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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-02 Electronic Council Communications Information Package Date:August 2, 2024 Time:12:00 PM Location:ECCIP is an information package and not a meeting. Description: An ECCIP is an electronic package containing correspondence received by Staff for Council's information. This is not a meeting of Council or Committee. Alternate Format: If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator, at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Members of Council: In accordance with the Procedural By-law, please advise the Municipal Clerk at clerks@clarington.net, if you would like to include one of these items on the next regular agenda of the appropriate Standing Committee, along with the proposed resolution for disposition of the matter. Items will be added to the agenda if the Municipal Clerk is advised by Wednesday at noon the week prior to the appropriate meeting, otherwise the item will be included on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the applicable Committee. Members of the Public: can speak to an ECCIP item as a delegation. If you would like to be a delegation at a meeting, please visit the Clarington website. Pages 1.Region of Durham Correspondence 2.Durham Municipalities Correspondence 3.Other Municipalities Correspondence 3.1 Municipality of Wawa - Support of Ontario Forest Industries Association regarding Immediate Action Needed to Support Ontario's Forest Sector - July 23, 2024 3 3.2 Municipality of Wawa - Support of Funding for Ontario Provincial Police for Small Rural Municipalities - July 23, 2024 6 3.3 Municipality of St. Charles - Recommended Phase Out of Free Well Water Testing - May 15, 2024 9 3.4 Township of Schreiber - Wastewater Treatment Plant - July 18, 2024 12 4.Provincial / Federal Government and their Agency Correspondence 5.Miscellaneous Correspondence August 2, 2024 Electronic Council Communications Information Package (ECCIP) Page 2 TheCorporationoftheMunicipalityofWawaTuesday,July23,2024REGULARCOUNCILMEETINGRESOLUTIONWHEREASCounciloftheunicipalityofOntarioForestIndustriesAssociationdatedNeededtoSupportOntario’sForestSector;WawareceivecorrespondencefromtheJune19,2024regardingImmediateActionNOWTHEREFOREBEITRESOLVEDTHATtheCounciloftheCorporationoftheMunicipalityofWawadoesherebyreceiveandsupportthecorrespondencedatedJune19,2024fromtheOntarioForestIndustriesAssociationandurgestheOntariogovernmentsupportallmeasurestargetingtheimmediatechallengestheOntarioForestsectorfaces.$OW!flOct:RECORDEDVOTE‘CARRIEDMAYORANDCOUNCILYESNODDEFEATEDMitchHatfieldETABLEDCathyCannonRECORDEDVOTE(SEERIGHT)MelaniePilonLIPECUNIARYINTERESTDECLAREDJimHoffmannElWITHDRAWNJosephOpatoDisclosureofPecuniaryInterestandthegeneralnaturethereof.LIDisclosedthepecuniaryinterestandgeneralnamethereofandabstainedfromthediscussion,voteandinfluence.Clerk:____________________________________riifk!CLERK-MAURYO’NEILLk2PJResolution#RC24168MeetingOrder:11Movedby:Secondedby:2CThisdocumentisavailableinalternateformats.Page 3 OFIA Ontario Forest Industries Association 8 King Street East, Suite 1704, Toronto, Ontario Tel: 416-368-6188 www.ofia.com June 19, 2024 The Hon. Graydon Smith Minister of Natural Resources Whitney Block 99 Wellesley Street West Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3 The Hon. Nolan Quinn Associate Minister of Forestry Whitney Block 99 Wellesley Street West Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3 Submitted via email. Re: Immediate Action Needed To Support Ontario’s Forest Sector Minister Graydon Smith and Associate Minister Nolan Quinn, Congratulations on your recent appointments within Premier Doug Ford’s Cabinet. The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) looks forward to our productive and continued work together. Over the last six months, three of Ontario's six pulp and paper mills have permanently closed or idled. Adding to the issue was the closure of a critical softwood pulp market in Quebec. As you know, these facilities served as important consumers of solid-wood byproducts from Ontario sawmills. The OFIA appreciates the many opportunities we have had to speak with you and senior leadership within Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Premier’s Office. This includes in-person meetings with members of OFIA’s Board Executive Committee on January 19th, March 19th, and May 28th, 2024. During these meetings, the OFIA presented short and long- term actions Ontario could take to address the regional chip and pulpwood market crisis endorsed by the OFIA membership (incl.). The industry eagerly anticipates government action on this matter, as