Regular Council

THAT the Council Agenda dated June 23, 2025 be adopted as amended.

THAT the Couchiching Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2029, presented by Karie Warnar of Avail Consulting, be received and adopted as presented.

THAT Public Meeting Report BP-26-25 regarding Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Files OP-4/23 and Z-11/23 be received; AND THAT the decision regarding applications OP-4/23 and Z-11/23 be postponed until such time as the outstanding agency comments are received and addressed.

THAT the Council meeting minutes dated June 2, 2025 be adopted as amended.

THAT Council now recess and convene as Committee of the Whole at 12:16 pm.

THAT Report TR-05-25 be received as information. AND THAT the report be

THAT Report BP-25-25 - Draft Plan of Subdivision File RA-T-2201, 4836 Muley Point Road submitted by Highland Mills Development Inc. be received; AND THAT the Draft Plan of Subdivision RA-T-2201 for 46 residential lots be approved, subject to the draft conditions set out in Appendix 'A' of this Report; AND THAT the Draft Plan Approval for Draft Plan of Subdivision RA-T-2201 lapse after a period of three years from the date of Council approval in the event that a Subdivision Agreement is not executed within that time period.

THAT Committee of the Whole recess and reconvene at 1:30 pm.

THAT, in accordance with Section 239(4) of the Municipal Act, 2001, notice is given that the Committee of the Whole will meet in closed session under Section 239(2)(b) and (f).

THAT Council receive report CD-16-25 as information; AND THAT Council appoint the following individuals to the Climate Action Committee for the term ending November 16, 2026:  Chantal Trahon  Noah Stegman  Joanne Mohan

THAT Council receives report CD-17-25 for information; AND THAT Tom Hart be appointed to the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission for a three year term ending in June of 2028; AND THAT the report be

THAT Eric Davis, SmithValeriote Law Form LLP correspondence with respect to Roles and Responsibilities be received as information; AND THAT we advise the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission that we are unopposed to release this memorandum to the public; AND THAT the memorandum be

THAT we rise from Committee of the Whole Closed Session at 1:56 pm and reconvene in Open Session and report.

THAT the Couchiching OPP Detachment Board be advised that the Township of Ramara will no longer provide administrative support to the Board, effective January 1, 2026. AND THAT the report be

THAT Report CD-21 regarding 2026 Method of Voting for the Municipal and School Board Election be received; AND THAT staff be authorized to prepare for a hybrid voting system using Paper Ballot with Tabulators and Internet/Telephone Voting for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election; AND THAT the paper ballot election with tabulators occur on the three advance voting days only; AND THAT staff prepare the required by-laws to authorize the use of optical scan tabulators and an alternative voting method. AND THAT the report be

THAT Report ID-22-25 and the Asset Management Plan and Asset Management Policy Update be received as information; AND THAT the Asset Management Plan and Strategic Asset Management Policy Update be endorsed by Council.AND THAT the report be

THAT Council receive Infrastructure Department Report ID-23-25 dated June 16, 2025 as information; AND THAT Wessuc Inc. be awarded ID-07-25 for Wastewater Effluent Hauling Services in the amount of $897,000 plus HST ; AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the contract agreement on behalf of the Township. AND THAT the report be

THAT Report CD-18-25 Special Event Bylaw Exemption Request - Ramara Chamber of Commerce Classic Car Show be received; AND THAT the Ramara Chamber of Commerce be provided an exemption from the $1,000 Special Event Permit Fee under Special Event Bylaw 2025.21, Section 6.3.AND THAT the report be

THAT the Committee of the Whole do now rise and Council be reconvened at 2:33 pm.

THAT the recommendations of Committee of the Whole be

THAT Committee of the Whole report dated June 2, 2025 be adopted as amended.

THAT the Committee of the Whole report dated June 23, 2025 being agenda items 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 11.1, 11.3, 11.7 be adopted as presented.

