District Council - District of Muskoka

District Council
Highlights
Meeting Date: January 18, 2016
Managing Our Legacy Together
District To Take Over Delivery of Land Ambulance Services
Council approved moving to a direct delivery model for land ambulance services in Muskoka in 2016. The change will not impact current ambulance services or patient care.
However, the change will achieve significant cost
savings and maintain the highest quality of land
ambulance services available for Muskoka.
To ensure a smooth transition, the contract with
external service provider Medavie EMS Ontario
Ltd. (Medavie EMS) has been extended for a period up to Dec. 31, 2016 or 11 months, while internal resources and operations are established.
In this issue
Exploring Interest For
Shared Legal Services
2016 Tax Supported
Budget Process
Road Closures Planned And Temporary
Stay Informed! Website
Features @ A Glance
Medavie EMS paramedics currently delivering ambulance services in Muskoka will be
transferred to join the District’s staff team. District staff will report back in coming months once next steps are confirmed and transition plans are finalized. Council thanked Medavie EMS, an East Coast based company, for the excellent services they have provided as a third-party contractor to the District for the past seven years.
Of the 50 municipalities designated as delivery agents for ambulance services in the Province, 84% directly deliver
ambulance services. Read: Report CES-15-2015-2
Approved and Proposed Hospital Reserve Fund Allocations For Next Five Years
Council approved Hospital Reserve Fund allocations for 2015 and future considerations for 2016 through 2019,
based on recommendations from the Hospital Funding Advisory Committee (HFAC). The HFAC recommendation is
to support the following projects over a five-year period, subject to annual budget approval in future years:
 $350,000 to Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare to create an aseptic compounding area for
chemotherapy which will allow the local chemotherapy satellite program to be continued;
 $270,000 to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital to renovate and expand the existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which provides care to acutely ill infants and pregnant
women from 30 weeks gestation onwards;
 $250,000 to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre to develop two cardiovascular suites to
provide diagnostic and interventional care; and,
 $92,400 to West Parry Sound Health Centre to replace its Diagnostic Imaging Picture
Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) to provide more sophisticated patient
images and allow for results to be shared.
Council also supported in principle the funding application made by Hospice Muskoka, subject to North Simcoe
Muskoka LHIN and planning approvals. Read: Report CES-15-2015-1 View HFAC Presentation to Committee
Note: The District Clerk’s Department maintains the official record for all District government proceedings.
This publication is intended to identify highlights of Council and Committee meetings only.
www.muskoka.on.ca
@districtmuskoka
District Council Highlights
|Page 2
Shared Legal Services
Council authorized District staff to reach out to Area Municipalities to determine their interest in
shared legal services with the District. In order to meet the legal obligations and mitigate risk,
all municipalities require legal advice or services on a variety of matters from time to time. The
District has its own legal department and a recent review by District staff revealed that there is
potential for Area Municipalities to achieve cost savings and enhanced access to legal services
through shared services agreements.
A recent survey of Area Municipalities revealed some common challenges facing Area Municipalities related to containing costs and timeliness in responses for opinions. The survey also
revealed that each Area Municipality averaged between $88,301 and $234,980 in annual legal
services costs during the time period of 2011 and 2014. Over this period, the average total annual cost for legal services among all six Area Municipalities was $909,183.
The goal of shared legal services between the District and Area Municipalities is to reduce municipal government operating costs and ensure efficient and effective service delivery. In a shared services arrangement, Area Municipalities would access the District’s legal department instead of private sector legal firms. Read: Report CES-15-2-15-8
2016 Tax Supported Budget Process - Key Dates
Committee Review:
Draft budget presentations to Committees took place on Jan. 20 and 21, 2016
Committee of the Whole Council Review:
Committee of the Whole Council is scheduled to review the draft Tax Supported Budget on Feb. 3, 2016
Council Review:
Tax Supported Budget is scheduled to go to Council for consideration on Feb. 16, 2016
The Draft 2016 Tax Supported Budget is available: www.muskoka.on.ca/en/district-government/Budget
Planned and Temporary Road Closures
Road
Dates and Details
MR 39
(Main St)
LAKE OF BAYS: Temporary Closure Feb. 20, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
between Highway 35 and Robinson's General Store for Dorset Snowball
Winter Carnival
Map
MR 37
(Manitoba St),
MR 42 (Taylor
Rd) and MR 16
(Ecclestone Dr)
BRACEBRIDGE: Muskoka Rd 37 (Manitoba St.) from Ontario St. to Mary St., Muskoka
Rd 42 (Taylor Rd) from Muskoka Rd 37 (Manitoba St.) to Hiram St. from Jan. 29, 2016
at 7:00 p.m. to Jan. 31, 2016 at 6:00 a.m. for the Fire and Ice Festival. Note: Muskoka Rd 16 (Ecclestone Dr.) will be closed Jan. 30, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. between Ontario St. and Young St.
Map
MR 13
(Southwood Rd)
GRAVENHURST: Oct. 13, 2015 to Feb. 26, 2016 (Note: extended date) for repair of
Jevins Creek Bridge. The bridge is located 0.1km south of Muskoka Rd19 (Beiers Rd)
Map
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Contest has Closed! Coming Soon:
2016/2017 Waste Management Guides
Raising awareness of Muskoka’s waste management programs and promoting the importance of recycling is essential to the success of diverting waste from landfills. The Create the Cover Contest allows Muskoka’s youth to
showcase their passion for environmental issues creatively and share their artwork with their family and peers.
This year’s contest finalists will be celebrated at the Engineering and Public Works Committee in February and the
winning entry will be featured on the cover of the new guides coming soon.
How Can You Get A Copy?
Last Y
ear’s
W
innin
g Co
We encourage you to keep a Waste Management Guide on hand
ver A
rtwor
k
to answer questions about collection days and routes, acceptable materials,
approved curbside instructions, ways you can reduce your waste, and much
more! You can download a copy, pick up a copy at government offices,
landfills and libraries or order a copy by mail. Learn more by visiting:
www.muskoka.on.ca/en/live-and-play/2015-2016-Waste-Management-Guides
CONNECT WITH THE MET...MUSKOKA’S NEW RURAL TRANSIT SYSTEM!
Route Information:
www.muskokacommunity.ca/
key-initiatives/met-muskokaextended-transit
or call 705-645-2100 ext. 261
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www.muskoka.on.ca | 705-645-2231