Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac will make one more attempt to reduce transit service during non-peak hours in a bid to save money on Monday when council meets to ratify the 2023 budget.
The mayor has created a three-page report, asking councillors to support his request.
He is suggesting the level of transit service be reduced from half-hourly service (departing the terminal every 30 minutes) to hourly service (departing the terminal every 60 minutes) during non-peak periods. Non-peak periods would be be the first hour of service from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. weekdays and for the final three hours in the evening from 7:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. weekdays and all-day Saturdays and Sundays.
During budget deliberations earlier this month, McIsaac asked council to reduce transit service because ridership was low during those times; the reduction of service, he noted, would save the city $300,000 in 2023.
But the agenda for Monday’s meeting states the move would save $670,000 per annum.
McIsaac clarified his request today when questioned by OrilliaMatters, saying, if approved, it would take effect July 1, but the city would save $670,000 per year moving forward. The savings would be used to reduce the tax levy.
While council voted against the move during budget deliberations, the mayor is hoping to see a different outcome on Monday.
"Offering bus service every half-hour during non-peak times when the ridership volume decreases is a luxury the City of Orillia can no longer afford," McIsaac says in his report on Monday's agenda. "The proposed change ... will allow those that use the bus to still access it, while council (would) be responsible for taxpayer funds."
The ratification meeting for the 2023 budget will take place after a fairly light regular meeting of council, where councillors will consider several items at the 2 p.m. session at the Orillia City Centre.
Councillors Jay Fallis and Jeff Czetwerzuk are bringing forward an inquiry motion asking staff to prepare a report analyzing traffic data in parts of west Orillia, with options for improving pedestrian crossing between West Ridge Boulevard/Monarch Drive and the Hunter Valley Road/Stone Ridge Boulevard/University Avenue area.
Fallis and Czetwerzuk have also requested options for improving vehicle safety when turning onto University Avenue from Vanessa Drive and Stone Ridge Boulevard.
Council will consider repealing the city’s COVID-19 prevention policy, at the recommendation of senior city staff, in part because numerous Simcoe County communities no longer require new employees to be fully vaccinated.
Staff have recommended the city appoint its integrity commissioner, Principles Integrity, for an additional four-year period between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2027.
Council will need to approve updates to city policies and bylaws with regard to Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, due to the following:
- Developers are no longer required to hold open house meetings to consult with the public
- New developments under 10 residential units are now exempt from site plan control, and the city’s site plan control bylaw must be updated accordingly
A previous article on the city's decisions during budget deliberations may be found here.
Monday's regular council meeting starts at 2 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. You can also watch the meeting live here.
