September 16 Council Update

Council Meeting Date: September 16, 2024

Strategic Decisions from Council

Consent Agenda Items:

Application to Operate a Toll Booth – Belwood Lions Club/Canadian Diabetes Association

Capital Project Status

Operating Results

Quarterly Procurement Report (April 1-June 30, 2024)

Elora BIA - Request for Interest-Free Loan

Council approved an interest-free loan in the amount of $50,000 for financing the replacement of downtown Christmas light features as presented as part of the 2024 Elora BIA budget in late 2023.

Report to Council

2024 Corporate Business Plan Progress Report

Staff provided Council with a progress report to update them on the action items that were identified in the 2024 Business Plan.

The 2024 Business Plan outlines a range of initiatives that extend beyond the core services typically provided to the community as part of the Township's daily operations. The extensive list of recommended initiatives for 2024 reflects the breadth, complexity, and volume of work managed by the organization in serving our residents. Additionally, the report card highlights supplementary initiatives that staff undertook, which were not initially included in the business plan. These efforts, although unforeseen, required significant staff time and contributed positively to the community.

Learn more, and view the progress to-date here

Tourism Washroom Project Update

Due to ongoing challenges in both downtown Elora and Fergus with garbage and recycling, staff recommended adding Moloks at 10 East Mill Street as a pilot project.  The funding donor for the Tourism Washroom project has agreed to pay to install a series of Moloks at the site as part of the project. The Moloks would be owned by the Township, and staff will work with the Elora BIA to establish policy and procedures for the pilot. Staff are working with an Elora BIA subcommittee on downtown garbage.

Council deferred a decision requesting that staff come back to a future meeting with additional information.

Report to Council

Green Space Donation for Improvements Agreement

Council authorized staff to move forward with Kat Florence Canada Corporation Ltd. to execute the Green Space Donation for Improvements Agreement. 

The Elora Green Space is part of the Township’s parks system and is an iconic destination in Elora.  Improvements are needed at the Green Space that Kat Florence Canada Corporation Ltd. Has requested to donate.

• Safer entrance from Francis Lane with stone steps to match design and purpose of existing steps in the Green Space
• Install an additional garbage bin at the Francis Lane entrance with oversized flagstone base · Yew row to eliminate traffic from the Green Space to the Elora Gorge Cinema. The steep grass hill in this location creates a fall hazard.
• Raise lawn behind armour stone wall and steps to reduce trip hazard
• Remove the pond (fill in) which will remove the stagnant water
• Remove 2 Norway Maple trees that are declining in health creating a potential hazard in a densely populated area.
• Install oversized flagstone to replace tree location and install Muskoka chairs
• Install oversized flagstone bases under existing garbage bins

Note that the tree removal and stump grinding is a Township project as part of the Urban Forestry Program and funded by that budget.

Learn more about the Public Private Partnership here

Termite Management Update

At the council meeting of May 13, 2024, council had directed staff to enter discussions with Aetna Pest Control to determine potential scope of service provision, preferred pricing options, or other opportunities to effectively address termites in Centre Wellington.

Staff have been actively engaged in discussions with vendors licensed to use the Sentricon product (currently only 2 in Canada). Staff have engaged both vendors and continue discussions to support a program. These discussions have been formalized through the issuance of an invitational Request for Information to both vendors, and subsequent follow-up clarification including signed confirmation from each that they are willing to provide comparable preferred (discounted) pricing options, and work collaboratively in the Township and have documented their understanding that:

• They will be responsible for engaging residents
• They will be entering into contracts with property owners – not the Township
• They are not guaranteed a defined number of properties for treatment, and that they must complete education and outreach to programs independently to obtain sufficient buy-in to generate their own business
• The Township will be acting at arms-length with property owners to provide subsidy only upon verification of treatment and is limited to treatment outside of the home

The treatment requirements of the Sentricon and Altriset or Bora-Care products include, but may not necessarily be limited to the following:

• coring concrete / asphalt surfaces to install bait stations every 8-10 feet around the perimeter of the property
• holes drilled through concrete floors and foundation walls to facilitate injection underneath basement/concrete slab approximately every 30 cm. around interior walls.
• property owners will be required to provide a 3 foot clear working space around interior walls
• locates would need to be arranged to identify all exterior services prior to treatment.
• property owners would be required to be on-site for treatment to identify any exterior gas lines for barbeques or firepits, in-ground sprinkler systems, or buried electrical lines supplying lamp posts, garages, sheds, or exterior features, and would have to allow access to both hydro and water supply to facilitate treatment.

Once installed, stations using the Sentricon product must be inspected annually and the property owner must make annual subscription payments to support the ongoing monitoring, inspection, permanent station movement, temporary station removal, and station cartridge replacements.  The onus of fostering program uptake will be incumbent upon the vendors offering the service and developing relationships with property owners to ensure program success.

Council approved staff's recommendation to develop a subsidy-style program and to report back to Council at a future meeting.

Report to Council