Back to SearchCouncil and staff working on draft 2021 budget
Mayor Nina Bifolchi provided council and the public an update on the 2021 draft budget process.
Mayor Bifolchi said the first meeting on the draft budget took place Oct. 1. Watch the meeting.
At this point in the process, the proposed tax rate increase is 3.6 percent. For a home assessed at $330,000, this translates to $1,914.56 in the town portion of taxes for 2021, a municipal increase of $66.55 over 2020. County and education taxes are on top of the taxes collected by the municipality.
Compared to similar municipalities in Simcoe County, Wasaga Beach has the third lowest tax rate, helping make the town an affordable place to live and operate a business.
As things stand today, the draft budget consists of $41-million for operating costs and $52-million for capital projects – the funds used for a variety of infrastructure initiatives.
The proposed operating budget is up by $716,590 and the proposed capital budget is up by $18-million.
Key factors for the increase in the proposed operating budget are things such as wage increases ($312,000) and benefit increases ($157,000).
For the capital budget, cost drivers are things such as the new twin-pad arena ($16.9-million), the new library ($6.7-million), water and wastewater projects ($10.7-million), as well as bridge and road projects ($8.4-million).
For the arena and twin-pad library project, the total project cost is $59-million, of which the land portion is paid. The remaining project cost to be covered is approximately $51-million, of which $31-million would be financed through long-term debt when the project is complete in 2023.
The 2021 draft budget proposes $8.9-million in construction financing to cover the commencement of construction in the spring of 2021. Although this is additional debt, the town is only required to pay the interest charges based on an estimated rate 0.75 percent for construction financing. In 2021, this will add $3.62 to the tax bill, based on the average assessed home of $330,000.
Financial plan for the new twin-pad arena and library
Mayor Bifolchi noted a financial plan for the new arena was presented to members of council at the budget meeting held Oct. 1.
The Treasurer presented three options for Council’s consideration – proceed based on the current schedule, build the arena now and the library in 2025-2027 or complete the design stages of the project and then hold the project for the 2021 year to assess the impact of the COVID-19 plan. The Treasurer recommended that Council proceed based on the current schedule due to the excellent financial health of the municipality, strong reserves and the low cost of debt. Council received the plan at the Oct. 1 meeting and then ratified it Oct. 29.
The plan breaks down how the town will fund the project, using a conservative approach with known funding sources.
The municipality will borrow $31-million, use a small amount of taxation, with the balance of the funds for the project coming from reserves, including development charge reserves, general reserves, and federal gas tax reserves.
Preliminary operating costs for the library and arena indicate the operating costs will add $73 to the average annual taxes for a household. That works out to $6.08 each month.
Proposed departmental budgets received for information
Mayor Bifolchi said a second budget meeting happened Oct. 22.
During the session, department representatives presented highlights of their proposed 2021 budgets to members of council, followed by questions from council members. The public can watch all of the presentations online.
The proposed departmental budgets are largely status quo with continued significant investments in a number of areas. This includes the following:
- Facilities (including the new arena and library)
- Roads and bridges
- Drainage improvements
- Water and waste water infrastructure
- Technology supporting service delivery
- Heavy, medium, and light duty vehicles supporting various departments
- Two new transit shelters
- Glendale Park redevelopment
- Physician recruitment
- Fire department equipment and renovations to Station 2
- Increased adult, senior and youth sporting events
- Planning studies that support community development
Staff will consider the questions and comments received from council members during the second budget meeting and incorporate requested changes into Draft 2 of the budget, slated for presentation in November.
Later during the Oct. 22 meeting, council received a third-quarter financial status report and a report on the financial impacts of COVID-19 and the measures taken to control costs due to the lost revenues and increased expenditures. Both reports were received for information.
Master Parking Study finds 300 new spaces needed when beachfront redevelopment happens
Mayor Bifolchi provided an update on the draft Master Parking Study.
She said Michael Cullip of C.C. Tatham presented the draft study at an Oct. 15 Committee of the Whole meeting and that committee received the study for information. You can watch the presentation.
