDENTS PREPARED SOME OF THE STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL PREPARED SOME OF THE MEAL MEALS.

MEALS? I THINK IT WAS A DESSERT. IT WAS CALLED THE POOR MAN'S PUDDING.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD. SO, THIS WAS SPONSORED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

RAFO ALSO SUPPORTED WITH SOME FINANCIAL HELP TO HELP WITH DECORATIONS AND SUCH.

AND WE ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH SOME OF THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED LIKE DISHES AND FORKS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT. SO, WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY WITH THAT.

THAT WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 101 HUNDRED PLUS PEOPLE.

ALSO AT THE SCHOOL, EVEN THE STUDENTS SANG AND PRESENTED SONGS FOR THE PEOPLE TO ENJOY.

SO THAT WAS ALSO DONE WITH A LOT OF FRANCOPHONE SPIRIT.

IT WAS REALLY ENJOYED AND THAT WAS FREE. THERE WAS NO CHARGE FOR ANYBODY WHO CAME.

ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS WE'RE PARTNERED WITH THE ELLIOT LAKE LIBRARY, ALSO WITH THE BLIND RIVER LIBRARY. AND WE PRESENT FILM A MOVIE ON FRANCAIS EVERY SECOND WEEK.

AND IT HAS PROVIDED MOST OF THE MOVIES. THE LIBRARY HAS PROVIDED US WITH A FEW.

AND IT'S EVERY SECOND WEEK IN ELLIOT LAKE HERE WE HAVE AN ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 10 TO 25 PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON THE MOVIE AND DEPENDING ON THE WEEK AND THE WEATHER, OF COURSE.

AND THEN IN BLIND RIVER, THERE'S A FEW LESS PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT AND SEE HOW WE COULD RESTRUCTURE THAT FOR NEXT YEAR TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUCCESS THERE.

[00:10:07]

AND HERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.

WE DO ET FAIRE ONTARIO. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIATED ACTUALLY IN EUROPE.

IN FRANCE, I BELIEVE, WHERE SENIORS ATTEND SCHOOLS OR DAYCARES AND THEY READ TO YOUNG CHILDREN, CHILDREN ABOUT FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS OF AGE.

AND IT'S TO SHARE OUR PASSION FOR READING AND THEN IT GREW AND WENT TO QUEBEC. THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC ALSO STARTED THIS PROGRAM, AND WE ARE THE FIRST ORGANIZATION HERE.

RAFO WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO START IT HERE IN NORTHERN ONTARIO.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. SO, WE GO TO THE WE WENT TO THE STUDENTS IN VILLA FRANCAISE DES JEUNES, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE READ WITH STUDENTS FROM GRADES ONE AND TWO.

AND NOW THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS DECIDED TO ADOPT THIS PROGRAM.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT. SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD.

A LOT OF THEIR SCHOOLS ARE IN OUR AREA. SO, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT ALSO BECAUSE IT IS IT'S GROWING AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US.

SO VERY HAPPY. NEXT YEAR, A NEW PROGRAM THAT IS STARTING IS CAFE FRANCO.

IT'S LIKE A, IT'S BASICALLY IT'S A GATHERING.

IT'S GOING TO START IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY TUESDAY.

EXCUSE ME. EVERY TUESDAY IT WILL BE HELD AGAIN WITH ONE OF AT ONE OF OUR PARTNERS PLACES DES ÉTOILES.

IT'S OPEN TO ALL FRANCOPHONES AND ALL THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME AND PRACTICE THEIR FRENCH LANGUAGE, OR EVEN JUST LISTEN. IF YOU CAN'T SPEAK IT AND YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR THE FRENCH LANGUAGE, YOU COME THERE AND YOU PRACTICE AND YOU LISTEN. AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF TOPICS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED. SOME OF THE EXAMPLES ARE MAYBE THE MAGIC OF COLORS, THE MAGIC COLOR.

TRAVEL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHARE PICTURES AND EXPERIENCES FROM THEIR TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD.

EDITING. I'M NOT EDITING. I'M SORRY. EATING ON A BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S.

WE ALL KNOW THAT TODAY BUDGETING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THE ART OF MEDITATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CYBERSECURITY.

WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEBODY BOOKED TO COME AND PRESENT THINGS THAT THE SENIORS AND THE FRANCOPHONES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.

THE 211 PROGRAM CHAIR YOGA. AND THAT'S JUST NAMING A FEW.

I THINK THERE'S BEREAVEMENT. ALSO, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION ON BEREAVEMENT. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF TOPICS THAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THESE CAFE COURSES.

THIS HERE WAS A GRANT THAT WE SECURED WITH PATRIMOINE CANADA I THINK.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS HERE WITH THAT.

AND NEXT YEAR, OH, THIS YEAR WE PRESENT WE CELEBRATED OUR CANADIAN OR FRENCH CANADIAN KNOW OUR FRANCO-ONTARIAN FLAG WITH THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.

THEY SANG SONGS. BUT NEXT YEAR IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FRANCO-ONTARIAN FLAG.

SO, EXPECT TO HEAR FROM US BECAUSE WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO THIS WITH THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

IT WOULD BE AWESOME IF THE EVENT COULD BE HELD HERE.

RAISING OF THE FLAG, BECAUSE I KNOW I NOTICED YOU HAVE ONE UP THERE.

AT CITY HALL, WE COULD ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

IT WOULD BE CAKE AND TREATS. SO, WE'RE LOOK FOR US TO APPLY THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE SO THAT WE COULD JOIN YOU.

AND YOU CAN JOIN US TO CELEBRATE OUR FLAG. AND I THINK, YEAH, VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED BY HERITAGE CANADA AND ARE ALWAYS APPLYING FOR FUNDING, BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVELS TO DEVELOP NEW ACTIVITIES AND NEW PROGRAMS. OUR PARTNERS AT THE MOMENT ARE VILLAGEOIS AND ÉCOLE SECONDAIRE, VILLA FRANCAISE DES JEUNES, LE CLUB DES AINES DES ETOILES DE ELLIOT LAKE.

PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE BLIND RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY.

NORTH CHANNEL LITERACY COUNCIL. THE SOUTH VICTORIA.

ALGOMA TRAD. LES COUREURS DE BOIS. AND WE'RE HOPING TO ADD TO THE LIST THIS LIST.

THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE IS THERE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY NEED.

IF YOU GET SOME FRANCOPHONE SPEAKING US CITIZENS THAT COME TO ELLIOT LAKE AND GOING, HEY, I KNOW I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND I NEED HELP AND I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GO.

PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY. WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP THEM.

[00:15:04]

WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE MORE FRENCH LANGUAGE THERE.

SHOW UP ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE ON YOUR CITY. YOUR CITY WEBSITE IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS PERFECTLY DONE. IT'S BILINGUAL AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE.

SO MAYBE WE CAN WORK ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE NOW.

AND I THINK YEAH, WE ARE ALWAYS THERE TO AT THE SERVICE OF FRANCOPHONES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND MERCI BEAUCOUP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AND THAT'S US. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERCI BEAUCOUP.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU. WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MADAME CYR.

WHAT WOULD BE THE POPULATION OF FRANCOPHONES IN THE AREA THAT YOU SERVE CURRENTLY, OR AN ESTIMATE? I THINK THAT THE POPULATION IS MORE THAN WHAT OUR STATISTICS ARE SHOWING.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN PEOPLE FILL OUT THE STATS CANADA AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS THE MAIN LANGUAGE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD? IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S FRANCOPHONE MARRIED WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S ANGLOPHONE.

THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE DOWN ANGLOPHONE BECAUSE I'M NOT, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT NATURALLY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. ENGLISH BECOMES THE MAIN LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

IF YOU'RE ASKING ME FOR A NUMBER, I CANNOT, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF LOUISE OR XIAN KNOW THAT NUMBER.

I DON'T WANT TO GUESS BECAUSE I WOULDN'T KNOW.

IT IS NOT A MAJORITY, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER, AND WE NEED TO.

WE NEED TO PROMOTE OUR FRENCH LANGUAGE AND KEEP IT ALIVE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP MORE OF A COMMENT. JUST YOU KNOW, THE FRANCOPHONE HISTORY HERE.

AND PRESENTLY. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF ELLIOT LAKE.

IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE MINES AND FROM THE EARLY TIMES.

AND THE FACT THAT YOUR GROUP IS TOTALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT, LIKE YOU APPLY FOR YOUR OWN GRANTS.

