On Sept. 25, Council’s Committee of the Whole voted to defer a motion to introduce an Interim Control By-law for new low-barrier shelters and/or transitional housing, until Oct. 30, 2023.

This will allow additional time for the Town of Whitby to negotiate an agreement with the Region of Durham on the use of 1635 Dundas for a shelter to support people experiencing homelessness.

A special Whitby Council meeting on 1635 Dundas will take place Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 575 Rossland Rd. E.

The meeting will include a presentation by the Region of Durham on their 1635 Dundas project, as well as the opportunity for members of the public to speak and ask questions. 

Council has directed Town staff to move forward with the detailed design for a new Animal Services Centre and Enforcement Services Facility to be located at McKinney Road and Broadleaf Avenue.

A capital project in the amount of $1.3 million will be established for the design, contract management, and project management. Town staff will investigate selling the current Animal Services location at 4680 Thickson Rd. N. to help offset the cost of the new building.

Staff will report back to Council for capital budget approval after the design is finalized and before tendering the work.

A report from Town staff says the existing shelter needs significant improvements over the next 10 years at a cost of $1.5 to $1.6 million. Staff conducted a review of the options – including partnering with other municipalities or having shelter services provided by external agencies -- and recommended that a new, joint Animal Services Centre and Enforcement Services Facility be constructed with a preliminary cost of $9.6 million.

The proposed facility would include an Animal Services shelter on the ground floor and office space on the second floor to accommodate all Town Enforcement Services staff including parking and bylaw.

Council also directed Town staff to continue making improvements to Animal Services operations including improving animal care conditions and increasing revenue.

Review says Town needs 220 additional full-time staff by 2031

A report received by Council for information on Oct. 2 provides an overview of a workforce review completed in 2022 and presented to Council in January 2023.

It determines that the benchmark average staff complement in comparator municipalities is 12.2 full-time staff per 1,000 households, compared to the Town’s current 11.83 full-time staff per 1,000 households.
The report notes that, in order to maintain staffing at the benchmark level, the Town of Whitby will require an additional 220 full-time positions between 2023 and 2031.

The 2023 list of positions for consideration in the 2024 budget includes 63 positions representing 59.67 full-time equivalents. A final list of positions for consideration will be presented to Council as part of the 2024 budget process.