operating conditions for many have continued to worsen over the past six months. Combined with weak markets for some finished products, many companies struggle to continue their operations. We are now facing an unprecedented challenge in the sector, which could have negative and long-lasting implications for northern and rural communities across Ontario. Without immediate action in response to OFIA recommendations and, critically, the vetting of potential solutions through the industry to ensure programs truly meet the sector’s needs, we fear Ontario could face further curtailments, job losses, and lost economic opportunity. The OFIA is ready to work with the Ontario government to set the forest products sector on a long-term and stable path towards economic development and prosperity. This includes our Page 4 vision of a Forest Energy Directive to develop bioheat, district heating, liquid fuels, renewable gases, biocarbon, and electricity generation projects, supporting Ontario’s massive forecasted growth in non-emitting energy demands. We urge you and your colleagues to continue supporting all measures targeting the immediate challenges the Ontario forest sector faces and look forward to future discussions with you. Sincerely, Ian Dunn, R.P.F. President & CEO Ontario Forest Industries Association Cell: 647-297-3827 Incl. March 19th, 2024 Slide Deck – Summary of Input from the Membership – OFIA Meeting with the Hon. Graydon Smith May 28th, 2024 Slide Deck – Ontario Forest Energy Directive CC The Hon. Caroline Mulroney, President of the Treasury Board The Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance The Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade The Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs The Hon. George Pirie, Minister of Mines The Hon. Steven Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification The Hon. Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy Intensive Industries The Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Education The Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing MPP John Yakabuski, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy MPP Kevin Holland, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Mines Deputy Minister Drew Vanderduim, Ministry of Natural Resources OFIA Membership Page 5 TheCorporationoftheMunicipalityofWawaTuesday,July23,2024REGULARCOUNCILMEETINGRESOLUTIONWHEREASCounciloftheMunicipalityofWawareceivedcorpondencefromtheMunicipalityofTweeddatedJune17,2024regardingarequestforthegovernmenttoimplementsustainablefundingforsmallruralmunicipalitiesbyreabsorbingthecostoftheOntarioProvincialPoliceForcebackintotheprovincialbudgetwithnocostrecoverytomunicipalities;THEREFOREBEITRESOLVEDthatWawadoesherebyendorsetheletterGovernmenttoimmediatelyimplementbyreabsorbingthecostoftheOntariobudgetwithnocostrecoverytomunicipalitiesand;FURTHERMOREthatacopyoftheresolutionbecirculatedtoPremierDougFord,MinisterofSolicitorGeneral,MinisterofFinance,theAssociationofMunicipalitiesofOntarioandallMunicipalitiesinOntario.?flLLONRESULTRECQRDE13VCARRIEDMAYORANDCOUNCILYESNOUDEFEATEDMitchHatfield___ __ _ _____LTABLEDCathyCannon___ __ _ _____flRECORDEDVOTE(SEERIGHT)MelaniePilon___ __UPECUNIARYINTERESTDECLAREDJimI-Ioffmann___ __ _ _ ___LUWITHDRAWNJosephOpato___ _ __DisclosureofPecuniaryInterestandthegeneralnaturethereof.LDisclosedthepecuniaryinterestandgeneralnamethereofandabstainedfromthediscussion,voteandinfluence.Clerk:_________________________________________MAYOR-MELANIEPILON‘Ia£1Resolution#RC24163MeetingOrder:6Movedby:Secondedby:CounciloftheCorporationoftheMunicipalityoffromtheMunicipalityofTweedandrequestthesustainablefundingforsmallruralmunicipalitiesProvincialPoliceForcebackintotheprovincialThisdocumentisavailableinalternateformats.Page 6 Municipality of Tweed Council Meeting Council Meeting Councillor P. Valiquette Tuesday, April 23, 2024 Resolution No. Title: Date: Moved by Seconded by P. Valiquette J. Palmateer WHEREAS it is apparent that the Ontario Government has overlooked the needs of small rural Ontario; AND WHEREAS Ontario’s small rural municipalities face insurmountable challenges to fund both upfront investments and ongoing maintenance of their capital assets including roads, bridges, water/ wastewater and municipally owned buildings including recreational facilities, libraries and other tangible capital assets: AND WHEREAS small rural Ontario’s operating needs consume the majority of property tax revenue sources; AND WHEREAS small rural municipalities (of 10,000 people or less) are facing monumental infrastructure deficits that cannot be adequately addressed through property tax revenue alone; *AND WHEREAS in 2015 the provincial