Urban node status in North Simcoe tests creativity of two communities

By Douglas Glynn Midland Free Press February 22 2011

Like kids with a new Meccano set, some 70 people last week exercised their imaginations to continue building what will be the Midland-Penetanguishene joint urban node.

The joint urban node designation has been bestowed on Penetanguishene and Midland by the Ontario government in response to a request from the towns for ‘urban node” status within the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The request indicated the two towns would work together to explore land use planning, infrastructure charges, economic development, and areas where they might share services.

The province granted the request, but didn’t provide any instructions on exactly what a joint urban node should be. So, the two councils launched a series of three public meetings and invited citizens to participate in helping create it.

The meetings have attracted local politicians, bureaucrats and a handful of interested citizens.

If they get it right, it could mean greater population growth, jobs and a bigger bang for the taxpayers’ buck.

At the first meeting in Penetanguishene last month it was decided that everything – except amalgamation – was on the table for discussion. And it was agreed that as a first step the towns will explore sharing transportation services and holding joint festivals.

Last week’s discussions at Midland Secondary School expanded on 10 topics explored at the initial meeting. Participants formed focus groups to discuss such things as fire and police services, public works, health care, economic development, housing, transportation, administration and libraries.

The focus group facilitators reported agreement on a number of services that could be shared.

Penetanguishene Coun. Debbie Levy said her group agreed a single fire department with two stations would be an ideal outcome. Policing, she added, is more complicated. (Penetanguishene is currently exploring using the services of the Midland Police Service, as its contract with the OPP expires this year.)

Paul Hodgins, Penetanguishene’s planning director, said his group favours a joint service board to deal with sewer and water related issues.

He said public works is the best opportunity for sharing of services, but pointed out governance could be a hurdle.

Wes Crown, Midland’s director of planning and development, said his group discussed increasing transit service over the next 10 years.

He said there will be an increased demand for transit from social services and as gasoline prices rise.

“One thing that was said consistently is that in three or four years we want a single, integrated transit service that is affordable, rationale well used,” he said.,

Midland Mayor Gordon McKay said his group foresees a joint administrative structure.

“The purpose of this is to drive efficiencies,” he said. “The main purpose in doing that is new and improved services and a secondary one is to contain costs.”

“The bottom line is that by working together we will be better than what we could do on our own,” he added.

The economic development group favoured a more diversified economy; one not solely dependent on the industrial sector, but one including commercial businesses, tourism, education and agriculture.

They advocated working closer together on zoning bylaws, purchasing supplies, infrastructure, public works, hospitals and insuring that businesses that want to set up shop are not faced with significant amounts of red tape.

Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall said his group recognized “we have a great hospital, but we need walk-in clinics and home care support.

He said family physician recruitment must continue and that specialists are needed. “Nurse practitioners are also a priority.

“You cannot talk about health care in hospitals without logistics and transportation,” he added.

“How do we get people to and from Penetanguishene and Midland, or Tiny and Tay to Barrie, Newmarket or Toronto?

Reporting for the housing group, Rene Hackstetter said the need of affordable housing was a concern.

He noted that in the past 10 to 15 years there had been a lot of attention paid to waterfront development and sub-divisions.

“Essentially, the question is what makes good housing; what makes a good community. I think that what makes a good community is good housing. We have to consider strategies for human types of housing to create a human community that works.”

Midland CAO Ted Walker said the ideas discussed by the library group included a joint library card; joint programming and purchasing and the sharing of resources. He said a hurdle to achieving the objective might be the possible impact on provincial grants.

“Both libraries receive the grant now. If they merge how would that impact to their grants? Also, if they merged would there be a transportation or access problem? We agreed there is not much to prevent us from getting there, other than perhaps a lack of co-operation and the will,” he added.

Penetanguishene CAO Eleanor Rath said her group felt culture and heritage is all forms of art, culture and heritage, including being on the water because Georgian Bay “is very much a part of who we are.”

She emphasized the value of the area’s cultural heritage, the French, Métis, British and Aboriginal.

She said it is important to co-operate, not compete. “Right now all the different groups are trying to get funding.

We need to co-ordinate efforts and help the groups trying to get funding.

Midland Coun. Pat File reported for the staff focus group, which favoured a North Simcoe economic development body that would liaison with other groups.

“What people feel is needed,” she said, “is strong, neutral leadership and the realization that if we do not do (work together) we will not survive.”

Mayor Marshall said the next step is for a task force to gather the information and “run it through our staff and through both councils. I don’t think we have to wait.”

Mayor McKay said even if the province had not acted “we would have to be doing something like this, because it is essential to our future. This is the writing on the wall!”