HomeMy Public PortalAbout2019-12-19_COW_Public Agenda Package
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Committee of the Whole
AGENDA
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Chester Municipal Council Chambers
151 King Street, Chester, NS
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ORDER OF BUSINESS
3. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION (8:45 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.)
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
4.1. Committee of the Whole – December 5, 2019
5. MATTERS ARISING
6. PRESENTATION
6.1 Helping Nature Heal Inc. – Shore Up NS Presentation (appointment at 9:00 a.m.)
7. CORRESPONDENCE
7.1 Correspondence from residents of Clearwater Hills Subdivision regarding
development by Michael Welton and Merritt Development:
a) Brenda Breakspear
b) Paul Breakspear
c) Marlene Coffey
d) Graham Daborn
e) Keir Daborn
f) Karen Flinn
g) Melinda Flinn
h) Carol-Ann Hutchinson
i) Richard Krane
j) Josef Novak
k) Judith Novak
l) Jackie Pitcher
m) Rob Pitcher
n) Evelyn Riggs and Jeff Woods
o) Amanda Sabean-Bevis
p) Michelle Sabean-Carey
q) John Taiani
Page 2 of 2
r) Paul Veinotte
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1 Information Services Department – Quarterly Update/Report.
8.2 Request for Decision prepared by Community Development Department
regarding Priority Projects Workplan - 2019-2023.
9. IN CAMERA
10. ADJOURNMENT
APPOINTMENT
9:00 a.m. Lisa Cochrane, Program Manager, Shore Up NS (30 minutes)
November 25, 2019
Dear Sir or Madam,
You are receiving this letter because your names is on the NSFM membership list. Please
excuse any duplicate emails.
Rosmarie Lohnes, President of Helping Nature Heal, and I were delighted to have a
presence at the recent NSFM conference at the Westin in Halifax. Thank you to those of
you who kindly stopped by our table to learn about SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA (or SUNS),
the pubic series of Living Shoreline workshops in coastal erosion mitigation we plan to roll
out across the province in 2020. For those of you we did not meet at the conference,
please allow us to introduce our SUNS program.
It is our goal to interest both elected officials and municipal stewards across Nova Scotia in
our upcoming SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA Living Shoreline workshop series, with up to 12
workshops being offered to municipalities across the province next year. Once booked,
each municipality will be able to offer our sustainable landscaping event to the public
within your community.
HELPING NATURE HEAL INC.
The SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA series of public, Living Shoreline workshops is an initiative
of Helping Nature Heal, a renowned, sustainability-committed, landscaping company
operating out of Bridgewater since 2001.
One of the primary aspects of Helping Nature Heal’s work in ecological restoration is our
Living Shoreline Program, an effective, plant-based, or natural infrastructure strategy for
slowing down coastal erosion due to climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather
systems. Rosemarie Lohnes and her team work hard all over Atlantic Canada offering
private clients some much sought after peace-of-mind about their shrinking properties,
through the implementation of HNH’s natural infrastructure strategies.
We feel that everyone in NS should have access to the Rosmarie Lohnes' natural
infrastructure strategies. So, we’ve recently committed to sharing this knowledge - backed
by scientific study - in communities all around the province. Welcome to an initiative we
now call SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA, or SUNS.
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The motto of the Helping Nature Heal company is Heal the Earth… Heal the Soul. To this
end, we believe wholeheartedly in empowering people with the knowledge that they CAN
make a difference when facing an eroding shoreline. Our workshops empower individuals.
They encourage voluntarism. They help forge bonds between neighbours and strengthen
community relationships.
SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA HISTORY: AUGUST 2019 PILOT PROJECT
In August 2019 we implemented the Ingramport pilot workshop for SHORE UP NOVA
SCOTIA. Funded by the Aspotogan Heritage Trust, we partnered with the St. Margaret’s
Bay Stewardship Association - a not-for-profit organization in our area - on a very successful
event. 25 volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 81 spent an entire summer day with us in
Ingramport on August 3. At no cost to them.
The morning was spent listening to Rosmarie Lohnes give a presentation about her Living
Shoreline practice, and the afternoon was spent in a hands-on planting workshop at a
private coastal property. Without a doubt everyone left that day with a much greater
knowledge about what they could do as individuals, neighbours and communities when
facing coastal erosion. (See the links below to the documentary videos shot at the pilot
workshop in August.)
