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1 7490 Sideroad 7 W, PO Box 125, Kenilworth, ON N0G 2E FAX Economic Development Committee Wednesday April 20 th, 2016, 4:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Municipal Office Council Chambers, Kenilworth A G E N D A Page 1 of 2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE NO. CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER PASSING AND ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING January 20 th, 2016 Economic Development Committee February 17 th, 2016 cancelled due to lack of quorum 1 4 DELEGATIONS: Brad de St. Aubyn and Sara Pink Happy Healthy Families (4:30pm 4:50pm) Project review Rolf & Sascha Maurer Arntjen Solar NA Inc. Update on FiT 4 Solar Application/Program Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) program (4:50pm 5:15pm) BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES None

2 Economic Development Committee April 20 th, 2016 Page 2 of 2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE NO. NEW BUSINESS From the Chair: Chamber of Commerce update: Wellington North Cultural Roundtable Economic Development Office EDCO Conference Report Councillor Burke Councillor McCabe Councillor Hern Jim Taylor April Marshall Dale Small Presentation Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) program EDO Wellington North Showcase EDO Municipal Development Forum EDO IPM: Notes from the Field April Marshall ANNOUNCEMENTS o Norwell Jobs & Career Fair: Palmerston April 21 st, 2016 from12:45 3:30pm o Health, Home and Garden Show: Mount Forest April 23 rd & 24 th, 2016 o Volunteer Workshop Series: Mount Forest May 4 th, 2016 o Mayor s Breakfast (SWAF Program): Mount Forest May 5 th, 2016 o Youth Action Council Information Sessions: Mount Forest May 5 th, 2016 o Mount Forest Chamber Spring Excellence Awards: Pike Lake May 10 th, 2016 o Wellington North Farmers Market: Opening Day May 13 th, 2016 from 3:00-6:00pm ROUNDTABLE/MEMBER'S PRIVILEGE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday May 18 th, 2016 ADJOURNMENT

3 TOWNSHIP OF WELLINGTON NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, January 20, :30 pm Council Chamber, Kenilworth Members Present: Mayor Andy Lennox Councillor Lisa Hern Tim Boggs Stephen Dineen Shawn Mcleod AI Rawlins Jim Taylor Gerald (Shep) Shepetunko Mike Givens, Chief Administrative Officer April Marshall, Tourism, Marketing & Promotion Manager Dale Small, Economic Development Officer Michelle Stone, Administrative Support Absent: Chair Councillor Sherry Burke Councillor Steve McCabe CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER Acting Chair Mayor Lennox called the January 20, 2016 meeting of the Economic Development Committee to order at 4:30 pm. PASSING AND ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA RESOLUTION EDO Moved By: AI Rawlins Seconded By: Steve Dineen THAT THE Agenda for the January 20, 2016 Economic Development Committee Meeting be accepted and passed. CARRIED DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST None declared DELEGATIONS 1. Mandy Jones, Economic Development Coordinator, Wellington County o Wellington County Economic Development 2016 Priorities The Committee received a report outlining key projects, new initiatives, current status and next steps. 2. Rose Austin, General Manager, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation o Saugeen Economic Development Corporation 2016 Priorities Rose Austin presented the Committee with an overview from the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, how their funding works, 2015 accomplishments and new initiatives for The biannual report will be released in Spring

4 Hawks Nest: A "Dragons Den" inspired competition is a new project for SEDC and the event will be held on June 21st, 2016 at the Pavilion in Kincardine. The competition is open to all in Bruce County, Grey County and Wellington North and Minto from W ellington County. Dale Small, Economic Development Officer for Wellington North thanked Rose and the SEDC for their continued support of Wellington North Showcase. APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLUTION EDO Moved by: AI Rawlins Seconded by: Steve Dineen THAT THE Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held on November 18th, 2015 be received. CARRIED BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES None brought forward. NEW BUSINESS Report From the Chair: Update on Chamber Activities: No report presented Both chambers meetings were cancelled this month. Update on Wellington County Activities: Covered by delegation presentation Economic Development Office April Marshall and Dale Small 1) Butter Tarts & Buggies Municipal Partner Agreement Report EDO RESOLUTION EDO Moved by: Steve Dineen Seconded by: AI Rawlins THAT the Economic Development Committee receives report ED ; AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Committee recommend that Council of the Corporation of the Township of Wellington North enter into an agreement titled "Butter Tart & Buggies: Explore the Simpler Life" with the Corporation of the Township of Southgate, the Corporation of the Town of Minto, the Corporation of the Township of Mapleton and the Corporation of the Municipality of West Grey; AND FURTHER THAT Economic Development Committee recommend the Mayor and GAO be authorized to sign a by-law to enter into the Butter Tart & Buggies: Explore the Simpler Life" agreement. CARRIED 2) Wellington North Showcase 2016 Report EDO RESOLUTION EDO The format will remain the same as 2015 as per results from survey with a few new promotions to draw more public attendance The River will be used to actively promote the event and we are looking into live broadcasts. There will be an increase in vendor fee to $ Moved by: Steve Dineen Seconded by: AI Rawlins THAT the Economic Development Committee receives report ED Wellington North Showcase 2016 for information. CARRIED 2 2

