Barrie and Innisfil technical teams will be getting back to work Nov. 21 to discuss how much phosphorous Lake Simcoe can safely handle.

The teams’ meeting is the first since mid-September, when negotiating teams met for the first time since talks had broke down April 30.

The technical teams – comprised of engineers, planners and chief administrative officers – continued to meet over the summer, however.

The last time the boundary negotiators got together, Barrie and Innisfil agreed to work together to service the Innisfil Heights area, as well as how to encourage the creation of 25,000 jobs. At the time, Barrie’s chief negotiator Coun. Mike Ramsay described talks as being encouraging.

However, the two municipalities, along with the County of Simcoe, couldn’t agree on wording in a proposed press release, and relations ever since have turned chilly.

Last week, a county growth consultant told Barrie council that its standoffish approach – the city is not taking an active part in the county’s growth planning process – is fuelling a “community of communities” approach to allocating a projected 227,000 more people over the next 25 years.

The county is aiming to have a policy direction for growth – including how to allocate 76,900 more people in south Simcoe – by March, so that the county can bring its Official Plan into conformity with Ontario’s Places to Grow policy by June 2008.

Places to Grow calls for intensification in settlement areas and protection of agricultural land, as well as the designation of employment areas, to enhance the performance of the Greater Golden Horseshoe.