Municipal Council Notes: March 17, 2021 - Via Zoom
DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
Presentation of 20-year service recognition to Robert Popovic of the Sioux Lookout
Fire Service
Mayor Doug Lawrance presented a 20 Year Service Recognition Medal from the Governor General of Canada to Municipal Emergency Services Manager, Fire Chief Robert Popovic. Lawrance congratulated Popovic and thanked him for his 20 years of dedicated service to the community.
Treasury Metals Inc Presentation
Mac Potter, Manager of Environment and Community Relations, Mark Miller, Director of Projects and MacKenzie Denyes, Manager of Regulatory Affairs from Treasury Metals Inc. made a presentation on the Goliath Gold Complex to Council.
REPORTS
2020 Annual Summary Reports, Municipal Drinking Water System(s); Hudson and Sioux Lookout
Council received the 2020 Annual Report(s) as per Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 170/03; Drinking Water Systems, for the Hudson Drinking Water System and the Sioux Lookout Urban Drinking Water System. The Annual Report(s), prepared by Northern Waterworks Inc. (NWI) were presented to Mayor Douglas Lawrance, Council members and CAO Michelle Larose.
Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance and Councillor John Bath both praised Northern Waterworks for putting together an “excellent” report.
“Nice to see such a clean report,” Bath commented.
According to the report prepared by NWI, “Throughout the reporting period the Sioux Lookout Urban Drinking Water System operated within its rated capacity and supplied a total of 660,678 m3 of treated water. On an average day in 2020, 1,805 m3 of treated water was supplied to the community, which represents 35% of the rated capacity of the Sioux Lookout Water Treatment Plant (5,200 m3/day). The maximum daily flow in 2020 was 2,363 m3/day, which represents 45% of the rated capacity of the treatment facility.”
No adverse water quality incidents occurred during the reporting period.
NWI’s report also shared that, “Throughout the reporting period the Hudson Drinking Water System operated within its rated capacity and supplied a total of 30,521 m3 of treated water. On an average day in 2020, 83 m3 of treated water was supplied to the community, which represents 11% of the rated capacity of the Hudson Water Treatment Plant (726 m3/day). The maximum daily flow in 2020 was 168 m3/day, which represents 23% of the rated capacity of the treatment facility.”
One adverse water quality incident occurred during the reporting period on June 17, 2020, “There was a sustained water distribution system pressure loss event originating at the Hudson Water Treatment Plant. The event was reported as an observation of improper disinfection.
“Corrective actions were performed in accordance with Schedule 17 of O. Reg. 170/03 and included restoring system pressure, issuing a system-wide precautionary Boil Water Advisory, and collecting drinking-water samples. All samples tested absent for E. coli and total coliform parameters and the Boil Water Advisory was rescinded on June 22, 2020”.
The 2020 annual reports for the Sioux Lookout and Hudson drinking water systems can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/3ty5STl.
Transfer of Asset Management Projects
Council approved the reallocation of $25,000, originally budgeted for the development of the Municipality’s new Asset Management Plan, to be applied to the Asset Management System Data Updates project; and further Council authorized staff to request an adjustment to the Municipality’s application (or an amendment to the Agreement, if approved) to the Canadian Federation of Municipalities (FCM) – Asset Management Program, for the development of the Municipality’s new Asset Management Plan.
Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee Recommendations to Council re: Northway Cemetery (Northern Section) Common Memorial
Council, based on recommendations from the Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee, directed staff to implement the following activities to memorialize those individuals interred in the northernmost section of Northway Cemetery, which shall be undertaken in collaboration with key community stakeholders from Sioux Lookout and Northern First Nations communities:
A common memorial that describes the history of this section of Northway Cemetery, in an effort to recognize and memorialize all of the individuals interred in this section of the Cemetery for which specific interment sites cannot be identified; and A multi-denominational and Traditional memorialization service to occur in June 2022; and A community multicultural feast to follow the multidenominational and Traditional memorialization in June 2022; and The Municipality to develop a database of information as it pertains to the history of individuals interred in Section 1 of the Northway Cemetery.
The Keeping of Chickens
Council, in recognition of the absence of complaints regarding the keeping of chickens, and in recognition of the importance of promoting locally sourced food and food sustainability, directed staff to take no further action on the development of a regulatory framework respecting the keeping of chickens; and further Council directed staff to implement dispute-resolution measures should complaints arise in the future among neighbours respecting the keeping of chickens.
BY-LAWS
COVID Tourism Modification Project - Consultant Contract
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 24-21, Being a Bylaw to Authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to Execute a Contract Between The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and McSweeney & Associates in an amount of $50,713 + HST for the Tourism Modification Project.