5 3) Municipal Developers Forum Report EDO RESOLUTION EDO This event will be planned in conjunction with Showcase this year and Lauren Millier from MOB Insight will be the facilitator. Agenda and attendee list will be finalized for review and approval at our next meeting. Invitations will be sent out late February. Moved by: AI Rawlins Seconded by: Steve Dineen THAT THE Economic Development Office Report ED being a report on the Municipal Developers Forum be received; AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Office support and approve the action plan as outlined in this Report. CARRIED 4) Wellington North Youth Council Report EDO RESOLUTION EDO Moved by: Steve Dineen Seconded by: AI Rawlins THAT the Economic Development Committee receives report ED Wellington North Youth Council for information. CARRIED 5) Renew Wellington North Verbal Report April Marshall, Tourism, Marketing & Promotion Manager was pleased to announce the program is well on its way with three properties signed on in Wellington North and the first grand opening was for 'The Gift Artivity Center" in Mount Forest last Saturday. 6) Agricultural Incubator Verbal Report Dale Small, Economic Development Officer updated the committee indicating that a steering committee is being formed to prepare a Rural Economic Development funding application, a collaboration with other municipal partners and agriculture stakeholders. ANNOUNCEMENTS EDCO Conference, February 2-4, 2016 Butter Tarts & Buggies Stakeholder Introductory Event, Friday, February 12, 2016 MEMBER'S PRIVILEGE There will be Community Sessions held by the local hospital boards looking for input from the residents about the governance changes. Doors Open will be on September 1 ih in Wellington North and this year's theme is Ontario's Medical Science and Innovation The River, our community radio station, will be used as a primary source to communicate from the municipality to residents. The filming of a new series called "American Gods" will be filming in Mount Forest this summer. The two Chambers of Commerce are working on the edition of the Wellington North Guide. NEXT MEETING DATE The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 17th, ADJOURNMENT RESOLUTION EDO Moved by: Steve Dineen Seconded by: AI Rawlins THAT THE Meeting be adjourned at 6:26p.m. CARRIED 3 3

6 TOWNSHIP OF WELLINGTON NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 17, :30 pm Council Chamber, Kenilworth Members Present: Chair Councillor Sherry Burke Councillor Lisa Hern Mayor Andy Lennox Tim Boggs Jim Taylor Mike Givens, Chief Administrative Officer April Marshall, Tourism, Marketing & Promotion Manager Dale Small, Economic Development Officer Michelle Stone, Administrative Support Absent: Shawn Mcleod AI Rawlins Gerald (Shep) Shepetunko Councillor Steve McCabe Stephen Dineen CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER Quorum was not achieved by 4:45 pm and pursuant to the Procedural By-law the meeting was adjourned. 4

7 7490 Sideroad 7 W, PO Box 125, Kenilworth, ON NOG 2EO FAX TO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 20TH, 2016 FROM: DALE SMALL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SUBJECT: REPORT ED ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CHARGER (EVCO) PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION That report ED being a report on the Electronic Vehicle Charger Program dated April 20 1 h, 2016 be received; AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Committee recommend the Council of the Township of Wellington North approve the partnership with Arntjen Solar in a province wide application for 100% of the costs required to purchase and install Electronic Vehicle Charger Stations at the Mount Forest & District Sports Complex and the Arthur & Area Community Centre. AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Committee recommend the Council of the Township of Wellington North direct the CAO and Economic Development Officer to work with Arntjen Solar NA Inc. to finalize the partnership agreement, as well as the Operations and Maintenance contracts, as required by the Ministry of Transportation, and to sign these contracts on behalf of the Township of Wellington North. None PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER BACKGROUND The Province of Ontario is putting its new Climate Change Strategy into action by investing $20 million this year from the Ontario Green Investment Fund to support the build-out of a network of public electric vehicle charging stations across Ontario. These investments are part of the government's plan for securing a 5

8 healthy, clean and prosperous low-carbon future by transforming the way we live, move, work and adapt to our environment while ensuring strong, sustainable communities. Through the $20 million Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario grant program, the province is seeking public and private sector partners to create a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations in cities, along highways and at workplaces, apartments, condominiums, and public places across Ontario. The program is a one-time competitive application-based grant program designed to cover 100% of the purchase and installation cost of public fast-charging stations for EVs along major transportation corridors and in urban centres across the province. Applications opened on December 21 51, 2015 and closed Friday, February 1ih, Municipalities or Private Sector companies could submit the application and Arntjen Solar NA Inc., the firm we are working with on our Municipal Solar Program, submitted 36 applications for funding under the program. Of these applications, only six locations were approved, two of which were in Wellington North. One to be located at the Arthur & Area Community Centre and one at the Mount Forest & District Sports Complex. For your information one of the other applications that was approved was on behalf of the Town of Minto and is for an installation in Clifford. These charging stations appear similar in size to a gasoline pump. A fast-charging station allows an electric vehicle to charge to 80% in about 20 to 30 minutes. These are known as "Level 3" EVSEs or Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC). This differs from "Level 2" EVSEs, which operate on a lower voltage and can take up to 2 to 3 hours to fully recharge a vehicle. An example of the Level 3 charger is on the left and a level 2 charger is on the right: In Wellington North both locations will be installed with a Level 3 and Level 2 charging station and at this point in time no firm dates have been provided for installation however the construction schedule needs to be finalized by Sept We are also waiting on the province to formally announce the funding approvals and it is expected that this will take place in April and that M.O.U.'s between the Township of Wellington North, Arntjen Solar and the Ministry of Transportation will need to be finalized by May 31st. 6

9 FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The cost of the equipment for this program, including insta llation, is estimated to be $100,000 per location with 100% of that cost covered under the EVCO Grant Program. Wellington North, through Arntjen Solar, must comm it to operating the equipment for five years. Wellington North would also be required to provide two parking locations in each location. On April 5 1 h Arntjen Solar, Toews Power their electrical contractor met with Township Economic Development and Recreation staff, as well as Wellington North Power, to start discussions and to work through electrical and location details, etc. Arntjen Solar's responsibility would be to adm inister contract for funding with MTO, the Insta llation and commissioning of EVSEs, managing the back office activities, monitoring and reporting to MTO and providing service technicians to maintain EVSEs Operational costs are not totally known at this point in time however for information purposes are not expected to be greater than $500-$1,000 per year and the profit and costs of operating and maintaining the EVSEs would be split between the Township and Arntjen Solar. While revenue from users would be sma ll in the early years a service charge as well as electrica l usage charges can be levied and it would grow over time as these vehicles become more popular. STRATEGIC PLAN Do the report's recommendations advance the Strategy's implementation? X Yes D No D N/A This program is very consistent with the Wellington North Strategic Plan and as an example of the leadership role council can take in being environmental conscious and supportive of green energy programs. At the same time while the current usage of electrica l vehicles is low the provinces strategy to promote this type of transportation will see them grow in popularity over the years. By having vehicle charg ing stations in our community we will be able to market ourselves as a progressive community and will be able to attract these individuals and families to our community. Which pillars does this report support? XCommunity Growth Plan D Human Resource Plan X Brand and Identity X Strategic Partnerships D Community Service Review D Corporate Communication Plan D Positive Healthy Work Environment PREPARED BY: RECOMMENDED BY: DALE SMALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER MICHAEL GIVENS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 7

10 7490 Sideroad 7 W, PO Box 125, Kenilworth, ON NOG 2EO FAX TO: WELLINGTON NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 20rH, 2016 FROM: APRIL MARSHALL- TOURISM, MARKTING & PROMOTIONS MANAGER DALE SMALL - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER & SUBJECT: REPORT EDO BEING A REPORT ON WELLINGTON NORTH SHOWCASE 2016 RECOMMENDATION THAT the Economic Development Committee receives report ED Wellington North Showcase 2016 for information ED PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER BACKGROUND The th annual Wellington North Showcase took place on March and 22nd at the Arthur and Area Community Centre. As per previous years, Showcase is a partnership between the Township of Wellington North Economic Development Committee, Arthur. Chamber of Commerce, Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce, OMAFRA, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation and TO Canada Trust. We have received great feedback from the event! The Passport Promotion and Job Fair implemented were of particular interest. Highlights included: 600 attendees I 70+ vendors participated 12 employers attended the Job Fair which attracted 70 applicants The passport received 225 entrees and had 40 prize winners A survey has been distributed to participating vendors to collect their feedback. Results collected to date reflect: 8

11 Overall Impression of the Event o 63% Excellent o 33.% Good Participation Based on the Location of the Event o 42% Yes o 58% No Aspects of Event of Most Benefit o 54% Business Networking Reception o 46% Trade Show I Networking I Networking with Vendors o 65% Trade Show I Networking with the Public o 15% New Job Fair o 50% New Passport Promotion 74% find the timing /length of the event to be just right 96% will continue to participate even if the moderate fee continues to increase to offset costs Based on positive survey results, the same format will be delivered next year, with the first day being dedicated to booth set-up and a Business Networking Reception from 5-8pm and the second day being open to the public from 1-8pm. We will plan to host at the Mount Forest Sports Complex on March 27 & 28, FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS A $7, budget was set to host this event. Projected revenues were $1, for vendor participation and $2, in monetary sponsorships. Final settlement of the budget is currently underway. STRATEGIC PLAN Do the report's recommendations advance the Strategy's implementation? IZI Yes D No D N/A Which pillars does this report support? D Community Growth Plan D Human Resource Plan IZI Brand and Identity IZI Strategic Partnerships D Community Service Review D Corporate Communication Plan D Positive Healthy Work Environment I PREPARED BY: APRIL MARSHALL DALE SMALL 2 9