I MEAN, THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND I KNOW I'M, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M QUITE SURE WE WOULD SUPPORT RAISING THAT FLAG FOR YOU IN SEPTEMBER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DON'T FORGET, WE WILL. WE WILL GET A HOLD OF YOU GUYS.

DON'T WORRY. WE WON'T FORGET. AND WE DO. WE ARE.

LIKE WE SAID, WE ARE A PATRIMOINE. CANADA DOES GIVE US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDS ON A YEARLY BASIS, BUT THAT JUST COVERS LIKE RENT AND INSURANCE.

SO, ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE DO, THAT'S ALL WE APPLY, MAYBE FOR MAYBE 5 OR 6 PROJECTS EVERY YEAR.

AND MAYBE IF WE'RE LUCKY, ONE OF THEM GETS APPROVED.

SO, IT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW THAT TOO, WITH THE GRANTS AND STUFF.

SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. MAYBE JUST A COMMENT ON EXCUSE MY FRENCH HERE, BUT WHAT WERE THE ADDRESS OF THE CLUB? THE NA DES ETOILE, LE CLUB DES ANY, DES ÉTOILES? I, I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD GIVE YOU THEIR ADDRESS.

THERE WERE THE OLD LIBRARY USED TO BE IF YOU WALK BY THE BEHIND THE BANK OF MONTREAL ON THE CORNER THERE.

I BELIEVE THAT'S MARY WALK. CORRECT. IS IT? YES.

YES. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE.

WE WERE RIGHT. NOW WE'RE, OUR OFFICE IS IN THE SCHOOL.

AT THE SCHOOL, WE'RE NOT VERY VISIBLE. WE'RE LIKE IN THE BASEMENT THERE WITH THE SHOPS.

NICE LITTLE OFFICE. COZY. WE'RE HOPING TO BECOME MORE VISIBLE.

MAYBE MOVE EVENTUALLY. WE'RE NOT SURE YET, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST.

A CELEBRATION PLACE SAINT-JEAN-BAPTISTE.

SELF-SUFFICIENT. BEAUCOUP DANS NOS ACTIVITÉS SI NOUS DEMANDE DE L'ORDRE DE LA SAINT-JEAN-BAPTISTE.

ABSOLUMENT IMPORTANT. AND MAYBE ON A SIDE NOTE THE EARLY YEARS OF THE MINING, A LOT OF THE MINERS CAME FROM QUEBEC. YES, LA BELLE PROVINCE.

YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR BULL. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THANK YOU, MONSIEUR, FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE. HOW WOULD SOMEBODY GET A HOLD OF YOU? I DIDN'T SEE A PHONE NUMBER OR A WEB PAGE. OR DID YOU BRING CARDS? BUSINESS CARDS. OKAY. WE HAVE BUSINESS CARDS.

[00:20:05]

WE DO HAVE A RAFO. HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU LOOK FRANCOPHONIE RAFO.

YOU'LL WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE. AND IF YOU JUST TYPE IN RAFO IT WILL POP UP THERE ALSO.

I'LL GET YOU A BUSINESS CARD. OKAY. IT'S IN A PURSE. OH, NO. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. IT'S NOT URGENT.

WE'LL GET EVERYTHING SET UP QUICKLY. OKAY. SO, I GUESS YEAH.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HERE. A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT YOU'VE TAKEN ON TO CONTINUE THE CULTURE AND THE FRENCH LANGUAGE ITSELF.

I ALMOST TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU JUST SAID, ACTUALLY.

SO THAT'S INTERESTING. THE NEXT STEPS. I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR SOME, SOME FUNDING.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR MORE PROJECTS. I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WISE FOR ME TO SAY WHAT THE PROJECT IS UNLESS IT'S ACTUALLY APPROVED, BUT THE NEXT ONE IS A BIG ONE. IT WOULD INVOLVE, LIKE THE ELLIOT LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

IT WOULD INVOLVE THE SCHOOLS. IT WOULD INVOLVE THE CITY.

IT WOULD INVOLVE A LOT OF GROUP, IF IT'S APPROVED.

BUT WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR ANSWER YET.

BUT WE THE LADIES ARE BUSY. THEY APPLY AT LEAST THREE, FOUR, FIVE TIMES A YEAR FOR.

WELL, I'M SURE IT'S A LOT OF WORK. IF THE CITY CAN BE OF ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT US.

WE WILL, AND WE'LL TRY AND GET YOUR CONTACTS AND YOUR INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

YEAH, WE ARE ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE GROUP IS ON YOUR WEBSITE.

YES. OKAY. OKAY, I'LL, I'LL BRING THIS TO YOU IN A MINUTE.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. OKAY. SEVEN INTRODUCTION AND

[7. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS]

99 AXMOUTH AVENUE, TO AN UPSET LIMIT OF $20,000, AND THAT THE FUNDS BE DRAWN FROM THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN RESERVE.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

MR. ANTUNES, PLEASE. AND GOOD EVENING, YOUR WORSHIP.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS COUNCIL'S AWARE WAS THE UPDATE WAS PASSED IN 2024.

AND THE IDEA OF THE CIP IS TO ENABLE THE MUNICIPALITY TO OFFER GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN TARGETED AREAS IN THE MUNICIPALITY.

IN THE CASE OF THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHEN WE DO EXCEED A $7,500 ASK, THAT DOES GO BEYOND THE COMMITTEE OF STAFF WITH MISTER BERTOLLI AND OUR CEO TO COUNCIL. THIS ONE, AS WAS ALLUDED TO IN THE RECOMMENDATION, THE RESOLUTION IS ABOVE $7,500, HENCE BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL. THE PROPERTY AT 99 AXMOUTH IS A MULTI UNIT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S MADE UP OF 24 UNITS. WHAT THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO DO IS THEY'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SOME SUBSTANTIAL UPDATES TO THEIR PROPERTY.

THIS INCLUDES THE BUILDINGS FRONT AND REAR DOORS, SOME NEW LIGHTING IN THE PARKING LOT, AS WELL AS SOME PAVING IN THE LOT.

THE BREAKDOWN IS INCLUDED IN MY REPORT. BETWEEN THE PAVING, LIGHTING AND REPLACEMENT OF FRONT DOORS THEIR TOTAL FOR THE UPDATES IS JUST OVER. JUST UNDER $73,000.

BUT OF COURSE, WE DO MAX OUT FOR ANY ONE APPLICANT AT $20,000 IN THE BREAKDOWN.

SO, WE DON'T MAKE ANY PAYMENTS UNTIL THE WORK IS COMPLETED.

HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY STAFF AND OF COURSE HAS FOLLOWED EVERYTHING.

THROUGH THE LETTER OF OUR NEW CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL, MR. MCCAFFREY.

FINANCIALLY, AGAIN, IT WILL IMPACT THE MUNICIPALITY AT $20,000.

IF WE DO MOVE AHEAD. SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. ANTUNES. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S BEING WELL USED LATELY.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW MANY TIMES CAN A BUSINESS APPLY FOR THIS CIP PROGRAM? SO, THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, TYPICALLY IT'S UNTIL THEY EXHAUST THEIR CAPACITY OR THEIR ACCESS TO THE FUNDS.

WE DID HAVE ONE APPLICANT WHO DID APPLY FOR THE ACCESSIBILITY FUND AND GOT A LESSER AMOUNT AND THEN CHOSE TO MAKE ANOTHER UPGRADE.

[00:25:07]

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAX FOR ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES IS JUST $3,500, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK UNTIL THEY GOT TO THAT POINT. SO, THEY ARE CONTINUALLY ABLE TO APPLY, BUT TYPICALLY NOT FOR THE SAME WORK.

SO, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO APPLY AGAIN FOR PAVING OR FRONT AND REAR DOORS.

IT'S TO GO THROUGH INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS FOR UPDATES AND A FOLLOW UP.

COULD THAT IF THAT PERSON OR BUSINESS HAS DIFFERENT BUSINESSES IN TOWN, IS THEIR LIMIT STILL JUST THE SAME OR IS IT PER ADDRESS THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP. IT'S PER PROPERTY.

SO, IT'S THE APPLICANT. THIS APPLICANT FOR EXAMPLE, DOES OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN THE COMMUNITY THERE.

THE APPLICATION THE SIP APPLICATION IS PER PROPERTY.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. COUNCILLOR BULL.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. ANTUNES.

SO, YOU MENTIONED ACCESSIBILITY, OR THE FRONT DOOR IS GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

OR IS THAT? WERE YOU JUST REPLYING TO MR. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SORRY.

THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP. YES. COUNCILLOR BULL THAT WAS ANOTHER APPLICATION WAS ACCESSIBILITY. THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE. THIS ONE IS AN ACCESSIBILITY. THE FRONT DOOR APPLICATION FOR THIS ONE AND THE LIGHTING IS UNDER THE FACADE GRANT TO UPGRADE THE, THE LOOK OF THE, OF THE BUILDING.

THAT'S TO TRY AND INCREASE THE, THE CURB APPEAL, IF YOU WILL, OF, OF THE PROJECT ITSELF BY ADDING LIGHTING TO MAKE THE PARKING LOT LOOK BETTER. AND AGAIN, THE FRONT DOORS LOOK VERY TIRED.

SO, TO ADD TO THE APPEAL OF WALKING UP TO THE FACILITY, THAT WOULD BE IT AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT IS CARRIED. MY APOLOGIES TO THE CONTINGENT THAT DID PRESENT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

JUST PUT IT BESIDE. YEAH. OKAY. STEVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

OKAY. 7.2 MEMO FROM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER, HUGH GRANT.

FUNDING REGARDING HOUSING ENABLING WATER SYSTEMS FUND GRANT FUNDING.

SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEMO FROM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER REGARDING THE HOUSING ENABLING WATER SYSTEMS FUND RECEIVED A MOVER.

COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE SECONDED. COUNCILLOR MANN MR. GOULDING, PLEASE. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. JUST A SHORT MEMO TO, WELL, I GUESS SOMEWHAT FORMALLY INFORMED COUNCIL OF OUR SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO THE HUGHES F FUND.

I KNOW THAT I'VE MENTIONED IT IN SESSION PREVIOUSLY, BUT TONIGHT WE HAVE A TRANSFER PAYMENT AGREEMENT ATTACHED FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE BYLAW SECTION THAT IS IN IT FORMS THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONTARIO AND THE CITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT OUR DIGESTER COVER INITIATIVE TO THE TUNE OF $2.7 MILLION, WHICH IS A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THAT PROJECT.

IT REPRESENTS ABOUT 30% OF THE COSTS OF THE PROJECT THROUGH THE FALL.

JOHNSON CONTROLS AND STAFF WORK TOGETHER TO PREPARE THIS APPLICATION.

IT WAS A FAIRLY LABOR INTENSIVE PROCESS TO DO, AND WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ENDEAVOR.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD NEWS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING. SO, HE WAS PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE DIGESTER COVER REPLACEMENT PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT THIS GRANT IS FOR. SO, MY QUESTION IS, IT SAYS IN SCHEDULE E THAT WE MUST HAVE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD DOCUMENTATION BY SPRING OF 2025 OR FALL OF 2025. A PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT.

SO, ONCE WE SIGN THE PAPERWORK FOR THE GRANT, ARE WE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS $8.7 MILLION REPAIR BY JCI,

[00:30:08]

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP STAFF'S A BIT DIVIDED ON THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE WITH THIS PROJECT.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS REALLY ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY IN THE LONG TERM.

SO, YES, WE'RE DOING PARALLEL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE VIABILITY OF AN INTERIM REPAIR TO THE COVER RATHER THAN A FULL REPLACEMENT. I'LL CONFESS THE CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WAS PREPARED QUITE EARLY, IF I REMEMBER, IT WAS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS THAT I PREPARED A SUBMISSION TO THE PROVINCE TO THAT THEY USE TO PREPARE THE TRANSFER PAYMENT AGREEMENT.

SO, I MAY HAVE AT THAT TIME HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING A MORE ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR SIGNATURE OF A CONTRACT AND MAY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEM TO ADJUST OUR, OUR SCHEDULES. BUT AS FAR AS THE PROVINCE IS CONCERNED RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE APPROVED A PROJECT THAT INVOLVES FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE COVER.

SO, IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT, WE MAY HAVE TO DO THAT.

IF WE DETERMINE THAT A REPAIR IS MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY.

SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS LET'S AND I TOTALLY AGREE, LET'S NOT TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING THIS MONEY.

BUT WHEN WE INVESTIGATE THIS DIGESTER REPLACEMENT, IF WE GET INFORMATION FROM STAFF THAT IT'S POSSIBLY CAN BE REPAIRED, PREPARED FOR 1 MILLION OR 2. WE'RE NOT COMMITTED TO HAVING TO REPLACE THIS DIGESTER COVER BY SIGNING THIS PAPERWORK.

I NEED TO KNOW THAT. THANKS. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO, SIGNING THE AGREEMENT WOULD STRONGLY INDICATE TO THE TO THE PROVINCE THAT WE'D BE MOVING FORWARD WITH A PROJECT THERE. I WOULD, I'D HAVE TO THINK I'VE NOT ENCOUNTERED A SITUATION YET WHERE A FUNDER LIKE THIS WOULDN'T BE OPEN TO AN AMENDING AGREEMENT IF.

IF IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT WOULD REMAIN TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT A REPAIR RATHER THAN A RENEWAL.

SO, WHETHER WE WOULD GO TO THEM WITH AN AMENDING AGREEMENT AND THEY WOULD SHRINK THEIR CONTRIBUTION SIZE OR WITHDRAW IT COMPLETELY.

I CAN'T, I CAN'T SPECULATE. BUT I WOULD REALLY HESITATE TO SAY THAT THE PROVINCE WILL FORCE US TO TAKE THIS MONEY IF WE SIGN THIS AGREEMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

MY QUESTION IS, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK OR TIMELINES FOR STAFF TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH EITHER A REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR SCENARIO? IF YOU'RE SAYING NOW THERE'S A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION ON THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A REASONABLE TIMELINE TO HAVE THAT DECISION MADE? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE THIS ISSUE TIED UP THIS WEEK.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMMISSION PARALLEL ADVICE FROM ANOTHER ENGINEERING FIRM TO REVIEW OUR CONSIDERATION OF BOTH PLANS. AND I'VE ARRANGED FOR A MEETING BETWEEN THEM AND MR. BERTOLI THIS WEEK, JUST SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH THE VARIOUS OPTIONS AND CLARIFY WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS.

FOLLOW UP. I CAN'T THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. GOULDING.

NOW, I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DELAY AGREEING TO UNTIL THAT DECISION IS MADE? IF WE'RE GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO REPAIRING OR REPLACING IT, RATHER, AND WE'RE AT THIS POINT WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE HEADED IN, WOULD IT BE REASONABLE, OR IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO DELAY THIS UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, TO COME BACK AND BE COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN? SO WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT TYING UP FUNDS WITH THE PROVINCE THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT NEED.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I HESITATE TO ANSWER BECAUSE I RECALL A TIMELINE BY WHICH WE HAVE TO

[00:35:04]

I'M SORRY. AND I DON'T HAVE A MEANS BY WHICH TO PULL UP THE INFORMATION QUICK ENOUGH FOR SESSION TONIGHT.

I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO. WELL, THERE'S NO REAL HARM IN SIGNING IT.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU. THAT'S MY OPINION. AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT FORWARD.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK THAT'S WHY MR. BERTOLI APPROVED IT ON THE AGENDA AS WELL.

WE DON'T SEE GREAT HARM IN APPLYING. AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION AT THE AT THE WASTEWATER PLANT.

AND IF IT'S A MATTER OF AMENDING THE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT OUR COURSE CORRECTION, THEN AT LEAST THIS INITIATING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROVINCE WOULD ALLOW OPEN THE DOOR TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT. YEAH. AND WE'VE SIGNED MANY CONTRACTS AND HAVE GONE BACK AND AMENDED BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF WORK HAS CHANGED THROUGHOUT.

AND WE'VE YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FAVORABLE.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY NOT TO SIGN IT. OKAY.

LET'S HAVE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

7.3 REPORT FROM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER REGARDING ROGERS ARENA LIFE SAFETY AUDIT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE USE OF THE NEGOTIATION METHOD AS DESCRIBED IN THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT POLICY, TO SOLE SOURCE THE SOURCE, THE PROVISION OF A LIFE SAFETY AUDIT OF THE ROGERS ARENA TO PERRY AND PERRY ARCHITECTS AT AN UPSET LIMIT OF 25,000 PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES, THAT THE ASSOCIATED COSTS BE DRAWN FROM THE CITY'S BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.