government moved to standardized billing for all non-contract D.P.P. (5.1) locations; AND WHEREAS the Ontario Government has committed $9.1 billion to Toronto alone to assist with operating deficits and the repatriation of the Don Valley and Gardner Expressway; and $534 million to Ottawa for the repatriation of Hwy 174; AND WHEREAS the annual cost of the Ontario Provincial Police, Municipal Policing Bureau for small rural non-contract (5.1) municipalities is approximately $428 million; AND WHEREAS this annual cost is significantly less than the repatriation costs of the Gardiner Express Way, the Don Valley Parkway and Highway 174 (Ottawa Region) but provides a greater impact to the residents of the Province overall; AND WHEREAS this will afford relief to small rural municipalities for both infrastructure and operating needs while having a minimal impact on the provincial budget; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Municipality of Tweed call on the Ontario Government to immediately implement sustainable funding for small rural municipalities by reabsorbing the cost of the Ontario Provincial Police Force back into the provincial budget with no cost recovery to municipalities: AND FURTHER, that Council direct staff to circulate this resolution to Premier Doug Ford (premier@ontario.ca). Minister of Solicitor General, Minister of Finance, and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (amo@amo.on.cat and all Municipalities in Ontario. Page 7 Carried Page 8 ol/Lq The Gorporation of the Municipality of St. Gharles RESOLUTION PAGE Regular Meeting of Council {genda Number: 10.4. Resofution Number 2024-245 Title: Date: Resolution stemming from April 17 , 2024 Regular Meeting of Council - ltem 10.1 - Correspondence #29 May 15,2024 Moved by: Seconded by: Councillor Loftus Councillor Pothier BE lT RESOLVED THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of St.-Charles hereby supporb the Resolution passed by the Town of Goderich, on March 18, 2024, regarding the phase-out of free private well testing in Ontario; AND BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this Resolution be sent to Premier Doug Ford; the Minister of Environment, Gonservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin; the Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); our local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP); our local Health Unit, Public Health Sudbury & Districts; and, all Ontario Municipalities. CARRIED MAYO Page 9 The Town of Goderich 57 West Street Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 519-524-8344 townhall@goderich.ca www.goderich.ca Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Matthew Pearson Chair Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee 71108 Morrison Line RR3, Exeter Ontario SENT VIA EMAIL: mpearson@bmross.net N0M 1S5 RE: Recommended Phase-Out of Free Well Water Testing in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report Dear M. Pearson, Please be advised of the following motion passed at the Monday, March 18, 2024, Goderich Town Council Meeting: Moved By: Councillor Segeren Seconded By: Deputy Mayor Noel That the Town of Goderich direct a letter to Minister Lisa Thompson requesting that the province not proceed with the recommended phase-out of free private well testing in Ontario; And Further That area municipalities, the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, other Source Protection Committees, and local health units be forwarded the letter and asked for their support. CARRIED If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 519-524-8344 ext. 210 or afisher@goderich.ca. Yours truly, Andrea Fisher Director of Legislative Services/Clerk /ar cc. Premier Doug Ford premier@ontario.ca Hon. Paul Calandra Paul.Calandra@pc.ola.org Page 10 The Town of Goderich 57 West Street Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 519-524-8344 townhall@goderich.ca www.goderich.ca MPP Lisa Thompson, Huron–Bruce lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org MPP Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks andrea.khanjin@pc.ola.org MPP Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care Stan.Cho@pc.ola.org Ontario Municipalities Page 11 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SCHREIBER CAO/CLERK 1 Hon. Patty Hajdu, 705 Red River Road, Suite 3 Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1J3 July 18, 2024 Re: Schreiber’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Dear Hon. Patty Hajdu, I am writing to you today to request a meeting in person regarding our Wastewater Treatment Plant along with Mayor Mullins and Cllr. Bourgeault. The Schreiber Wastewater Treatment