12 7490 Sideroad 7 W, PO Box 125, Kenilworth, ON NOG 2EO FAX TO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 20TH, 2016 FROM: DALE SMALL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SUBJECT: REPORT EDO MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM RECOMMENDATION THAT report ED being a report on the Municipal Development Forum be received; AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Committee recommend the Council of the Township of Wellington North receive the MOB Insight report on the Municipal Development Forum that took place on Tuesday March 22"d, 2016; AND FURTHER THAT the Economic Development Committee recommend the Council of the Township of Wellington North direct the CAO and Economic Development Officer to prepare a report and recommendations on how to address the top five "Barriers to Investment in Wellington North" as identified by the Development Forum participants and to present this report to Wellington North council on Monday May 2"d, PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER EDO Nov. 18th, 2015; EDO January 20th, 2016; EDO Feb. 29th, 2016 BACKGROUND Township of Wellington North recently conducted a Development Forum, held in conjunction with the Wellington North Showcase, which took place in Arthur on March 22nd, Over 200 members of the local and surrounding Development Community and key Business Leaders were invited to attend the forum which was facilitated by MBD Insight. 1 10

13 The intent behind holding a facilitated forum (delivered by a third party) was to provide a platform for thoughtful exchange on issues and challenges facing Wellington North and the current development environment. It also provided an opportunity for the community stakeholders to voice their opinions in a neutral environment, and participate in a process that would capture key details and findings. Key decision makers, staff, and elected officials from the Municipality where in attendance, and participated, which allowed the audience to direct their messages to the people that needed to hear them most, and provided an opportunity for the public servants to absorb this information directly from the source. The outcome of this process was recognized as a valuable first step in moving the municipality, its representatives and staff, and the local development community closer to adopting a common understanding in the interest of Wellington North's future growth. Councillor Yake, who has taken the lead role with this initiative, welcomed the 53 participants to the forum and the agenda took the following path: Opening remarks provided by the Mayor along with an overview of the growth projections and demographic shifts we see occurring in Wellington North. Discussion also included the type of development opportunities that these projections will create in our community. Triton Engineering update on the Municipal Servicing Standards review that is currently underway as well as the important role these standards play in the development process. Wellington North Power update on programs they have in place to support future development as well as an overview of their role in advancing growth in our community MOB Insight shared information/comparison data with surrounding municipalities from the 2015 BMA Municipal Study on Development Charges, Permit Fees, Property Taxes, Water/Wastewater rates, Debt/Service ratios, etc. Individual table discussions then followed focused on the following three questions: 1. What are the barriers to investment in Wellington North 2. What do you think can be done to overcome these challenges 3. What ways can the Municipality and this group work together to achieve our shared goals At the conclusion of the meeting Councilor Yake thanked the group for attending and committed to the following actions: 1. All presentations would be placed on the Wellington North web-site for attendees to obtain copies of if they wished and this commitment was fulfilled on March 25th. 2 11

14 2. MOB Insight would provide a summary report back to the Township of Wellington North to recap the information obtained during the forum. This report was received on April y!h and is attached to this report for review by the Economic Development Committee. 3. That a report, including recommendations for council approval, would be provided to Wellington North council within the next six- eight weeks. The focus of the council report and recommendations will be on addressing the top five "Barriers to Investment in Wellington North" as identified by the forum participants. It is important that council take action as quickly as possible in order to capitalize on the momentum and good will created from holding this development forum. When asked to identify what the top barriers to investment in Wellington North were, the following themes identified below emerged. They are listed in order of priority estab lished by the frequency of responses and further deta ils can be obtained in the MOB Insight report: 1) Development Charges and Cumulative Costs When analysing the responses provided during the facilitation, along with the captured feedback and input provided individually and as a group at the various tables, overwhelmingly development charges and development related costs was identified as the number one barrier to growth and investment in Wellington North. 2) Improved Service Delivery/Development Process The second highest category by frequency of response related to the need for the Municipality to improve its service delivery and the development process. Predom inantly, this focused on the need to improve poor developer municipality relationships, better communications, a general repair/foster a closer relationship between the groups, the importance of stream lining the development process internally, and increasing the quality of customer service was also a common concern. 3) Infrastructure issues were the third area of concern. In particular this related to the need for more wastewater and sewer capacity in Arthur which is having a stalling effect on development. The need for additional water tower capacity in Mount Forest was also identified, along with a general sentiment that the community also lacked sufficient hydro capacity to support growth. 4) Land Related Issues When combining barriers to growth related to commercial, industrial, and residential lands, these issues emerged as the fourth most pressing barrier to be overcome. A lack of serviced (or serviceable) industrial and commercial land topped the list of participant responses; however, th is was not trailed far behind by issues related to a lack of, or lack of accessible residential lands that are serviced and prepared for development. 5) Workforce/Labour Market The fifth most prominent area of concern related to the local labour market. The most frequent barriers to supporting the encouragement, or attraction of new investment and business growth related to a lack of local skilled labour, and related to the low unemployment rate, a general lack of ava ilable workers in the labour pool. Issues related to low wage employment, an ag ing workforce, and businesses encountering difficulty finding suitable labour with the necessary soft skills (work ethic etc. ) were also identified. It was made clear that broader issues affected by the aforementioned include an inability to attract, or retain young workers. 3 12