CAPITAL RESERVE. A MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR BULL? MR. GOULDING, PLEASE. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

WE HAVE A PROCUREMENT REQUEST THAT JUST EXCEEDS STAFF'S ABILITY TO APPROVE WITHOUT COMING TO COUNCIL.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A HEALTHY THING TO DISCUSS AT COUNCIL REGARDLESS, BECAUSE IT KIND OF CONTEXTUALIZES WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROJECT AND GIVES COUNCIL A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD WOULD BE, AT LEAST FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF VIEW.

I MENTIONED IN THE REPORT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT STAFF, AND I THINK ALL OF US ENVISIONED AS A SERIES OF TARGETED REPAIRS TO THE FACILITY, TO A MORE EXTENSIVE RENEWAL INSIDE BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURAL WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AND ITS SUBSEQUENT IMPACT ON A NUMBER OF THE BUILDING'S SYSTEMS. SO OUR NEW CBO HAS STRONGLY SUGGESTED, AND IN FACT, REQUIRES, THAT CONSULTANCY BE OBTAINED TO DO A LIFE SAFETY REVIEW OF THE BUILDING AT THE VERY MINIMUM SO THAT WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT THERE'S PROPER MEANS OF EGRESS AND THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE IN A WAY THAT'S COMPLIANT WITH MODERN CODE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS. AND YOU CAN SEE A SCHEDULE OF INVESTIGATIVE ITEMS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THE ARCHITECT'S PROPOSAL.

A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD OFFER FROM THE FIRM.

THE FIRM'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT. PREVIOUSLY, THEY WERE ENGAGED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS TO OVERSEE THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ROOFING SYSTEM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE. THE INSULATION LAYER THAT'S AND ROOFING LAYER THAT'S THERE, AND THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SIDING THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED PREVIOUSLY.

SO, ON THAT BASIS, STAFF HAS AN APPETITE TO NOT EXPAND THE DESIGN TEAM AND REALLY HAS AN APPETITE TO STREAMLINE THIS SO THAT A CONSULTANCY FIRM THAT'S FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT STAYS ENGAGED.

AND IS ABLE TO OFFER THIS REPORTING THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. GOULDING. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR SEIDEL. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

IN READING THIS REPORT, I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT,

[00:40:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE NEW CBO, I THINK THAT HALF OF THESE THINGS, ALONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUTHORITY HALF OF THESE CAN BE DONE IN-HOUSE, ALMOST BASICALLY. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT PERRY AND PERRY OFFERS SERVICES THAT AREN'T AVAILABLE FROM OTHER VENDORS.

THAT'S NOT THE RATIONALE FOR HIRING THEM. THERE'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR A BUILDING.

AND I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS OVER 600M², BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN.

THAT HAS PUBLIC OCCUPANCY USE TO HAVE TO HAVE AN ARCHITECT OVERSEE A MAJOR RENEWAL PROJECT.

AND BECAUSE WE'VE CROSSED THAT THRESHOLD FROM DOING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS BROKEN THING TO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY TOUCHING EVERY PIECE OF THE ARENA. AT THIS POINT, WE REQUIRE AN ARCHITECT TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS VENDORS INVOLVED.

SO, AS WE AS WE TRANSITION FROM THE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SET UP TO OCCUPY, WE NEED THAT CONSULTANT IN PLACE LEGALLY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES HAVE TO BE AN ARCHITECT.

IT'S PRESCRIBED. SO, THE ARCHITECT IS GOING TO MAKE A REPORT ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT DO THAT TO REDO ALL THIS.

ARE THEY GOING TO OVERSEE AFTERWARDS THAT IT'S ALL DONE IN COMPLIANCE AND EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP, THAT'S EXACTLY THE SITUATION.

YES. I DON'T LIKE USING THIS LANGUAGE, BUT ESSENTIALLY, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO SIGN OFF ON THE ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT ON THOSE SUB VENDOR ACTIVITIES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THROUGH YOU. MR. GOULDING. SO, DOES THIS AUDIT NEED TO BE COMPLETED AND DONE BEFORE THE ARENA IS REOPENED? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. YES, IT CERTAINLY DOES. IT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'LL REQUIRE BEFORE THEY CAN ISSUE OCCUPANCY FOR THE BUILDING.

AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, SO I'VE READ EVERYTHING ON HERE AND A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS.

STANDPIPE SYSTEM, VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

I DON'T THINK OUR DOES OUR ARENA EVEN HAVE THAT STUFF? LIKE DO WE HAVE TO PUT THIS IN. ARE WE GOING TO BE INTO A WHOLE NOTHER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HERE OR LIKE THANK YOU THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, PERHAPS. IT SO OUR ARENA WAS BUILT IN 1968.

AT THAT TIME, THE BUILDING CODES WERE CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE NOW.

IT'S UP TO OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL ABOUT WHAT LEVEL OF MODERN COMPLIANCE IS REQUIRED.

NOW THAT WE'VE INITIATED THIS MAJOR RENEWAL OF THE BUILDING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S SOME DEGREE OF INTERPRETATION ON SOME ITEMS, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT.

BUT THE FIRST STEP IN ESTABLISHING WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE DON'T NEED TO DO IS THIS AUDIT.

OKAY. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO, WHAT IS A STANDPIPE SYSTEM, DO YOU KNOW OR.

SORRY, MR. GOULDING, I JUST NEVER HEARD OF IT.

THANK YOU. WITHOUT CONTEXT, MY UNDERSTANDING OF STANDPIPE SYSTEM IS MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL THEM.

IF IT WAS YOUR HOUSE, YOU'D CALL IT A PLUMBING VENT WHERE THERE'S A ROOF PENETRATION AND A AND A PIPE THAT COMES OUT THE ROOF.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS IN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING THAT WOULD NEED THAT KIND OF THAT KIND OF DETAIL.

AND THAT'S THIS SCOPE OF WORK WASN'T PROPOSED ARBITRARILY BY THE ARCHITECTS, THEY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ITEMS THEY NEED TO ENSURE ARE COMPLIANT IN ORDER FOR THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL TO OFFER HIS OCCUPANCY. AND OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIALS LOOKED OVER THIS LETTER.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. YES. I ARRANGED A MEETING BETWEEN OUR NEW CBO AND THE ARCHITECTS AND REPRESENTATIVES

[00:45:04]

AND THIS WAS THE SOLUTION THAT OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL PROPOSED.

AND THANKFULLY, THE ARCHITECT FIRM WAS HAPPY TO OFFER A PROPOSAL.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR BULL. THANK YOU. WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING. WHAT KIND OF TIMELINE ARE WE LOOKING AT? BY THE TIME THIS GETS ALL DONE AND THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE CAN OCCUPY IT.

CAN THEY DO THAT KIND OF WORK NOW? WELL, NOT NOW.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT. BUT ONCE THE CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED OR WHATEVER. CAN THEY BE IN THE ARENA WHILE THE OTHER WORK'S GOING ON? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. YES, I EXPECT THAT'S THE CASE.

AND THAT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING IN DEALING WITH THE ARCHITECTS.

I'M PLANNING ON APPROACHING THEM TOMORROW TO SET UP A MEETING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE WRD AND TRS ARE EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AS WELL, JUST TO GET SOME CLARITY ON SOME THINGS THAT SOME BUILDING DETAILS AND HOW IT MAY IMPACT MEANS OF EGRESS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT PROPOSAL LIST? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO, THIS IS BASICALLY A CHECKLIST OF THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY AN ARCHITECT THAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BY OUR CBO THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED OR NOT COMPLETED, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT THEY SEE IN ORDER FOR US TO GET OCCUPANCY.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY THE CASE.

MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH DEALING WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HOME RENOVATIONS.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THAT ROLE THAT WE ALL ENVISION, THAT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR PLAYS WHEN WE DO AN ADDITION TO OUR HOME OR WHATNOT, WHEN IT'S A COMMERCIAL BUILDING OF THIS TYPE OF USE AND THIS SIZE, THERE'S AN EXTRA LAYER OF OVERSIGHT THAT'S CONDUCTED BY AN ARCHITECT. OKAY, WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED INTO THE SAME ROOM AND HAVE GOALS. WE'VE GIVEN A TIMELINE. WE'VE KIND OF WANTED AN OUTLINE PLAN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE.

AND I THINK I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THIS. THERE'S CLEARLY, HE SAYS WE HAVE TO.

SO. OKAY. MR. GOULDING. SORRY, I DON'T NEED TO TAG ON BECAUSE THAT'S A PERFECT SUMMATION.

