From facility maintenance and a food strategy to speed enforcement and grants, city council has a packed agenda for its meeting Monday.
Barnfield Point Recreation Centre maintenance
The lowest bid for maintenance work at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre was $92,000 more than the city had budgeted.
The approved capital budget for the work was $1,375,000, but staff are asking council to add $92,000 to that figure.
“These additional funds are beneficial to ensure the refrigeration system replacement at Barnfield Point Recreation Centre proceeds as scheduled to avoid system failure and support the 2025-26 curling season,” staff wrote in a report.
Terry Fox Circle improvements
Council will consider improvements to Terry Fox Circle. A motion calls for council to direct staff to repave the surface and that “the section of trail that travels beside Terry Fox Circle from the pier to the washroom structure be moved closer to the water with a physical barrier created between Terry Fox Circle and the trail.”
If approved, the matter will be sent to 2025 budget deliberations for consideration.
Community food strategy co-ordinator
The Orillia food access and sustainability working group wants council to consider hiring a full-time community food strategy co-ordinator.
A report asks council to direct staff to “research and develop a job description” for the new position and to report outcomes during 2025 budget deliberations.
“The severity of issues surrounding food insecurity and our local food system have increased,” the report states.
It cites the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, which noted, “According to our local Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) survey for 2023, one in four (26 per cent) of Simcoe-Muskoka households experienced some level of food insecurity in the past 30 days. This has increased from one in five households (18 per cent) in 2022 and from one in eight households (13 per cent) in 2018.”
Automated speed enforcement
The city could be partnering with the Town of Newmarket to bring automated speed enforcement to Orillia.
Staff are recommending the city sign a memorandum of understanding with the Town of Newmarket, which would allow the city “to explore the possible entry into a contract with Newmarket for the implementation” of an automated speed enforcement program here.
Staff make their case for this option in a report by pointing out the following benefits:
- Leverages request-for-proposals processes already completed by larger municipalities
- Available as either Provincial Offences Act or Administrative Monetary Penalty System-based
- Offers services from basic setup to turnkey solutions
They note it might require an initiation fee.
Grants
Council will consider providing thousands of dollars in grants to local groups. The grants committee is recommending the following:
- Orillia and District Arts Council — $1,000
- The Mom Collective — $1,500
- Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe — $1,000
- Orillia Vocal Ensemble — $1,500
- Champlain Sailing Club — $500
- Orillia Terry Fox Run — $1,205
Inquiry motions
Orillia’s Ward 3 councillors are continuing their traffic-calming crusade. Jeff Czetwerzuk and Jay Fallis are seeking their council colleagues’ support in an effort to have staff look into the feasibility of implementing a permanent all-way stop or a traffic-calming traffic circle at Orion Boulevard and Monarch Drive.
They also want staff, in their report, “to explore the feasibility of extending the ‘no parking’ area five to 10 metres northeast from the intersection of Orion Boulevard to ensure that visibility is maintained for vehicles turning from Monarch Drive onto Orion Boulevard.”
Coun. Tim Lauer, meanwhile, has goose-calming measures on the mind. He wants staff to prepare a report, prior to 2025 budget deliberations, providing “an overview of the city’s geese-management program, as well as an analysis of the effectiveness of geese-prevention methods being used at various parks and beaches in Orillia.”
Monday’s meeting will take place in the council chamber at the Orillia City Centre starting at 2 p.m. The entire agenda can be found here.
