City of Waterloo council summary May 17, 2021
** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at this afternoon’s council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Council approves Affordable Housing grant program initiation
In support of Council’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan objective of increasing the supply of affordable housing in the community, Council has approved the creation of an Affordable Housing Grant Program initiation process to guide the allocation of available funding to support developments that provide new affordable housing units in the City.
Given current restrictions under the Municipal Act, 2001 which requires a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) before the city can provide grant monies to a commercial enterprise, initially an Affordable Housing Grant Program will be created for Not-For-Profit Corporations providing new affordable housing units in the City.
This new Affordable Housing Grant Program project process will incorporate public and stakeholder consultation and will be divided into three phases: (i) project introduction; (ii) public engagement; and (iii) recommendations report. The project has a target completion date of September.
Council approves funding for bike park and skate spot
In support of physical activity and further enhancing the quality of life in the city, Council has approved $492,000 for the Neighbourhood Action Sports Parks as well as another $723,000 to be released in January 2022.
The funding will enable the city-wide Action Sport Parks, with specific focus on construction of the RIM Park West Bike Park in 2021 and of the Skate Spot at John M. Harper Library and Stork Family YMCA in 2022. Both projects, the bike park located at RIM Park West and skate spot located at the John M. Harper Library and Stork Family YMCA, have been designed and detailed to include feedback through past community engagement.
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Media contact:
Tony Iavarone
Director, Corporate Communications
tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca