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02 - February 1, 2024 Growth Planning Steering Committee Agenda PackageElgmCounty Growth Planning Steering Committee Orders of the Day Thursday, February 1, 2024, 9:00 a.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Note for Members of the Public: Please click the link below to watch the Council Meeting: https://www.facebook.com/ElginCountyAdmin/ Accessible formats available upon request. 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of the Agenda 3. Adoption of Minutes 4. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 5. Delegations 6. Reports/Briefings 6.1 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - Growth Planning Steering Committee Terms of Reference 6.2 Verbal Discussion in Preparation for Minister Flack's Visit 7. Other Business 8. Correspondence 9. Closed Meeting Items 10. Motion to Rise and Report 11. Date of Next Meeting 12. Adjournment Pages 2 5 Elgin(.ou it ty Growth Planning Steering Committee Minutes January 18, 2024, 3:30 p.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Members Present: Warden Ed Ketchabaw Deputy Warden Grant Jones Councillor Dominique Giguere Councillor Todd Noble Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services Jenna Fentie, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. with Warden Ketchabaw in the chair. 2. Approval of the Agenda The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk proposed that the Agenda be amended to include an official election of the Chair for the Committee. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the January 18, 2024 meeting of the Growth Planning Steering Committee be amended to include the election of a Committee Chair. Motion Carried. 3. Election of Chair The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk opened the floor for nominations for the position of Chair of the Committee. Deputy Warden Jones nominated Warden Ketchabaw for the position of Chair. No further nominations were received. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT Warden Ketchabaw be nominated to the position of Chair of the Growth Planning Steering Committee. Motion Carried. 4. Adoption of Minutes None. 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof Page 2 of 7 6. Delegations None. 7. Reports/Briefings 7.1 Committee Terms of Reference Discussion Committee members discussed the Terms of Reference for the Growth Planning Steering Committee at a high-level to inform a draft Terms of Reference to be created by staff. The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk suggested some topics for consideration, including: managing growth in sustainable and cost- effective ways; environmental sustainability; maintaining the uniqueness/characteristics of communities that may be impacted by the growth; limiting the cost impacts for residents. The Committee's feedback included: a goal of insuring that the impact of growth will benefit local municipal partners; that those who will benefit from growth should contribute to the growth; for this committee to meet on an ad hoc basis with a flexible end date; to be clear on what differentiates this Committee from the general responsibilities of Council for risk management with a clear focus on developing strategies. 8. Other Business None. 9. Correspondence None. 10. Closed Meeting Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Giguere RESOLVED THAT we do now proceed into closed meeting session in accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss the following matters under Municipal Act Section 239 (2): Closed Meeting Item #1 - Strategv Options (f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them. Motion Carried. 10.1 Director of Legal Services -Strategy Options 11. Motion to Rise and Report Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #1 - Strategv Options Moved by: Councillor Giguere Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones Page 3 of 7 RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Director of Legal Services be received for information. Motion Carried. 12. Date of Next Meeting The Growth Planning Steering Committee will meet again at the call of the Chair. 13. Adjournment Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 5:16 p.m. to meet again at the call of the Chair. Motion Carried. Blaine Parkin, Warden Ed Ketchabaw, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk. Chair. Page 4 of 7 ElginCounty Report to Growth Planning Steering Committee From: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative officer / Clerk Date: February 1, 2024 Subject: Growth Planning Steering Committee Terms of Reference Recommendation(s): THAT the Growth Planning Steering Committee (GPSC) of the Corporation of the County of Elgin receive the report entitled "Growth Planning Steering Committee Terms of Reference" dated February 1, 2024. THAT the GPSC adopt the recommended Terms of Reference and recommend the same to County Council for adoption. Introduction: At its meeting on January 9, 2024, Elgin County Council established the Growth Planning Steering Committee with a mandate "to establish and implement a strategy to support growth throughout Elgin County." The GPSC convened its first meeting on January 18, 2024. One item that was discussed by the GPSC was its mandate as adopted by County Council and Terms of Reference. Ideas of a general nature were considered and direction was provided to staff to draft the Terms of Reference based on the discussion and present them to the GPSC at its next meeting. Background and Discussion: Background: The Province of Ontario is making unprecedented strategic investments in the Elgin — St. Thomas region to grow jobs and the economy, centred around the locating of the Power Co. gigafactory. The Province's significant and strategic investment led to a boundary adjustment between the City of St. Thomas and the Municipality of Central Elgin and by extension, Elgin County. This adjustment was legislated by the St. Thomas — Central Elgin Boundary Adjustment Act, 2023. Notwithstanding the Province requesting the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator to work with the affected parties on Page 5of7 negotiating a financial compensation agreement to account for the lands that moved from the jurisdiction of Central Elgin / Elgin County to the City of St. Thomas, progress has been futile. Discussion: In addition to the lack of any real progress with financial compensation negotiations, infrastructure planning and coordination has unfortunately been narrow in focus and has not taken a broad holistic view of what is required across the region to truly account for and accommodate anticipated growth. This will not fully realize all the potential benefits of the Province's strategic investment in the region. Elgin County Council, taking a more strategic and holistic view to not only address inequities and wanting to ensure that the appropriate levels of compensation are realized, but also that infrastructure is planned appropriately, developed the Growth Planning Steering Committee. This approach is aimed at deriving solutions that are beneficial for all residents and businesses of Elgin County. In addition to the mandate as adopted by County Council, the following Terms of reference are being recommended: Terms of Reference: • Examine issues, challenges and opportunities resulting from the Province's strategic investments in the region. • Develop a strategy for managing growth throughout the County, which includes managing the challenges and leveraging the benefits associated with that growth. • Identify key infrastructure needs in the region to facilitate growth. • Work to ensure that the County, the Local Municipal Partners, the City of St. Thomas as well as the Provincial and Federal governments work collectively for the benefit of the region and all its residents and businesses. • Promote a holistic view to the planning and coordination of growth throughout the County. • Demonstrate County Council's commitment to responsible and sustainable growth that considers financial and environmental factors. • Work to ensure that investment in growth is proportional to the benefit derived from growth and, conversely, that those who benefit from growth proportionally invest. Financial Implications: There are no financial implications directly related to the direction being recommended in this report. Page 6of7 Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Serving Elgin Growing Elgin Investing in Elgin ❑ Ensuring alignment of ® Planning for and ® Ensuring we have the current programs and facilitating commercial, necessary tools, services with community industrial, residential, and resources, and need. agricultural growth. infrastructure to deliver programs and services ❑ Exploring different ways ® Fostering a healthy now and in the future. of addressing community environment. need. ❑ Delivering mandated ® Enhancing quality of programs and services ® Engaging with our place. efficiently and effectively. community and other stakeholders. Local Municipal Partner Impact: Elgin County will work collaboratively with the Local Municipal Partners to ensure that the strategy for managing growth throughout the region benefit all the residents and businesses of the County. Communication Requirements: Elgin County's growth management strategy will be communicated as appropriate. Conclusion: The Terms of Reference as adopted by the GPSC will be brought forward to County Council for adoption. All of which is Respectfully Submitted Name Blaine Parkin Title Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Approved for Submission Blaine Parkin Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Page 7of7