Orangeville minor ice user groups fees review – At its meeting on January 11, 2021, Council had requested that staff prepare a report regarding a request for a 50 percent reduction in ice permit fees by the Orangeville Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), the Orangeville Girls Hockey Association (OGHA) and Skate Canada Orangeville from December 14, 2020 to the end of the 2020/2021 ice season. Council decided to defer the report to a special meeting to be held on February 17, 2021.
OPP transition update – Council received a staff update on the transition to the OPP, relating to staff transition and recruitment, Orangeville Police Service severance, asset transition, and police facility renovations. Council directed that the consultant retained by the Town with respect to the OPP costing be requested to prepare a report and attend a Council meeting by the end of March, 2021 to outline and explain the differences between the consultant's projections and the Town's budget and forecast.
Speed reduction by-law – Orangeville Council voted on January 25, 2021 to amend the Traffic By-law, revising all 50 kph roadways to 40 kph. Excluded streets will include major town roads: Hansen Boulevard, First Street, Town Line, C Line, Riddell Road, Centennial Road and Broadway.
The by-law amendment will take effect March 1, 2021 once required signage is erected. Council also requested a public education campaign and support from the Ontario Provincial Police for targeted enforcement. Orangeville Council also voted to immediately add three streets to the list of community safety zones: McCannell Avenue, Rolling Hills Drive, and Blind Line (within Orangeville’s boundary).
Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Council passed a resolution regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, to be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Environment, Conservation, Energy, and Parks, requesting that the Government of Ontario develop and implement a plan to phase-out all gas-fired electricity generation, and direct the IESO to accelerate the use of renewable electricity supply, energy storage, and energy efficiency in all sectors to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and bolster competitiveness in the global cleantech marketplace and overall emerging low-carbon economy.