Gravenhurst Council Highlights - Dec. 17, 2024
Council approves Interim Levy Bylaw and Temporary Borrowing Bylaw
Council received for information a report about the 2025 Interim Levy Bylaw and the Temporary Borrowing Bylaw.
The report provided background about the two bylaws and requested that council approve them.
Later in the meeting, council passed the bylaws as requested.
Review the Interim Levy Bylaw.
Review the Temporary Borrowing Bylaw.
An interim levy bylaw is the authorization for the issuance of a tax billing prior to the adoption of the budget for the current year.
It provides for an interim amount to be levied on each rateable property at approximately 50 per cent of the budgeted 2024 amounts required from taxation for municipal and school board purposes.
This is an annual bylaw prepared by the town to allow for collection of a portion of taxes prior to the final tax rates being set by council.
The temporary borrowing bylaw provides for the ability to borrow money for operational purposes in the 2025 fiscal year.
Despite its annual approval, the town has not used it in at least the past 10 years.
Bylaw passed to establish new ward boundaries
Following a comprehensive ward boundary review process earlier in the year, council received a related staff report and passed a bylaw to establish new ward boundaries, effective the 2026-2030 council term.
The purpose of the review was to ensure residents have equitable access to their elected representatives.
In passing the bylaw, council settled on option 2 for new ward boundaries.
The composition of council and how members are elected will remain the status quo.
There will be five ward councillors – one elected in each ward.
There will also be one mayor position and three district councillor positions; these roles will be elected at-large by all the residents of Gravenhurst.
The mayor will also sit on district council.
Review the related staff report.
Review the notice of passing, which includes a map of the boundaries.
Check out the related page on Engage Gravenhurst to learn more about the review.
Bylaw passed appointing members to Committee of Adjustment
Council passed a bylaw appointing members to the Committee of Adjustment.
Council appoints new treasurer for Town of Gravenhurst
Council passed a bylaw appointing Wayne Campbell as the town’s new treasurer.
Campbell is replacing Ross Jeffery who is retiring in early January.
Campbell started with the town in early November and has been transitioning into his new role by working closely with Jeffery.
CAO Scott Lucas and Mayor Heidi Lorenz welcomed Campbell.
Mayor Lorenz and CAO Lucas thanked Jeffery for his contributions to the town and commended him for his involvement in the community.
Read the related staff report.
Read the related appointment bylaw.
Committee will consider further accessibility features for town
Council received for information a report about accessible features for municipal signs and plaques.
As a result of the report, council directed the Accessibility Advisory Committee to review the town’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, Accessible Customer Service Policy, and Integrated Accessibility Standards Policy in 2025, and consider the inclusion of additional accessible features, specifically QR codes, tactile mapping with braille, and smartphone applications – elements that could support conveying information found on municipal signs and plaques.
The committee will report to council about its review work and next steps in late 2025.
BIA update
Councillor Erin Strength provided an update on the Gravenhurst BIA.
Strength, council’s BIA representative, said that in November the organization, which has struggled for many years, agreed to go into dormancy.
Muskoka Watershed Council update
Councillor Penny Varney provided an update on the Muskoka Watershed Council.
Update from the mayor
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
Mayor Lorenz thanked town staff for their support and hard work during the recent state of emergency.
She also thanked residents and business owners for their tenacity and patience during the challenging period.
Additionally, Mayor Lorenz commended the various organizations that assisted.
The mayor noted a detailed debrief about the emergency will take place in January.
In other news, the mayor encouraged everyone to shop local during the holiday season.
She also thanked the town’s economic development staff for their promotion of the holiday season in Gravenhurst.
As well, the mayor extended happy holiday wishes to everyone in the community.
Mayor Lorenz noted the town accomplished a great deal in 2024 and predicted 2025 will be another fruitful year.
Council Highlights
Council Highlights is prepared as an overview of the council meeting. For the official record, please refer to the agenda and minutes on the town website at www.gravenhurst.ca.
Watch the meeting:
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