This week, Tecumseh Town Council will begin at 5pm with a Public Meeting regarding a proposed apartment and townhouse development.  The agenda can be found here.

The parcel is 1.74 hectare (4.29 acre) and is currently designated “Institutional (I)” in the St. Clair Beach Official Plan. The developer wishes to have the property redesignated as “Medium Density Residential (R3)” with 22 townhouse units and one, four-storey apartment building containing a maximum of 55 units. The proposed residential development would front a new municipal road that would extend northerly from Tecumseh Road for a length of approximately 105 metres. The apartment is proposed to be located on the northerly portion of the subject property.

Delegations include the Applicant, Rosati Construction Inc., and Dillon Consulting.

At 7pm, Regular Business will begin.  The agenda can be found here.

Delegations include:

• Kim Spirou, President of the Rotary Club of Essex Re: Rotary Club Annual Fish Fry Event on July 20, 2018 
• Cada Library Complex Renovations Re: Robin Greenall, Chief Executive Officer, Essex County Library
• Senior Advisory Committee Chair, Doug Drouillard and Vice Chair, Paul Morand
• Youth Advisory Committee Chair Kristi Koutros, and Vice Chair, Maria Giorlando

Communications - For Information
a. Town of Lakeshore Notice, dated April 3, 2018 Re: Notice of Open Public House - Proposed Amy Croft Secondary Plan.  The Town of Lakeshore is undertaking a Secondary Plan amendment to the Amy Croft Drive area including the expected future uses of existing properties and the future road network.
b. Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, dated April 5, 2018 Re: Regulatory Decisions - Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.  The Province advises of various housekeeping amendments to these acts as a result of municipal feedback.
c. Environment and Land Tribunals, dated April 6, 2018 Re: OMB Case No. PL160967 - Request for review.  The Town of Tecumseh had requested a review of a recent decision issued by the Ontario Municipal Board as it created irreconcilable uncertainty with respect to the Town's Official Plan.  The decision was reviewed but was ultimately upheld by the Board.
d. Township of Baldwin, dated April 9, 2018 Re: Bill C-71.  Baldwin requests that Bill C-71 be rescinded and that the enforcement of existing gun laws take place.
e. Office of the Prime Minister, dated April 9, 2018 Re: Infrastructure funding for storm water management and drainage
improvements.  Prime Minister Trudeau has referred a recent Town inquiry regarding funding for stormwater and drainage projects to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

Communications - Action Required
a. Ernie Hardeman, M.P.P. dated March 26, 2018 Re: Bill 16 Respecting Municipal Authority Over Landfilling Sites Act.  Administration recommends "That Bill 16, Respecting Municipal Authority Over Landfilling Sites Act introduced by MPP Ernie Hardeman and calls upon the Government of Ontario, and all political parties, to formally grant municipalities the
authority to approve landfill projects, be adopted."

Reports
a. Chief Administrative Officer
1. CAO-2017-07 NAFTA Recommendations from Windsor-Essex.  Administration advises that various local authorities share various local recommendations with the federal government with respect to federal negotiations:
- Recognize the importance of Canada-U.S. trade interdependence
- Recognize Canada’s automotive sector as a key priority throughout NAFTA renegotiations
- Protect existing mechanism that promote cross-border labour mobility
- Increase opportunities for cross-border experiential learning
- Support this region’s global economic competitiveness

b. Corporate Services & Clerk
1. CS-2018-09 Regulate Election Signs in the Town of Tecumseh.  Administration proposes the adoption of a new By-law to regulate election signs in the Town of Tecumseh.  The Election Sign By-law will provide greater clarity on what is considered to be an election sign, when and where election signs may and cannot be erected, and ensure compliance with legislative changes to the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) and Municipal Act, 2001, (Municipal Act). Additionally, the Election Sign By-law will enhance enforcement procedures and permit the recovery of costs associated with the removal of non-compliant election signs. The By-law also addresses issues and concerns raised regarding election signs in past election years.  It restricts election signs on or overhanging Town property. It further limits the number of signs on residential property to two (2) signs per candidate on a residential property and three (3) election signs per candidate on land zoned other than residential. 
2. CS-2018-08 Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes.  Administration has brought forward an updated policy with respect to restricting the use of any Town of Tecumseh resources towards municipal election purposes.

c. Financial Services
1. FS-2018-04 Water Sanitary In-House Billing.   Administration recommends that a proposal for water and sanitary billing function (read, process, bill and collect) be brought in-house to the Town of Tecumseh from Essex Power as proposed in the 2018 Proposed Business Plan & Budget be tabled for discussion and referred to the May 8, 2018 Regular Council Meeting for consideration and approval.

d. Fire & Emergency Services
1. FIRE-2018-05 Tecumseh Fire Services Q1 2018 Update - The Fire Chief supplies an update of activities undertaken over the last three months.

