Committee and Council Highlights - August 2025

Representatives from KPMG LLP and the Director of Operational Services presented the status update for the Study of the three Public Works Yards used by roads, fleet, parks and facilities maintenance operations that are at mid or end of life in the Township. Data regarding inventory, usage, facility condition assessments and site tours will be consolidated into a Current State Report for staff containing an overview of the operations and current state results. A final report summarizing all the work will be prepared by KPMG, reviewed by the Township Project Team and presented at a future Genera/Finance Committee Meeting in the final quarter of 2025. 

Committee voted in favour of forwarding an amendment to the Township Traffic By-law to include a Community Safety Zone on Fish Hatchery Road adjacent to Watt Public School to Council in September. Committee added that they support a Community Safety Zone on Highway 141 in front of Watt Public School and they requested that the District pursue a Community Safety zone with the Province.

This informational report provided an overview of operating revenues and expenses from January 1 to June 30, 2025. As noted in the Q1 Financial Update in May and last month's Operating Deficit Mitigation Strategy Report: the risks to the 2025 budget include two weather related events as well as a revenue shortfall related to the delay in the launch of the Short Term Rental licensing program.

Due to a projected budget shortfall of between $500,000 and $1,500,000 for the year, Committee voted in favour of deferring or cancelling certain capital projects and reallocating funds from the Reserve Funds to offset any operating deficit for the 2025 fiscal year. 

This report outlined revisions to the Records Management Program Policy C-LS-04, which includes removal of auditor approval for yearly Records Retention Schedule updates to align with the Municipal Act and revisions to the defined terms and definitions. Committee voted in favour of adopting the revised Policy and  forwarding an amending by-law to Council next month.

This report highlighted the need to categorize the current Township lands inventory, as well as the recommendation to move forward with a Realtor of Record to act on behalf of the Township in the purchase and sale of Township lands. Committee confirmed its intent to actively dispose of surplus municipal lands and directed staff to categorize the Townships land inventory, identifying lands that are potentially surplus to the municipality's needs. Staff were also directed to issue a Request for Proposal for a Realtor of Record.

The process to develop a Human Resources Strategic plan in-house was approved by Committee.  It will have four phases, including: Engagement, Internal and External lenses and Strategy Development.

In a joint effort between the Muskoka Clerks to provide one consistent by-law amongst all Muskoka municipalities, this report proposed updating and modernizing the Township’s Election Sign By-law. The updates included a prohibition of election signs on public property including Road Allowances. Committee chose to deny the proposed amendments as presented and directed staff to receive comments from members of Committee over the next 30 days regarding potential changes to the current Election Sign By-law as well as conduct a review and make any necessary updates needed for clarification, and report back to committee at a later date.

Based on a review of the by-law, feedback and current wharf operations, Staff recommended that this by-law be updated to remove seasonal permit sales from the Township’s operation of the docks/wharfs. Staff noted that there could be an exception made for Beaumaris where there are a number of residents that rely on the permits to access their properties. Committee chose to proceed with amendments to the by-law but specified that staff include additional amendments regarding a roll out plan for the changes, increasing the length of time for docking, amendments to the fees and restricting overnight parking.

This report provided an overview of the wharf dock designs for the Beaumaris and Windermere Wharf projects including the design for each wharf. Both wharves have reached the end of their useful life. Community input was sought for the designs and staff also held discussions with area stakeholders.  Committee considered the wharves separately and chose to postpone the approval of the Beaumaris Dock Layout to allow time for staff to report back with additional information on materials. Committee specified that the public be notified of the layouts and any comments received regarding the Windermere dock layout be forwarded to Council prior to consideration of approval.

At the July 16, 2025 Council meeting, Council elected to refer a report about the future of the Old Walker’s Point Fire Hall building and properties back to General/Finance Committee for further review and staff were directed to prepare additional options for the properties, such as housing opportunities and additional parking for nearby trails. Ultimately, staff recommended their original recommendation and Committee voted in favour of selling the two properties AS IS.

Committee received a deputation requesting amendments to two of its by-laws, being the Noise by-law and the Zoos and Wildlife Sanctuaries by-law. The deputation included the request that Committee consider amending the Noise By-law to include a broader definition of noise and include more regulations that would protect residents from intrusive noise. It was also requested that the Zoos and Wildlife Sanctuaries by-law be amended in such a way that would allow only the keeping of animals native to Ontario as well as revisions that generally increase greater Township oversight of facilities operated under this by-law.  Committee was appreciative of the presentation and both staff and Committee will consider the requests when either of or both of the by-laws come forward for review.