PUBLIC - PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
We are currently firming up a strategic partnership with a not-for-profit environmental
organization in Nova Scotia to implement SUNS. (Note: for many years, Helping Nature
Heal has been a Sustainability Ally of the Ecology Action Centre). Over the upcoming
winter, working together we will raise sufficient funds from the provincial and federal
governments - and from corporate sponsorships - to subsidize the full SUNS workshop
series. This way, we will be able offer our SUNS workshops to municipalities at a fraction of
what it costs Helping Nature Heal to deliver them.
Effectively, we believe that the SUNS workshop series bridges the gap between the
government’s climate change adaptation strategy - their responsibility to the municipalities,
- and the municipal leaders’ responsibilities towards concerned citizens.
HOW YOUR MUNICIPALITY CAN PARTICIPATE
Municipal engagement is an important component of our plans for SUNS. Many Nova
Scotians live in coastal communities, and are looking to their elected officials to help them
find strategies for slowing down shoreline erosion. I’m certain that you and the constituents
you serve are becoming increasingly concerned about the wide ranging effects of climate
change and are looking for cost effective adaptation options for facing new realities. We
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know that many of you are at a loss about what can be done, overwhelmed by the number
of citizen questions you don’t have the answers for.
Through the SUNS initiative, we can offer municipal leaders a workable, sustainable
strategy for natural infrastructure erosion mitigation training and capacity building,
something you can in turn offer to your constituents as a public service.
Essentially, once we are funded by spring 2020, municipalities or community groups will be
invited to go on-line to the new SUNS website (not yet created), to book one of 12
available SUNS workshop spots available in the first year of the series. It is our goal to
secure commitments from 12 municipalities, each of whom will work with us to deliver our
one-day*, public Living Shoreline workshops at a public or private coastal zone site we
choose together in their community. (*Because we amass and transport equipment and
green materials/plants/biomass; scout, analyze and document each workshop site; prep
the site for public safety the day before the actual workshop; offer our site monitoring
protocol training, there is more than one day of work for HNH to offer a SUNS workshop.)
Rosmarie and I would be happy to come to your community this winter to make a
presentation to your municipal council and answer any questions you might have about
SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA. At that time, we could also discuss the best criteria for
selecting a suitable workshop site location in your community, as well as address any other
questions you have.
SUNS WORKSHOP PRICING
You can book a SUNS Living Shoreline workshop at a cost to your municipality of $5000 +
HST. Please see the attached schedule/fee document for more details on what we provide
you with for our fee.
You have the opportunity to recoup some of this expense should you choose to do so by
offering the SUNS workshop through your municipality at a small cost to each participant.
If, for example, 50 people paid $20 to attend our event, you could recoup $1000 of your
upfront cost of bringing the workshop to your community. This recoupment opportunity
would also give your staff added incentive to market this event effectively, which in turn
would drive more commitment within your community. Or you could make the workshop
free to the public. (Note: $20 would be the maximum amount per person the SUNS series
would allow, so be sure there is not a wide discrepancy in accessing the workshops
between municipalities.)
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We offered the Ingramport pilot workshop free of charge to the participants. We capped
the participant number on Eventbrite at 50, and quickly succeeded in meeting that
number. Remember, at that time, there had been no SUNS marketing done previous to the
event being listed on-line. In the end, 25 actually showed up to participate. A 50% turn-up
rate is what we expected with a free offering. We believe that you would get a greater
turn-up rate if you change a small fee for the workshop. Psychologically speaking, people
are more likely to turn up to an event when they have paid a small ticket price for the right
to be there. A free event can be seen to be more disposable, as if it has a lesser value.
From the feedback we received from the Ingramport pilot participants, we are confident
that the attendees would have been willing to pay a small fee for what they had received:
an entire day of concentrated access to the natural infrastructure erosion mitigation
knowledge that Rosmarie Lohnes has to offer.
Ultimately, the SUNS workshops are about engaging as many people within as many
communities as possible to turn to a natural infrastructure approach to maintaining
sentiment at the shoreline. This will result in more people trained to use a sustainable
approach to working towards slowing down coastal erosion in our beloved province.
