City Council LIVE BLOG September 28, 2015

Rates in taxi cabs could be on the way up.

That’s just one of the things on the council agenda Monday night.

They will also discuss truck traffic on the Connecting Link, the handi-transit and the 2016 Snowcross event.

Follow our live blog for all the details, starting at 6:00pm.

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

Mayor Steve Black is still in China, and is not in town for this meeting.  Noella Rinaldo will sit in the Mayor’s Chair in his place as Deputy Mayor.

Marks isn’t present either.

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The first item is a zoning amendment for 380 Laforest Road by Claude and Paulette Gauthier, with agent Jean Gauthier.

They have nothing to add, but one person is in attendance that wants to speak to it, Lynn Groulx.

Her lot is on the corner of Laforest and Doran’s Road, and asks if the applicant’s plan is to be permanent, and wonders what kind of effect this would have on her property.

She says there is a significant cost, adding the value of her property would be effected.

Groulx says tapping into the water supply close to her lot could effect her supply of water.

Bamford asks for a major investment, a permanent re-zoning would be what they should be looking to do.

Jean Gauthier comes up, and says before they did anything, he sat down and discussed what was happening.  The plan is to build a home, and have his parents move from Kapuskasing into the new house.

He says the only way to get everything through is to build a modular residence, adding the house currently on the property can be removed.

Gauthier says they bought everything that they would need to build a well, and are more than 100 feet away from the property line.

Groulx says just because the well is going to be three feet now, doesn’t mean it will be that when she intends to build.

Cindy Welsh giving some clarification on the file at hand, saying the father applied for a single detached home after Gauthier’s initial meeting with the city.  Gauthier purchased it but it came across that it would be temporary.

Lots of legalities here folks.

Temporary use by-law states they can use the land for three years, and have to re-apply for extensions.

Campbell asks if the temporary by-law was applied for initially, would it have been passed, and Welsh says that’s up to council.

Gauthier says they didn’t apply for temporary because it wasn’t possible at the time.  Parents sold their home.

A second well isn’t needed according to the Official Plan.

Grzela says with the information presented, he says the “cart came before the horse” a bit, but you have to do what you have to do.

This will come back, Rinaldo says this would be in November sometime.

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Next is the first presentation of the evening, on the 2016 Snowcross event, presented by Angela Vacchino.

It’ll take place March 12-13th.

The FULL PRESENTATION can be found HERE, which Vacchino is going over.

Last year’s event brought in about $335,000 into the local economy.

Vacchino says they’d like to use the Spruce Street snowdump, mobile bleachers, tables and chairs and other little things that can be found in the presentation.

Campbell asks if they made profit, and Vacchino says they broke even, adding would this event go on without the support of the city.

Bamford says it’s a good event, but is concerned where the money is coming from.

Torlone says the money would be in the 2016 budget.

Doody says it’s a great event, and would hope for the year’s to come that local businesses would step up to the plate in some ways to make it an even bigger success.

Vacchino says they’d like to turn the week beforehand into a “snowmobile week” to promote the event even further.

This will come back next Monday night for full approval.

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Next is former city clerk Jack Watson, as Chair to present for the Timmins Committee of Adjustment.

Councillors had previous questions about how the committee works, and he’s here to explain it.

It isn’t very lengthy, but CLICK HERE to see Watson’s full presentation.

The committee’s been around since the 50’s, and to avoid political influence, has never had a sitting member of council on it.

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Kevin Vincent is now up, wanting support to declare Timmins as being “a home-based business friendly community.”

He says he’d want to see this declared ahead of Small Business Week, which is October 19-23.

Bamford says a “home-based business” isn’t a motherhood issue.  He says many of these businesses have prompted complaints from parking to clutter, heavy traffic and much more.

He says there are pros and cons with this, and there isn’t necessarily a right side to this.  Bamford says they like to encourage business growth, but in terms of the request, he doesn’t see the advantage.  He says whether or not this passes, home-based businesses will still be around.

Mark Jensen says he doesn’t see an issue with this, as long as it’s not seen open-ended and the home-based businesses still need to be compliant with the by-laws.

This will come back, as council has agreed to the request, which will be acknowledged when Mayor Black returns to town.

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Next is a report on getting a waterline installed at Bannerman Park.

The report says the park is used for many functions, from weddings to graduations, family pictures, picnics and even simply as a place for bikers and walkers to sit and enjoy the scenery.

At this point, the park has been using water from Porcupine Lake and a neighbour’s water hose.

Bamford says the committee involved here has raised over $400,000, adding there’s been plenty of work done by volunteers to keep the park looking great.

Doody says this type of thing enhances the city’s quality of life, and he sees similar attributes to the Gillies Lake area.

Wawrzaszek says he had his son’s wedding pictures, adding he’d support this as the work doesn’t seem costly.

This will come back in the budget talks.

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Next is the plaque request from MAAC, to be spoken of by Grzela.

He says a recent letter requested a plaque be installed in honour of the late Brad Bondar, a man who worked tirelessly to advocate getting a sidewalk on MacLean Drive.

Rinaldo asks where this would go in terms of budgeting, and will come back.

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Grzela is back to speak on sidewalk safety on the east end.

Dan McKay wants to know if there’s any rules that they need to comply with in terms of how steep a shoulder is, in regards to the HWY 101/Bristol Road intersection.

Rinaldo makes mention that it could be very dangerous for someone who is visually impaired, and people could fall five or six feet into a ditch.

Bamford says he’s concerned with the number of reports that are coming across, and this could be a budget item, thus probably wouldn’t get done right away.

Dubeau says he’d support asking for a report from the city engineer whenever he can get to it.

This will come back.

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Now to a five-year contract extension for advertising on Timmins Transit.

The only one’s to put in a tender was BK Marketing.

BK is offering to pay $30,000 a year for the next five years, which is slightly below the average the city was given over the last seven-year term ($31,714).

This will come back.

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Next is the purchase of a handi-transit vehicle.

Jensen says they have a requirement to replace the five current buses over the next five years, and this is the first year of said plan.

This year, they have this budgeted through the Capital Budget, with extra coming from the Gas Tax Fund reserve fund.  The cost of each bus is $104,020 plus HST.  The city plans to buy two in 2016, and one in each 2017 and 2018.

This will come back.

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They are seeking approval to purchase a new fuel tank in the Transit maintenance yard.

The current one has been in place since 1976, and is long overdue for replacement.

The price looks to be in the area of just under $145,000.

This will come back.

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Now to the taxi rate increases.

The base rate would go from $3.86 to $4.10 and would go from $0.188 to $0.200 per 1/10km.

Bamford says he has no difficulty with the rate increases, but asks about the amended sections being requested.

This will come back for full approval in October.

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Now to repairs on the Sportsplex.

Jensen says there were challenges at the entrance way, and are unacceptable at an energy standpoint.

They are looking at Gorf Manufacturing to do the work for just under $53,500 + HST, adding this work should be done as soon as possible.

The money would come from the cost savings on their work at the Sportsplex Pool.

This will come back.

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and council is adjourned!