Meetings on the next two Monday nights will be the last before city council moves into its summer schedule before concluding the current four-year term of our municipal government.
On Monday night, council committee will meet at city hall (7 p.m.) to consider several items as part of a 144-page agenda.
One of the issues that many residents will likely be interested in is a potential new look to the city’s corporate identity. Councillors will be asked to consider a new logo that, if approved, could become the municipality’s new symbol.
The need for a new “corporate visual identity” was identified in the city’s 2014-2018 Corporate Plan.
The report from staff says “extensive research and public engagement was conducted as part of this multiyear branding exercise and has been used to inform the new corporate visual identity.”
Through that process, it was concluded that key “Orillia elements” include: water, sunshine, Mariposa, innovation, culture, festivals, events, the arts, nature, recreation, heritage, history, location and lifestyle.
“The design concept presented received the widest acceptance during internal and external focus testing for conveying those elements, and will provide the city with an updated, more modern visual identity moving forward,” said the staff report. “Input from individual members of council also helped to shape the final design stages leading to the recommended concept.”
Once the new logo is adopted by council, it will be implemented “across the corporation” and used on everything from business cards to policy manuals, maps, social media, trucks, buildings and uniforms.
The cost to develop the new corporate visual identity was $20,827 and was allocated from the original Branding and Wayfinding Capital Budget of $65,000. To implement the new look, $100,000 has already been approved by council as part of its capital budget. Further capital requirements will be considered “as part of the development of the final implementation plan.”
Another branding opportunity of sorts will be up for discussion Monday night. Council is being asked to consider approving a new Farmers’ Market sign on the Orillia Public Library façade. Staff is recommending this request be forwarded to the 2019 budget committee for review and consideration.
Orillia resident Christopher Blueman is asking council to approve 'Children at Play' signage at the intersection of Bay and North streets.
“There is much traffic going well over the posted speed limit in that area and (I) would like to be proactive in saving a life as many others of your constituents in the area understand the importance of safety,” wrote Blueman in a letter to council.
Another Orillia resident, Richard Oliver, wrote to council asking them to consider developing a ‘pump track’ on the grounds of the new recreation centre being built at Foundry Park. He describes the track as a “progressive asphalt looped track that features a variety of ramps and berms designed for cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers.”
City staff say “an alternative site design plan should be undertaken to determine if other opportunities are suitable and viable at the site. A design planning exercise for the grounds will finalize a playground layout and determine if any other recreational amenities, such as a pump track, should be included in this location.”
The future of the Orchard Point neighbourhood is also on council committee’s agenda. Residents expressed concerns about the Official Plan designation of the area as an “intensification area”. Many would prefer a change to a ‘stable neighbourhood’ designation.
According to a detailed report from staff, five large sites on Orchard Point have existing development rights to develop medium and/or high density residential. “These pre-2010 approvals were what set the stage for Orchard Point’s designation as an Intensification area.”
Staff note “Orillia is an important urban centre in Simcoe County. It is one of the county’s primary centres of future growth and development, while limitations on new development continue to become more stringent in the neighbouring rural areas outside of Orillia with the recent imposition of provincial natural heritage and agricultural mapping. Down-designating Orchard Point would be counter to provincial policies and plans.”
With that in mind, staff is recommending council leave the designation as-is.