LINKS TO SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA SUPPORT MATERIALS
1. Please view the link below to the SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA PowerPoint presentation
that outlines our reasons for introducing SUNS to municipalities and community groups
across Nova Scotia.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qk-Ytt25vPy-zXUDc18VlXO2oVYNDOeT/view?
usp=sharing
2. Please also view the attached SUNS workshop outline and fee structure documents,
which outline the shape, schedule and pricing details of our workshops. Please note that
each workshop will vary slightly to meet the demands of the selected site and the needs of
the community, but the fee remains the same.
3. To view the documentary videos shot at the Ingramport pilot workshop in August
2019, please click the link below. The video comes in at under 26 minutes (minus the
morning seminar content). This video is password protected on VIMEO. The password is:
hnhoffice7416
https://vimeo.com/manage/374972250/general
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4. Please see the link to a provincial government video made by the former NS
Environment Minister Iain Rankin’s office when Mr. Rankin visited with Helping Nature Heal
owner Rosmarie Lohnes a few years ago. This video can be found on YouTube and is not
password protected:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDMB85RKnls&feature=youtu.ba
5. This last video link takes you to a video shot last spring in Port Joli, NS, where
Rosmarie Lohnes shares her insights into the Living Shoreline work her company did at that
coastal zone site. Again, on YouTube, no password required:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4VWbniTY
6. Finally, feel free to visit our website at www.helpingnatureheal.com. It gives you an idea
of the breadth of projects that the Helping Nature Heal company stewards, and the driving
philosophy behind our work. Our website is currently under reconstruction. Soon it will
feature additional information about the Ingramport pilot workshop, and our future plans
for the SUNS series rolling out in 2020.
———-
As you can see, we are dreaming big with SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA, as we are convinced
there is much we can all do as citizens to lovingly steward our coastal zones through the
years to come. We envision the SHORE UP brand catapulting Nova Scotia and the other
Atlantic Canadian provinces into global leaders in the growing trend of adopting a natural
infrastructure approach to coastal erosion mitigation.
Should you have any questions, or wish to discuss a date for us to make a presentation to
your municipal council, do not hesitate to give me a call.
Best regards,
Lisa Cochrane, Program Manager
SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA
902 543 7416
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SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA WORKSHOPS 2020
SCHEDULING DETAILS
Once the series is fully funded, SUNS will be publicly launched in the spring of 2020; exact
date to be determined.
The SUNS website will go live, offering 12 available SUNS workshops available in the Year 1
calendar.
Municipalities and community groups may then contact SUNS to book your workshop on a
first-come, first-served basis, either through the website or by contacting us directly by phone.
PRICING DETAILS
Helping Nature Heal charges $5000 + HST per SUNS workshop. You may offer it for free, or
charge participants no more than $20/person to offset this expense, at your discretion.
A 50% non-refundable deposit ($2500 + HST) of the total fee paid to Helping Nature Heal will
secure your booking. The balance ($2500 + HST) is due no later than 1 week before the date of
your workshop.
Before the workshop, Helping Nature Heal will provide:
A presentation to your municipal council or community group, with can include a Powerpoint
presentation and/or the video we shot at the pilot workshop in August 2019 (optional);
At the time of the presentation to council, we can offer you a consultation to answer your
questions, and support you to help you find the best suitable site for a SUNS workshop in your
community;
Pre-workshop marketing materials to help you drive public engagement to your SUNS
workshop;
SUNS and HNH logos and support materials to help you secure local sponsorships for your
event;
One pre-workshop site visit on the day before the workshop, for site ecosystem analysis and
documentation; taping off or elimination of any public safety hazards.
During the workshop, Helping Nature Heal will provide:
A hall/community centre for the morning seminar.
Coffee, water and refreshments for morning coffee break.
Printed background information about Living Shorelines and Climate Change in the Atlantic
region.
A 2-3 hour PowerPoint presentation of Rosmarie Lohnes’ philosophy and existing project work.
All tools, equipment and new organic material necessary for the group planting at the hands-on
portion of the workshop.
Extra gloves for those who forget to bring some;
A 3-4 hour hands-on planting workshop, where participants work closely with the HNH team to
plant sea grasses and shrubs to slow down coastal erosion. All the while, Rosmarie Lohnes
explains the science behind her methods in an accessible, non-judgemental manner;
Equipment to document the workshop (still photos and video); selected images will be made
available for you to use at your discretion;
Refreshments for post-workshop reception at the end of the day;
After the workshop, Helping Nature Heal will provide:
Selected documentation of your workshop will be posted on the SUNS website for public
viewing;
Your municipality will be listed as a beneficiary of the SUNS training on the SUNS and HNH
websites, and as such, images of your event might be used to market the ongoing SUNS
series;
A 10% discounted fee on any subsequent SUNS workshops you might wish to book in the
future.
