County OverviewCounty Overview

Services and Finances

April 2008

County of Simcoe

County of Simcoe

Background

Established in 1843 Consists of:

7 Towns – Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood, Innisfil, Midland, New Tecumseth, Penetanguishene and Wasaga Beach

9 Townships – Adjala-Tosorontio, Clearview, Essa, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Severn, Springwater, Tay and Tiny

The cities of Barrie and Orillia are separate from the County both politically and administratively although the County provides significant services to both

480,000 hectares (4800 sq. km or 1,186,080 acres) make up the County of Simcoe

Second largest County based on population and third largest County in Ontario based on physical size

Total County population (2006 Census Canada): 263,515 excluding Barrie and Orillia 422,204 including Barrie and Orillia

County of Simcoe

Approximately 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres) of County Forests

500 km (311 miles) of shoreline 850 km of roads, 1700 lane km, over 180 bridges

and structures and over 40 major signaled intersections

Over 1,600 full and part-time employees Over 8 million visitors annually to Simcoe County

County of Simcoe

The County of Simcoe provides a range of key municipal services to the sixteen member municipalities that make up the County as well as the single tier municipalities of Barrie and Orillia including:

Mandated Services: Ontario Works Social Housing Children’s Services Long Term Care Paramedic Services

Environmental Services (solid waste management) Planning Emergency Management

County of Simcoe

The County of Simcoe provides a range of key municipal services to the sixteen member municipalities that make up the County as well as the single tier municipalities of Barrie and Orillia including:

Directed Services: Roads Forestry Management Library Simcoe County Tourism

Museum Archives By-law Enforcement

County of Simcoe

Other County Funded Services: Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

(MPAC) Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Hospital Alliance

2008 Expenditures: MPAC: $4.2 M SMDHU: $3.3 M HA: $3 M

County of Simcoe

Costs (2008 Budget)

In 2008 the cost to deliver County services = $440 million

2008 County tax levy = $90 million

2008 Waste Management Levy= $18 million

County of Simcoe

Major issues facing the County today

Growth Social Services Infrastructure funding – roads, bridges,

facilities Solid waste management Long term care Paramedic Services Hospital funding Further provincial downloading

County of Simcoe

County of Simcoe County of Simcoe Growth ManagementGrowth Management

A New Way to Do Business

April 2008

Growth Management Study

Sets objectives for 2031 for population, employment, and style of community

Municipal Official Plan’s must comply by June, 2009

Must be reviewed at least every five years

Growth Plan, Places to Grow

The New County Official Plan

Population and employment allocations for the 16 towns and townships within context of “Simcoe and area”

Alternate density and intensification targets

Employment nodes

Community Structure (Allocations)

Population growth – 228,400 Employment growth – 70,500 Factors – existing Official Plan

commitments, growth rates

Intensification

30% County wide average 40% in New Tecumseth, Bradford West

Gwillimbury, Innisfil, Collingwood, Penetanguishene, Midland

Greenfield Densities

40 persons and jobs per hectare County wide average

50 persons and jobs per hectare for New Tecumseth, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, Collingwood, Penetanguishene, Midland

Healthy Communities

Compact form/walkability Active transportation systems Transit systems Green space conservation Complete community

Plan for Walking and Cycling

Strategic Direction – Encourage local policies for sidewalks/trails Encourage Active Transportation Plans Permit Active Transportation on some County Roads Develop standards for on road Active Transportation

infrastructure based on roadway classification Focus on off road trail network – linking to existing

community trails Incorporate Active Transportation infrastructure into

County Road improvements

County of SimcoeHealth &

Lifestyles

Health & Lifestyle Planning

Purpose:

Identify considerations in land use Planning to:

Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Improve Health Status of Simcoe County Residents

Provide recommendations for Policy/Framework

Partnerships in Health Planning

↑ Heart Disease ↑ Diabetes ↑ Cerebrovascular Disease ↑ Motor Vehicle Collision-associated Injuries ↑ C.O.L.D. ↑ Colorectal Cancer ↑ Breast Cancer

Simcoe Muskoka vs. Ontario Hospitalizations

Precursors:

Ability to be Physically Active

Air Quality

Access to Good Nutrition

Access to Health Care

Poverty & Access to Social Services

Health Impacts of the Built Environment

Key Features of the Built Environment

Transportation Active Transportation, Design, Access

Green Spaces Gardens, Recreation Areas, Playgrounds

Public Spaces Recreation Centres, Concert Halls, Theatres,

Schools & Colleges Availability of Healthy Consumer Options Health Care Services

Planning Recommendations

8 Key Planning Areas

Complete Communities Environmental Protection Green Space Development Health Care Services Safety Transportation Urban Development Walkability

Planning Recommendations

6 Categories of Responsibility

Provincial Policy/Actions Required Conservation Authorities Local Municipal Responsibility Places to Grow Document Transportation Master Plan Official Plan Review - Recommendations

Planning Recommendations

Highlights

Pedestrian-friendly developments Mixed-use neighborhoods – encourage

socialization Locate commercial/business closer to residential Protect Green Spaces Joint funding initiatives – Improve Parks & Green

Spaces Preserve tree cover & open spaces Natural Heritage considered in road design

Planning Recommendations

Highlights

Include playgrounds, recreational facilities in community design

Incorporate common areas, meeting places and open spaces to create social interaction

Place parks in areas that are safe, accessible within 10 minutes walk – away from high traffic areas

Design to include open spaces such as parks, trails, greenways, gardens and heritage space

Planning Recommendations

Highlights

Provide bike lanes on streets, bridges & tunnels Calm traffic by narrowing streets, installing traffic

circles, speed bumps etc. Include street lights ↑ cross-walks Integrate landscape trees into

commercial/residential areas Preserve forest, farmland, wetlands, marshes etc.

Planning Our Municipalities

TO CREATE

HEALTHY LIVEABLE

COMMUNITIES