city council group pictureThe Timmins Economic Development Corporation’s quarterly update highlights a quiet council meeting Monday.

They’ll also hear a report on winter sand, maintenance to private roads and a by-law on poop, yes your animal’s waste is on the agenda.

Our live blog starts at 6:00pm.

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

A quick note, Doody is not in the house tonight.

We start with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation’s quarterly report with Christy Marinig and Chairman Fred Gibbons.

Gibbons says the city is expected to see growth of around 1.4%, and the city has seen 1.6% employment growth this year.

“We are about 55% towards our goal,” Gibbons says about jobs created through the TEDC.

Their full stats thus far this year are available HERE.

Marinig says they do consultations with clients that take about 30 minutes each to complete.

“We teach people from 18-29 that aren’t returning to school…to start their own business,” she said.

She adds $30,000 has been injected to help new businesses get off the ground this year.

Marinig makes mention of their recent foreign delegations this year.  She says people have come from places like Greenland, Peru and India to help them learn our ways.

She says most of them came here to develop their own mining standards and practices.

They teach organizations to write proposals to get funding approved.  Another development is the “Learn in Timmins” website, for people to find out what programs are available.  It was launched about a month ago, and can be found at learnintimmins.com

The final is a tile drainage program.  Marinig says they have worked with two farms to help diversify the agriculture economy.

Campbell asks about the consultations, and whether they’re tracked in terms of time.

Marinig says they generally have about 30 minutes with each client, but they also provide notes for clients.

He asks about the housing program.  Marinig says they’re working with some groups, and linked them with the DSSAB.

Rinaldo says the drainage program goes back a few years, and is pleased to hear about the guidance the TEDC is providing for this process.

Dubeau also asks about agriculture, and whether more people are starting farms.

Marinig says they are working on projects, while Mennonites are looking for cheaper land to use and grow.

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To reports!  The first is on the watermain replacement on Algonquin Boulevard.

Director of Public Works Luc Duval is here to talk about the benefits of a relining the main, instead of the usual open trench method.

He says there is a minimum requirement of a 50-year life cycle.  The estimate on the pipe in the ground right now is that it is 80-years old.

Duval shows a video on how the relining is done.

He says the project is worth $190,000, while the open trench method would cost about $350,000.

Campbell makes mention that the process involves resin, and wants to know if that would get into the water system and whether it is toxic.

Duval says it is safe, and meets all NSF standards.  He says they have strict standards.

Campbell asks about contamination, and if tests were actually done.  Duval says they wouldn’t meet NSF standards if there weren’t tests done.

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To the LED street light project.

Duval says they are looking to increase their project budget from $2,329,731 to $2,650,000.

This money is still within the budget that they set out, and just increases the payback from five years to 5.7 years.

Black says it was impressive to see how quick crews were moving.

This will come back.

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Now to animal waste.

Duval says this is to open up the by-law, which states now that “uncollectable waste” refers to hay, straw, manure or animal excrement.

It would change the animal excrement part to have an amount of three litres.

The city says they understand that people need to dispose animal waste, and adding the volume makes sure if there is excessive amounts of waste disposed of can be enforced.

Black says he’s not sure if three litres is enough, and unsure how this would be enforced.

“It puts our by-law guys in a bad spot,” he says.

He says if council wants to pass this, the three litres is better than the zero that was in the by-law.

Campbell agrees with Black.  Duval says in the past, there was splash back with garbage men, and it was a health risk.  Duval says there also video taping with the garbage men for accountability.

Rinaldo says they know it’s next to impossible to enforce, but having this by-law in effect could help just in case they run into a problem when someone blatantly abuses it.

Dubeau says he understands the concern, and mentions it’s three litres per bag.

He says this is more of an educational thing.

Black asks about the penalty.  Duval says whatever the penalty is right now would be the penalty.

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Next is other items, starting with a purchasing by-law with Dubeau.

This has to do with the “buy local” initiative.

He says he’s met with many people on this, and educated himself on the subject quite a bit.

Dubeau says he has a clear understanding of the policies, and agrees with what is in place right now is fair.

Black says if this is just on the agenda to bring a close to this subject, and Dubeau says yes.

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Now to the contract with BK Marketing with Dubeau.

Dubeau says this was brought to his attention by a concerned citizen.

He says this has to do with a marketing bench in front of Timmins Hyundai on Riverside Drive.

Pam Marvinac, the citizen, says the bench increased the risk of vandalism and talked with Timmins Hyundai to remove the bench.  The bench wasn’t removed.

Direction from the Mayor’s office says the bench needed to be removed.

Dubeau says they’ve had a contract with BK Marketing for many years, and that the marketing works best in high-traffic areas.

There is a request from BK to have the bench put back.

Black says he has a letter from BK reps, and from Timmins Hyundai.  They’ve been in that location since 1992, and the bench that was put in front was vandalized.

Efforts to find culprits by Timmins Police failed.

Timmins Hyundai says in the note that the area where the bench is is where they keep some of their promoted cars, and a vandalized bench is an eyesore.

A contract with BK Marketing has been in place since 2008.

Black says he doesn’t understand the discussion, as the bench was removed and is not a city council issue.

Dubeau says there was a lack of communication, as BK was not consulted when the bench was moved.

He says this isn’t a frivolous complaint.

Rinaldo asks what department takes care of this.  Mark Jensen, sitting in CAO Joe Torlone’s seat tonight, says this could be a transit issue.

Black says this was elevated to his office, and isn’t wanting to add to this.  He says all three parties were consulted.

Bamford asks if there is any way this bench could be moved to a better place, and is now near the Timmins Chamber of Commerce building.

Campbell says a ruling on this could open the floodgates for other businesses to get other benches and other advertising items moved from their location.

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Dubeau wants a resolution put on the next agenda to resolve the bench issue.

He says he’s not continuing the argument, he just wants it on the agenda for a vote.

Bamford, Marks and Black votes against it, taking away the 2/3 requirement and will not be added.

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By-law time!

First is for the contract for the Algonquin Boulevard watermain replacement.  It is passed.

Next is the amendment to the animal waste by-law.

Campbell says he still thinks it’s not enforceable, but will support the motion based on comments made earlier.

Dubeau wants to ensure this is for three litres per bag.  This is passed.

The final one is for the revision to the budget for the LED street light project.  It is passed.

and council is adjourned before 7:10pm!