——————————
Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call to reach the SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA
Program Manager Lisa Cochrane at 902 543 7416.
We thank you for your interest in SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA, and look forward to working with
you to make our program a reality in your community!
=
teaching plant-based strategies to manage coastal erosion
one community at a time
A LIVING SHORELINE WORKSHOP
by Helping Nature Heal
WHAT a hands-on workshop on how to use indigenous planting and biomass
found on the shore to slow down coastal erosion
WHO instructed by Ecological Landscaper Rosmarie Lohnes of Helping Nature Heal
WHEN TO BE DETERMINED
WHERE A HALL LOCATED NEAR YOUR SELECTED SHORELINE SITE
REGISTER VIA AN EVENTBRITE LISTING TO BE SET UP FOR YOUR EVENT
INFO YOUR MUNICIPALITY CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER HERE
Lisa Cochrane, SUNS Program Manager 902 543 7416
future SUNS website + your municipal website + www.helpingnatureheal.com
SCHEDULE OF WORKSHOP DAY
9 - 12 Meet at a hall/centre. Rosemarie introduces everyone to “The Lohnes Method”,
sharing her passion for sustainable landscaping that heals the land and the soul.
She outlines the principles of The Living Shoreline Program she uses to slow
down coastal erosion, through use of a power point presentation of past and
current projects. Includes one morning coffee break.
12 - 1 Lunch (bring your own)
1 - 4 Work hand-in-hand with professional landscapers to plant on to restore the
eroding beach and upland site on a private or public property near the hall
4 - 5 Wrap-up reception on site to share experiences, analyze observations
This workshop is not recommended for children under 10, nor people with significant mobility
challenges. All children under 18 must be supervised by adults. To participate in this workshop,
participants will be asked to sign a waiver granting permission for HNH to use any images we
capture of them during the workshop day.
The SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA mission is to share Helping Nature Heal’s niche, coastal ero-
sion expertise widely, empowering the public to consider the use of sustainable, plant-based
strategies for managing coastal erosion on private and public shoreline properties within com-
munities.
ROSMARIE LOHNES is Atlantic Canada’s foremost contractor in the implementation of nat -
ural infrastructure coastal erosion strategies. She is an in-demand speaker and trainer who
shares Helping Nature Heal’s ecological restoration methods at local, regional, national, and
international gatherings.
SHORE UP
NOVA SCOTIA
is
PRESENTED BY
YOUR MUNICIPALITY LOGO HERE
The SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA workshop in YOUR COMMUNITY NAME HERE was gener-
ously funded by:
LIST ALL FUNDERS AND SPONSORS HERE
Thank you to all who supported this SHORE UP NOVA SCOTIA workshop, an initiative of Help-
ing Nature Heal Inc.
PLACE ALL LOGOS HERE
INFORMATION SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT (September – December 2019)
Municipality of Chester- Quarterly Report
SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVES (2019/20 Work Program)
Initiative Status Target Delivery
Date
Building Shared
Services
Conversion of Chester Process data (outstanding)
Go live (see targeted)
Targeted Early
January 2020.
IT Risk Mitigation P-90 Second Notice 2019-12-05
Orthophotography Orthophotography Complete
Voicesandchoices.ca Add Municipal Budget 2020-21 project In process.
Framework is
complete. Will
add content over
the next week or
so.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Activity Status
NS Chief Information Office Standing Offer Alignment with CIO competitive standing offer for storage and
infrastructure. Further alignment for desktop/laptop standing
offer to follow.
Server Upgrades and Maintenance Updated ESXI vSphere Server Software to the Latest version
VoicesandChoices.ca Attended a webinar and a custom mini workshop to learn about
the soon-to-be upgraded features as well as a couple of the
current tools that are underutilized by staff.
Diamond Integration with Laserfiche Continued Project Management support
IT Guidelines and Protocols (In Support of
Policy P-90)
Clean Desk Protocol (drafted) – ensures all sensitive materials are
removed from the end user's workspace when the employee
leaves the workstation.
Direct support of P-90 and reduces risk of security breaches.