I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT I REALLY HAD AN APPETITE TO ARRANGE FOR THIS KIND OF SERVICE MUCH EARLIER THAN THIS.

I MADE REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT WE HADN'T RECEIVED FINAL DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM YET AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS REPORT.

THANKFULLY, I DID RECEIVE THEM ON FRIDAY. I BELIEVE THAT THE VENDORS ARE MAKING APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT FOR THAT SCOPE OF WORK TO OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT. IF THEY HAVEN'T TODAY, THEN THEY WILL BE SHORTLY.

I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. AND THE IMPLICATION THERE OR THE NOT THE IMPLICATION, JUST THE THE PLAIN FACT IS WE WE REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT THAT DESIGN SOLUTION LOOKED LIKE IN ORDER AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE SCOPE OF WORK OF REPAIR FOR THAT PORTION OF WORK, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE SYSTEMS INSIDE THE BUILDING.

AND TO HAVE THIS KIND OF SERVICE DONE ON HYPOTHETICALS EARLIER WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FRUITFUL.

SO AS OF FRIDAY, WE ARE ARMED WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY DO THIS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT IS CARRIED. OKAY. EIGHT PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[8. PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS]

WATER. WASTEWATER. AT THE MAY 21ST, 2025, AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT THE 2025 AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE APPROVED THE AMENDED 2025 USER PAY BUDGET AS PRESENTED, AND THAT IT BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

SO, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE 2025 USER PAY BUDGET AS PRESENTED A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

[00:50:08]

AND THROUGH YOU. SO, THE ORIGINAL USER PAY BUDGET, WHICH COVERS OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES WAS PRESENTED WITH A 6.75% INCREASE. BUT A $17,000 DEFICIT. THIS WAS JUST A CLERICAL MISTAKE.

SO, TO ERASE THE DEFICIT. WHAT WE DID AT CITY HALL IS WE LOOKED AT OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND STAFFING AND WE NOTICED, WELL, SINCE IT'S ALREADY MAY AND WE ALREADY HAD SOME VACANCIES WE KIND OF TWEAKED OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS FIGURE.

THIS ENABLED US TO ACTUALLY INCREASE NOT ONLY ERASE THE DEFICIT BUT INCREASE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESERVES AND WATER WASTEWATER AND MAINTAIN THAT 6.75% BILLING RATE INCREASE, WHICH IS BELOW THE TEN YEAR PLAN.

SO, ALL USER PAY BUDGETS IN ONTARIO ARE GOVERNED BY A TEN YEAR PLAN.

OUR TEN YEAR PLAN CALLS FOR 7% INCREASES IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT GOING TO RESERVES.

SO, THIS ACHIEVES MORE RESERVES AT THE 6.75% INCREASE.

SO, THIS CORRECTS THAT CLERICAL MISTAKE AND PRESENTS A BALANCED BUDGET WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ONTARIO REGULATION.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, I WOULD GLADLY, GLADLY ENTERTAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. COUNCILLOR MANN. THANK YOU.

YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. ALT FOR GETTING US BACK INTO COMPLIANCE WITH WATER WASTEWATER, BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU INDICATED, WE CANNOT RUN A DEFICIT BUDGET.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. YEAH. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS A COUPLE TIMES.

SO, IT'S FINALLY HERE TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

LET'S CALL A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. AND THAT IS CARRIED.

8.2 REPORT FROM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, TREASURER REGARDING UPDATED RESERVES REPORT AT THE MAY 21ST, 2025 AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT THE AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE CONSIDER THE STATE OF RESERVES WHEN CONSIDERING DEBT FINANCING AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. WE HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER THE STATE OF RESERVES WHEN CONSIDERING DEBT FINANCING, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDED COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF MR. AULT. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THROUGH YOU. SO THIS REPORT BASICALLY SUMMARIZES AN UP TO DATE SNAPSHOT OF THE EXISTING BALANCES FOR OUR MUNICIPAL RESERVES. I WILL REMIND COUNCIL THAT RESERVES ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY, NOT ONLY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN OUR AGREEMENTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, BUT ALSO FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, IT LOWERS OUR FINANCIAL RISK.

IF WE WERE TO GO ON THE FINANCIAL MARKET AND LOOK AT DEBT, OUR RESERVES COME IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES.

SO, THE FIRST CATEGORY OF COURSE IS WORKING FUNDS.

SO, THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT WORKING FUNDS IS THAT THESE ARE THIS IS THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE TO BASICALLY FOR CASH FLOW PURPOSES, MAKE PAYROLL YOU KNOW, PAY EXPENSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS PAST MONTH, I APPROVED EFTS OF ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN CASH FLOW.

JUST SO YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHAT OUR MONTHLY CASH FLOW IS LIKE.

OF COURSE, IT GOES UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON OUR COLLECTION OF TAXES AND USER FEES AND SO ON.

SO, WE LIKE TO HAVE A BALANCE THERE OF ABOUT 5 MILLION DISCRETIONARY RESERVES ARE EARMARKED REVENUES FOR FROM COUNCIL.

THESE ARE FOR THINGS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS AND FLEET INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

THEY'RE DISCRETIONARY IN THE SENSE THAT COUNCIL GETS TO KIND OF SUGGEST WHAT POCKET THEY BELONG TO.

THERE'S NO ONTARIO GOVERNMENT OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLING YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS MUCH TO FLEET OR THIS MUCH TO IT.

THAT'S REALLY A COUNCIL DECISION. BUT WE LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF RESERVES THAT ARE DISCRETIONARY BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO DEBT MARKETS, IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

OF COURSE, IT LOWERS OUR FINANCIAL RISK AND INCREASES OUR CREDIT RATING.

ABOUT 30 TO 35% OF A MUNICIPAL CREDIT RATING IS BASED ON HOW MUCH RESERVES WE HAVE.

OF COURSE, IF WE DEPLETED RESERVES, OUR CREDIT RATING WOULD BE VERY POOR. WE ALSO HAVE OBLIGATORY RESERVES.

SO, THESE ARE THINGS LIKE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, VARIOUS KIND OF COMMITMENT BASED RESERVES WHERE WE HAVE A COMMITMENT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE TO PAY A CERTAIN LIABILITY.

SO, WE KEEP THAT IN RESERVES ACCRUING THE INTEREST.

ACCORDINGLY, OUR INVESTMENTS ARE HOUSED PRIMARILY WITH EDWARD JONES, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A SMALL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO THROUGH NORTHERN CREDIT UNION AS WELL.

IN TERMS OF THE STATE OF THE CITY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE RESERVE TABLE, THAT WE FRAME IT IN CONTEXT OF WHY WE ARE, YOU KNOW, VASTLY INCREASING RESERVES AND WHY THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

SO, EVERY GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT BE PROVINCIAL, FEDERAL OR MUNICIPAL, CALCULATES HOW MUCH EXPENSES DO WE HAVE TO PAY TO DO THE THINGS THAT

[00:55:06]

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS A HOUSE VALUED IN THE 20TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET PAYS LESS THAN SOMEBODY WHO HAS A HOUSE VALUED AT THE 70TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET, WHICH IS WHY YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPARE $100,000 HOUSE IN ELLIOT LAKE TO $100,000 HOUSE IN TORONTO.

SO, WHEN WE COMPARE OUR TAXES TO SIMILAR SIZED MUNICIPALITIES LIKE DRYDEN, KENORA AND TEMISKAMING SHORES, WE SEE ONLY GOOD NEWS. OUR TAXES ARE THE LOWEST ON A PER HOUSEHOLD LEVEL.

EVEN AS OF 2023 FIGURES, THEY'RE $2,447. SORRY, $2,447.55.

AND THAT'S LOWER THAN KENORA AT 4013, DRYDEN AT 4598.

AND JUST FOR ILLUSTRATION, SAULT STE. MARIE AT 4003 2266 AND ESPANOLA, 3008 4708 AND SUDBURY 4517. I THINK WHAT THIS REALLY DOES ILLUSTRATE NOT ONLY OUR THIS MEANS THE 50TH PERCENTILE IS THE AVERAGE TAX PAID BY THAT PERSON. SO SOMEONE WHO'S LIVING IN A HOUSE WHERE 50% MINUS ONE ARE CHEAPER AND 50% MINUS ONE ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE NEED THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY PUT TOWARDS RESERVES IN THE PAST THAT WE, THAT WE, WE, WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE. AND IT'S WHY WE ARE, OF COURSE, VASTLY INCREASING THOSE AMOUNTS.

