Timmins council is back in action tonight.
The agenda includes everything from opening up streets to ATVs to an update on the tax rate and ratios.
Here are some items to keep an eye on:
- The Timmins ATV club is looking to open up some streets to OFATV permit holders to access trails and services such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels and dealerships. The club is proposing a phased-in approach, which is similar to how the Timmins Snowmobile Club approached allowing sleds to access certain streets in the city. The full presentation is available here.
- The Reboot and Recovery interim tourism strategy is up for approval. The staff report notes the industry has "suffered greatly" with the pandemic and will face challenges in recovery. The overall goals noted in the report are to increase visits to Timmins, increase the length of stay, increase repeat visitors, and increase how much people are spending. The three strategies are to: enhance and develop tourism products and experiences, develop a marketing strategy focused on increasing overnight tourist visits, and develop partnerships both internally and externally. The full report is available here.
- Director of finance Natalie Moore is slated to give an update on the tax rates and ratios. In February, council approved a $43.83 million net expenditure, which is $629,566 (1.46 per cent) increase over last year. That increase does not include budget increases from the agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs) that have also been approved. At the time the budget was approved, it was noted a presentation on tax rates and ratios was anticipated in early March and will require council's approval. The goal at the time was to send out tax bills in early May. There is no report attached yet to the item in tonight's agenda.
- Staff are recommending temporarily dropping the speed limit on Airport Road for the duration of the Connecting Link work on Algonquin Boulevard. Airport Road is part of the detour for heavy truck traffic. The change would start at Laforest Road and extend south for about 1.25 kilometres. Staff are recommending dropping the speed limit from 70 km/hr to 50 km/hr. "This change in speed would only reduce the overall travel time through the existing speed zone by approximately 26 seconds, which we feel is an acceptable limit," reads the report, which is available here.
- A plaque to honour Laura Keon is in the works. Keon was a nurse who came to Timmins during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. "Council of the day passed a resolution to build a memorial to honour Ms. Keon and for some reason it never came to fruition," reads the council motion. Tonight's motion is looking for approval to install a plaque in Keon's memory.
Council meets virtually at 6 p.m. The meeting can be watched online here.
The full agenda is available here.