Plant was initially built in 1974 with only one Clarifier. In 1989 a second Clarifier was built in addition to some plant components, such as a chlorine contact chamber. The plants served the community well until recently when regulations changed. The practice of chlorinating effluent at wastewater plants has been around since the early 1900's. However, around 1999, new regulations came into effect that require wastewater plants to dechlorinate before discharging wastewater back into the environment. The Practice of dechlorinating was a financial burden most communities were not able to bear. It became acceptable to implement temporary measures to dechlorinate effluent discharge at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, Wastewater plants in many communities have adopted this temporary fix as a normal practice. Recently communities have been made aware that this temporary fix will no longer be tolerated, and permanent treatment practices must be adopted by 2026. Inspections of wastewater plants will again become the focus for inspectors starting this year for the first time in a decade. In 2022, the Schreiber Town Council of the day started the process of UV disinfection. The Township hired EXP Services Inc, to prepare a design brief for the installation of the UV disinfection and the projected annual cost of operating the system. With a deadline for a permanent solution fast approaching in 2026, the Township has turned their focus to a permanent solution using chemicals to dechlorinate. This "Chemical in a Box" can be designed and installed for approximately one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) with an annual operating budget of twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000.00). The UV solution is approximately five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) to install with an annual operating budget of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). This initial installation cost of both is beyond reach for the Township so the lessor of the two (2) options is our only choice despite a higher annual operating cost. The Township is still working on finding the money for this project. Page 12 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SCHREIBER CAO/CLERK 2 In 2021, the plant underwent an electrical inspection and the classification of the plant changed to a class 4. This means that all the electrical components in the plant must be changed to explosion proof components. This change was necessary due to the moist environment and gases produced by the process. Since the cost was astronomical for the Township, a decision was made to do the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) upgrade in 4 phases. The first phase was completed in 2022 for one hundred eighty-one thousand five hundred dollars ($181,500.00). In 2023, the prices for all the parts were almost double because of COVID. As a result, phase 2 price tag exceeded what was budgeted in 2023, so nothing was done. In 2024, the ESA inspector requested a meeting with the Township of Schreiber to discuss the outstanding issues with the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The ESA has been more than patient with the Township as the normal practice is 30 days to comply. We are required to have the Wastewater plant brought up to a Class 4 standard by the end of 2024. This endeavor will cost the Township approximately one million dollars ($1,000,000.00). The Township is using the OTF money to cover this expense and borrowing the balance until the 2025 allocation is received. As you can see in the attached spreadsheet, the electrical issue at the plant continues to present urgent situations from "dirty power" and corroded components. Electrical components continue to fail such as breakers, pumps, motors, receptacles, lights, heaters, the list is endless. These urgent repairs continue to put strains on the reserve funds. Due to the age of the plant, the breakdowns are not only associated with the electrical issues. We have experienced breakdowns in the air distribution system, where confined entries are required to patch pipes under the plant. Currently we are experiencing a breakdown with clarifier 1. There seems to be a concrete failure on the wall separating the clarifier and the digester. This breakdown is preventing the sludge from being bagged properly. The clarifier will need to be pumped down and a concrete specialist brought in to examine the wall to see if repair is possible. We are unclear at this point about the cost of repair, but we anticipate somewhere around one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). We are currently investigating this urgent