Council Priority 11

Here is a look at Administration: 

Office of the CAO

• Leading a team of six department heads in implementing council's programs and directions in an efficient and effective manner.

• Serving as the main policy advisor to council.
• Providing overall leadership for the organization and its talented staff to ensure high quality service delivery to the people of Wasaga Beach.
• Chaired the town's COVID-19 Command Team - which oversaw the municipality's response to the pandemic and ensured the continued provision of municipal services.
• Relaunched the town's doctor recruitment program in February 2020. Since then the town has recruited three new family physicians. In addition, two other new doctors have taken over existing family practices. A third doctor replaced a retiring physician. Learn more about the program.
• Established additional security cameras at the beachfront and other locations identified by the OPP.
• Worked with the province to establish a police services board model for the Huronia West OPP detachment.

Communications

• Utilizing a number of tools and methods to communicate municipal information the public, including digital platforms, print, and broadcast.
• See Priority 10 to learn more.

Human Resources

• Completed non-union compensation review.
• Review status of contract positions - ongoing.
• Implemented new service award recognition program.
• Updated Human Resources Policies and Procedures.
• Implementation of new staff orientation program - started and ongoing.
• Updated job descriptions - started and ongoing.
• Completed negotiations with Wasaga Beach Professional Firefighters Association.
• Updated staff performance review process - completed and ongoing.
• Completed bargaining of a four-year collective agreement with Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Learn more about Administration and the Office of the CAO.

Here is a look at Building and Development Services:

• Established greater relationship with Georgian College, resulting in student employment opportunities.
• Established a more open dialogue with developers and builders.
• Established a forum with regulatory agencies to exchange ideas and reduce red tape.
• Active participation in the Ontario Building Officials Association.
• Implementing new software that will result in improved service delivery.
• Adjusted operational practices to continue service delivery during the pandemic.
• Auditing permit files to ensure compliance with Ontario Building Code.
• Revised monthly reporting to better reflect activities.
• Established one-stop permit issuing event known as Permitivus - event launch date TBD - to improve customer service.

Learn more about Building and Development Services.

Here is a look at Fire and Emergency Management:

• Successfully implemented a signal preemption system. All traffic signals and fire vehicles are equipped with preemption technology that allows traffic signals to be preempted so that fire vehicles have the right-of-way, reducing response times and enhancing traffic safety. 
• Completed the fire training facility behind Station 1, allowing for improved departmental training of firefighters.
• Adopted the National Fire Protection Association training standard.
• Fleet maintenance, including two new vehicles to replace vehicles at end-of-life. Aerial truck slated for replacement in 2022. 
• Equipment maintenance, including investments in new tools and the replacement of tools at end-of-life.
• Renovation of Fire Station 2 - project started.
• Started planning for a third fire station as part of the Sunnidale Trails development to ensure adequate fire protection as community grows.

Learn more about Fire and Emergency Management.

Here is a look at Legislative Services:

• Continue to improve customer service experience.
• Reorganized and distributed duties within department to realize operational efficiencies.

For further details on what Legislative Services has accomplished, see Priority 6.

Learn more about Legislative Servcies.

Here is a look at Planning and Development:

• Launched the West Wasaga Secondary Plan. The study is intended as a focused review of development policies for the west end of town. See Priority 3 to learn more.
• Launched the Official Plan Review.
• Establishing Age-Friendly policies into the updated official plan.
• Implemented Downtown Policy amendments to facilitate development in this area.
• Developing a new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw.
• Incorporating Tourist Accommodation Review into Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment.
• Preparing to launch an affordable housing study in 2022.
• Providing input to the County of Simcoe’s Municipal Comprehensive Review Process (MCR). The MCR is a specific planning process used to bring the county's Official Plan (OP) into conformity with the Growth Plan.
• Established a Cannabis Retail Policy Statement.
• Worked with municipal communications staff to establish a Cannabis Retail information page on the town website following council's decision to allow cannabis retail operations in Wasaga Beach.
• Created two new planner staff positions (implementation planner in 2019 and policy planner in 2020) to ensure planning services can continue to meet requirements. Recruiting a manager of planning.
• Established a shared front counter with Building and Development Services to better serve the public.
• Continue to network and pursue opportunities with external agencies.
• Continuing to identify industrial and commercial land opportunities and shovel-ready investment sites.
• Creating investment attraction marketing material.
• Exploring Community Improvement Plan tools to attract business investment.
• Overseeing economic development initiatives. See Priority 4 to learn more.

Learn more about Planning and Development.

Learn more about Economic Development.

