Election and growth define Innisfil’s 2010

by Chris Simon Editor Innisfil Scope December 29 2010
This has been another significant year for the Town of Innisfil.
From the reopening of the South Simcoe Police North Division station and the Inspiring Innisfil 2020 strategic plan, to the election of six new members of council, there’s reason for optimism for the municipality, moving forward into 2011. While there are still plenty of challenges ahead, voters, town staff and the previous council managed to get plenty of work accomplished, and began to etch out a potentially long-lasting legacy in 2010.
Perhaps the biggest single change within the political life of the municipality took place during October’s municipal election. Town residents expressed the need for an overhaul, with 46.6 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots, a figure that is significantly higher than in most other municipalities across the province. The voters elected six new members of council — who generally pledged fiscal restraint, improved communication, openness and transparency — including four without previous experience.
The long political reigns of mayor Brian Jackson, deputy mayor Gord Wauchope, and councillors Bill Van Berkel, Bill Pring, and Paul Wardlaw all ended in Innisfil. But before exiting town government, they helped shape the municipality for years to come. They approved one of the largest public consultation processes in the town’s history, Inspiring Innisfil. They also opened the multi-million dollar North Division, and laid the foundation for the success of the Innisfil YMCA.
That organization has far exceeded membership targets to this point, with about 6,000 people registered since November 2008.
Of course, there were other large-scale projects that received significant attention this year. It seems business owners along the entire stretch of Innisfil Beach Road in Alcona were affected by a ‘perfect storm’ created by a poor economy, lack of town marketing, and the nearly $30 million reconstruction and urbanization project. The town also rejected plans to construct a medical facility on town-owned land near the IBR and Yonge Street intersection, suggesting it would cost too much. This, despite at least one developer suggesting they would be willing to cover most of the costs.
The last year also marked a significant period of change in other areas of municipal government. The town completed its senior level restructuring, hiring employees whose philosophies and direction will shape policy for years. The town is still experiencing a lower level staffing shortfall, so expect the hiring process to continue into 2011, especially since the demands on the municipality will only continue to increase.
After a long battle between the province and Barrie over annexation, thousands of hectares of land were officially handed over to the city on Jan. 1. Shortly after the election, the province announced an amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which recognizes the Innisfil Heights employment zone, but reduces the town’s population targets and pushes unrealistic intensification. Innisfil Heights will unquestionably be beneficial to the town, but there will be challenges associated with the other aspects of the amendment. Thankfully, Barrie and Innisfil governments appear to be working past years of animosity, with leaders now saying they want a collective and regional approach to issues. That breakthrough will come in handy for servicing and other growth-related challenges faced in the coming years. Overall, 2010 was a chaotic, eventful and historical year for both council and the municipality.