15 The committee is also reminded that in July 2015 Wellington North Council supported and approved two key recommendations/principles. Moving forward we will ensure any recommendations coming out of the forum are consistent with these two principals: Although recognizing the growth projections as stunning and that many factors would need to fall into place to achieve these targets, Wellington North council and staff would be taking the approach to embrace the fact that significant growth is going to occur in our community. The focus and energy moving forward would be to put the municipality in a position to help influence the growth. Wellington North council also approved its first ever Strategic Plan. One of the first key strategic priorities contained in the plan is to develop a medium and long term Community Growth Plan. The intention of a Community Growth Plan (CGP) is to provide the Township with a recommended strategy for growth in the context of current municipal, county and provincial legislative requirements. A CGP is a policy document used to establish the long term vision and planning framework for a municipality, fostering a sustainable approach to future residential and employment growth. It is an essential tool for planning the timing of future land needs, areas of intensification and the hard and soft infrastructure requirements and the impacts to the municipal capital and operating planning process. The purpose of undertaking a Community Growth Plan is to understand the implications of growth pressures on the Township and provide direction for future growth and infrastructure upgrading/extensions. The CGP will identify areas for growth, establish phasing of future development and develop a plan and timeline for managing growth into the future (20+ years). It is expected that the Community Growth Plan will assist in prioritizing development areas, population densities and provide a mechanism to coordinate and prioritize capital projects in growth areas. It is expected that the CGP may suggest other programs for consideration including updates to the Official Plan, updates to the Zoning By-law, staging of development and revised development standards and charges. In order to be successful a Community Growth Plan requires community input and our March 22nd Municipal Development Forum should be viewed as the start of our Community Growth Plan. Moving forward we will continue to require community engagement and community input and the participants of this forum will be key stakeholders in this process. Additionally at our last committee meeting everyone was provided with a "Self-Assessment for Investment Readiness". This is a tool that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing have designed to assist municipal officials and staff to determine a Community's Investment readiness. A few of these have been returned however the majority of EDC have not yet completed the self-assessment. I would ask you to please complete this as soon as possible as the information will be valuable as we move forward with recommendations to council. 4 13

16 FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Final MOB Insight costs associated with the Municipal Development Forum have not been received however are estimated to be in the vicinity of $2,500- $3,000. This is a little higher than the initial estimated cost which did not include any costs associated with MOB Insight preparing a final report on the Development Forum however these costs will be accommodated within the Economic Development Office approved budget for Costs associated with the Municipal Servicing Standards review are also not included in these estimates as they have been included and approved as part of the Public Works budget. STRATEGIC PLAN This report relates directly to the implementation of the Township of Wellington North Strategic Plan, in particular our objective to establish "a Community Growth Plan that will assist in prioritizing development areas, population densities and provide a mechanism to coordinate and prioritize capital projects in growth areas and to support future business development opportunities." Do the report's recommendations advance the Strategy's implementation? []Yes 0 No 0 N/A Which pillars does this report support? X Community Growth Plan Human Resource Plan Brand and Identity X Community Service Review Corporate Communication Plan Positive Healthy Work Environment X Strategic Partnerships PREPARED BY: RECOMMENDED BY: DALE SMALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER MIKE GIVENS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 5 14

17 Summary Report Wellington North Municipal Development Forum April 06,

18 Contents PURPOSE METHODOLOGY FINDINGS BARRIERS TO INVESTMENT IN WELLINGTON NORTH DEVELOPMENT CHARGES AND CUMULATIVE COSTS IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY I DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INFRASTRUCTURE LAND RELATED ISSUES WORKFORCE I LABOUR MARKET ADDITIONAL FINDINGS SUGGESTIONS ON OVERCOMING CHALLENGES DEVELOPMENT CHARGES ENCOURAGEMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SINGLE WINDOW SERVICE DELIVERY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS WAYS OF WORKING TOGETHER COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION CREATE MEANS FOR INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IMPROVED COMMUNITY MARKETING DEVELOPMENT CHARGES REVIEW ADDITIONAL FINDINGS 9 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 16

