The Council could call on the FBI to return the Champlain sculptures to the city’s control

Addiction recovery, a new sewage pumping station, the fate of the Champlain Monument and other social issues will be discussed at Monday’s council meeting.

City politicians will meet in the council chambers in downtown Orillia at 2 p.m. Click here to read the 58-page agenda.

Before the regular meeting, at 1 p.m., city politicians will receive an overview of the 2025 budget; Deliberations will begin Tuesday and Wednesday, when the city’s operating budget will be discussed. From now on the city is projecting a tax increase of almost 7% next year.

Community Empowerment Collective

An official from a local addiction treatment center will give a presentation about its services, which help people “work through addiction recovery using physical behavioral therapy.”

The nonprofit is seeking support and promotion from the city to help those struggling with addiction in the community.

All-way stop/traffic circle at Orion and Monarch

A possible stop or roundabout for the Orion Boulevard and Monarch Drive intersection will be up for discussion Monday.

The idea was initially floated by council members Jay Fallis and Jeff Czetwerzuk, who have heard numerous safety complaints from residents near the western Orillia intersection.

Despite concerns, city staff are recommending against implementing an all-way stop or roundabout, noting the intersection meets the criteria set out for such measures in the Ontario Traffic Manual.

The intersection does not provide enough space for a roundabout, city services report. The length of the intersection is approximately 21 meters, while transit buses/similar vehicles require 32 meters for a single-lane roundabout.

The intersection also has not been identified because “a serious collision requires mitigation,” officials reported.

Bayview sewage pumping station

City staff are demanding a $3 million budget increase for construction of a new sewage pumping station in Bayview, which would bring the project’s total budget to $8.5 million.

The station, originally built in the 1940s, has “significant deficiencies,” leading the city to opt to reconstruct the station rather than replace the current station’s discarded components.

Although a total construction budget of $5.5 million was approved during the 2023 budget, the additional $3 million in funding is needed “for staff to award the project to the lowest prequalified bidder,” staff reported.

Hillcrest Lodge Corporation property taxes

Hillcrest Lodge has applied for an extension of its property tax exemption as it continues to work with the Toronto United Church Council to acquire the land used for its non-profit housing facility on Matchedash Street North.

To qualify for property tax exemption under the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the nonprofit must own the land on which its affordable housing project sits — which it has leased from the United Church at a rate of $1 per year until 2054 .

The land transfer currently has a deadline of the end of 2024, but Hillcrest has requested an extension until June 15, 2024 to complete the move.

Without the extension, “Hillcrest would theoretically become liable for all back taxes and accrued interest, an amount that our tenants cannot absorb, and which would result in bankruptcy,” according to a letter from Hillcrest to the City Council.

Dissolve the department system

Count. Tim Lauer will seek council support for a staff report on the logistics of creating a universal electoral system in the city, which could dissolve the current precinct system.

Lauer spoke to OrilliaMatters about the idea last week.

Questions from the Council

Count. Janet-Lynne Durnford will seek council support for a staff report on creating a community safety zone on Borland Street, from West Street North to Laclie Street, and Peter Street, from Jarvis Street to Benner Street.

Count. Fallis will request that city staff consider a 72-hour exemption for recreational equipment during the next council-initiated by-law amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Number 2014-44.

Mayor Don McIsaac and Coun. Jeff Czetwerzuk will seek support from their colleagues to have staff send correspondence to Parks Canada requesting that Samuel De Champlain’s sculptures be returned to city control. It was removed several years ago for cleaning and repairs and has since been in storage – in the care of Parks Canada – after a wave of controversy erupted in the wake of its removal from Couchiching Beach Park.