a) Administration Recap/Overview

General Administration: Operating Overview

2020 Review and 2021 Outlook

General Administration:

Municipal operations in 2020 continued to be fast-paced as North Perth continued to grow and develop. Additionally, the strong ability of municipal operations and staff to adapt to changing circumstances was demonstrated in the Municipality’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As North Perth’s growth and COVID-19 response and recovery efforts continue, the number of municipal and private projects/initiatives continue to stretch municipal staff and financial resources.

The North Perth Strategic Plan was adopted by Council in January 2020. Following adoption of the plan, staff focused on the developed of the implementation plan and business plans for each department. The proposed 2021 Business Plans were presented to North Perth Council on December 7, 2020. As noted above, the work to be completed in 2021 outweighs staff capacity in every Department (i.e. approximately 25,000 hours of planned work are over and above total Departmental capacity). Solutions will be discussed during the 2021 Operating Budget Meetings. North Perth’s online engagement platform Your Say North Perth continued to be used widely throughout 2020 to increase and collect public input on the Municipality’s initiatives. Items that were posted in 2020 included a COVID-19 Recovery Survey, Transportation Master Plan Survey and Mapping Activity, Urban Chickens Survey, Resident Experience Survey and the 2021 Budget Survey. The Manager of Programs full-time position was created and approved by Council in late 2020 as part of the Municipality’s Organization Re-Structure. The position will begin in 2021 and salary expenses have been included in the General Administration operating budget for the time being. Once the Organization Re-Structure is complete, these expenses will fall under the Programs operating budget. The operating budget also reflects the municipal commitment of $50,000 to the CT scanner at Listowel Memorial Hospital. This is the last year of the five-year commitment.

OMPF:

In 2021, the Province is providing the Municipality of North Perth with $1,445,300 in funding through the OMPF, which is the equivalent of $254 per household (compared to the 2020 allocation of $1,367,200). 2021 OMPF revenue has been distributed amongst the department operating budgets.

Economic Development:

A major focus for Economic Development in 2020 was business support and recovery in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included sharing of supports, resources and regulations for business, teleconferences with Business and Agriculture stakeholders, participation in the CRAG Economy Sub-group, development of www.ShopLocalNorthPerth.ca,

surveying businesses on COVID-19 impacts, and compiling local business and restaurant listings. Economic Development also collaborated with local project champions in 2020 to apply for Ontario Trillium funding to conduct a feasibility study for a local children’s museum in North Perth. The Municipality was the project lead for financial and reporting plus a steering committee member. The Huron Perth Ag Science Centre Feasibility Report was presented to Council at the December 21, 2020 Meeting. As included in the Economic Development 2021 capital budget, RED funding approval for the Façade Improvement Program and Commercial Building Guidelines was received in 2020. Urban Planning staff has been hired to develop commercial building design guidelines for North Perth plus create and implement a Façade Improvement Program across North Perth to grow economy and enhance downtowns. The restructuring of the North Perth Economic Development Advisory Committee (NPEDAC) was also completed in 2020. The NPEDAC now includes representatives from Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Creative Economy and Solo Entrepreneur sectors from across North Perth.

Additional strategic corporate priorities North Perth Economic Developments plans to lead, contribute to or support in 2021 include:

Mayors Task Force Implementation (Youth Retention and Labour Reliability) Driftscape App Launch Workforce Development Downtown WiFi Youth Attraction and Retention Community Development Assets and Infrastructure

Police Services:

The 2021 estimated policing cost per property is $416.19, a decrease of $2.00 from 2020. The total estimated policing cost for 2021 is $2,529,189; however, the year-end adjustment for the year 2019 (included in the 2021 billing statement) produced an additional amount owed of $13,342. With this adjustment, the grand total billing for 2021 is $2,542,531. The 2021 monthly billing amount of $211,878 has increased by $1,952 compared to the 2020 monthly billing amount of $209,926.

The main costs that contribute to the estimated policing cost per property is municipal base services and calls for service costs. It is important to note that the increase in the 2021 police budget is due to the addition of more properties (new development) in the municipality. Other costs include overtime, contract enhancement, court security and prisoner transportation. The contract enhancements purchased by the Municipality of North Perth include the Detachment Sgt. and Detachment Administrative position. Our enhancements allow North Perth to have the OPP office in Listowel.

In 2019, the Municipality of North Perth, in partnership with the North Perth Police Services Board, Perth County OPP, Municipality of West Perth and West Perth Police Services Board,

was approved for funding for the Perth County Community Safety Unit (CSU) initiative under the Local Priorities Funding Stream of the 2019/20 – 2021/22 Community Safety and Policy (CSP) Grant. Through this grant, the North Perth Police Services Board receives an allocation of $22,500 in 2019/20, $22,500 in 2020/21 and $22,500 in 2021/22 for a total of $67,500. The Perth County Community Safety Unit (CSU) is comprised of three Provincial Constables – a Community Safety/Media Relations Officer, Community Mobilization Officer and School Resource Officer. The CSU addresses community needs by utilizing a collaborative, targeted and immediate response model that focuses on public education, early intervention and engagement of community partners.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kriss Snell Chief Administrative Officer