19 1 Purpose The municipality of Wellington North is anticipated by the Province and County to grow in population and employment over the next twenty years. During this time, best planning estimates of Wellington County indicate that Wellington North is expected to increase population by roughly 45% (or 5,220 persons) to reach 17,170. Housing is expected to increase by 43% (or by roughly 1,910 units), and employment is expected to see a net increase of 3,600 jobs, which reflects a 60% increase. In order to accommodate these projections, collaborative planning between the Municipality and private sector (comprised of local businesses, real estate professionals, developers, land owners, builders, and other stakeholders) is critical to success. Recognizing this, and in the interest of fostering stronger relationships between these parties at a local level, the Municipality coordinated and delivered a Municipal Development Forum. This Forum brought together people from the community, vested stakeholders, regulators and policy makers (from local and senior levels of government), elected representatives, utility providers, and municipal servicing standards professionals. The intent behind holding a facilitated forum (delivered by a third party) was to provide a platform for thoughtful exchange on issues and challenges facing Wellington North and the current development environment. It also provided an opportunity for the community stakeholders to voice their opinions in a neutral environment, and participate in a process that would capture key details and findings. Key decision makers, staff, and elected officials from the Municipality where in attendance, and participated, which allowed the audience to direct their messages to the people that needed to hear them most, and provided an opportunity for the public servants to absorb this information directly from the source. The outcome of this process was recognized as a valuable first step in moving the municipality, its representatives and staff, and the local development community closer to adopting a common understanding in the interest of Wellington North's future growth. The key findings captured in this Summary Report reflect the common themes and priorities that emerged through the engagement process. They are intended to be taken by Council and staff and used in a manner that can underpin important considerations for change and areas that require attention and effort in order to improve the development environment and potential for Wellington North. 2 Methodology On March 22, 2016, MDB Insight facilitated a structured dialogue between the various local actors in the development community of Wellington North and key municipal representatives including Council, staff, Wellington North Power, Triton Engineering (responsible for municipal servicing standards). Other municipal regulator attendees included County staff and two conservation authority representatives. MOB Insight: Summary Report - Wellington North Development Forum 17

20 The engagement process was structured accordingly: Presentations by municipal representatives and utilities providing details on growth projections, current state environment, and initiatives underway to support growth MDB Insight presentation on municipal investment readiness and a brief comparative assessment of business costs in Wellington North and surrounding areas Facilitated dialogue between the development community and municipal group The Facilitated dialogue followed a structured format that employed a roundtable approach. Each table included a note taker (usually a municipal representative) and approximately 6-8 participants. Idea sheets were provided to each table and participants advised to record their thoughts on these tools as an important take away for the research team. Three questions were posed to the group, and the participants at each table engaged in brainstorming and debate for minutes. During this time, participants were asked to identify key themes and issues, and to prioritize these in response to the following questions: 1. What are the barriers to investment in Wellington North? 2. What do you think can be done to overcome these challenges? 3. What ways can the municipality and this group work together to achieve our shared goals? For the first question, each table was asked to have their speaker provide the top five most important issues of key themes. These ideas were captured by the facilitator on a flip chart and presented to the group on the wall. Moving from tables one through ten, the top priorities were captured and tracked for overlap. This resulted in a top five areas of importance that were in turn communicated back to the crowd for validation. The remaining two questions were undertaken in the same manner for debate and deliberation, and in order to be respectful of timing considerations, the participants key themes were captured by the table note taker and provided to the consultant at the end of the session. In the interest of openness, in the remaining ten minutes of the engagement process, the consultant opened the floor to any participants or attendees that wished to voice their opinions. A few individuals shared their perspectives, suggestions, and advice to the audience, to which Council and municipal staff received this valuable feedback. In total, 53 participants provided their time, insight, advice, and suggestions on how to improve the development environment, challenges that exist, and ideas on how to cooperatively address change. 2 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 18

21 3 Findings The following section captures the key findings that emerged from the facilitated dialogue as described in the methodology above. They are addressed by question in sequential order. They raw information provided by participants has been analysed thematically, and for each question the top themes are presented in a prioritized fashion according to the frequency with which they were recorded. Additional ideas and potential themes are also provided for each question in the interest of ensuring that no participant's ideas or suggestion were omitted from the engagement process. 3.1 Barriers to Investment in Wellington North When asked to identify what the top barriers to investment in the municipality of Wellington North were, the following themes identified below emerged. They are listed in order of priority established by frequency of responses Development Charges and Cumulative Costs When analysing the responses provided during the facilitation, along with the captured feedback and input provided individually and as a group at the various tables, overwhelmingly development charges and development related costs was identified as the number one barrier to growth and investment in Wellington North. Areas such as costs being too high for development charges, building fees, and administrative costs associated with the process were frequently mentioned. This refers to residential as well as commercial and industrial costs. A theme also emerged for the need to better educate the public and developers themselves on why the costs are so high, what they are used for, and how they are managed. Development costs versus land values was identified as an issue, along with prohibitive taxes (at upper and lower tier levels), and expansions being treated as new builds. Cumulative costs were seen as prohibitive to development and having a negative effect on attracting investment Improved Service Delivery I Development Process The second highest ranking category by frequency of response related to the need for the Municipality to improve its service delivery and the development process. Predominantly, these participant contributions focused on the need to improve poor developer - municipality communications. More open communications are seen as required related to development charges and the development process, and a general repair, or foster a closer relationship between the groups based on trust and transparency. The importance of streamlining the development process internally, and increasing the quality of customer service in the building department was also a 3 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 19