Equipment Disposition Guidelines (drafted)
Information Services Support Provided Support for the following projects:
1. Kaizer Meadows Cameras and Wireless Infrastructure
2. Kaizer Meadows Fence Gate Support
3. Kaizer Meadows Fibre Connection Support
4. Pump Control at 57 Victoria Road
5. F9 Financial Reporting Software
6. Time Services issue Resolved
7. Vulnerability Assessment – Quotes Received, additional
item will be added to Operating Budget.
INFORMATION SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT (September – December 2019)
Municipality of Chester- Quarterly Report
8. Year End support
Communications Support Provided communications support for
Council:
o Water Distribution Program: water coupons,
public engagement (website, news release,
media requests, and social media), coordinating
New Ross location, managing website and dry
well form, link, and data over the course of the
program.
o Municipal Awareness Week: developed
communications strategy for year-long
awareness, including online campaign and
events. Implementation in progress.
o Remembrance Day speech
o Goodwill programs: Annual Food Drive with
promo, scheduled posts on social media, website
updates, collection and delivery to food banks,
media release and requests; Coats 4 Kids as a
collection point and delivery of donations;
Community Garden with collection of Porch
Program containers; Food security program
assisting Nadine H. and Tina C.
Community Development:
o Dangerous & Unsightly Premises: research and
preparatory statements related to two
properties as well as follow-up with media.
o Plan Review: proofread messaging and
newsletter, news release, social media
responses, scheduled posts on social media for
Public Hearing as well as targeted posts related
to "hot topics” and website updates.
o Aquaculture leases: Prepared position statement
for MOC and Council.
o Developed Safety Audit Survey for select staff.
Corporate:
o United Way Harbour Swim: social media
(Facebook Live, promotion, media statement and
follow-up request, photographs and follow-up
posts).
o Strategic Priorities: overall communications
needs assessment for chart priorities.
o Visual Asset management: Created two draft set
of guidelines for image and content use
(unapproved as yet) as a result of two separate,
outside requests.
o Hurricane Dorian: Follow-up meeting and online
discussion re communications with REMO and
comms partners in Lunenburg County.
o QUEST Tour: Organized tour for QUEST group at
Kaizer Meadow wind turbine and Sustane site
INFORMATION SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT (September – December 2019)
Municipality of Chester- Quarterly Report
and provided handout material to Director of
SW.
o Annual Staff Meeting: coordinated staff gifts,
including orders, pick-up and custom tags.
o Swag: ordered hats and hoodies.
o Strategic Communications tool: Launched with
animated video, cheat sheet and
demonstrations.
o Regular social media posts, Council tweets,
agenda alerts, business cards, two newsletters,
various requests from the public and media,
website analytics checks, website updates and
fixes, etc.
Finance:
o Established project structure on Voices and
Choices. Met with Malcolm to finalize survey
questions and discuss content and goals for
public engagement. Project in progress.
Solid Waste:
o Waste Collection Changes: Created and
implemented Communications Strategy, which
included detailed plan to carry out public
engagement with graphic assets, news release,
advertising schedule (print, online, radio), letters
to affected customers, website support, and
social media schedule and posts.
o Waste Collection Calendar: proofread 2020
calendar and provided Warden’s message as well
as storm information.
Public Works:
o Wild Rose Park Closure: managed social posts
and questions.
Information Services:
o Laserfiche Training: Created and implemented
Communications Strategy, which included
messaging to staff and post schedule.
GIS Support 1. Mapping alternate paths to incorporate ArcGIS Server and
Portal setup(s) and design(s) based on ISO standards and
Asset Management Practices.
2. Documentation on new GIS protocols regarding current
data infrastructure updates and improvements.
3. Spatial/Non-Spatial Database restructuring which will be
designed to meet Provincial Asset Management
structures derived from ongoing AIM’s meetings hosted
by the province.
4. Re-work disaster mapping for future efficiency and
quicker deployment. Primarily targeting dry well and
water issues projects right now (on-going).
INFORMATION SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT (September – December 2019)
Municipality of Chester- Quarterly Report
5. Daily activities and database maintenance continue as
usual.
6. Supported Hwy #3 repaving manhole condition
assessments
7. Quality control assistance on the inland flood mapping
project.
8. Canadian GMI (GIS Maturity Index) results finalized by
PSD Consulting for 2019. Municipality of Chester GIS
maturity level is ranked 20th in Canada. The GMI is
designed to benchmark the maturity of an organization’s
GIS (geographic information system) program and
compare it to all types of public sector organizations
thought out Canada. There is also a North American
rating as well. The results not only show how mature our
GIS system is, but also identifies areas of improvement for
the future. This is our first year participating in the survey.
