City Council Wrap-Up: August 13, 2024

Here is an overview of key discussions and decisions from the City Council meeting on August 13.

CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund

Council directed staff to apply to the second round of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund, which provides funding to municipal governments to increase housing supply at an accelerated rate. This funding opportunity is only available to applicants who were not approved for funding in 2023, which includes the City of Greater Sudbury. The deadline to apply is September 13, 2024.

As part of the application, staff will include an action plan that outlines a housing supply growth target, additional targets for multi-unit and affordable housing, and seven initiatives to help the City achieve those targets. The action plan aligns with stakeholder input and work the City is undertaking as part of the Streamline Development Approvals Fund and the Housing Supply Strategy.

For more details on the Housing Accelerator Fund and a summary of the seven initiatives, see the Council report and appendices here.

Lively Ski Hill

Council directed staff to continue operating the Lively Ski Hill for the 2024-2025 season using existing ski lift equipment and determine if adjustments to user fees are appropriate to facilitate cost recovery. They also directed that staff:

• Resume a portion of the project to repurpose the platter tow ropeway located at the closed Capreol Ski Hill to replace the mid-1960s era Samson T-Bar system located at the Lively Ski Hill.  This work will include design work, assessment of equipment and removal of the equipment from Capreol Ski Hill. The balance of the project funds will be held pending a review of ski hill usage following the 2024-2025 season.
• Not proceed with the Lively Ski Hill chalet refurbishments for $396,000 and hold the funds pending a review of usage following the 2024-2025 season.
• Issue an Expression of Interest to determine if there is interest by a third-party operator to assume operation of the Lively Ski Hill following the 2024-2025 season.
• Present a report to Council by June of 2025 to include usage data, revenue generated, costs of operating the Lively Ski Hill during the 2024-2025 season, the results of the Expression of Interest and recommendations for Council’s consideration.

Should City Council decide to cease operating the Lively Ski Hill following the 2024-2025 season, the $396,000 approved for the chalet refurbishments and balance of the $387,400 for the repurposing of the platter tow ropeway will be earmarked for new recreational opportunities in the Lively/Walden area in addition to the $4 million currently set aside from the sale of Meatbird Park.

The full report on the Lively Ski Hill Capital Projects can be found here.

Motion to Address Homelessness

Council unanimously approved a member's motion from Councillor Parent aimed at addressing the growing crisis of homelessness encampments in communities across Ontario. The motion follows the recent release of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's (AMO) policy paper entitled Homeless Encampments in Ontario: A Municipal Perspective, which details the state of this crisis and evidence-based actions that must be taken. The City of Greater Sudbury will ask the federal and provincial governments to work collaboratively with each other and municipalities to address the complex issues that require a comprehensive, coordinated response from all orders of government.

For more details on these and other items from this week’s meetings, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/city-hall/mayor-and-council/meetings-agendas-and-minutes.