Richmond Hill Furthers Commitment to Community Safety 
In an effort to continue enhancing community safety in Richmond Hill, Council designated the following three locations as Community Safety Zones (CSZ): Avenue Road from Carville Road to Weldrick Road West; Red Maple Road from High Tech Road to Silver Linden Drive; and Red Cardinal Trail from Humberland Drive to Brightsview Drive. With the addition of the three new CSZs, Richmond Hill will have eight CSZs designated on Municipal roadways that experience a high volume of vulnerable pedestrian activity like schools, parks and playgrounds. The purpose of safety zones is to modify driver behaviour, increasing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. Once the appropriate policy criteria are met and the locations are implemented as CSZs, York Regional Police will monitor them and signs will be placed in specific areas, notifying drivers and pedestrians of the new designations. By-laws will also be enforced 24-7 and all fines for traffic-related infractions will be doubled as per the Highway Traffic Act. The new community safety zones are expected to be in effect by late-summer. For more information about Richmond Hill’s Community Safety Zones, contact Rob Cowie, Traffic Analyst, at 905-747-6455.

Richmond Hill Blooms for Another Season
Richmond Hill Blooms, formerly known as the Richmond Hill Front Garden Recognition program, is designed to help beautify the community by encouraging residents to create and recognize attractive, colourful and well-maintained gardens. With planting weather here and summer quickly approaching, staff delivered a presentation to Council about the newly revised recognition program. With the updated program, every residential garden that is nominated will be recognized and awards will be given to the top three gardens in each ward. The judging responsibility will be shared between Richmond Hill staff horticulturalists (who will determine the shortlisted gardens) and the Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society (who will select the top three gardens per ward). The shortlisted gardens will be judged in accordance with the Ontario Horticultural Association’s Gardens and Special Planting criteria. The Front Garden Recognition program was introduced 15 years ago in conjunction with the Community in Blooms program. Since then, the program has grown in popularity and size, with 2,000 gardens nominated in 2014! To learn more about Richmond Hill Blooms, including how to nominate a neighbour’s garden or even your own, visit RichmondHill.ca/RichmondHillBlooms. For more information, contact Jeff Stewart, Manager, Parks Operation, at 905-780-2935.

Richmond Hill Supports Community Organizations
Every year, Richmond Hill awards grant funds to local, non-for-profit organizations to assist with special projects and activities that support the community. This year, Council approved grants for seven local community organizations totalling $12,250: Beginning Again Richmond Hill – Treasures Charity Thrift Store; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of York; Richmond Hill Centennial Pipe Band; Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club; Oak Ridges Community Clean Up; York Region 55+ Senior Games; and York Region Senior Tamils’ Centre (Thai Pongal). Local organizations can apply annually for project or operating funding along with a summary of the work they provide and why funding assistance is required. The applications will be considered based on the applicant’s fit with Richmond Hill’s granting priorities and a list of assessment criteria. To learn more about the grant application process, criteria and eligibility, visit RichmondHill.ca/CommunityGrants. To learn more about this year’s recipient and their projects/initiatives, please view Staff Report SRCFS.15.017. For more information, contact Carol Kelly, Investments & Grants Analyst, at 905-771-2401.

New Oak Ridges Library One Step Closer
With Council’s approval of the schematic design and additional project funding a key component of the next phase of the Oak Ridges Library is in place. Public visioning workshops (fall 2014) indicated that, to fully meet program requirements for the new library, the square footage should be increased from 16,000 to 19,000 square feet. Council approved the increase at its February 9, 2015 meeting. The larger floor area increases the cost of the library project from $8,651,700 to $10,434,700. The funding sources for the additional $1,783,000 will be allocated from the Library Service Development Charge Reserve Fund ($978,900), the Capital Asset Continuity Reserve Fund ($695,300) and the Federal Gas Tax Reserve Fund ($108,800). The new library will have many unique features, including self-serve technology, makerspace, an urban living room, and a computer education centre among others. Libraries are important amenities, offering services to people of all ages, acting as a hub for as a safe and welcoming place for learning and connecting with others in the community. The new library will be located at the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Regatta Road. This facility will serve the growing population at the north end of Richmond Hill. The design for the new library was awarded to Perkins + Will Canada Inc. last September and in December, Council approved the creation of a Steering Committee for the new Library project to facilitate communication between the project team, the Library Board and Council. The Oak Ridges Library is expected to open in fall 2017. For more information about the project, contact Pat Caron, Director, Asset Management, at 905-771-2403.

National Access Awareness Week - Equal Opportunity for Residents of all Abilities
National Access Awareness Week is just around the corner (May 31 to June 6) and Richmond Hill is marking the occasion through its everyday commitment to provide equal access to residents of all abilities. National Access Awareness Week was established in 1988 in response to a request from Canadian Paralympian Rick Hansen following his Man in Motion World Tour. Its aim is to bring together, in a spirit of partnership, people with disabilities, organizations who serve them, businesses, labour and governments to affect meaningful change. Richmond Hill aims to provide services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities and works hard to make its facilities accessible to them and to everyone who lives, works and visits Town offices and facilities. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. More than 15 per cent of Ontarians have a disability, and this number will increase as the population ages; therefore, providing accessible customer service continues to be a priority for Richmond Hill. For more information about accessibility in Richmond Hill, visit RichmondHill.ca/Accessibility or contact Gloria Collier, Acting Town Clerk, at 905-747-6363.