Professional Development Multiple AIM’s (Provincial Beta Asset Management Plan)
meetings attended
Municipal Publications Prepared two editions of the municipal newsletter
Regional Communications Regional communications group me mid-September with
the REMO rep. AMANS Communications Working Group
met again and working on template resources accessible
to all rural municipal units. I contributed information and
templates for municipal election promo material, new
releases, event planning, image use and social media use
guidelines. We are also working on social media practices
(Jonathan) and a board member recruitment package
(Jonathan and Jennifer).
METRICS
Assets Geo-Rectified 27
Service Desk Tickets 123 Requests
Website views (Sept. 14 – Dec. 13) 34,838 pageviews (-5,903)
Top 5 pages: tancook ferry, events,
contacts, tax sales, waste-recycling
Twitter impressions (incomplete qtr) 19,120 (+2,446)
Facebook total engagement (incomplete)
Facebook total impressions (incomplete)
12,424 (+222)
289,940
Instagram (incomplete quarter) 432 followers (+33)
Firewall Packets Blocked 1,843,804 dropped packets (8% increase)
Email Spam Blocked 50,000 blocked this quarter, 48% of email
of email we receive is Spam
REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
Prepared By: Garth Sturtevant Date December 5, 2019
Reviewed By: Tara Maguire Date December 6, 2019
Authorized By: Date
CURRENT SITUATION
Community Development staff are in the final stages of completing work on the Municipal Plan Review
and would like to review their list of upcoming projects with Council. Staff wish to discuss these projects
with Council and confirm the priority ranking for each. Staff have drafted a workplan to outline the
resources and timelines anticipated for each project or file (attached as Appendix A).
The following list includes upcoming projects known to staff, the expected deliverables for each and an
estimated date for completion. These dates are subject to change and will be influenced by the number of
concurrent projects undertaken. The number assigned to each file in this list does not indicate priority
ranking or status.
It should also be noted that this list does not include day-to-day planning applications such as
Development Agreements, Rezoning requests or MPS/LUB amendments. There are no active applications
currently awaiting approval, however, when received these applications will have an impact on workload
and delivery dates. These day-to-day applications are difficult to anticipate but often provide exciting
opportunities for growth and development. As a result, these applications are assigned a High priority
ranking when received. This does not mean that work on other High priority items are abandoned but
does divide staff effort and time amongst all High priority projects, potentially resulting in a delay to one
or more projects.
Staff are seeking confirmation that the following schedule and priority assigned to each project are
acceptable to Council.
DISCUSSION
1. Chester Village Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law Review
Following adoption of the new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law, staff will begin a review
of the Chester Village Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law. The priority assigned to this
work is High. Given the scope of this project, work will begin immediately with the creation of a project
specific workplan to outline timelines, goals, deliverables and objectives. This project is anticipated to be
completed in 2022.
REPORT TO: Municipal Council
SUBMITTED BY: Community Development Department
DATE: December 19, 2019
SUBJECT: Confirmation of CDD Work Plan
ORIGIN: Staff
2 Request For /Direction
2. Subdivision By-law Review
A complete review of the Chester Municipal Subdivision By-law is planned to follow the review of the
Chester Village Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law. This is assigned a Medium priority and
it is recommended that this work not be undertaken until the completion of the Village Plan Review. This
project is expected to begin in early 2022 and is expected to take 12-18 months to complete as significant
public consultation and engagement is anticipated for this file.
3. Agricultural Advisory Committee
Originally included in the draft Municipal Planning documents, Council asked staff to draft terms of
reference to form an Agricultural Advisory Committee. The role of the Committee will be to advise Council
on appropriate regulations for farm animals. This file was originally requested to follow adoption of the
Municipal Plan Review; however, staff are recommending changing the priority for this project from High
to Medium, with work beginning in 2021. This approach will allow time for the new Municipal planning
documents to take effect and may provide a more accurate picture of the type and level of regulations
that are needed.
4. Inland Floodplain Mapping
This file will involve staff presenting maps and material to Council in a workshop style session. Staff will
discuss the results of the mapping exercise and will seek direction from Council as to whether changes or
amendments to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law are required. This file is assigned a
High priority and the workshop will be planned for early 2020.
