City of Waterloo Council Summary - Dec. 7, 2020
** 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.
Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity – Advancing a Staff Team
Council has unanimously approved the creation of a new four-person staff team that will focus on Indigenous initiatives, anti-racism, accessibility and equity.
The staff team will lead change related to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, equity and anti-racism initiatives, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. This team will provide a significant contribution to the City’s strategic commitments to equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging.
The city will be recruiting for a Director of Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity. Once hired, this Director will guide the hiring of an Indigenous Initiatives Advocate; an Anti-Racism and Social Justice Advocate; and an Accessibility Advocate.
Dutch-style woonerf coming to Waterloo
Council has approved awarding a contract to 39 Seven Inc. in the amount of $1.8 million to reconstruct Larch Street, located near Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis Hall, as a woonerf. Larch Street was identified in the Northdale Neighbourhood Streetscape Master Plan to be reconstructed and converted to a woonerf street. Based on the Dutch woonerf model, and as a shared street, the reconstructed Larch St. will include enhanced landscape features and will integrate all users (automobile, cyclists and pedestrian) within the same right-of-way. The shared street approach also prioritizes pedestrians over vehicles, which encourages active transportation, naturally reduces carbon emissions, and may improve the sense of community in the area. This will be the first of its kind in Waterloo (i.e. the first woonerf); the design was previously presented to the public and to Council in late fall, 2019.
COVID-19 Relief Program: Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and Additional BIA Funding
In yet another step to assist the local economy, Council has approved reallocating $1 million from the existing Uptown CIP funding to be available to businesses throughout the city. While details of the program will be finalized and public consultation held in accordance with the Planning Act, the program will allow businesses who have experienced greater than 30 per cent reduction in gross profits to apply for up to a $1,500 grant to offset expense incurred in adapting their physical premises or to cover the cost of obtaining professional advice due to COVID-19. The program will be retroactive to March 2020.
Council also approved increasing the financial support in 2021 to the Uptown BIA by $100,000. This is intended to offset maintenance and beautification costs that the city charges the BIA and as a result, provide additional funds to enable programs and initiatives aimed at providing critical support to Uptown businesses.
Council freezes rates and confirms 2021 budget
Council has unanimously agreed to freeze a number of rates across the city to assist the community as people deal with the economic impact of the global pandemic.
Rates for water, sanitary, cemetery services, building standards rental housing and business licenses will all be frozen at 2020 rates.
Council confirmed a 3.5 per cent property tax increase for 2021 – of which 1.9 per cent is base budget and operating impacts of capital and 1.6 per cent service level changes and infrastructure.
The property tax increase and service fee freezes, means the annual average household impact is reduced by 34 per cent from the original budget forecast, to $60 for the average homeowner. At the same time, the city continues to make significant progress on its infrastructure deficit, and provide ongoing operating funding for the east side library, and create permanent funding for affordable housing.
Council also directed staff to monitor tax payment arrears and report back to Council with recommendations for targeted relief, if required.
Tony Iavarone, APR FCPRS
Director of Communications
City of Waterloo
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O: 519-747-8513
Twitter: @citywaterloo