I WILL, OF COURSE, PUT A FOOTNOTE THERE THAT IMPACT ASSESSMENTS ACROSS THE PROVINCE, IN EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPALITY ARE BASED ON VALUES AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2016. OBVIOUSLY WHEN MPAC UPDATES ITS ASSESSMENT VALUES WE WILL SEE A CHANGE, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE AMOUNT OF TAX PAID PER CAPITA, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S BASED ON WHAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET IS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL ASSESSED PROPERTY IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT WE WILL SEE A LEVY PERCENTAGE CHANGE, SO TO SPEAK.

WHICH I THINK WILL BE BASED ON, OBVIOUSLY, THE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES WE'VE HAD IN ELLIOT LAKE SINCE 2016.

SO, LOOKING AT OUR RESERVES IN PARTICULAR, WE START OFF AGAIN WITH WORKING FUNDS.

WORKING FUNDS ARE OPENING BALANCE FOR 2025 IS 5 MILLION.

188. 282. WE THEN PROCEED TO OUR DISCRETIONARY RESERVES.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF WHAT POCKET THEY GO INTO.

TO CALCULATE THESE, WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK OUR OPENING BALANCE.

WE ADDED OUR MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION FROM LAST YEAR AND IT GRANTS OUR SURPLUS THAT WAS RECEIVED, AS WELL AS AN ALLOCATED AMOUNT OF THE INTEREST THAT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO SUBTRACTING ANY OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS OR CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THAT RESERVE TO EQUAL THAT OPENING BALANCE. SO, IN FLEET, OUR OPENING BALANCE WAS 1,574,829 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR 16 917 PUBLIC WORKS, ET CETERA.

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A TOTAL FOR DISCRETIONARY RESERVES BEING 3,000,002, 94, 69.

I WILL HIGHLIGHT, HOWEVER, THAT BUILDING AND FACILITIES WAS OVERDRAWN AT 4,928,017.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT SO FAR THAT'S BEEN OVERDRAWN.

IN SPECIAL PURPOSE RESERVES, ALL OF THEM? MOST OF THEM, ANYWAYS, ACCRUED INTEREST.

AND OUR BALANCE OF ALL SPECIAL PURPOSE RESERVES, WHICH WE CAN'T TOUCH.

UNLESS IF THEY'RE FOR THAT PURPOSE WAS 17,899,536.

AND WE DO HAVE TWO OBLIGATORY RESERVE FUNDS, OF WHICH ONE IS THEY BASICALLY BOTH CANCEL OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO AN OPENING BALANCE OF ZERO. SO THAT IS THE BALANCES AS OF AS OF TODAY.

OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION, OBVIOUSLY BACK TO THE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES RESERVE, WHEREAS OF THE DATE OF THIS REPORT WE DID HAVE 3,561,835. IN ADDITIONAL COUNCIL APPROVALS AND WORK IN PROGRESS.

OF COURSE, MOST OF THAT IS RELATED TO THE ARENA WHICH MEANS AS OF RIGHT NOW, OUR DISCRETIONARY RESERVES ARE OVER 4,000,008 68.

363 THE $3 MILLION I QUOTED BEFORE WAS AS OF THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2020.

FOR. NOW I'LL HAPPILY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SORRY FOR THE.

NO. IT'S ALWAYS. WELL, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET A GREAT EXPLANATION.

YOU SEEM TO FIND A WAY TO GIVE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY EACH TIME TO ADD TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, WHICH IS MUCH APPRECIATED. OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD OUR CASH FLOW MONTHLY. SO, THE LAST MONTH WAS 1,000,002.

[01:00:05]

YEAH, WE'RE GOOD WITH CASH FLOW. OBVIOUSLY, WATER BILLS JUST BECAME DUE.

THE CUT OFF PERIOD WAS RECENT. SORRY. SO, WE'RE COLLECTING A LOT OF ARREARS.

AND YEAH. NO, WE'RE WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH LIQUIDITY AT THIS TIME.

OKAY, GREAT. SO NO OTHER COMMENTS. LET'S VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT IS CARRIED. 8.3 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, TREASURER, REGARDING CAPITAL, BUDGET AND PLANNED RESERVES EXPENDITURES FOR 2025.

AT THE MAY 21ST, 2025 AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED.

THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO TAKE ON DEBT IN THE AMOUNT OF 7460, OR 7,463,500, TO REPLENISH RESERVES TO APPROPRIATE LEVELS GIVEN THEIR STRESS FOLLOWING THE ARENA, AND THAT COUNCIL APPROVED MOVING THE CURRENT BALANCE IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE HUB RESERVE, AND $1 MILLION FROM THE LAND SALES PURCHASES RESERVE TO THE BUILDING AND FACILITIES RESERVE, AND THAT THE AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE APPROVED THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THAT IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION.

SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO TAKE ON DEBT IN THE AMOUNT OF 07,463,500, TO REPLENISH RESERVES TO APPROPRIATE LEVELS, GIVEN THE STRESS FOLLOWING THE ARENA, AND THAT COUNCIL APPROVED MOVING THE CURRENT BALANCE IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE HUB RESERVE AND $1 MILLION FROM THE LAND SALES PURCHASES RESERVE TO THE BUILDING AND FACILITIES RESERVE, AND THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED. COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE.

MR. AULT. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU. BEFORE YOU IS A PLAN FOR 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET, AS WELL AS A PLAN TO REPLENISH RESERVES ON THE REPLENISHMENT OF RESERVE SIDE. AS WE JUST DISCUSSED OUR CURRENT ISSUE, WHICH IS WE ARE OVERDRAWN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FIX. THE RATIONALE BEHIND FIXING IT THE WAY WE ARE DOING, OF COURSE, RELATES BACK TO WHY WE HAVE RESERVES IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT FINANCIAL RISK.

SO, IF I'M A VENDOR OR IF I'M A BANK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PAID FROM WHOEVER I'M LENDING CREDIT TO.

AND SO OF COURSE, HAVING, YOU KNOW, FINANCES IN THERE TO DO SO IS IMPORTANT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THIS ALSO MITIGATES OUR NEED TO BORROW WHEN WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR FLEET OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE AT THE END OF ITS LIFE CYCLE.

WE HAVE MONEY ALREADY IN THE BANK READY TO GO TO REPLACE THAT ASSET.

SO THIS PLAN BEFORE YOU REALLY ACCOMPLISHES THAT IN A, I THINK, A STRONG WAY.

THE WAY WE DO IT IS, OF COURSE, WE ARE PROPOSING A MOVEMENT OF THE LAND SALES PURCHASES, SOME ALLOCATION OF LAND SALES, PURCHASES, 1 MILLION, AS WELL AS THE MONEY THAT WAS ORIGINALLY THERE FOR THE ART AND CULTURE HUB TO BE MOVED INTO BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, WITH THE RATIONALE THAT BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES INCLUDES THE ART HUB, WHICH OF COURSE WAS THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE, THE, THE, THE ARTS AND CULTURE HUB. SO YOU KNOW, THE, THE THE PLAN BASICALLY ALLOWS THE CAPITAL RESERVES, WHICH YOU WILL SEE IN THE VERY LAST TABLE OF THIS REPORT TO BE BASICALLY SET WHERE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES GET ZEROED OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER RESERVES ARE PRETTY MUCH WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF OUR PLAN, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT TOTAL DISCRETIONARY RESERVES WILL BE FAVORABLE.

$6,075,093. I WILL CAUTION, HOWEVER, THAT THE PLAN BEFORE YOU DOES NOT INCLUDE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE. WELL, WE'VE JUST APPROVED. SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE NUMBER MIGHT WANT TO GO UP OR DOWN.

THE REASON WE PRESENT THE NUMBER AT THAT RATE IS BECAUSE THE CITY IS VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN QUALIFY FOR SOME GRANTS FOR SOME POTENTIAL FURTHER WORK.

IF IT'S IF IT'S NECESSARY WITH THE ONGOING PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENSES THIS YEAR AND TECHNOLOGY THERE IS AN ERP RFP, WHICH IS REALLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AS A CITY FROM A DIGITAL PERSPECTIVE FOR ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING.

SO THIS INCLUDES HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND REALLY THESE PROJECTS CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE.

SO REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND ARTICULATING THAT IN THE FORM OF AN RFP SO THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO VENDORS IS IMPORTANT.

[01:05:09]

OUR CURRENT VENDOR HAS REACHED THE END OF LIFE WITH THEIR CURRENT CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE WAY THAT CITY IS ABLE TO UPDATE OUR WEB PAGES IN HOUSE.

