Accessible sidewalks, a Community Connection Center, waste disposal fees and other topics are up for discussion at Monday’s City Council meeting, which begins at 14.00 in the Council Chambers in Orillia City Centre.

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Officials from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will attend Monday’s meeting to share with council the benefits of becoming a member of their organization. They provide the City with training, funding and governance to protect and manage Lake Simcoe.

Sidewalks

The Accessibility Advisory Committee will ask Council to consider and prioritize long-term planning tools to improve signage and sidewalks at the intersection of Mississaga Street West, Quinn Avenue and Woodside Drive.

The committee says the crossing has an indirect connection and would be challenging for someone with visual or mobility impairments. They will present the council with proposals to improve identified issues.

Working group for addiction and overdose crisis

The Addiction and Overdose Crisis Taskforce will ask the council to support the creation of a ‘systems navigation’ community centre.

The group is asking the council to set aside $100,000 in the 2025 budget to allow them to work with community partners to develop the centre.

The Addiction and Overdose Crisis Working Group believes the new center would provide solutions to issues affecting the community’s vulnerable populations such as those dealing with homelessness, mental health issues and opioid addiction.

Annual parking permit program

The City’s Development Services and Engineering Department recommends that Council allow limited overnight parking in Walter Henry Park, West Ridge Park and Clayt French Park from November 15 to April 15 each year between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

To park in the designated spaces, residents must purchase a seasonal parking permit for a fee ranging from $375 to $575 plus HST.

The motion is brought forward as a result of residents in the West Ridge area receiving parking fines for various parking offenses when overnight parking restrictions apply.

Potential solutions for swimming advice

The city’s Environmental and Infrastructure Services Department will provide council with a comprehensive review of the city’s existing stormwater operations and maintenance plans.

The Department will also ask the Council to consider the feasibility and costs associated with microbial source tracking to determine the specific types and sources of contamination that result in public bathing advisories.

Staff will propose several actions in 2025 to ensure the city’s storm system “state of good repair” is maintained.

Fees for handling solid waste

Staff from the Department of Environment and Infrastructure will propose changes to the solid waste charges levied at the landfill.

The proposed standard fee for disposable waste will move from $185 to $200 per tonne, mixed loads will rise from $370 to $400 per tonne, construction waste will increase from $170 to $185 per tonne, and commercial green bins and yard waste would increase from $20 to $50 per ton.

The proposed changes would also introduce a new fee of $300 per tonne for commercial recycling. Mattresses and box springs would also see a slight increase from $25 to $30 per unit.

The department also wants to stop selling rain barrels to non-Orillia residents due to limited inventory.