Title
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES
Rick Pews, Director of Corporate Facilities, provided updates on the following items:
a) Performing Arts Centre
The design development process is 50% complete and a Class C cost estimate has been developed. Staff continue working with the design team on elements related to theatre seating and tweaks to the final space layout to maximize the flexibility of the facility. It is important to nail down some of these key details prior to reporting to General Committee. Phase 1 and 2 Environmental Site Assessments, hydrogeological, and geotechnical investigations are complete. The project team expects to schedule formal pre-consultation meetings with the City’s Planning Department shortly.
Mayor Nuttall inquired about a previous Council decision regarding the scope of the Performing Arts Centre including a building for organizations to use and leaving room for future development.
Rick Pews, Director of Corporate Facilities, responded that it is not part of the scope, but will review past Council decisions to confirm.
Councillor Riepma inquired about preparing a field for use, specifically a cricket field.
Mr. Pews stated that staff will report back to Council with a comprehensive plan and recommendations for the recreation centre.
b) Sports Field
There was no update regarding the sports field.
c) Lakehead University
The fit-out of Barrie Police’s new downtown detachment at 55 Mulcaster Street is 99% complete. Barrie Police are expected to move into the new space next week. The construction contractor for Lakehead’s new space has mobilized and demolition work at 24 Maple Avenue has begun. The development of shop drawings for long-lead items are well underway and no notable concerns have been identified to date. Staff in Corporate Facilities and Economic Development continue to work with our Lakehead colleagues on site and space details, financial and operational agreements, signage and wayfinding. New signage announcing the university’s new downtown STEM hub is currently in development and the public can expect to see this in place soon.
d) Recreation Centre
Not a lot of activity on this file is expected to take place in the short term. However, staff in Corporate Facilities and Infrastructure have begun early investigative planning work related to the site services that will be required to support the facility and grounds which is anticipated to take the next several months.
Councillor Kungl inquired if there were any considerations available regarding the pool for the new recreation centre.
Kevin Datema, Director of Recreation and Culture Services, advised that early in the new year, they will engage stakeholders and bring the information back to Council.
Councillor Hamilton inquired about the timelines, the phases and what the next step is for the recreation centre.
Rick Pews, Director of Corporate Facilities, explained that the infrastructure to support the facility is already underway and that the plan for the recreation centre will be presented to Council before the plans are finalized.
Mayor Nuttall inquired if a site plan could be completed now for the fields to be built in advance of the actual construction of the recreation centre.
Mr. Pews advised that staff are currently investigating this possibility, and that the water and sewers need to be in place first.
e) Cadets/Southshore
The project’s pre-consultation process has been completed. The project team is working with various city staff on the Site Plan Application and will move forward with the building permit application once Site Plan approval is obtained. Geotechnical and hydrogeological fieldwork is complete and the project team is currently awaiting the final reports. A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment has been completed, and staff are finalizing requirements for the subsequent Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment.
f) Library
The Landlord is currently working through due diligence work that they need to complete before we get into interior layout planning. A memo outlining the specific lease details will be included on the November 12th Circulation List.
Jeff Schmidt, General Manager of Community and Corporate Services, provided an update on the following item:
g) Encampments
Since September 9th of this year, when the state of emergency was declared, efforts between the City of Barrie, the County of Simcoe and Barrie Police have led to measurable progress in addressing encampment related challenges on City-owned property. Outreach teams have prioritized compassionate engagement offering shelter options throughout the County and storage tailored to individual needs. As of October 27th and based on data provided by the County of Simcoe through their HIFIS system, there are 607 homeless individuals linked to Barrie, of which 54 individuals have been identified as living in encampments in Barrie. As previously noted, the County of Simcoe and the City of Barrie have slightly different definitions as to what is considered an encampment. The County describes encampments to be outdoor structures that are actively being used overnight by two or more individuals experiencing homelessness, whereas the City considers an encampment to be one tent or structure on a property. So, with that in mind as of October 29th, under the emergency order, the City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe have addressed over 20 encampments in the City. Besides the significant sites, Mulcaster Street, Bradford Street and Victoria Street, the majority of the sites have either been identified as abandoned following investigation or were locations containing debris that only required cleanup efforts. Since the declaration, a number of encampments on City-owned property has decreased from 35 to 15, demonstrating measurable progress. Of the remaining 15 sites, there are approximately 90 individuals that have been identified by the City as living in encampments. As directed under the emergency order, the City’s Enforcement Services division has established a dedicated encampment response team which is comprised of four staff members. Their key responsibilities is to focus on proactive outreach and site management throughout the City. City staff along with our partners at the County of Simcoe and the Barrie Police, will continue to work collaboratively in addressing further encampments in the City. Staff will continue to provide weekly updates to Council during this emergency order. Further information can be found on the City’s dedicated web page at Barrie.ca addressing encampments.
Councillor Courser inquired about the current number of active homeless individuals.
Jeff Schmidt, General Manager of Community and Corporate Services, responded that as of October 27th, 607 are active homeless individuals linked to Barrie, and 54 individuals are living in encampments. He commented that the numbers are based on the County’s HIFIS system, and according to the City, there are 15 sites and 90 individuals who are living in encampments.
Councillor Riepma inquired whether the 15 sites are City-owned property or private property.
Mr. Schmidt responded that they are on City-owned property.
Councillor Riepma inquired about the individuals who are now in homes.
Mr. Schmidt responded that of the 607 active homeless individuals in Barrie, according to HIFIS, 166 of these individuals are in shelters, 47 are identified as couch surfing, 340 are currently in the temporary family shelter program, and 54 are in encampments.
Deputy Mayor Thomson inquired what the number of active homeless individuals was as of September 8th.
Mayor Nuttall replied that the number was around 690/693, about 80 to 90 people less than the current amount.
Deputy Mayor Thomson inquired whether there was any follow-up with the individuals, including their last place of residence, last employment, and whether the County or the City handled the matters.
Mr. Schmidt responded that it is done through the outreach team with the County, the City does not track that information.
Mayor Nuttall commented that the City has received encouraging feedback from the County, indicating that more than 80% of individuals are currently receiving housing and support services. He also confirmed that the County’s Heart Hub, led by Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), is now fully operational.
Councillor Kungl asked whether Council should continue redirecting inquiries to Service Barrie regarding investigations into encampments located on City-owned or private property.
Mr. Schmidt replied that the inquiries be redirected through Enforcement Services, himself or Wendy Cooke.