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Home My Public Portal About2015-04-02_COW_Public Agenda Package MUNICIPALITYOFTHEDISTRICTOFCHESTER COMMITTEEOFTHEWHOLE Thursday,April 2,2015–8:45a.m. AGENDA 1.MEETINGCALLEDTOORDER. 2.MINUTESOFPREVIOUSMEETING: 2.1CommitteeoftheWhole–March 19,2015 3.MATTERSARISING: 3.1 Age Friendly Project – Request for Decision – Report from Director of Community Development 3.2 Chester Business Park Feasibility Study – Final Report (appointment at 9:45 a.m.) 4.CORRESPONDENCE: 4.1 Municipal Grant Request – South Shore Tourism Group 5.NEWBUSINESS: 6.ADJOURNMENT. APPOINTMENTS ARRANGED 9:45 a.m. Chester Business Park Feasibility Study – Jozsa Management and Economics InCamerafollowingregularsessionunderSection22oftheMGA MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF CHESTER Request for Direction REPORT TO: Tammy Wilson, CAO SUBMITTED BY: Tara Maguire, Community Development Director DATE: March 27, 2015 SUBJECT: Age Friendly Communities ORIGIN: Age Friendly Communities Assessment (2011), Council’s Strategic Plan – Plan Review Update ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CURRENT SITUATION: The Municipality was approached by the Provincial Department of Seniors to partner on the completion of an Age-Friendly Community (AFC) plan. In discussions with the Department of Seniors and Recreation staff, Community Development is proposing a plan that will address Age Friendly Housing, with a specific focus on addressing a continuum of housing that will foster and encourage Aging in Place, the ability for residents to remain in their communities as they progress through the continuum of care/housing needs. The $20,000 study would require $5,000 in funding from the Municipality. RECOMMENDATION: That Council direct staff to prepare a funding application for an Age-Friendly Community housing study/plan. BACKGROUND: In 2010-11, the Municipality partnered with the Department of Seniors to complete an Age-Friendly Community (AFC) Assessment as phase 1 of a larger AFC project. In 2011 Recreation received a grant of $5,000 to proceed with an Implementation Plan as phase 2 of the AFC project. At that time the Department of Seniors was looking at development of a template for Implementation Plans. In addition, it was noted by staff that we really needed further work to develop a more comprehensive plan rather than moving to implementation of one-off projects that were identified in the AFC assessment. The work of the department and of the municipality became delayed and the phase 2 plan was not completed. As a result, the municipality will be required to use that $5,000 towards this project. This project will build on that work. DISCUSSION: Affordable housing was a theme that emerged in the ISCP, the 2011 Age-Friendly Community assessment, the public plan review sessions, and in Council’s Strategic Plan. Similarly, the ability for seniors to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible is also a theme that has emerged in a number of these processes. This funding would be used to hire a consultant to look at barriers and opportunities for affordable senior housing in NS. It will include a best practices scan of Age Friendly Housing Options and the intersection of housing and care models. The project will provide possible implementation tools and next steps for Chester, which can become part of the plan review. IMPLICATIONS: 1 Policy: n/a 2 Financial/Budgetary: $20,000 has been proposed in the 2015/16 budget as an addition to the Special Projects budget with an offsetting revenue of $15,000 from the Department of Seniors. The $5,000 difference was previously provided as a grant, but funds were not carried over into reserves. 3 Environmental: n/a 4 Strategic Plan: Encourage the development of a healthy community. Strengthening and supporting social resources; including supporting the provision of affordable housing. 5 Work Program Implications This work will support work being done for the plan review. Using a consultant to complete the project will minimize the staff resources devoted to the project. ATTACHMENTS: Draft Grant Application OPTIONS: 1. Council can direct staff to prepare a funding application. 2. Council could direct staff to not prepare a funding application, and to not add $5,000 to the Special Projects budget for 2015/2016. Prepared By Sean Gillis, Planner Date 3/27/15 Reviewed By Tara Maguire, Director Date 3/27/15 Authorized By Tammy Wilson, CAO Date 3/27/15 South Shore Tourism Group Municipal Request Background: Destination South West Nova (DSWN), the identified Regional Tourism Industry Association for the south-western section of Nova Scotia, was dissolved in 2014. This left the Tourism Destination areas of South Shore, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores, and Annapolis Valley without any regional tourism organization. Subsequently, the regional partners in the South Shore Region from Chester Municipality to Shelburne Municipality, have signed an agreement to form a Regional Enterprise Network (REN), and plans to include tourism in the new organization’s mandate. It was determined that a gap existed prior to any formal organizational presence. Over the summer and fall of 2014, tourism industry and municipal partners from the South Shore area met to determine how regional marketing could be accomplished without an organizational lead. On Dec. 1 st a one day Marketing Workshop was held with representation from 60 participants. The go- forward plan included creating a South Shore Tourism with representation from the counties of: Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne to lead the 2015-16 marketing efforts. Contracting a consultant to assist with coordinating marketing efforts of the Tourism Team would be instrumental to the success of the tourism industry in the South Shore, an important economic driver for the area. The group was able to secure financial assistance from ACOA to fund a consultant to help develop the 2015-16 strategy. The key task is developing a marketing plan for the entire 2015 season to enable the group to apply to NSTA for financial assistance via the partner program. This will be an important factor to the success of the entire tourism industry in the South Shore region. The plan for marketing the region for 2015-16 is comprehensive and consists of a variety of initiatives. See attachment. The funding request to NSTA requires marching funds. Understanding that this is a truly south shore plan and encompass the area from Peggy’s Cove to Barrington, the proposal suggests ascertaining funding both from municipalities and industry. The maximum amount available from NSTA is $35,000. Recognizing that implementation without an organization or staff requires administrative coordination which is not fully eligible through NATA, the matching amount was determined to be approximated $20,000 each from municipalities and industry. Funding Request: The following table outlines the requested amount from each municipality within the region, based on the REN contribution formula. Barrington was added to complete the region’s municipal partners. Municipality REN % Amount RQM 16.77% 3186 TOB 12.54% 2383 TOL 4.01% 762 TOMB 1.95% 371 Lockeport 0.47% 89 Shelburne (Town) 1.38% 262 MODL 32.26% 6129 MODC 24.62% 4678 Shelburne District 6.00% 1140 Barrington District 1140 Total Municipal Contribution $20,140 We ask that each municipality take this request to their respective councils for deliberation. The application for funding to NSTA is due April 2, 2015. It will be submitted indicating that this request was presented to municipal leaders. If you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact myself or one of the committee members listed below for additional clarification. Please advise us of your decision at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Monica MacNeil Consultant monicamacneil@eastlink.ca South Shore Tourism Market sub-committee includes: Donna Hatt, White Point Beach Resort Angela Steeves, Atlantica Oak Island Resort Susan Lane, Lane’s Privateer Inn Melissa Robinson, Best Western Liverpool Angela Jessome, Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce Ashley Marlin, Hubbards Farm Market Helen Dalton, Blue Hog Gallery Suzy Atwood, Barrington Eyra Abraham, Shelburne Richard Lane, Region of Queens Marianne Gates, Municipality of the District of Chester