22 common concern. Ideas such as instituting a lead, or "go to" person for development was highlighted as a potential solution, along with the need for pre-consultation meetings -all leading towards the need for a "one-window'' service delivery platform, or "one-stop shop" for development. The desire for Council to adopt a common vision with the development community also emerged, and the need to adopt a long term approach to planning for future growth Infrastructure Infrastructure issues were the third area of concern for participants of the development forum. In particular this related to the need for more wastewater and sewer capacity in Arthur which is having a stalling effect on new residential development. The need for additional water tower capacity in Mount Forest was also identified, along with a general sentiment that the community also lacked sufficient hydro capacity to support growth Land Related Issues When combining barriers to growth related to commercial, industrial, and residential lands, these issues emerged as the fourth most pressing barrier to be overcome. A lack of serviced (or serviceable) industrial and commercial land topped the list of participant responses; however, this was not trailed far behind by issues related to a lack of, or lack of accessible residential lands that are serviced and prepared for development Workforce I Labour Market The fifth most prominent area of concern to the development community that participated in the activity related to the local labour market. The most frequent barriers to supporting the encouragement, or attraction of new investment and business growth related to a lack of local skilled labour, and related to the low unemployment rate, a general lack of available workers in the labour pool. Issues related to low wage employment, an aging workforce, and businesses encountering difficulty finding suitable labour with the necessary soft skills (work ethic etc.) were also identified. It was made clear that broader issues affected by the aforementioned include an inability to attract, or retain young workers Additional Findings The list below presents additional issues and concerns that were identified by participants as barriers to growth and development: Lack of affordable housing for staff/labour market: 4 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 20

23 Shortage of housing counts in general Lack of affordable housing for all Lack of affordable housing for workers Need for affordable seniors housing Lack of commercial and cultural amenities that people/youth are looking for: Location: Still have people leaving to shop/recreate Lack of larger urban centre amenities Commercial core is lacking Lack of restaurants and recreational amenities Lack of businesses in downtown Arthur Lack of amenities/recreational that youth desire Lack of cultural amenities Remote Distanced from major markets 5 Attract commuters from larger centres Lack of industrial opportunities and incentives to locate: No new factories/operations for skilled labour Need access to larger markets and suppliers Less ROI for development when compared to areas like Guelph: Capital costs the same to build, but, market return is less in Wellington North Need for better (and lack of) marketing and promotion: Insufficient self-awareness of what community offers Market competitive advantages to encourage investors to move town (costs of suppliers, customers, etc. are less) Need for more self-promotion by municipality Limited funding for marketing community to new residents and investors Need population growth to drive demand: Lack of population (across all demographics) Need to improve competitiveness with neighbouring municipalities Focus more on engaging youth and understanding their needs and drivers Culture (a distinct separation between Mount Forest and Arthur) Perception that Wellington North is a retirement community Municipality lacks a well promoted economic development plan: Especially in comparison to competitors like Minto 5 MOB Insight: Summary Report - Wellington North Development Forum 21

24 Property improvement results in increased assessment and increased taxes Need for greater densities downtown: Allow severances and increase number of lots 3.2 Suggestions on Overcoming Challenges The group participants engaged in dialogue and debate at their roundtables during the facilitated session. The following findings are based on the collective ideas and themes that were captured by the table note takers at the event. As above, the key themes below are identified by frequency in order to prioritize the most prominent suggestion for supporting positive change Development Charges Overwhelmingly, the concept of development charges and manners in which these can be approached, addressed, or better understood dominated the suggestion for moving forward. A strong theme emerged that indicated the Municipality should undertake an official development charges review process. This was followed by calls for the Municipality to create communications that will assist in better understanding what the development charges are used for, where the funds are allocated, and how they are used. Suggestions also included investigating financing tools and options for deferral of servicing and charges; along with the recognition that temporarily reducing development charges to incite new development would result in tax revenue increases. A theme of the need for open communications between the Municipalities of development community was highlighted as an important step in improving the current and ongoing relationship. A question was also raised about the validity of development charges for the agricultural sector as it represents the dominant industry locally Encouragement of Affordable Housing The encouragement of affordable housing through incentives or other administrative means through the Municipality was identified as an important theme. This was tied closely to the need to attract new families, young professionals, and more workers to the area, as well as being of appeal to newcomers and immigrants that may be landing in larger urban centres, but, could benefit from the quality of life and place that Wellington North offers. A suggestion was made to explore the merits of providing development charge credits for affordable housing as an incentive to developers Single Window Service Delivery The third most prominent theme with respect to ways or means to overcome challenges was for the creation of a single portal, or one window approach to 6 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 22