The Master Parking Study for the Beachfront Area identifies the public parking requirements once the town-owned land at the beachfront is developed, as well as residential and commercial needs.
The study notes the current overall parking system in the area provides 2,854 spaces, of which 47 percent are operated by the town and 43 percent are operated by the province. The current parking system includes town parking lots, town on-street parking, private parking lots, and provincial park lots.
Within the Beachfront Redevelopment Study area, there are 1,107 spaces – representing 39 percent of the total parking system, of which 88 percent are operated by the town.
The study identifies that once the area is developed there will be parking requirements for 3,148 vehicles. This represents a shortfall of almost 300 spaces as compared to the existing parking inventory, namely in the number of spots required for visitors to the provincial park. Parking will accommodate anticipated public, residential, and commercial needs.
The balance of parking required but no longer available will have to shift to nearby provincial park property or parking lots further away from the beach area.
The study also proposes alternative parking strategies for consideration to increase parking efficiency. This includes paving provincial park lots and consideration of below grade options.
In addition, the study proposes options to better utilize existing parking lots within the overall parking study area. This includes the addition of parking structures.
This study will be subject to final council approval and will be included as part of the RFP package provided to the six developers who have expressed an interest in developing town-owned land at the beachfront.
Town supports age-friendly grant application
At the Oct. 15 Committee of the Whole meeting, committee agreed to support the Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee’s grant application to the County of Simcoe.
Mayor Bifolchi told council that the Age-Friendly committee is applying for a $10,000 grant from the county.
The committee plans to work with local businesses to help them improve service delivery to seniors.
The funding will allow the committee to hire a part-time administrator to develop the programming for businesses and seniors over a six-month period, and support the creation of promotional and educational materials.
Staffing review received for information, study will help town plan for future needs
Councillor Joe Belanger said the Organizational Staffing and Customer Service Review Report was received for information during the Oct. 8 Community Services Section of Coordinated Committee.
MNP consultants Jen Hayes and Ashley Clerici presented an overview of the report to the committee. Watch the presentation.
The report covered two areas – requirements to improve customer service at various town facilities across town and second, staffing requirements for the new Twin-pad Arena and Library. Committee referred the report to staff for review and final recommendation.
Staff would like to fully consider the recommendations in the report and make recommendations to council, on the customer service initiatives, for consideration as part of the 2021 budget. The staffing recommendations for the new arena and library facility will be considered as part of future budgets.
Digital recreation and events guide on the way in 2021
Council approved the creation of a digital Recreation, Events and Facilities Guide.
The digital guide, in lieu of the traditional paper publication, will allow staff to make quick changes to information if needed due to the pandemic.
The guide will promote programs and events taking place between January and June 2021.
The cost of the guide is $3,000, plus HST.
Council also approved a free quarter-page ad for advertisers who participated in the 2020 guide. The free ad is an economic recovery gesture; the pandemic affected program delivery for several 2020 advertisers.
Sixty building permits issued in September: report
Deputy Mayor Sylvia Bray said the town issued 60 building permits for September, including 15 for new single-unit family homes, plus 13 permits for residential additions.
Bray said the information was received during the Oct. 8 Development Services Section of Coordinated Committee. Bray is the Development Services chair.
The estimated value of residential construction for the month was $8.9-million. This brought in $72,671 to the municipality in permit fees.
Review of sign bylaw getting under way
A review of the town’s sign bylaws is starting, Councillor Stan Wells said.
Wells said that during the Oct. 8 General Government Section of Coordinated Committee, Jeff Regan, municipal law enforcement coordinator, announced a review of the bylaws was happening.
Regan noted that research and public consultation will take place throughout the fall; a draft bylaw is then coming to committee for consideration.
The town regulates the use of signs through two bylaws, passed in 1996, but subject to various modernizations over the years.
Wells told council that staff believe now is the time to modernize the bylaws and simplify the regulations in them.