matter. With mechanical breakdowns, electrical issues, and structural failures, the process of treating wastewater cannot be maintained. Sludge cannot get bagged due to the excess water from the structural failure. The lack of air in the process while we wait for the new blower and VFD to be installed. The Non-Compliance incidents that we have had to report have put Schreiber on the short list to be among the first inspections. The repairs and regulations that we are aware of will most certainly put a financial strain on the Township that a small resident tax base will never be able to sustain. The Non-Compliance reports have totaled thirteen (13) just since March of 2024. Page 13 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SCHREIBER CAO/CLERK 3 The bagging system at the wastewater plant is the original installed in 1974. The system has been obsoleting for many years now, so parts are no longer available. When breakdowns occur, custom parts are made by an out-of-town welding shop. This translates into long down times while parts are manufactured. The system does not work well anymore so it requires constant manpower to ensure it continues to bag. This puts an incredible strain on staffing already faced with shortages. The bagging system needs to be upgraded as soon as possible since this process contributes to the Non-Compliance issues. This new system is also going to cost the Township another million dollars ($1,000,000.00) plus. As you can see on page 5 of this correspondence the Township has endured one point five million dollars ($1,518,061.34) in unexpected repairs over the last five and a half (5.5) years. Aging infrastructure and little assistance are hemorrhaging small Municipalities all over the Province. It is imperative that the Provincial and Federal Governments step up to financially relieve the heavy burdens on small Municipalities. We are reaching out to you today to discuss such EMERGENT issues and how the Provincial and Federal Governments are going to step up to plate and provide much needed financial assistance to assist with their mandated Regulations. To cover these essential upgrades small Municipalities will need to tax their residents to death to cover such costs. I look forward to hearing back from you with a time for a scheduled meeting to discuss options available to small Municipalities with such emergent issues as I have described above. Kind Regards, Rhonda Smith CAO/Clerk for the Township of Schreiber CC: Mayor Mullins Cllr. Bourgeault Cllr. McGrath Cllr. Mauro Cllr. Bryson Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure Page 14 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SCHREIBER CAO/CLERK 4 Unexpected Costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant Since 2019 Year Description Cost 2019 Compressor Repair $84.75 Bagging System Repair $290.51 Bagging Building Heater Repair $1,695.00 Sludge Motor Repair $901.18 Bagging System Repair $2,009.25 Bagging System Clamps Repair $1,007.42 Clarifier Building Heater Repair $3,983.25 Trash Pump $2,280.80 Clarifier Heater Repair $1,192.09 Clarifier Parts $15,036.15 DE chlorination Feasibility Study $24,663.82 Light Repair in the Clarifier Building $6,780.00 2019 Total $59,924.22 2020 Bagger Heater Repair $565.28 Clarifier Building Electrical Repairs $1,062.12 Bagging System Electrical Repairs $1,062.12 Chlorinator Parts $4,844.53 Plant Electrical Inspection $23,938.00 2020 Total $31,472.05 2021 Sludge Trailer Axle Repair $1,063.33 Sludge Trailer Parts $2,594.48 Water Heater Replacement (electrical surge) $519.79 Light Repairs $1,595.71 DeChlor Metering Pump $942.92 Digester Decant Pump $3,587.55 Building Classification as per ESA $6,614.40 Electrical Assessment as per ESA $23,330.00 2021 Total $40,248.18 Page 15 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SCHREIBER CAO/CLERK 5 Unexpected Costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant Since 2019 Year Description Cost 2022 DeChlor Project Study Final Invoice $33,249.43 ESA Electrical Upgrade $18,189.09 Clarifier Blower Line Repair $18,640.64 ESA Upgrades Phase 1 $181,440.33 Receptacle Emergency Repair $2,017.92 Sludge Pump Replacement $2,236.80 VFD Failure - Dirty Power (troubleshooting) $1,414.88 2022 Total $257,189.09 2023 Bagger Building Heater Repairs $395.50 Bagger Building Heater Repairs $442.59 Light Repair Garage Washrooms $1,209.91 Emergency Blower Motor Install $6,130.21 2023 Total $8,178.21 2024 ESA Upgrades - Mandatory $990,822.00 VFD Cabinet Blower $114,560.00 Emergency Repair Lights and Heater Clarifier 2 $14,430.80 Bagger Building Heater Repair $1,236.79 2024 Total as of July 6th $1,121,049.59 5.5 yr. Total $1,518,061.34 Page 16