e. Parks & Recreation Services

Administration recommends acceptance of the following festivals and events:
1. PRS-2018-04 Rotary Club Fish Fry (Noise By-law exemption and permission to serve alcohol, Lakewood Park - Friday July 20)
2. PRS-2018-09 Annual Outdoor Bonfire and Fireworks Event (Lakewood Park - Saturday September 1)
3. PRS-2018-08 Tecumseh Corn Festival 2018 (Noise By-law exemption, Lacasse Park - August 24-26)
4. PRS-2018-10 Optimist Club's Family Fun Fair (Noise By-law exemption, McAuliffe Park - Saturday September 22)
5. PRS-2018-11 Tecumseh BIA's Fall Into Health Day Event (Noise By-law exemption, Lakewood Park - Sunday September 23)
6. PRS-2018-12, Etsy In The Park Event (Noise By-law exemption, Lacasse Park - Saturday September 29)

f. Planning & Building Services
1. PBS-2018-15 Town New Sign By-law, Results of Public Engagement and Adoption of By-law.  Administration has prepared a revision to the Sign By-law.  The new By-law ends grandfathering of existing permanent portable signs.  The use of signs will be expanded for businesses to allow one Portable Sign for two 30 day periods per tenant. In addition, Sandwich Boards will be permitted for each tenant between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

For information on these or other municipal matters, please contact me at 226-773-1910 or andrew@andrewdowie.ca

This week, Tecumseh Town Council begins at 6pm with a Public Meeting.  The agenda can be found here.

Town Council will consider public comment on a rezoning application for a 1.8 hectare (4.4 acre) parcel of land situated on the west side of Manning Road, approximately 300 metres south of its intersection with South Talbot Road (7095 Manning). The purpose of the proposed amendment is to rezone the subject property from "Agricultural Zone (A)" to a site specific "Agricultural Zone (A-28)" that will permit a poultry processing and repackaging facility to operate from the larger of the two agricultural buildings located on the property. The subject property is designated “Agricultural” in the Sandwich South Official Plan.

Immediate neighbours support the proposed use.

Regular business begins at 7pm.  The agenda can be found here.

Delegations include Tom Kitsos, Zora Visekruna and Phil Bartnik.  Re: Asset Management Plan Version 2.  Administration reports that the town's lifecycle program must be updated based on more recent information.  The current plan has a shortfall of a $2.2 million annual deficit on tax-supported programs and a $0.4 million annual deficit on rate-supported programs over 20 years.  The roadways deficit totals $26.7 million (with the Tecumseh Road CIP expected to be constructed between 2024 and 2035); the bridges deficit totals $10.7 million, the stormwater deficit totals $24.6 million; and the wastewater deficit totals $11.2 million, and the facilities deficit totals $12.2 million.

Reports
a. Chief Administrative Officer
1. CAO-2018-06 AMO Main Street Revitalization Grant.  Administration recommends that a new accessible pathway at the Tecumseh Heritage Museum, which is in the Town’s Tecumseh Road Main Street CIP Area, be approved, at an estimated cost of $12,500 plus HST, and that the by-law authorizing the Town to enter into an Agreement with the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario be approved to receive funding from the Province from its Main Street Program.  Tecumseh’s one time allocation is $58,195.14.  The remainder will be spent prior to 2020.

b. Financial Services
1. FS-2018-05 Statement of Remuneration and Expenses Paid in 2017.  Administration releases the remuneration given to each of the members of Council.

Total Compensation for me included $ 27,007 for meeting time and $4,728 in expenses reimbursed, which are attributable to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ontario Small Urban Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario West conferences that I had attended in 2017.

c. Parks & Recreation Services
1. PRS-2018-13 Lakewood Park - Tree Carving Cadillac and LaSalle.  Administration is recommending that Erie Treasures Custom Chainsaw Art be contracted in the amount of $4,500 plus HST to carve the likeness of Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac and René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle in the damaged tree at Lakewood Park and that an additional $1,000 plus HST be allocated to landscape the area after the carving has been completed.  Funds would be provided from the One-Time Strategic Issues Lifecycle
Reserve. 

d. Planning & Building Services
1. PBS-2018-13 Results of Public Consultation Process and Recommended Changes to the TTS for 2018.  Administration is recommending to:

- Eliminate the East Pointe Trails bus stop

- Shift the Manning-to-Little River transit route to Manning-Tecumseh-Green Valley-St. Gregory-Revland-St. Thomas Street

- Move Riverside Drive route to Dillon Drive

- Provide two-way service on Southfield-Brouillette-Shawnee and eliminate Tecumseh Road service between Southfield and Shawnee.

- Eliminate Tecumseh Towne Centre bus stop.

2. PBS-2018-14 CIP Grant Funding, 1071 Lesperance Road.  Administration is recommending approval of a Grant Application for the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan Financial Incentive Program, for the property located at 1071
Lesperance Road and deemed eligible for Financial Incentives in an amount of $3,000.00 toward the preparation of architectural drawings.

For information on these or other municipal matters please contact me at 226-773-1910 or andrew@andrewdowie.ca