Municipal Economic Development Manager Vicki Blanchard explained in her report to council, “On March 17, 2020, the Ontario Government declared a state of emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, to cope with the spreading COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of this closure, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and several tourist lodge operators began working together to lobby all orders of government and identify and share resources that could provide any type of support. The COVID-19 Tourism Modification project came about from the input and concerns of local lodge owners and additional project partners were sought out.
“The project partners include The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board, Ministry of Energy Northern Development and Mines, FedNor, Destination Northern Ontario, Sunset Country, The Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce, and PACE. Letters of support for the project have been received from The Township of Pickle Lake, The City of Dryden, Moosehorn Lodge, Fireside Lodge, Anderson’s Lodge, Nutt’s Country Cabins, Knobby’s, PACE, Sunset Country, and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO).
“A significant amount of effort was dedicated to gathering input from tourism operators and using their feedback to lobby government for support for the tourism industry in the Sioux Lookout and surrounding area. As a result, the attention of Economic Development Minister, Melanie Joly, was captured along with industry experts, Executive Director of Destination Northern Ontario, David MacLachlan, and Executive Director of Sunset Country, Gerry Cariou.
“The Municipality is now seeking a qualified consultant (contract now executed) to assist in the preparation of best practices specific to the northwestern Ontario resource-based tourism industry, in light of the pandemic, the development and hosting of a virtual charrette to collect input from industry stakeholders, the development of training modules/ training program for operators, and a final report on the effects of the pandemic on the industry in the Sioux Lookout region.”
Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 23-21, Being a Bylaw to Authorize the Mayor and Clerk to enter into and Execute the Municipal Funding Agreement for the Transfer of Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation Program Between The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and the Minister of Transportation for the Province of Ontario.
Municipal Treasurer Carly Collins shared in her report to council that the agreement will result in the Municipality being eligible for a maximum of $51,219 for 2020-2021 which will be transferred to Sioux Lookout Handi Transit.
Designate Substance Removal and Selective Demolition
Council awarded the contract for the Designated Substance Removal and Selective Demolition of the Former Mayfair Theatre to Renew Construction Inc. for $174,535.00 plus HST; and further Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 17-21, Being a Bylaw to Authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to Execute a Contract between The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and Renew Construction Inc. for the Designated Substance Removal and Selective Demolition of the Former Mayfair Theatre to Renew Construction Inc.
Jody Brinkman, Manager of Development Services, shared in his report to council that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project included, “The removal of all Designated Substances and the removal of all non-structural building components, mechanical systems, electrical systems and plumbing systems. Basically completely clean out the building of all elements outside of the building structure. This will provide the opportunity for a clean slate to a potential developer if the building is deemed structurally suitable for future development.”
Five proposals were received. Brinkman also shared in his report to council that, “The pricing provided has greatly exceeded the original anticipated costs of $40,000 to $80,000. In completing the designated substance removal and selective demolition we will have the opportunity to better determine the structural adequacy of the building. If deemed to be worth salvaging the next step is to replace the roof coverings and repair any damaged roof decking. This cost is expected to be around $125,000 to $175,000. If the building is deemed structurally unsound repairs can be made or demolition of the entire structure can commence. The anticipated cost to complete the demolition is around $200,000 to $250,000.”
Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee Annual Work Plan & Budget Request
Council approved the Municipality Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 2021 Work Plan and budget request, submitted for Council’s consideration in compliance with By-law No. 79-15, Being a Bylaw to Establish the Terms of Reference for Council-Created Committees.
Update to Cemeteries By-law (By-law No. 26-21)
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 26-21, Being a Bylaw to Regulate the Cemeteries of The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and to Rescind By-law No. 28-12; and further Council approved the updated Cemetery Tariff of Rates, as attached to the Clerk’s Report No. 2021-45, dated March 17, 2021.
Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 08-21, Being a Bylaw to amend By-law No. 54-20, Being a By-law to Establish a Health and Safety Policy Manual for The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and to Adopt Certain Health and Safety Policies.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council authorized and directed the Integrity Commissioner to disclose the ID numbers of Council members and local boards that seek written advice from the Integrity Commissioner to the Clerk of the Municipality, upon delivery of each invoice to the Municipality.
Council approved amending Schedule “A” to By-law No. 92-18, Being a By-law to Make Appointments to Various Boards, Commissions and Committees by adding:
• Jamie MacLeod to the Sioux Lookout Environment Committee
• Emily Hamilton to the Sioux Lookout Day Care Advisory Committee
Council approved amending Schedule “A” to By-law No. 92-18 (Being a By-law to Make Appointments to Various Boards, Commissions and Committees) by deleting:
• Allen Lee from the Sioux Lookout Economic Development
Commission
• Brody Marsonet from the Sioux Lookout Day Care Advisory Committee
• Ben Bye from the Sioux Lookout Day Care Advisory Committee
• Michelle Turner from the Sioux Lookout Day Care Advisory Committee