25 streamlining development service delivery. Coordinated pre-consultation reviews were identified as critical steps to improving the process, along with the assignment of a "go to" person (potentially on a user pay system) to support and guide developers through the process. A development manager concept was also identified, as a decision maker who could assist in overcoming issues related to "red-tape" and support the navigation. Overall, suggestions were made for keeping and municipal documents updated and working internally and proactively toward streamlining what is seen as a complex and onerous process Additional Suggestions The following suggestions appeared throughout the information captured and represent additional suggestions and ideas of how the Municipality can overcome the above stated challenges and barriers. The first three appeared more frequently than the others: Foster a closer relationship with developers The municipality needs to stand behind commitments for improved business friendly service delivery and development friendly policy (not just lip service) Increase sewage I wastewater capacity Create marketing and communications plans and campaigns To attract businesses and population Sell the attractiveness of the community Create a community marketing strategy The following list represents ideas that appeared less frequently in the participant's contributions: Infilling on available lots Consider long-term debt to build needed infrastructure The tax base should not supplement growth Consider different incentives to encourage I attract families Review and implementation of wastewater treatment plan extension Engage youth to better understand their wants and needs Consider increased density options for development Undertake a recreational services I asset review Assess programming for children and youth and working families Assess resources (pools etc.) Municipality to undertake a continuous improvement initiative aimed at improving customer service relations 7 MOB Insight: Summary Report - Wellington North Development Forum 23

26 To improve first impressions and service delivery Workforce development strategy/plan: Needs to encompass all elements needed to attract more workers (housing, employment opportunities, partnerships with local business, post-secondary and training providers etc.) Council to commit to a long-term vision for development in Wellington North Investigate satellite campus/education hubs or partnerships with schools: More co-op opportunities for students and paid internships Identify Federal or Provincial funding opportunities Open dialogues with neighbouring municipalities in order to consider annexation of lands and cost sharing of infrastructure for growth of industrial and residential lands 3.3 Ways of Working Together In the final question, the group was asked to brainstorm ways that the development community and the municipal representatives could work together in order to come closer to achieving shared goals of greater prosperity, investment, growth and development in Wellington North. The following themes represent the most prominent concepts that emerged from this process: Communications and Education By a broad majority, the most important way forward to improving working relationships and setting foot on a common ground toward achieving shared goals was identified as improved communications. This was coupled with the need for clearer and more effective education on the development process for the public and development community. Regular follow up by the Municipality, and open communication son development from the Municipality was identified as critical to success. Greater clarity around fees, wat they represent, and why they are there was mentioned, along with information being more accessible. A point was also made that the Municipality needs to listen to the community (and developers) and the feeling that a top down approach to governance related to growth and investment is not working Create Means for Increased Involvement A closely related second theme revolved around the need for a collaborative approach to guiding development and charting growth in the municipality. There was a call for increased representation from the development and business community on committees and increased levels of engagement by the Municipality and the public on the direction of growth and development (allowing for greater public involvement in 8 MOB Insight: Summary Report- Wellington North Development Forum 24

27 guiding its path). Comment was made on the need to utilize the EDC more effectively, and to ensure that it is open to new members (as well as looking to attract key influencers and skilled or experienced volunteers). There was also the concept of creating a community ambassador program in order to assist in communicating with, and fostering relationships with target audiences and prospective investors from outside of the municipality. A consideration was also put for additional community development meetings Improved Community Marketing As was identified in the responses in the preceding sections, the need for improved community promotion and marketing was identified as an important way that the development community and the Municipality could work together. Adopting a team approach to this was clearly vocalized, and the need to identify target audiences that included a focus on attracting new comers and immigrants, in addition to broader categories of young professionals and families, and businesses Development Charges Review The final suggestion by level of frequency in the participant contributions related to conducting an official development charges review. There is a great need among actors in the development community to better understand the reason why Wellington North is not as competitive as it is perceived that it could be in relation to its neighbours and comparator areas. It was suggested that this review process could include an educational component as well as an examination of costs Additional Findings The following concepts, suggestions, and ideas did not have the same level of frequency in the participant feedback. They are listed below in no particular order: Use the Municipal Strategic Plan as a guide Use a facilitator for group discussion with municipal staff, Council, and public Invest in youth: Develop a leadership/mentoring program for grade 7 and 8 before choosing high school stream, Keep Job Fairs running, especially targeting youth grade 7 and 8 Increase the level of in-person meetings (proactive support) on technical engineering matters in the development process Increased collaboration with the County and neighbouring municipalities Focus on what the community wants, not political agendas Council needs to focus on longer term priorities and goals Encourage succession planning (for local business) and mentorship programs 9 MOB Insight: Summary Report - Wellington North Development Forum 25

28 Explore ways of attracting a College campus or satellite location Continue the municipal standards update process to include a detailed development process review Create and implement an evaluation and follow up score card for development This will support ongoing performance measurement and continuous improvement efforts Determine improved means of addressing customer/developer concerns 10 MOB Insight: Summary Report - Wellington North Development Forum 26