Council gives the green light, Toys for Tickets campaign returns
Council approved the Toys for Tickets campaign – it’ll once again run leading up to the holiday season.
The inaugural campaign occurred last year.
Toys for Tickets is a program that allows parking ticket recipients to pay for their ticket by purchasing a new children’s toy that is equal in value to the ticket.
People must present the toy and a receipt for it to staff. The new toy must be in the original packaging and unwrapped.
All toys collected between Nov. 1 and Dec. 10 will go to the Wasaga Beach Kinette Club, which will distribute the toys to children in need this Christmas.
New town website up and running - offers great new features to stay informed
Councillor Stan Wells said the town’s new website is now operational.
The site launched Monday, Oct. 26. Wells, chair of the General Government Section of Coordinated Committee, said the committee received a report on the new site during the Oct. 8 committee meeting.
The site includes a number of new features that make for an improved user experience: increased self-serve options, online payments, digital online forms, greater ease of navigation, a local business directory, as well as an online bids and tenders platform.
Included on the site is a new truth corner tab, where accurate information will be placed to counter misinformation deliberately spread in the community on social media and other platforms.
Residents can visit the town website and sign-up to receive various e-mail updates about town initiatives. This includes news releases, event information, and details about recreation programs.
Bridge report shows structures in good shape but maintenance needed in years ahead
Councillor David Foster provided an overview of the 2020 Vehicular and Pedestrian Bridge Inspections Report.
Foster, chair of the Public Works Section of Coordinated Committee, said committee received the report for information during its Oct. 8 meeting. Watch a presentation on the report.
The report states vehicular bridges are in very good condition, with the town’s two largest bridge structures rehabilitated in the last five years. Maintenance needs, which should be completed in the next one to two years, totalling $43,950, have been identified for 12 structures.
Other work recommended includes replacing a culvert with an estimated cost of $810,000 within the next five-year period; and minor bridge rehabilitation work totalling $20,000, which has been identified for completion in the six to 10-year period.
For pedestrian bridges, one-to-two-year maintenance needs were identified for seven pedestrian bridge structures, totalling $41,650, while rehabilitation and replacement work has been identified for completion in the one-to-five-year period, totalling $370,000.
Draft Parks and Trails Master Plan identifies next steps
During the Oct. 8 Public Works Section of Coordinated Committee, the committee received for information the draft Parks and Trails Master Plan.
Councillor David Foster, chair of the Public Works Section, told council the plan was created through an extensive community consultation process involving online surveys, an open house, and stakeholder focus groups.
He said the plan is a guiding document, providing a 10-year vision intended to influence future investment and decision-making.
This represents the first integrated parks and trails master plan for the town. Included in the plan is existing park needs, new park requirements, playground replacement needs, trail development, as well as park and trail maintenance.
The draft plan is now up for review on the town’s community engagement website. Council will consider a final version of the plan at a future meeting.
Tatham Engineering hired to create master drainage study
Town council approved hiring Tatham Engineering, at a cost of $399,910, to produce a town wide master drainage study.
A competitive RFP process identified Tatham as the preferred firm.
The study will examine drainage needs throughout the municipality, helping the town prioritize future projects.
Read the related staff report.
Town investing in new water source for sports park
Council approved hiring B&J Contracting, at a cost of $185,250, to install a water main from Veterans Way to the clubhouse at the sports park.
The work is in tandem with the greater Veterans Way/Klondike Road Geometric Improvements and Water Main installation project.
Currently, the park is served by one drilled well. The line from the road to the clubhouse will address volume and pressure issues experienced at the park when multiple activities are taking place and there is a greater demand for water.
Read the staff report.
COVID-19 update to council
Council received an update on the COVID-19 pandemic from members of the town’s COVID-19 Command Team.
CAO George Vadeboncoeur, Deputy Fire Chief Craig Williams, and communications officer Michael Gennings presented information to council.
Conservation authority presents 2021 budget to council
Representatives of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority presented the organization’s 2021 budget.
Wasaga Beach’s total contribution is $242,021.
Watch the presentation.
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