Trails Connecting Communities Program
The
Trails Connecting Communities Program (TCCP) was established in 2009,
to assist municipalities in the development of active transportation and
recreational opportunities, with a focus on enhancing and/or expanding
trail networks for non-motorized uses. The TCCP operates through a 50/50
matching structure, whereby County funds are matched with local
municipal investment. Since its inception, the TCCP has provided over
$1,673,608 in funding to local municipalities to assist in the
completion of 67 trail and active transportation projects.
Council
reviewed a summary of the trails projects and initiatives completed in
2018, and those proposed to be funded in 2019. The 2019 TCCP budget is
$250,000. In the first quarter of 2019, the County received 10 municipal
trail applications, all of which were determined to have met the
program's eligibility criteria. These projects result in a commitment of
approximately $257,500. Council approved that the funding for the
proposed 2019 TCCP trails be allocated from the Planning, Economic
Development and Transit budget and the remaining $7,500 from Economic
and Planning reserve.
Building Hope Project, Orillia
Building
Hope, Orillia, operating under the legal umbrella of the Orillia
Christian Centre, is working to create a Community Services Hub, located
at 75 Queen Street East, Orillia. The Community Services Hub will
include 40 emergency shelter beds for men, women and youth, mental
health support beds, medical room and community kitchen, as well as a
separate 20-unit Supportive Housing Project for people who have
experienced homelessness.
Approximately $11.3 million is
currently available during construction through a combination of
government funds and fundraising. However, based on a project budget of
$14 million for both the homelessness hub and supportive housing phases,
there is a gap of $2.7 million in funds. County Council voted in favour
of providing Building Hope with a forgivable loan of $226,000, funded
through Home for Good (HFG) Program administration fees, and a $2.5
million interest-free repayable loan during construction, to be repaid
within three years of project completion, which will enable the project
to proceed.
Security Guard Services - Barrie Ontario Works Office
The
Ontario Works office, which is located at 136 Bayfield Street, Barrie,
and serves a caseload of 3,047 benefit units, is increasingly dealing
with challenging behaviours and incidents with individuals entering the
office and common area.
Council voted in favour of the procurement
of full-time security guard services on pilot basis for a period of one
year, with a report back to Council on the outcome of this initiative.
Projected annual costing to contract security guard services will be
shared 50/50 with the Province, and further cost shared with the cities
of Barrie and Orillia.
2019 Long Term Financial Plan and 2020 High Level Budget Assumptions
Council
approved the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) - a forecast based on
previously approved strategic directions along with any new initiatives
approved by Council. The LTFP has been developed for both the operating
and capital programs based on the forecasted needs for each program
and/or service delivery areas. The LTFP is a high-level view, based on
known or evidence based assumptions and is updated annually or as
significant events occur.
Council also provided initial direction
for the development of the 2020 budget draft, with final approval
scheduled to take place in November 2019. Based on the known Provincial
funding details, Council approved the 2020 Budget Assumptions and
Directions, including a proposed 2.0% tax levy increase. Adjustments
will be made as new detailed information from the Province is provided
and staff will consider efficiencies and areas to further reduce costs
as the budget process continues for 2020.
Ontario Health Teams
Bill
74: The People's Health Care Act, 2019, received Royal Assent April 18,
2019. The Act contains major changes related to health system
transformation including the establishment, mandate and powers of the
new superagency, Ontario Health, and the integrated delivery systems the
government is proposing called Ontario Health Team (OHTs).
OHTs
will be responsible for providing a co-ordinated continuum of care for
all but the most specialized conditions and procedures, such as
transplant or neurosurgery.
County staff have been engaged in the
completion of OHT readiness assessments by South Simcoe, Couchiching,
Central Simcoe, South Georgian Bay and Central Ontario Regional
Specialized Care for Vulnerable Populations. The County is also
represented on the North Simcoe Sub-Region Planning Table, which is
planning to submit its readiness assessment in fall 2019. It is the
County's understanding that it is the government's intention to select
five submissions from the initial group of readiness assessments
submitted in May 2019, with the plan to have 50 OHTs operating within
the province over the next few years.