SO, WE HAVE TO UPGRADE THE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITHIN WORKING FUNDS.

WE SEE A FEW REQUESTS HERE, INCLUDING TREASURY SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION TO IMPLEMENT A PURCHASE ORDER SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN COST CONTROL, A RECREATION AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN WHICH WOULD SET THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THAT DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS A DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR CLERKS AND PLANNING IN FLEET.

WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE TANDEM TRUCK IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS AN ALLOCATION THERE FOR OR LIGHT DUTY VEHICLE LEASES.

THESE ARE RECORDED ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET BECAUSE THEY ARE FIVE YEAR LEASES AND HENCE ARE CAPITAL, NOT OPERATING COST. IN PUBLIC WORKS WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS ALONG WITH COTTAGE LOT ROAD CHIP CEILING, WHICH WILL REDUCE DUST AS WELL AS REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY INCURRING FOR GRADING AND SUCH.

ON THE GRAVEL ROADS WHERE FOLKS LIVE, WE ARE GETTING A $700,000 GRANT TO OFFSET THAT, WHICH MEANS THE COST TO THE TAXPAYER IS ONLY 155 TO 32.

SANDBLASTING AND PAINTING THE WATER TOWER, WHICH OF COURSE IS VITAL TO OUR CITY'S OPERATION A STUDY TO EXAMINE THE EXTENSION OF LIFE FOR THE DIGESTER COVER.

THAT'S A QUITE INVOLVED SCOPE OF WORK. THERE'S A BIT OF AUXILIARY THINGS FOLKS WILL HAVE TO DO TO PROPERLY ASSESS THAT.

AND THAT'S AROUND $250,000. ASPHALT GRINDING AT 195 786 WHICH, OF COURSE, IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY REDUCES OUR NEED FOR RAW MATERIALS. THE HVAC SYSTEM AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TO MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT LIFE AND THE GOOD NATURE THAT IT'S IN.

AT 510 THE WORKS RECOGNIZED FOR THE DIGESTER COVERS.

SO, THIS MEANS THE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2025.

IF IT'S A REPLACEMENT, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE AROUND 1.9 IF SORRY, IF IT'S A REPAIR, IT'S PROBABLY AROUND 1.9.

IF IT'S A REPLACEMENT, IT'S PROBABLY A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT WHERE THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025 IS SIMPLY THE DESIGN OF THE DIGESTER COVER.

AND THAT WORK IN ITSELF ALSO HAPPENS TO BE 1.9, SO IT COVERS US BOTH WAYS.

AIRPORT FENCING AT 21,166, AS WELL AS CONTINUED WORK ON THE EXISTING LANDFILL.

ATTENTION STUDY IN FIRE. THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF UPGRADES OVER THE YEARS TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO EMERGENCIES.

THE GARAGE DOORS ARE SEEN AT THEIR END OF LIFE AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

AND THERE IS ALSO A THREE QUARTER TON TRUCK THAT IS AT THE END OF LIFE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS PER THE TEN YEAR CYCLE.

WHAT WE DO, HOWEVER, DO IS TAKE THE OLD TRUCK AND GIVE IT TO THE PLANT'S DEPARTMENT SO WE'RE ABLE TO EXTEND ITS LIFE EVEN FURTHER FOR MANY, MANY MORE YEARS TO COME. THERE ISN'T ANY IN CLARKSTON PLANNING SERVICES.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL IN RECREATION AND CULTURE WHICH INCLUDE A BOAT LAUNCH GATE, A RETAINING WALL, WORKS AT PARSONS PARK, CLADDING AND LIGHTING FOR THE ARENA, ADDITIONAL SHORING FOR THE ARENA, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COUNCIL. BOAT LAUNCH LIGHTS.

GARBAGE CANS THAT ARE BEAR SAFE ADA POOL ENTRY RAMP.

UNIVERSAL BATHROOM RENOVATION AT THE POOL COLLINS HALL HVAC SYSTEM, A COLLINS HALL FLOOR TO MAKE THE BASKETBALL COURT LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND SHINY BECAUSE IT'S A HOST OF SO MANY EVENTS AND DANCE, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, ET CETERA. PARK LIGHTS, WHICH ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OF, WERE GOING TO BE FOR THE.

THE BALL DIAMOND ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE EARMARKED FOR KIWANIS PARK, WHERE THERE IS ALSO A NEED FOR RENEWAL OF PARK LIGHTS, AND THEY ALSO HAPPEN TO COST AROUND $74,000 IF WE INCLUDE A 3.35% CONTINGENCY.

THERE IS A CONTINGENCY FOR BASICALLY EXPANSIONS OF SCOPE OF WORK WITHIN RECREATION AND CULTURE.

SO, SOMETHING SUCH AS WHAT WE TALKED TODAY ABOUT THE SAFETY AUDIT OF $25,000.

THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED THE $100,000 IN THIS REPORT, SO THAT WE ARE KIND OF COVERED IN CASE WE HAVE SCOPE CREEP.

THE ARTS HUB SIGN AT $12,000, WHICH WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY COUNCIL, AND ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY STUDY OF 40 HILLSIDE DRIVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SCOPE OF WORK WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THAT THAT ARTS AND CULTURE HUB THAT THE CITY ENVISIONS.

AND OF COURSE, MINER'S MONUMENT BOLLARDS AT 36,000.

THERE'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIGNAGE UPDATES FOR 75,000 AND MONIES THAT HAVE TO BE SET ASIDE FOR PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM AT $50,000.

I WOULD ALSO PUT AS A FOOTNOTE SEVERAL WORKS IN PROGRESS, WHICH ARE THINGS APPROVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAT ARE CARRIED FORWARD TO THIS YEAR.

[01:10:02]

A LIFT STATION ON FOX DRIVE APPROVED IN 2022, STILL IN PROGRESS, AND OUR ESCO PROJECTS, WHICH WERE APPROVED IN 2023 AND ARE ALSO STILL IN PROGRESS WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS. SO THAT IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

AGAIN, TO REFRESH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY LAST PAGE, YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE BALANCE OF THE RESERVES WOULD BE IF THE CAPITAL BUDGET WAS APPROVED WITH THE DEBT FINANCING, WHERE AGAIN, WE HAVE SATISFACTORY BALANCES IN ALL CATEGORIES AND WE HAVE RESERVES AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE IN THE COLUMN TO THE RIGHT, TO THE LEFT OF IT, IF, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE DEBT FINANCING, WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THIS REPORT TODAY, YOU ARE NOT APPROVING THAT FINANCING PER SE.

YOU'RE JUST DIRECTING STAFF TO EXPLORE OPTIONS. AND WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU WITH, IF THAT'S GOING ON IN THE BOND MARKET, WHICH MIGHT BE UNLIKELY FOR A MUNICIPALITY OR SIZE, OR GETTING AN UNSECURED LOAN OR LINE OF CREDIT THROUGH A LENDER OR INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONTARIO. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. AULT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP. MORE OF A COMMENT MIGHT END UP BEING A QUESTION, TOO.

WE WENT OVER THIS QUITE EXTENSIVELY AT BUDGET COMMITTEE, BUT SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T WATCH THE COMMITTEE, SO IT'S PROBABLY THEIR FIRST TIME HEARING THE WORD DEBT FINANCING.

I HAD ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE CITY. WE HAVE ONE LOAN RIGHT NOW THAT WAS TEN, ALMOST TEN YEARS OLD.

IT WILL BE PAID OFF THIS YEAR. SO, THEY HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, AND THIS IS A NECESSARY STEP FOR US TO CONTINUE.

MR. AULT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON PUTTING IT ALL IN WITH THE TAX INCREASE.

WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT PART OF OUR BUDGET, HE'LL EXPLAIN IT FURTHER AND IT'S BASICALLY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

AND IT WASN'T TAKEN LIGHTLY BY NOBODY UP HERE.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. MR. AULT, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO MR. FLINTOFF'S POINT IN COMMITTEE, WHAT WE DID DISCUSS IS THAT DEBT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT AS A BAD AND NASTY WORD.

IT COULD ACTUALLY BE LOOKED AT AS INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY, WHERE, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF THE CITIZENS OF ELLIOT LAKE TODAY FOOTING THE ENTIRE BILL FOR A PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE ENJOYED FOR 50 TO 70 YEARS.