Public Works

Here is a look at Public Works:

Drainage

• Localized drainage improvements.

Roads and Bridges

• Preventative and proactive road maintenance based on Roads Needs Study.
• Updated Roads Needs Study.
• Updated Transportation Study.
• Completed the Structural Bridge Inspections Study.
• Street light improvements completed along River Road East.

Water

• Continued water system upgrades to ensure short and long-term safe operation of the system.

Sewer

• Sanitary sewer inspections to ensure continued safe operation.
• Sanitary system improvements as per the 10-year capital plan.
• Town-wide wastewater capacity update and modelling completed.

Parks

• Parks and Trails Master Plan completed - will guide the future of the town's public parks and trails.
• Playground and play structure upgrades and replacement, including Glendale Park redevelopment.
• Several sections of Shore Lane Trail upgraded and resurfaced in partnership with Ontario Parks.
• Pedestrian Bridge and Improvements, including trail improvements along sections of McIntyre Creek with pedestrian bridge replacement at Orchard Drive.
• Park signage updated for consistent look.
• Additional waste receptacles placed along Carly Patterson Trail, Shore Lane Trail, Silver Birch Trail, and Culham Trail.
• New benches added at select locations along Carly Patterson Trail.
• Ongoing clean up of brush, etc. along pathways and trails.

Transit

• Completed Transit Study and working to implement recommendations, including third route as growth warrants.
• Maintain consistent service hours.
• Installation of new bus stop shelter additions (two annually).
• Ensure Accessibility requirements are met.
• Implementation of Mobile Transit App for route planning, alerts, and notification.
• Implementation of new online transit portal so users can manage bus passes.

Engineering

• Master Drainage Study - underway.
• Review and implemented Complete Streets Policy, requiring streets to be planned and built for all users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorists).
• Completed engineering standards update.

Learn more about Public Works.

Here is a look at Recreation, Events and Facilities:

Recreation

• Consultation with Age-Friendly Committee and community stakeholders to develop valuable programs for the community - ongoing.
• Implement an enhanced water safety program - ongoing.

• Youth Strategy - completed.
• Senior Active Living Centre Strategic Plan - completed.
• Adapt adult recreation drop-in programs to leagues - completed.
• Develop a Sport and Recreation Council - completed.
• Increase community volunteer opportunities - completed.
• Introduce volunteer recognition practices - completed.
• Seek out events for main beach area - ongoing.
• Expand software to incorporate online registration - completed.

Events

• Launched more family focused events for the community: Summer Launch, Hootenanny, Rockin' the River, Pumpkin Trail, etc.
• Work with internal and external special event stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of events - ongoing.
• See Priority 10 to learn more.

 Facilities

• Construction of a community kitchen at the Wasaga Beach Youth Centre - completed.
• Working with other departments and council to build the new twin-pad arena and library.

• Ensure facility staff provide consistent standard of care - ongoing.
• Plan for facility and outdoor capital improvement projects - ongoing.
• Implement quality assurance standards for all publicly accessed facilities - completed.
• Establish agreement with Simcoe County District School Board for use of gymnasium and related amenities at new Sunnidale Trails elementary school - completed.
• Expand Seniors Active Living Programs to other areas of the community - completed. 
• Expand RecPlex office hours for convenience of residents - completed.

Learn more about Recreation, Events and Facilities.

Here is a look at Treasury:

Treasury

• Create annual budgets (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022) for the corporation, in consultation with department heads and council members. Final budget each year subject to council approval. 
• Levy taxes annually to support operation and capital commitments.
• Completion of annual audit.
• Completion of annual water and wastewater study.
• Asset management planning - completed and in progress.
• Development Charge Study - completed 2020.
• Risk management reviews - completed.
• Four-year and 10-year financial forecasting completed annually.
• Financial reporting - completed quarterly and annually.
• Cash management and investments - completed and managed annually.
• Customer service support - ongoing.

Information Technology

• Data protection and cyber security measures - ongoing. 
• Software/hardware forecasting to support service delivery - ongoing.
• Inventory tracking of equipment and lifecyle program - ongoing.
• Network security management - ongoing.
• IT support for staff - ongoing.
• Website maintenance and updates (ongoing), plus the launch of a new town website (completed).
• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning - completed and ongoing. 
• Software and hardware reviews to support operations and service delivery - ongoing.
• New council meeting streaming system - completed.
• Beachfront WIFI project, allowing public access to WIFI at the waterfront - completed. 
• Server upgrades to support operations and service delivery.

Learn more about Treasury.

Learn more about Information Technology.