Carol Griffith organized a residents’ rally at Innisfil Beach Park on July 5, that drew 25 residents to the park despite the early hour of 7:30 a.m.
At any other time, there might have been a round table discussion of residents’ concerns – but in a pandemic, residents shared their concerns while social distancing.
They were joined by four members of council – Ward Councillor Alex Waters, Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson, and Councillors Bill Van Berkel and Ken Fowler– who came to listen.
Griffith saw it as an opportunity for residents to voice concerns over the operation of the parks during COVID-19, over the response of local government, and over what was seen as the need for a more proactive approach and a clearer message during the pandemic.
The goal was not primarily to complain about overcrowding or out-of-town visitors. “We are not for closing this beach to non-residents, not at all. But it’s COVID… I have no problem with everyone using our beautiful beaches, but everyone needs to be respectful,” said Leslie Pollak, who attended the rally.
The idea was to look at the root of the issues.
The problems at Innisfil Beach Park, and other beaches in Innisfil, didn’t begin with COVID-19, Griffith noted. “There’s always been a problem.”
She remembered a time before the boulders were set in place at Belle Ewart Park, when boaters would launch their boats on the beach while kids were swimming in the area.
To hear that similar events are still occurring on some of Innisfil’s road ends, and at beaches like 30 Sideroad, made her question when council is going to take a holistic approach.
“It’s tunnel vision” to only look at one park at a time, she said. “It’s been shuffled off for years.”
She noted that while Innisfil’s population has been growing and tourism has grown as more people discover the town’s beaches, the shoreline and the beaches are fixed in size. The issues could have been predicted.
The residents also called for better communications, and better signage – both in terms of the number of signs, and the messaging and detail presented.
“Your messaging is missing the target,” agreed Pollak. One sign stated, “IBP parking for Residents only” - but how many visitors understood that IBP meant Innisfil Beach Park, he wondered.
“When it all boils down to it, people are afraid. COVID-19 changes the playing field greatly,” said Coun. Ken Fowler later, calling the rally “a productive morning, as people spoke freely and from their heart.”
He noted that Ward 4 Councillor Waters was council’s official representative at the rally, recording the questions and ideas presented by the residents.
“I attended with the simple intention of listening and reassuring people their voices would be heard,” said Fowler. “They were also reminded that their strongest course of action was to officially add their thoughts and concerns to the agenda.”
He added, “That being said, I believe as a councillor, the one-on-one connection I bring to the table as the voice of Ward 5 is just as important. People need to know they are being represented.”
Deputy Mayor Davidson agreed. “It was a one-on-one experience, and everyone had very clear concerns that needed to be answered then and there, if possible.”
Davidson noted, “I think having a town hall-like gathering such as a rally connects people to each other, on a common issue… (People) need to know that we as councillors take them seriously, without the paperwork that is normally done.”
Several of those at the rally, including Griffith and residents Lisa O’Neill and Bonny Barth, did subsequently voice their concerns at the July 8 virtual meeting of council, expressing support for the parking restrictions within a km. of the waterfront as a permanent solution rather than a temporary measure - along with higher fines and a stricter towing policy.
They also questioned the length of time it will take for all signage to be put in place – “months,” according to town staff, due to high demand across the province.
“I was very pleased with the outcome of the rally,” said Coun. Waters. “Residents were thoughtful in their ideas and respectful of other residents and councillors who showed up. Everyone took turns speaking and listening.
“I was especially impressed that everyone kept their distance, as we were concerned that with a larger gathering that distance sometimes gets forgotten.”
Waters confirmed that he had taken notes of the questions and concerns. “Taking notes was important to show residents we were listening and that answers would be forthcoming at the next town council meeting where I thought mayor and staff tried to address the issues that were raised.”
He acknowledged, “People are frustrated, because of all the unknowns that this pandemic has raised… We are learning together as we try to resolve these first-time experiences.”
Residents, too, were left with the feeling that there had been real dialogue and the start of a better connection between residents and their elected officials.
“I feel good about this one,” said Pollak, after both the rally and the July 8 meeting. “It was good to see other people here have the passion. And we actually walked away feeling we were heard.”
Griffith, in addressing council, noted, "We are hopeful that the concerns, questions and suggestions presented at the rally and captured by Coun. Waters will be considered by this council, and direct staff appropriately."
But there were still concerns that council and especially staff are spending less time on current issues, including park safety and roads, and too much time on long-term ‘visioning.’
“Forget the (Innisfil Beach Park) Master Plan. Forget the Orbit. If they can’t fix this, which has been going on year after year… They’ve got too many apples in the basket,” Griffith said.
“They haven’t solved today’s problems, but they are creating tomorrow’s problems,” suggested Pollak.
One point that had been called into question was the attendance of members of Council at the Rally.
Staff had earlier advised that only the Ward 4 Councillor should attend.
Mayor Lynn Dollin, contacted for comment, noted that staff often provide an alert, if something might raise questions under the Municipal Act or town’s procedural by-law.
In this case, the concern was that, if a quorum of Council (5 sitting members) attended the rally, “that could be seen as an illegal meeting.”
The mayor acknowledged that Councillors often attend events, “to show support and listen,” but suggested that there are situations when it could be seen as a private meeting.
“Everybody wants to provide customer service, but it is easy to have that happen – or even the perception that it happened,” she said, even though a majority of Councillors do frequently attend public events, such as ribbon-cuttings and fundraisers.
That said, Dollin noted, “As always, each Councillor has to make their own decision… The Councillors that are there should be aware that they are putting themselves at risk.”
In this case, “It worked out fine because there was less than quorum,” she said.
The Mayor noted that the July 8 meeting had been called at the request of the Emergency Operations Centre group, to move forward with the proposal to double parking fines. It just made sense to tie in the questions and concerns raised by residents at the rally, in a format where staff could respond, and be given direction by Council, she noted.
“It was successful,” said Dollin, thanking Coun. Waters for his note-taking. The questions and responses will be added to the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section, she said.
As for the suggestion that communications between residents and Council could be improved, Dollin noted, “We’re on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook… and the Webpage, but we can always do better.”
The next virtual meeting of council takes place July 15, beginning with a planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. to look at the Innisfil Heights Official Plan Amendment for the expansion of the employment area boundary, and a new multi-story mixed use proposal for 1326 Innisfil Beach Rd. (the former Wauchope property).
Also on the agenda for the special meeting of council: an update on the Mobility Orbit and plans for a GO Train station, a memorandum of understanding with the County of Simcoe for improvements to the intersection of Innisfil Beach Road and Sideroad 20; and a requirement for face coverings in public indoor spaces.
For more information on the agenda, click here. The meeting will be live-streamed on the town’s YouTube channel.
