The District Municipality of Muskoka

District Council Meeting 4(2021) – Electronic Meeting

Agenda

3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2021

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and requirements for physical distancing, this meeting will be held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act.

As part of the District's response to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Municipal Office remains closed to the public until further notice.

Members of the public are encouraged to view the Council proceedings through the District’s webcast. Call to Order

Acknowledgement of Supplementary Agenda

Declaration of Pecuniary Interests

Ceremonial and Invited Presentations

Oral Presentations (Deputations/Delegations) a) Garth Elliot Muskoka Airport

Recommendation

THAT the request by Garth Elliot for leave to make a delegation/deputation with respect to the Muskoka Airport be granted.

Previous Council Meetings – Review of Minutes for Correctness a) District Council – 1(2021) – January 18, 2021 b) Special District Council – 3(2021) – February 4, 2021 – Public Meeting for Council Composition Review

Committee Reports a) Engineering and Public Works – PW-1-2021 – January 20, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report

This meeting will be Webcast and Video Recorded b) Health Services – HS-1-2021 – January 21, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report c) Community and Planning Services – CPS-1-2021 – January 21, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report d) Municipal Modernization – MM-1-2021 – January 18, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report e) Municipal Modernization – MM-2-2021 – February 3, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report f) Municipal Modernization – MM-3-2021 – February 11, 2021 (minutes to be uploaded to FilePro when available)

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report g) Committee of the Whole Council 2(2021) – January 29, 2021

i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report

Correspondence/Written Submissions

All correspondence listed is a matter of public record. Should any member of Council or the public wish to receive full copies, please contact the Clerk’s department.

Motions

Councillors P. Harding and G. Smith requested that the following motion be considered by Council:

WHEREAS Broadband internet is essential for home based and small rural businesses to develop, grow and compete in local, regional and global markets and thereby expand job creation opportunities;

AND WHEREAS Broadband enables improved efficient and accessible public services in the municipal, educational and health care sectors and is especially indispensable to the police, fire, EMS and other emergency service providers; AND WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way business, education and social interaction engages with people and society with a "work from home" framework;

AND WHEREAS COVID-19 has highlighted the essential nature of Broadband to the overall economic, social, and cultural needs of communities across the province;

AND WHEREAS the topography and rocky terrain across Muskoka and northern Ontario limits the cost effectiveness of traditional in ground installation of fibre optic cables;

AND WHERAS hydro poles are currently the backbone of both hydro power and telephone to 99% of both urban and rural Ontario;

AND WHEREAS Hydro One, wholly owned by the Ontario Government, currently delivers electricity to homes and businesses throughout Muskoka through a comprehensive network of hydro poles;

AND WHEREAS hydro poles are an ideal conduit to deliver cost effective fibre optic broadband to homes and businesses throughout rural Ontario;

AND WHEREAS Hydro One refuses to share their engineering specifications with ISPs making it uneconomical in many instances to attach to a pole(s) and is perceived as a means for H1 to have their system upgraded at ISP expense, therefore negating service to rural customers;

AND WHEREAS the current Hydro One charge of $44.50 per pole, per year with an inflationary factor is both a significant and a cost prohibitive barrier to expanding the fibre optic network across Muskoka;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The District Municipality of Muskoka requests the Ontario Government to immediately direct the Ontario Energy Board to significantly lower and or, altogether eliminate the egregious charges that Broadband providers would otherwise pay in rural Ontario to attach fibre optic broadband to each hydro pole;

AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Scott Aitchison, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound- Muskoka and all Muskoka lower-tier municipalities.

Unfinished Business

New Business a) Accelerated Review of Alternate Grass Runway Report 4(2021)-1

Recommendation WHEREAS the Committee of the Whole Council, approved the Airport Master Plan prepared by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. at its meeting held on January 29, 2021;

AND WHEREAS at that meeting the Airport Board and staff was directed to accelerate the review and consideration of an alternate grass runway;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be authorized to single source the procurement of design and construction administration of an alternate (grass) runway;

AND THAT subject to the satisfaction of the District Solicitor, the Airport CEO and the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to execute the agreement and any related documents on behalf of The District Municipality of Muskoka;

AND THAT the project proceed prior to the approval of the 2021 Draft Tax Supported Capital Budget and Forecast;

AND FURTHER THAT the 2021 Draft Tax Supported Capital Budget and Forecast be amended to create a new capital project for the Alternate Grass Runway with total expenditure budget of $600,000 in 2021 to be financed from the Airport Capital Reserve. b) Additional New Business Items

By-laws (2 readings)

Implementation By-laws (2 readings)

Where an implementation by-law is required, and a resolution has been adopted by Council regarding the matter, that by-law regardless of whether it is brought forward at the same or subsequent meeting, shall only be reviewed and/or debated for accuracy and conformity with the applicable resolution.

2021-5 Being a by-law to establish No Parking Zones on Muskoka Road 169 in the Township of Muskoka Lakes

Closed Session

Recommendation

THAT we do now retire to Muskoka District Council in closed session to discuss a potential Provincial Initiative pursuant to the following subsections of Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended:

(h) Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency or any of them Recommendation

THAT we do now rise from Muskoka District Council in closed session and immediately reconvene in open session.

Confirming By-law (1 reading)

2021-6 Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting held on the 16th day of February, 2021

Adjournment

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