city council group pictureAn update on the Timmins 2020 hits council chambers Monday night.

Also on the agenda are reports from the Timmins Rock hockey team, street sweepers and repairs to the old Timmins Library, now housing the city’s engineering department.

Follow along our live blog starting at 6pm.

(Keep refreshing the page as the night goes along for updates!)

First up is Anna Annala with a proposal to re-zone some land in South Porcupine.

It would be an extension of Grace Road, and they want to build a new subdivision which would consist of 38 residential homes, and a couple apartments or townhouse development.

This is a first meeting, to get public input.

She is running under the agent Barry Martin.

Campbell asks where the access will be, and Martin says it will be at Ferguson Road.

Martin says they’ve also sold people in the area buffering zones.

He adds when they get the approval, it’ll take a couple years to develop the land before getting underway with building the homes.

Brad MacWilliam, who lives on Spillenaar Street, says he disagrees on a comment made that the traffic won’t be a concern.  He adds the town houses and apartments would draw lower-income families to the area, which could lower his property value.

Martin says there are requirements that all subdivisions allow lower income housing.

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More re-zoning, this time from Jennifer Burtch.

She wants to renovate a home on Maple Street South to create a daycare centre that could accommodate up to eight children.

Neil McVicar of 43 Birch South.  He shares a property line with the applicant.

He wants to talk about three aspects, and adds there are concerns from he and neighbours.

He says a daycare shouldn’t be located in any residential zone in town.

McVicar cites the wording in the by-law, saying they’d re-zone it for “all uses,” saying the application isn’t clear to all residents.

He adds the property value isn’t a valid reason to have opposition on this project, but says it could have an effect on the amount of people who check the home out.

He says at this point, someone can open a daycare with five children without going to council, but the ask looks as if she wants to create a day nursery and daycare.  If it is a day nursery, he says there should be one parking space per staff member.

McVicar also cites that they have sidewalks in the near area, none of which get plowed during the winter time.  He says this could create safety concerns for kids trying to walk to nearby St. Gerard’s School.

He adds there is also a nearby day nursery, which eliminates a need for one in the area.

McVicar says it isn’t necessary or beneficial for this property to be renovated to a day nursery, adding the change wouldn’t enhance the neighbourhood.

“There are other options,” he said.

He wants to have the application denied, and would like to see Burtch to create the business in a commercial zone instead.

Jennifer Burtch is here.  She says they operate under the Day Nursery Act, but it is a Montessori centre.  She says they operate with five students already, and they have a wait list.

She adds parking won’t be a concern at all, and adds they have a need for the program for students.  They had operated in a previous location with more students, but are downsizing because they want to have more one-on-one with kids.

She wants the additional three students to make the business financially viable.

Burtch says it’s a respectable program, and already ran a summer program from the Birch South location.

Essentially, the re-zoning is to allow her to increase her limit from five kids to eight kids.

This will come back at a later date.

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Adam and Stephanie Lamontagne want to create a duplex on a lot next to the Frederick House River.

Nobody here to speak for or against it and this will come back at a later date.

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Now to a presentation to a couple Special Olympians.

Andre Goulet and Paul Perreault brought home medals in the most recent World Games held in Los Angeles.

 

They snagged the top two spots on the Podium for the overall scores, taking Gold and Silver.

Goulet won three gold and a silver, while Perreault won three silvers and a bronze, both in powerlifting.

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Ross Pope and Company are here for audited financial statements.

If you want to read the full 30+ page report, CLICK HERE.

They are looking to accept the 2014 numbers.  The surplus grew from 2013 by just over $20-million, but the net financial debt went up as well by around $9-million.

This will come back.

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Now to the status report for the Timmins 2020 initiative with Ron Leduc.

CLICK HERE for a quick snapshot of what’s been done up to this point.

Clearlogic will be dropping control, and giving it to the city.

They have about 21 projects that are either in progress or completed, out of 30.

Maggie Mattear wants to highlight some projects they want to see worked on.

  • attracting an English speaking university to town
  • beautification of the city
  • generating municipal activities

Doody asks about long-term housing solutions.  Leduc says he doesn’t have intimate knowledge about the current situation, but adds the economy has cooled a bit.

Council as a whole went around the table to extend their thanks to Clearlogic for their work.

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Next is reports, the first is to accept the audited financial statements.  It is passed.

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Now to a subdivision on Iroquois Road.  No questions from council.

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To the Timmins Rock operating agreement with the city.  This is to allow the team official usage of the McIntyre Arena for the 2015-16 NOJHL season.

Additionally, there is a proposal to take from the Capital Parks budget to help with the renovations to the arena.

This money would delay the $100,000 of renos to the Park Avenue subdivision park.

The team will be responsible for paying their share of $49,000 through ticket sales.

This will come back.

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Now to a proposal for a storage building to be built on the Facilities Management Services Yard.

This would cost just under $307,500 plus HST.  It would also be a 60×100 foot building, to replace a dilapidated 40×60 foot building.

The contract would go to Timmins Contracting.

This will come back.

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A facelift is coming to the HR/Engineering building.

The city is looking to spend $126,000 plus HST to complete a new ramp and upgrade the entrance and sidewalk area.

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Next is a re-zoning of two lots on Shirley Street and St. Jean Avenue.

It will come back.

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The city also will come back to the annual reports from 2012-2014 for the building services division.

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Now to some technical information, which led to the purchase of street sweeping equipment.

They talked about this at length at the council meeting two weeks ago, prompting this presentation.

CLICK HERE to view the full details.

Wawrzaszek was vocal on the issue a couple weeks back, and says he can’t support the purchase.

The street sweeper would cost just over $242,000.

This will come back in the by-law section.

Speaking of which, by-law time!

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First is the approval to re-zone Iroquois Road area to move in a new subdivision.

It is passed.

Next is the aforementioned street sweeper purchase.

Wawrzaszek votes against it, but everyone else votes in favour and it’s passed.

Zoning amendment for Shirley Street and St. Jean Avenue is passed.

Agreement with Timmins Rock for usage of the McIntyre Arena is passed.

Agreement with Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the Small Communities Fund is passed.

Agreement with FBMC for repairs to the HR/Engineering building is passed.

Agreement with Timmins Contracting Limited to build a new shop storage facility is passed.

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Now to a letter by David Witzel, who addresses the situation between Mayor Black and Councillor Dubeau.

View the letter HERE.

Another letter on trees from Roger Demers (VIEW HERE)

No discussion on either, and council is adjourned!