Just because it’s almost the holidays that doesn’t mean the Grand River Conservation Authority board is slacking off. There’s a long list of reports to get through before everyone can take their Christmas break from Strategic Plan thoughts to changes to the Procedural Bylaw to ongoing prep to pass the 2024 budget. Also, in local news, there’s an update about the Guelph Lake Nature Centre.
NOTE: This meeting will be in a hybrid format, broadcast from the GRCA Admin Centre on YouTube starting at 9:30 am.
Correspondence – There’s one email this month, and it’s from the group Brant for Nature who are expressing concerns about the future of the GRCA’s outdoor education program and the potential closure of the Apps Mill Nature Centre.
Strategic Plan Update – Staff have provided a review of the most recent version of the GRCA’s Strategic Plan, which had six priority areas: Protecting life and minimizing property damage from flooding and erosion; Improving the health of the Grand River watershed; Connecting people to the environment through outdoor experiences; Managing land holdings in a responsible and sustainable way; Compliance and implementation of the amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act and new regulations; and Enhancing Indigenous awareness, understanding and relationships.
The last two were added in 2021 in reaction to recent events at the time, the legislated changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, and the renewed calls for Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation. This is a review of what’s been completed from the last version of the plan, or in progress of completion, before staff begin the work of update the plan in 2024.
Proposed By-law 2-2023 – Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and the implementation of the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act have forced need changes to the GRCA’s Procedural Bylaw, especially around budgeting. On that point, the board has to make a decision on one thing. The new regulations allow boards to approve budgets by either a weighed vote or a simple majority, which will be separate from the apportionment vote, which will be weighed. In the past, the GRCA has combined the two into one weighted vote.
Report of the Audit Committee – At the November 24 meeting of the committee led by new chair John Challinor, the new Asset Retirement Obligation Policy and updates to the Reserves Policy were both reviewed, but no changes were made. They also approved the 2023 audit plan from KPMG.
Budget 2024: Notification to Municipalities – Although the 2024 budget has yet to be approved GRCA staff needs to be directed by the board to send out letters to the member municipalities about the coming budget deliberations in January and February, plus the apportionment amounts that are presently in the draft budget.
Fee Policy, Fee Schedules, and Proposed 2024 Fee Increases – No increases are proposed for outdoor education and the tree nursery for 2024, but there will be a 3 per cent increase – rounded up to the nearest $5 – for new permits and inquiries. There will also be a variety of increases for entry to the conservation areas and for various park activities, for instance the proposed the day admission fees will rise 6 per cent, hunting fees and camping rates will go up a proposed 3 per cent, and seasonal camping fees will got up 7 per cent in most sites and circumstances including Guelph Lake. The schedule of proposed fees begins on page 84 of the agenda package.
Complimentary Grand River Conservation Area Membership Passes – Every year, complimentary passes to GRCA properties are made available to GRCA staff, retirees, board members, honour roll members, the heads of municipal council, and MPs and MPPs representing areas in the watershed. The cost for the passes, which is $160 including HST each, is included in the budget.
Per Diems and Honorariums 2024 – A resolution was passed by the board in 2018 to adjust per diems and honourariums each year by the same rate as non-union positions, which will be 2.5 per cent for 2024. The new rate will go into effect on January 1.
Cash & Investment Status Report – As of the end of November, the GRCA had Notes Receivable in the amount of $59,685,908 with outstanding cheques written in the amount of $149,893.
Financial Summary – It looks like the GRCA is going to have a surplus of about $929,000 for fiscal 2023. This looks mostly to be driven by decreases in expenses on both the operating and capital sides, which fortunately outpaced some lapses in revenue generation.
Supply of Computer Storage Equipment – GRCA staff are asking the board to approve $103,979.80 excluding HST for the purchase of new computer storage equipment from CDW Canada Corporation in Etobicoke.
Administrative Building Exterior Lighting Upgrades – Another request to approve an expenditure, in this case new lighting of the exterior lights at the administrative building in Cambridge. The total budget for the project is $112,000.00 excluding HST, but the winning tender out of five proposals is from Live Electric for the amount of $101,372.81 excluding HST.
New Guelph Lake Nature Update – Since the project was given the green light to go to tender back in October, staff have worked with +VG Architects and got a Site Plan Agreement and a building permit from the Township of Guelph/Eramosa. They’re now letting pre-qualified contractors know that a tender is coming. Still, despite the redesign to make the project cheaper and the fact that there’s been some fundraising from the GRCA Foundation, there’s still some concern about the project costing more than what it’s budgeted for. Staff are recommending that any additional cost be covered out of reserve and then paid back through fundraising.
Residential Program Wind-down Status Update – The GRCA has a framework though which they’re dispensing various residences that they own because they sit on land that was bought over the years for flood control purposes. This framework was approved in 2016 and the GRCA has slowly been making progress so that now, out of the original 42 residences, there’s only 12 left. This report is for information, and no further action is required right no on the part of the board.
Grand River Watershed Flood Warning System – A pre-winter meeting of the flood co-ordinators was held earlier this week with members of GRCA staff, local emergency responders, representatives from the provincial government and Environment Canada. They looked over potential weather conditions this coming winter, emergency response plans, and made sure that everyone had provided their updated contact information. A pre-winter test of the flood warning system was completed on November 29, and all municipalities and First Nations communities confirmed receipt of the message.
Current Watershed Conditions – Precipitation was near the normal range in October and November, which was good news after an especially dry September. Although “Major reservoirs are all within their normal operating levels and downstream low flow targets are being consistently met”, the amount of precipitation in November was about 70 per cent of the long-term average and the Low Water Response Team has concerns. As of December 5, several areas in the watershed are now below the threshold for Level 1 low water condition.
CLOSED MEETING:
To discuss the proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land, the board will meet in-camera under section 239(2) of the Municipal Act for “labour relations or employee negotiations, and litigation or potential litigation.”
Guelph Politico 