Committee and Council Highlights - May 2025

The Executive Director of Hospice Muskoka presented an update regarding Andy's House and their future plans. Future projects include greater community outreach, providing at-home palliative care and satellite locations in Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Ms. Kearney also thanked Staff and Committee for their ongoing support. 

Michael Cullip provided information about the Golf and Country Club with respect to the location of Ferndale Road. As Ferndale Road currently runs through the golf course, they plan to seek Public Input regarding possible designs and solutions to this problem. No further direction from Committee was approved at this time.

In July 2023, the Township began to plan the future of the Muskoka Lakes Arenas. On April 10, 2024 Committee received the final Arena Feasibility report and chose to refer the matter for consideration in the Level of Services study. When staff presented a status update on the Level of Services Study at the March 12, 2025 meeting, Committee directed staff to report back with an outline of next steps for the Arena Feasibility Study to assist Council in reaching a final decision.

In order to assist in moving the decision-making process forward, staff created and presented an Action Plan. The planned timing for the final decision based on the plan is February of 2026. Committee voted to approve the Action Plan as presented.

Committee directed staff to report back with proposed changes to the policy for requesting waiving of fees at the Township's arena facilities and to outline the process for applying to the community grants program for such requests.

This informational report provided an overview of operating revenues and expenses for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2025. There were three areas of note where the actual results differed from the budget:

1. Significant and consistent snow accumulation resulted in higher snow clearing costs;

2. The Ice Storm that happened on March 29 made a small difference in this period and staff highlighted that it is foreseeable that it will make a significant difference in the second quarter; and

3. Delayed revenue expected from Short Term Rental Licensing due to the application portal launch delays.

Similarly to the Arena Feasibility Study, decisions related to the Fire Location Study were delayed until Committee received a Level of Services Study update. The update was received in March of 2025 and with that, Staff prepared and presented an Action Plan to outline the decision-making process for the Fire Location Study. With an expected final decision planned for September of 2025, Committee approved the Action Plan as presented. 

The District of Muskoka’s Idea Advisory Group (IAG) previously requested to install a community mural in Muskoka Lakes at the Port Carling Community Centre. Committee endorsed the project, in principle, at the February 12, 2025 meeting but directed staff to work with the IAG to look at other potential locations. Based on the analysis of other possible locations, staff recommended to Committee that the Port Carling Library was the best option and Committee approved the project, location and agreement with the District.

In late 2024, Committee received two reports regarding the creation of the Muskoka Lakes Community Fund to be partially funded by the Township and managed by Muskoka Community Foundation. The Fund would be an aid to community fundraising in support of Council approved projects or initiatives with no impact on the existing Municipal Grants Program. Committee discussed the types of projects that the Fund would aid and chose to approve the creation of the Fund.

Staff reported on a number of contract modifications that have resulted in a lower overall cost of the STRA program to the Township, including the decision to use Cloudpermit for the STRA application process.  Cloudpermit will be integrated with the Granicus STRA monitoring and tracking software making a seamless and robust application and monitoring program.

In March 13, 2025, Planning Committee directed staff to provide several financial incentive options to encourage the submission of applications in 2025 due to the late launch date of the application portal. Committee considered the options and directed that applicants be given a 20% discount on the STRA application fee for the first two months that the application portal is open. 

The LPP is a province-wide volunteer based water quality monitoring program with a goal to better understand and protect the quality of Ontario’s inland lakes. FOCA's previous agreement with the Province for the LLP program expired in March of 2025 and without an immediate renewal of the agreement, the 2025 water sampling data collection and analysis is at risk. 

FOCA has sent a letter to Ontario’s premier asking that the agreement be renewed and also requested that stakeholders, cottage / lake associations, property owners, municipalities and the like, similarly request action on this matter. Committee directed staff to prepare a letter requesting that the MECP renew its agreement with FOCA, allowing the LPP program to continue.

Bill 5 includes proposed changes to a number of different Acts including the Endangered Species Act and proposes a New Species Conservation Act that the Province says will protect its industries, protect the environment, mitigate the impact of these trade disruptions, and ensure the long-term prosperity and security of its environment. Staff presented a number of comments regarding the above Acts and Committee directed that the comments be submitted to the Province by the due date of May 17, 2025.