5. Coastal Floodplain Mapping
This project will involve drafting a Request for Proposals to solicit bids to produce data and maps similar
to the Inland Floodplain mapping. This project is assigned a medium priority and is anticipated to begin in
the summer of 2020.
6. Affordable Housing
This project will begin with a report from staff to Council to outline options for supporting affordable
housing in the Municipality. This may result in the creation and adoption of an Affordable Housing
Strategy for the Municipality if Council is interested in establishing a formal role in the promotion of
affordable housing options. This is categorized as High priority and staff expect to bring a report to
Council in early 2020.
7. Age Friendly Housing
Findings identified in the Age Friendly Housing Plan (2016) require discussion and consideration by
Council with the goal establishing an Action Committee. Staff suggest grouping this file and Affordable
Housing as part of a more broad, wide-ranging Residential Housing Strategy. This file is categorized as
High priority and staff expect to bring forward a report in Spring 2020.
8. Public Participation Policy
This file involves the consideration of options and adoption of a new Public Participation Policy. Staff
expect to host a workshop style session with Council to review options and the draft policy. Once
3 Request For /Direction
satisfied, Council may choose to adopt the Policy and make it effective. Staff anticipate holding this
workshop session in July 2020. This file is categorized as High priority.
9. Uniform Signage By-law (Exit 6)
This file is currently underway. Staff are currently awaiting confirmation from the Minister of
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal that the draft By-law is acceptable to the Province. Once this
confirmation is received, staff will bring forward the draft By-law for adoption. Staff are also working on
details of the program so as to be in a position to implement the pilot program for the 2020 summer
season. Staff will bring forward the draft by-law and program details once confirmation from the Province
is received. This file is categorized as High priority.
10. Water Strategy (Municipal)
This project will result in the creation and adoption of a Water Strategy for the Municipality. This will
involve work by staff to identify opportunities and options for discussion with Council. This project is
assigned a High priority and expected to be complete by early 2021.
RECOMMENDATION
For consideration and discussion.
IMPLICATIONS
Confirmation or updates to the workplan will assist Community Development staff by clearly outlining the
projects that Council wishes to proceed immediately. This process also serves to improve communication
between staff and Council by providing Council with an understanding of workload, staff resources and
resulting expectations for deliverables for each file.
Policy
Continually improve public satisfaction with municipal services;
Financial/Budgetary
None.
Environmental
None.
Strategic Plan
Many of the projects and files included are also included in the Strategic Plan.
Work Program Implications
Setting priorities and establishing a workplan will assist CDD staff in allocating staff resources and time to
ensure deliverables are presented to Council in the order and timeframe desired.
ATTACHMENTS
Appendix A - Community Development Workplan
2019/2020Jan. - Mar. Apr. - Jun. Jul. - Sept. Oct. - Dec. Jan. - Mar. Apr. - Jun. Jul. - Sept. Oct. - Dec. Jan. - Mar. Apr. - Jun. Jul. - Sept. Oct. - Dec. Jan. - Mar.Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4Chester Village SPS & LUB ReviewQ4 2019Public Consultation #1Public Consultation #2Subdivision By-law ReviewQ2 2022Agricultural Advisory CommitteeQ4 2020Inland Floodplain Mapping WorkshopQ4 2019Coastal Floodplain MappingQ2 2020Affordable HousingQ1 2020Age Friendly HousingQ1 2020Public Participation PolicyQ2 2020Uniform Signage By-law (Exit 6)Q4 2019Water StrategyQ1 2020Workshop with Council/ Amendments to MPS & LUB;Workplan to Council/ Public Consultation/ New SPS and LUB become effective;Terms of Reference Drafted/ Committee Formed/ Committee produces recommendations to Council;Start Date:Draft Strategy Created/ Council approves and implements Strategy;Project:Action Plan to implement findings of Age Friendly Study;Prepare report with opportunities and to potentially develop a Strategy;Draft to Council/ New Policy becomes effective;On-going Administration of By-law if AdoptedReceive Provincial Review/ Draft to Council/ By-law becomes effective/ Administer Program (ongoing);New Municipal Subdivision By-law becomes effective;Deliverables2022/2023Review Inland Flooding data with Council/ Receive direction to amend MPS/LUB;2020/20212021/2022Report/Workplan/Workshop with CouncilHigh PriorityMedium PriorityAPPENDIX A: Community Development Workplan 2019/2020 - 2022/2023