WHAT DEBT FINANCING ENABLES US TO DO IS SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUR FAIR SHARE OF THAT EACH, EACH, EACH AND EVERY YEAR. RIGHT. SO, WE PAY 1/20 THE NEXT YEAR, CITIZENS PAY 1/20 BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THAT ASSET, OF COURSE, GOES DOWN. SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, REMIND THE PUBLIC, I GUESS, MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL PART OF THAT.

AND THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO THIS IS, OF COURSE, DEPLETING RESERVES, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THAT WOULD BE FAVORABLE TO DO. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE WORKS IN PROGRESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, HILLSIDE DRIVE NORTH IS THE BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR 2024 BEING CARRIED FORWARD AND ACCRUED THIS YEAR.

SO, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY AFFECTING OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS THIS YEAR. SO THAT IS TRUE.

OKAY. THANKS. YEAH. SO, FOR ANY WORKS IN PROGRESS, WE RECOGNIZE THE EXPENDITURE UP TO THE UPSET LIMIT FOR THAT YEAR IF THE WORK HAS STARTED.

SO, SINCE THIS WORK HAS BEGUN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WORK WE CARRY OVER THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THE WORKS IN PROGRESS, BUT THAT'S ALL BEEN RECOGNIZED. IF YOU GO TO THE LAST TABLE, YOU'LL SEE 2024 CHARGES AND COMMITMENTS. SO, THE COMMITMENT PART OF THAT WOULD BE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T YET PAID OUT IN CASH, BUT WE ARE TECHNICALLY STILL ON THE HOOK FOR IT IF THEY, YOU KNOW, DECIDE TO BILL US THE FULL AMOUNT.

WHAT MIGHT ALSO END UP HAPPENING IS WE HAVE A FAVORABLE VARIANCE THERE WHERE THEY SAY, WELL, IT ONLY COSTED US SUCH AND SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THERE'S DOLLARS LEFT IN THE IN THE WORKS IN PROGRESS BUDGET. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO ADD TO MR. OR COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF COMMENT.

THIS LOAN, WE'RE JUST GOING OUT, RIGHT? WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS.

IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE WHOLE AMOUNT, BUT EVEN IF IT IS, THERE ARE PAYMENT OPTIONS THAT THAT WILL HELP, ESPECIALLY PRINCIPAL LUMP SUM PAYMENTS WHICH CAN BE OFFSET BY POTENTIAL GRANTS IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE BASING EVERYTHING ON THIS NUMBER.

BUT EVEN BY THE TIME YOU COME BACK TO PRESENT US WITH A NUMBER, OTHER GRANTS MAY COME INTO FRUITION.

SO, IT'S A DIRECTION TO LOOK INTO IT. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED YET, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE.

BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.

[01:15:03]

AND SO, STARTING SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS EARLIER THAN LATER WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

CERTAINLY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN LATER, LIKE THE MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE COME OUT EVERY MONTH. SOME THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROCURED, WHICH ARE ANYTHING MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK IN THE BUDGET.

RIGHT? OTHER THINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN STARTED.

SO, THE THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE AN ASTERISK HAVEN'T BEEN STARTED.

I IMAGINE THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING, THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME WORKS IN PROGRESS ON AS OF YET, BUT. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU UP TO A LIMITED DEGREE, I CAN CERTAINLY THE ARENA IS AN ONGOING PROJECT AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A DOMINANT PROJECT FOR MYSELF.

COUPLED WITH THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AFTER THE RESPECTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR.

AND SO, I KNOW I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ALL OF THEM, AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR RFPS READY SO THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND GET THESE PROJECTS STARTED. OKAY, JUST A QUESTION. THANK YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONE? WHOEVER IS THAT? SORRY. I THINK SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING FOR A PHONE EARLIER.

THAT'S WHY. THEY LOST THE PHONE. OH, MAYBE FROM THE FIRST GROUP THAT PRESENTED, RAFO. YEAH. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. MUCH APPRECIATED. IT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST FOR EVERYTHING, GUYS. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. JUST IN TIME.

SO, LET'S HAVE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS CARRIED.

OKAY. THERE'S NO OUTSIDE BOARD OR COMMITTEE REPORTING.

NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS, NO PETITIONS, NO CORRESPONDENCE, NO NOTICES OF MOTION.

[14. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP, I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYBODY THAT THE DANCE WAS FROM ELLIOT LAKE.

TRAVELED TO GUELPH THIS WEEKEND FOR THE BEDAZZLED DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND ELLIOT LAKE CAME AWAY WITH IN THE COMPETITIVE JUNIOR EXTENDED LINE OVERALLS. FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD IN THEIR COMPETITIVE AND IT WAS JUST GREAT TO WATCH THEM ON TV OR ONLINE, I GUESS. BUT IF ANYBODY EVER GETS A CHANCE IN JUNE, I THINK THEY'RE HAVING THEIR FINALE.

SO, IT'S QUITE THE SHOW TO GO AND WATCH AND SEE HOW GREAT THEY ARE DANCING.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS, WHEREAS JUNE IS SENIORS MONTH IN ONTARIO AND A TIME WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR AMAZING OLDER ONTARIANS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PROVINCE.

AND WHEREAS THE 2025 THEME IS FIT, ACTIVE AND HEALTHY SENIORS.

AND WHEREAS SENIORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GET INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO HELP SENIORS STAY PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY.

AND WHEREAS, STAYING CONNECTED MEANS FINDING SOCIAL, CULTURAL, LEARNING, VOLUNTEER AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS TO HELP SENIORS STAY SOCIALLY ENGAGED. AND WHEREAS, GETTING INFORMATION ON VACCINES, COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND PROTECTION FROM FINANCIAL SCAMS AND FRAUD HELPS SENIORS TO STAY SAFE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW WANNAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 1ST TO JUNE 30TH, 2025 AS SENIORS MONTH IN ELLIOT LAKE AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR SENIORS.

AND THE SECOND PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS NATIONAL ACCESSIBILITY WEEK, OBSERVED ANNUALLY FROM MAY 20TH 6TH TO JUNE 1ST, IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CANADIANS WITH DISABILITIES AND TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WORKPLACES. AND WHEREAS, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION BENEFIT ALL CANADIANS, CREATING A MORE VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.

[01:20:08]

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION AND SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY BY SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES. OKAY. THERE ARE NO ADDENDUMS. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BYLAWS 16.1.

[16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BY-LAWS]

FOR LIFE SAFETY AUDIT AT THE ROGERS ARENA. WE HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 2549 BE PASSED A MOVER COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR MANN. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

16.2 BYLAW 25 DASH 50 BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE AN ONTARIO TRANSFER PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE HOUSING ENABLING WATER SYSTEMS FUND INTAKE TWO FOR THE UPGRADES AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 25 DASH 50 BE PASSED A MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT IS CARRIED.

16.3 BYLAW 2551 BEING A BYLAW TO ADOPT THE ESTIMATES FOR THE SUMS REQUIRED DURING THE YEAR 2025 FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANT USER PAY OPERATIONS, AND TO SET 2025 WATER RATES AND TO AMEND BYLAW NUMBER 84-28 AND REPEAL 2512. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 25 DASH 51 BE PASSED A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDED. COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED. 16.4 BYLAW 25-52 BEING A BYLAW TO ADOPT THE CAPITAL BUDGET. ESTIMATES OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR TAX SUPPORTED PURPOSES FOR THE YEAR 2025.

FOR THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 2552 BE PASSED A MOVER COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

[17. CLOSED SESSION]

ONE IS THE MEMO FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING SALE OF LAND ON OAKLAND BOULEVARD.

MAY 2025. AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH A PROPOSED OR PENDING DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 230 92C THE MUNICIPAL ACT 2001 AND TWO MEMO FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING UPDATE MORTGAGE ON PROPERTY AT 31 NOVA SCOTIA WALK. AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH ADVICE THAT IS SUBJECT TO SOLICITOR CLIENT PRIVILEGE MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 230 92F THE MUNICIPAL ACT 2001. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL PROCEED INTO CLOSED SESSION AS PER THE PROVISIONS UNDER SECTION 239 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT AT THE HOUR OF 8:25 P.M.

A MOVER COUNCILMAN SECONDED. COUNCILLOR BULL.

ALL IN FAVOR? IT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 9:41 P.M.? A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDED. COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED. CONFIRMATORY BY LAW 18.1.

[18. CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW]

COUNCILLOR BULL. ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

[01:25:02]

MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN. SECONDED. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT IS CARRIED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.