REPORT MEETING TYPE: Regular Council Meeting TO: Council FROM: Vicki Blanchard, Economic Development Manager DATE: February 15, 2017 SUBJECT: RP-2017-015 - Friendship Accord TITLE: Friendship Accord RECOMMENDATION: THAT Council receives this report as updated information pertaining to the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to advise Council: 1. THAT the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord continues to be a leader in Municipal Indigenous relations. BACKGROUND: In 2012, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout celebrated the signing of the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord in partnership with their neighbouring First Nation communities of Lac Seul and Slate Falls. In 2013, the members of the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord celebrated again the continued growth of the Accord with the signing of an additional member, Cat Lake First Nation. Page 1 of 17 In 2015, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) reached out to the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord members inquiring whether they could join the Accord in efforts to build stronger relations with isolated Far North First Nation communities and shortly thereafter, Mishkeegogamang First Nation expressed an interest in joining the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord as well. In 2016, the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord partners recognized that their efforts as group working together on important social and economic issues has led to other opportunities such as; the First Nations-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), the Ke-ondaatiziying Regional Conference, the Regional Distribution Centre-Northern Logistics Project; the Burden Reduction Project and as of recent the Shared Territory Protocol and Resource Working Group. DISCUSSION: Increased First Nations participation in the local economy and creating economically sustainable communities through the core sectors of forestry, mining, energy, transportation, health and wellness and tourism is front and centre in the Accord Guiding Principles. On March 3, 2017, five First Nation communities (Lac Seul, Slate Falls, Cat Lake Mishkeegogamang, and KI) will gather in Thunder Bay to sign two historical documents; 1) the signing of the 2017 Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord adding the two new signatories (Mishkeegogamang and KI); and 2) the signing of the Shared Territory Protocol (Lac Seul, Mishkeegogamang, Cat Lake and Slate Falls). The Municipality of Sioux Lookout and Township of Pickle Lake are honoured to be invited to participate at this event and to be recognized as part of the Regional Resource Working Group under the Regional Framework Agreement being proposed and developed to address future resource development projects in the Shared Territory Protocol located in the districts of Sioux Lookout and Pickle Lake. RELATIONSHIP TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN: 1.Community Development Continuing to improve our quality of life by recognizing our strong sense of community 2.Regional Competitiveness Our strength as a hub for First Nations communities Page 2 of 17 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Not applicable. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Regular Council Meeting Minutes held on December 16, 2015 SIGNATURES: Ann Mitchell Chief Administrative Officer Vicki Blanchard Economic Development Manager Page 3 of 17 MINUTES THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SIOUX LOOKOUT COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SIOUX LOOKOUT REGULAR MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, MUNICIPAL OFFICE, 25 FIFTH AVENUE DECEMBER 16, 2015, 10:00 A.M. (PART 1) and 5:30P.M. (PART 2) PART1 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER/MAYOR'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS A. Attendance Council Mayor Doug Lawrance Cllr. John Bath Cllr. Don Fenelon Cllr. Steven Forbes Cllr. Yolaine Kirlew Cllr. Calvin Southall Cllr. Joyce Timpson Ann Mitchell, CAO Mary L. MacKenzie, Clerk Delegates As noted in Item 4 below Interested Staff and Public Call Meeting B. Mayor Lawrance called Part 1 of the December 16, 2015, Regular Meeting to Order of Council at 10:03 a.m. 2. AGENDA a) Introduction of Amendments to the Agenda-- None b) Confirmation of Agenda Adopt Agenda CL338-15 Moved by: J. Timpson Seconded: D. Fenelon THAT the Agenda for Part 1 of the Regular Council Meeting of December 16, 2015, be adopted as presented. CARRIED 3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST-- None 4. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/COMMITTEE PRESENTATIONS a) Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) --Update on New High School for Sioux Lookout - Mr. Dean Carrie, Superintendent of Business; Mr. Kim Carlson, Facilities Manager; Mr. Steve Poling, Principal, Queen Elizabeth District High School, Sioux Lookout; Regrets from Mr. Sean Monteith, Director of Education School Board representatives gave an update on the New High School as follows: • A copy of the drawings will be left with A. Mitchell, Chief Administrative Officer. Page 4 of 17 Council Minutes Page2 December 16, 2015 • Good progress is being made and project is on track for September 2017 opening. • "Footprint" being prepared. • Detailed design proceeding. • Class C and D cost estimates were received for construction which were a little above the Ministry's expected costs, but it is not a major concern. Further work is being done on the costs. More money may be required for the project. • Should be ready to tender in mid-April; award of contract one month later, i.e. mid- to late May; construction will start as soon as contractor can mobilize. • Showed architect's image of school. Design is consistent with what has been previously shown. Fac;ade will consist of concrete stone, brick, and some wood product panel (veneer), etc. • Reviewed floor plan, i.e. gym, shops, art and music rooms. • There will be space for Firefly and Confederation College. • At this time, the cafeteria will also include a raised stage, and will include the infrastructure for the possibility of being used as an auditorium in the future, i.e. electrical, etc. Lights and sound equipment and retractable seating are a possibility; however, there are no funds for this in the project. This equipment will have to paid for by the community if it's to be installed. 225-250 seats could potentially be accommodated in the room. • The second floor contains labs, classrooms, and support spaces. • Elevation drawings were available. • The project site plan may need to be updated in terms of orientation of main parking lot, but major changes are not anticipated. In response to questions from Council and/or the public, the following information was provided: • Confederation College is almost 100% confirmed to be located in the new school. They have been involved [in the planning of their space]. • There is some room in the design on west side for an addition to accommodate the possibility of increased capacity. Other components may need to be increased, e.g. a block of four classrooms on two levels. • Capacity is 513, funded by the Province. If more, might have to reduce the number of students under tuition grants. The Federal Government doesn't "buy" spaces anymore. Recent discussions with the Federal Government have not taken place as this practice has been in place for many years. • The building is fully accessible. It is three levels, with Firefly and Confederation College planned to be on the top level. There is an elevator and there are ramps between the stories. There is an entrance on each side of the building. • The entrance on the west side from Curtis Street is for service and emergency vehicles only. • The main entrance is from the northwest, off of Third Avenue. • There is a bus drop-off zone. The distance from it to the entrance is approximately 200' maximum. • Access is via level, cleared pathways. • There will be 120 parking spaces in the main lot. There are approximately 48 nearby at Sioux Mountain Public School, and other parking is available, totalling about 200 spaces. This should address the issue of the use of the building (and the proposed auditorium) for evening events. • The retractable seating previously mentioned could be like the seating at "The Centre" in Dryden. Estimated cost of seating is $400,000-$500,000. These would not bleachers, but individual seats. The School Board and the Municipality's Economic Page 5 of 17 Council Minutes Page3 December 16, 2015 Development Manager are working on this. It will be a multi­ functional space. The tables and chairs in the cafeteria would be movable and would be stored if the room was being used as an auditorium. In addition, equipment such as lights, sound system, curtains will also be required, and will likely have to be paid for through fund-raising. Sioux-Hudson Entertainment Series representatives have been discussing this with its funding sources. Government funding may be available. Funding for this portion of the project needs to be "holistic," i.e. community groups need to be involved; leverage money raised, etc. Sioux Lookout has an impressive history of the community coming together to make things like this happen. If it takes longer to raise funds for this portion of the project, the School Board will ensure that the electrical system is enhanced to accommodate the equipment in the future. • Despite some scepticism, the project Architect says that opening will be September 2017. • The "old" High School will be available to community groups, i.e. Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series, etc., until the new site is available. • The building on Wellington Street and Fifth Avenue (owned by the School Board), if no longer required, will go through the required disposal process and would be sold at fair market value. • It is unknown how "usable" the "old" school will be or what long-term plans will be. Noted it was "sinking." The Board may want to sever the playing field for use by Sioux Mountain Public School, the High School and the community. The remainder of the property and the building would have to go through the disposal process. • Not feasible to expedite the tender process as it's pretty tight already. Avoiding the need for "heating and hoarding" during the winter is a consideration as well.