Committee and Council Highlights - April 2025

Donelda Hayes, on behalf of the Walker's Point / Barlochan Archive Group, shared a presentation with committee requesting an in-kind tax receipt for the donation of the Military Memorial Steps. After receiving some clarification from the presenter, Committee determined that a receipt will be granted.

Committee was presented with the findings of the 2025 Council Remuneration Review and directed staff to put forward a by-law, to take affect for the 2026-2030 term of Council, maintaining the remuneration for the Mayor, increasing remuneration for the Deputy Mayor to $32,900 per year, and increasing remuneration for a member of Council to $29,673.00 per year. 

Committee further directed staff to bring back amendments to the Council Remuneration and Expense Policy in regards to training and conferences, a per diem for attending conferences and training, and accommodation coverage for meetings should a member not have access to their local residence. 

An application to enter into a License Agreement was received from the Port Carling Golf and Country Club (“Golf Club”) located at 12 Donald Drive in order to recognize and permit the replacement of existing irrigation pipes to be buried within a portion of Township Road Allowance, being Donald Drive.

Committee approved the License Agreement Application, subject to a number of conditions.

The Township's Sale and Other Disposition of Land Policy from 2010 was found to be out of date and the Land Donations Policy did not include the acquisition of land by third parties or Township lead transactions. With this, staff recommended repealing the two policies and adopting a more comprehensive and up to date policy regarding land acquisition and disposition. Committee agreed with staff's recommendation and approved the draft policy.

Staff presented an informational report regarding the Township Communication Strategy that was adopted in late 2024 by Council. The Strategy guides actions and decisions to ensure that there is a consistent approach to key communications. One of the Priority Actions was to review and edit all website content and to develop a new user-friendly website.

In addition to a new look and layout of the website, Staff are working to eliminate duplicate information and create a more user-friendly experience. 

It is anticipated that the new website will go live in June 2025.   

Staff presented an informational report as required by The Development Charges Act, 1997 under Section 43. The report provided a detailed update of transactions related to the Development Charges Reserve annually.

Development Charges collected and added to the reserve in 2024 amount to a total of $458,163.

Beginning in 2023, subsection 35(2) of the DCA requires a municipality to spend or allocate at least 60 per cent of the funds that are in the reserve fund for Services related to a Highway. In 2026, there is a roads project planned (Juddhaven Road) that will include a growth related service upgrade component which will qualify for the use of the Development Charges reserve.

In May 2022, Council awarded a three-year IT managed services contract with a two-year option with Helix IT Solutions.  Helix IT was subsequently acquired by Lake Country Office Solutions in September 2022 and the contact was assigned under the terms of that transaction.

As part of the original contract, the help desk and monitoring services were subcontracted to Risolv IT Solutions who worked under the direction of Lake Country Office Solutions staff. Lake Country Office Solutions has advised that they do not wish to exercise the renewal provisions.

The subcontractor, Risolv IT Solutions, have indicated interest in continuing the relationship and the Director of Financial Services recommended that a contract be entered into with Risolv IT Solutions commencing in June. Committee authorized the Director of Financial Services to proceed with this contract.

During past budget deliberations, Committee requested that Staff present a revised Reserve Policy. Staff presented an informational report and draft policy to obtain comments and to confirm the direction of Committee as it related to the conceptual model of the policy.

A financing strategy must be included in the final Asset Management Plan to provide information on how asset lifecycle expenses will be funded by the Township, as required by regulation.  Future decisions on asset service levels and delivery will clarify the asset and service needs and the financial strategy will describe the funding sources and levels required to maintain them.

Since the opening of the new Walker's Point Fire Station in 2008, the old Fire Hall building has been used for storage of fire equipment, materials, and other items. When Staff visited the building this spring they recognized that the roof had begun to collapse and the Chief Building Official issued Orders Prohibiting Occupancy and to Comply on March 28, 2025.

Staff presented an informational report to Committee including their plan to conduct an assessment of the building, retain an appraiser, review the Township master plans, and report back to Committee with a more detailed report and analysis of options.

The Municipal Grants Program remains the main method by which the Township can provide financial support to community groups and non-profit organizations in Muskoka Lakes. This program provides limited financial assistance to community organizations which provide programs, services, or projects to the community that are not already provided by the Township and which are in the community’s interest.

Committee considered and approved several updates to the Municipal Grant Program Policy to improve the program’s effectiveness. Changes include new grant assessment criteria, clarifications of organization eligibility, and clarification of eligible expenses. The spring intake of the Community Grant Program will open in late April.

The Brandy Lake Association requested that the Township provide additional protection for EP1 streams and wetlands from siltation/erosion caused by land use activities on adjacent rural lands.

Committee directed Staff to investigate potential amendments to the Site Alteration, Tree Conservation and/or Zoning By-laws to expand protections to environmentally sensitive features such as streams and wetlands. Staff is to report back to Planning Committee at a later date.

This report provided an overview of the Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan prepared for the Township.

Committee approved the Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan as presented. Committee also directed Staff to investigate options to support climate change and environmental initiatives and responsibilities including an additional staff position for consideration as part of the draft 2026 budget. 

This report reviews the District of Muskoka’s proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 62 (Resort Development) which is intended to update the resort section of their Official Plan. Committee directed staff to provide comment to the District noting that the Township is generally supportive of the policies contained within OPA 62.    

Two main areas where the Township will provide comments requesting changes are:

1. The policy amendments do not make explicit reference to natural hazards (flooding and erosion) and the need to direct development away from hazardous lands;

2. it is not clear if the resort policies are intended to apply to smaller, non-waterfront commercial accommodation / retreat facilities or rural based eco-tourism facilities