THAT Committee of the Whole report dated June 23, 2025 being agenda item 11.2 with respect to the Couchiching OPP Detachment Board - Administrative Support report be adopted as presented. Ayes: Keith Bell, Jennifer Fisher, Dana Tuju, and Joe Gough Nays: Sherri Bell

THAT Committee of the Whole Report dated June 23, 2025 being agenda item 11.4 with respect to the Asset Management Plan and Strategic Asset Management Policy Report be adopted as presented. Ayes: Keith Bell, Jennifer Fisher, Dana Tuju, and Joe Gough Nays: Sherri Bell

THAT Committee of the Whole report dated June 23, 2025 being agenda item 11.6 with respect to the Bayshore Village Spray Field Operations report be adopted as presented. Ayes: Keith Bell, Jennifer Fisher, Dana Tuju, and Joe Gough Nays: Sherri Bell

THAT the Township of Black River - Matheson correspondence dated June 10, 2025, regarding Request for Exemption to O. Reg. 343/22 – Firefighter Certification Requirements be received as information.

THAT Director of Financial Services - Treasurer correspondence dated May 27, 2025 regardding Update on Property Tax E-billing be received; AND THAT staff prepare a report detailing current cost, projected savings and strategy for improving adoption of paperless billing among Ramara residents; AND THAT the staff report be provided to Council by Q-3 of 2026.

THAT Director of Infrastructure correspondence dated May 29, 2025 regarding Ice Storm Recovery Plan – Status Update be received as information.

THAT Director of Infrastructure correspondence dated May 30, 2025 regarding Effluent Hauling Procurement be received as information. Ayes: Keith Bell, Jennifer Fisher, Dana Tuju, and Joe Gough Nays: Sherri Bell

THAT Director of Infrastructure correspondence dated May 30, 2025 regarding Water Servicing Strategy be received as information.

THAT Chief Administrative Officer correspondence dated June 4, 2025 regarding Promoting Use of the Township’s Report a Concern Tool be received as information.

THAT the Deputation by Don Goodyear, General Manager, Integrated Watershed Management, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regarding chloride in the Lake Simcoe Watershed be received as information.

THAT the Deputation by Ryan Dube, Project Manager, Atura Power, and Lucas Reindler, Managing Director, Bright Diamond Consulting, regarding proposed plans to build and operate a solar-powered electricity generation facility in Ramara Township received as information.

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario initially introduced Strong Mayor Powers in 2022 with the stated intent of expediting housing development across municipalities; AND WHEREAS the Province of Ontario arbitrarily expanded the Strong Mayor Powers legislation to include an additional 169 municipalities in April 2025; AND WHEREAS municipalities across Ontario have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the housing crisis through local planning approvals and community-led solutions; AND WHEREAS Strong Mayor Powers fundamentally alter local democratic governance by concentrating decision-making authority in a single individual, thereby weakening the role of elected Councils and disrupting the principles of collaboration and shared leadership; AND WHEREAS these powers can create uncertainty within municipal organizations, impact staff morale, and risk eroding the trust that underpins effective municipal governance; AND WHEREAS there are currently no provincial checks and balances or independent oversight mechanisms in place to ensure Strong Mayor Powers are being used appropriately and as intended, and the legislation itself has been described by some as “open to interpretation,” creating a fundamental flaw in the responsible application of these potentially dangerous powers; AND WHEREAS the primary barriers to housing construction are not rooted in municipal decision-making processes, but in broader market conditions, infrastructure constraints, and the lack of effective provincial a

THAT staff be directed to invite Uber to present information about Ride-Sharing opportunities and advocacy.

THAT staff be directed to look at the feasibility, options and opportunities for a Sports Dome to be located in the Township, including but not limited to private public partnerships and corporate sponsorships. Ayes: Keith Bell and Dana Tuju Nays: Jennifer Fisher, Joe Gough, and Sherri Bell

THAT staff draft a policy for Council consideration outlining when and how traffic calming measures may be considered and implemented to enhance road safety and respond to community concerns. AND THAT Staff reinstall the speed bumps on the section of Ramara Road 47 in the area from the swing bridge following along the lake to the location where Ramara Road 47 turns northward.

THAT Bylaw 2025.41, a bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on the 23rd day of June 2025, be considered read a first, second and third time and finally passed.

THAT The Council meeting of the Township of Ramara held on June 23, 2025 be now adjourned at 3:54 pm.