City of Waterloo council summary
The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at this evening’s council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Special service levies
Council approved special service levies for three different homes associations to raise funds to enable the continued use and enjoyment of their recreation facilities and programs. The special service levy for Glasgow II Homes Association is a flat rate of $475; the special service levy for Beechwood II Homes is a flat rate of $446.35; and the special service levy for Beechwood South Homes Association is a flat rate of $375. Each member of these associations will receive the flat rate on their tax bills, collectable in a like manner as taxes.
Transient accommodation tax
Council approved a four per cent transient accommodation tax, also known as a hotel tax. Funds generated through this tax will be shared amongst the Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation (50 per cent), the participating lower tier municipalities (40 per cent), and the Region of Waterloo (10 per cent), and invested in sales, marketing, bid acquisitions, office operations support and tourism development opportunities through the Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation. Specifically for the City of Waterloo, these funds will support and enhance our tourism, sport, and cultural offerings, as well as major event attraction efforts.
Parkview Chapel and Crematorium – future considerations
Council directed staff to engage the public regarding future options for the chapel and crematorium. The chapel and crematorium require significant upgrades within the next year to meet current and future community need and market demand. Additionally, several privately run crematoriums have created direct competition for the Parkview Crematorium. Public engagement will help inform if the City of Waterloo should invest and remain in the cremation business or divest itself of the crematorium and repurpose the chapel.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex – planned retrofit work
Council approved the advancement of routine funding from the 2019 approved capital budget and funding transfers from other projects to allow for additional planned retrofit work at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex that aligns with the timing of the expansion of the facility. The facility is 25 years old and retrofits include existing building components/system that are reaching the end of their useful life and require replacement or major rehabilitation (ex. mechanical systems) and functional and/or aesthetic improvements to existing spaces currently not included in the planned expansion work (ex. aquatic change room upgrades and partial main lobby refresh).
Uptown community improvement plan
The CIP program was approved in 2015 as a means of financially assisting uptown Waterloo property owners and businesses throughout the LRT and streetscape construction. Given the challenges UpTown Waterloo BIA members have faced and continue to face during construction, the UpTown BIA has offered to continue to provide additional funding for its members who apply for the façade improvement grant program. Council, in turn, has approved the extension of the UpTown BIA façade improvement grant financial “bump-up” in support of its members through the continued construction.
Asphalt paving and concrete repairs at various locations city-wide and RIM Park Pavilion site servicing and access road
Council awarded a tender to Brantco Construction, to conduct asphalt paving and concrete repairs across the city and at RIM Park, as well as site servicing of the new pavilion at RIM Park. Work will include road-resurfacing, placement of surface asphalt, repair and/or replacement of concrete curbs and sidewalks, site servicing for the RIM Park Pavilion and an access laneway for the RIM Park pavilion site and for the Waterloo Hospice.
Media contact:
Tony Iavarone
Director, Corporate Communications
519-747-8513
tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca