Policy and Planning Quarterly
Winter 2023 & Budget 2023 (Budget 2023, Strategic Plan)
The Policy and Planning Quarterly provides quarterly highlights of bylaw changes, Council decisions and land-use planning matters that are of public interest.
Budget 2023
The first quarter of 2023 featured significant work by staff and Council to arrive at a final budget for 2023.
The 2023 Municipal Budget was approved with an overall net levy increase of 3.97% over 2022, setting the total net levy requirements for 2023 at $8,094,399 over $7,785,459 in 2022. This amount represents the funds to be raised from property taxes for the Town’s operating and capital budgets. The Executive Summary stated that the budget reflects a commitment by the Town to serving the needs of our community by supporting the positive, well-balanced, social, economic, environmental, and physical growth of the town. The average household in Espanola has an assessment value of $158,099 and can expect to see an increase of approximately 3.59% to their annual property tax bill over 2022 (approximately $87 per year), not including any changes due to re-assessment of property value by MPAC that may result from renovations for example.
The 2023 Municipal Budget reflects the expenses of maintaining current levels of service while inflation continues to drive up costs. The Town’s most significant investments are found within its capital and water and sewer budgets which are largely covered by reserves or grants. Highlights include the completion of the most recent Connecting Link project to repave and replace water and sewer infrastructure along Centre Street between McDonalds and Second Avenue, the continuation of the Trunk Watermain replacement from the Water Treatment Plant to Second Avenue and the resurfacing and replacement of sewer infrastructure on Mead Boulevard. The breakdown of the capital budget by area can be reviewed in the graphic below (the transportation category refers to all road related projects).
The Executive Summary of the budget can be viewed at the following link: https://pub-espanola.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=9242
Strategic Plan
Since January, The Town has been undertaking the preparation of a Strategic Plan to chart its course for the term of Council and beyond.
In September of 2022, the Town of Espanola issued a request for proposals (RFP) for services related to the development of a new strategic plan.
On December 13, 2022, staff reported to Council recommending that Council award the RFP for Consulting Services-Strategic Plan 2023-2027, to David King and Bill Winegard. Subsequently, Council passed Resolution 22-195 approving the recommendation.
Both King and Winegard are experienced strategic planning consultants who have worked for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; as Chief Administrative Officers with northern municipalities, and with twenty other municipalities to help them develop strategic plans.
So far, the consultants have hosted numerous public consultation meetings with various groups and for the general public and have gathered data through a public survey that received over 500 responses. Further, there have been multiple working sessions with staff and Council members. Further information regarding their findings to date can be viewed on the Town’s website at https://www.espanola.ca/strategic-planning. As the process is nearing completion, it is expected that a fairly refined overview of the findings will be presented at a Council meeting in late May and that a final plan will be brought to Council for approval in late June.
Featured Bylaws and Resolutions
(For full bylaw/resolution reports, please visit the Town’s website or contact the Municipal Office.)
Mead Street Trunk Watermain Part 2 Tender (February 14)
Council approved that the tender for the Trunk Watermain replacement project be awarded to Garson Pipe for a total of $8,259,175.72. This portion of the project will see the replacement of the watermain from Queensway Avenue at Mead Boulevard to Mead Boulevard at Second Avenue over the next two years including replacement and upgrades to road and sanitary sewer infrastructure. It is expected that Queensway to Wood Street will be completed in 2023 and Wood Street to Second Avenue in 2024.
The Town will be receiving $3,659,700.48 in federal and provincial funding for eligible costs under the ICIP Green Infrastructure funding stream for this phase of the project. In addition, the Town anticipates using $1,633,420 of federal and provincial funding over the two years from its anticipated Federal Gas Tax and Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) funding. The project is one of the largest infrastructure investments that the municipality has undertaken in 30-40 years.
Sherwood Park to be Renamed “W.P. Foster Park” (February 28)
Council unanimously approved an application submitted by the Espanola Lions Club to rename Sherwood Park as “W.P. Foster Park” in honour of the late Bill Foster, long-time Lion, community volunteer and former Deputy Mayor and Councillor. A strong contingent of Lions Club Members and supporters were in attendance. The application followed the process under the Town’s policy for naming municipal assets. The newly re-named park will feature new playground equipment and the new splash pad which was installed last fall.
Quarterly Council Decision Highlights (Winter 2023: January, February, March)
- Approved annual review of Policy H04-01474, the Health and Safety Policy for the Corporation.
- Approved that a J.A. Larue D35 loader mounted snowblower be purchased to replace the Tenco loader-mounted snowblower due to a driveline failure that resulted in significant damage to multiple parts for costs not to exceed $190,000.
- Declined proposal requesting that the Al Secord Trail from the north end of the boardwalk to Clear Lake beach be plowed due to environmental regulations relating to the disposal of snow near waterways.
- Approved allocation of funds in the 2023 municipal budget to preparing designs for the renovation of the Public Works office in order to meet AODA standards by January 1, 2025, as required by the Province.
- Approved mutual assistance agreement for the use of space for emergency operations centres (EOC) in the event of a major emergency rendering either municipality’s EOC unusable, between Espanola and Nairn and Hyman.
- Approved amended Hiring Policy.
- Received a presentation from Infrastructure Ontario and the OPP regarding options for constructing a new OPP Facility for the area.
- Received Annual Drinking Water Report from the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
- Approved contract for Household Hazardous Waste Day to GFL Environmental Services Inc.
Land-Use Planning
Winter 2023 Planning Act Highlights:
- Council participated in a land-use planning training workshop hosted by JL Richards and Associates along with Council Members from all LaCloche Foothills municipalities: Sables-Spanish Rivers, Nairn and Hyman, and Baldwin.
- Four consent applications were approved for lot creation to the east of Yusko Crescent in February on Queensway Avenue and for one new lot on Yusko Crescent. Servicing capacity is still to be confirmed prior to construction.
- A minor variance was approved to provide for a reduced interior side yard on the south side of the new lot on Yusko Crescent created by one of the consent approvals mentioned above to allow for a 1.2 m set back where 2.0 m is required. Further, relief was approved for 41.7% lot coverage where 40% is the maximum and to allow for a reduced distance between driveways of 2.28m to accommodate accessible parking spots in front of each dwelling unit as the build is intended to be a semi-detached.
Reminders
Taking care of our lakes
The spring and summer months bring the opportunity to truly enjoy our many beautiful lakes. Through the work of associations like the Clear Lake Stewardship Association, there has been much success in controlling undesirable aquatic plants such as Milfoil in Clear Lake. This is a shining example of how as a community, we can work together to keep all of our lakes healthy. A primary strategy for supporting lake health is the maintenance of buffer zones – or vegetative shorelines and hillsides that absorb nutrients from field beds and help prevent runoff and erosion, all of which are major contributors to voracious aquatic plant growth like milfoil and increases of algae blooms. The Town’s Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan have specific set-back requirements for buildings near water and prohibit certain clearing of trees and other vegetation within a 30m set back. Please contact the Municipal Office for more information and we would be pleased to assist you.
The Policy and Planning Quarterly is prepared by Joseph Burke, Town Clerk and Manager of Planning Services. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns by email at [email protected] or by phone at 705-869-1540.