Supporting Call for Predictable and Sustainable Funding

Sharing their concern for the need to close the municipal fiscal gap, Richmond Hill Council passed a resolution supporting the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) What’s Next Ontario initiative. As per a recent poll conducted on behalf of the association, 76 per cent of Ontarians are concerned or somewhat concerned property taxes will not cover the cost of infrastructure while maintaining municipal services and 90 per cent agree that maintaining safe infrastructure is an important priority for their communities. The resolution passed by Council notes the gap between financial needs of municipalities and funding that is expected to be available in the future from other levels of government. As noted in the resolution, Council supports actions to close the fiscal gap so that all municipalities can benefit from predictable and sustainable revenue to finance infrastructure and municipal service needs. For more information, contact Mayor Dave Barrow at 905-771-2493.

Investing in Downtown Heritage

Council approved a grant for $10,000 each for the properties located at 10210 and 10212 Yonge Street in conjunction with the Village Core Façade Assistance Program. The Village Core Façade Assistance Program was established in 2000 and is designed to provide financial assistance in the form of matching funds to commercial property owners subject to a project meeting the program guidelines. As per the guidelines, a maximum of 50 per cent of the costs of façade improvements up to a maximum of $10,000 per property can be granted. In order to be eligible, a property owner must submit an application and three quotations for the proposed work. For the properties at 10210 and 10212 Yonge Street, the owner will change the existing exterior surface treatments and include the addition of nature stone, wood finished metal siding, new signage and LED lighting. The properties are currently home to a number of local retail businesses. The changes align with Richmond Hill’s “Walk This Way” document and support the historical character and importance of Yonge Street and a sense of identity and place within the Village Core, as well as improve the look of the buildings, street and neighbourhood as outlined in the Strategic Plan. For more information, contact Matthew Somerville, Heritage and Urban Design Planner at 905-771-5529.

Richmond Hill’s 2016 National Public Works Week Recognized with a National Award!

Mayor Barrow and Richmond Hill’s National Public Works Week (NPWW) Organizing Committee were presented with the Canadian Public Works Association’s (CPWA) highest award for this year’s Public Works program. Richmond Hill’s National Public Works Week events were held in May and included the NPWW Open House and Healthy Yards event, the York Municipal Public Works Challenge, and school Tours for Grades 5 and 10 students. The events also raised funds for two charities (Hill House Hospice and the Canadian Red Cross for Fort McMurray Fire Relief efforts). Richmond Hill’s 2016 NPWW activities and celebration competed for the national award with other Canadian municipalities that entered in the Medium Centre category for municipalities with populations of 75,001 - 250,000. NPWW highlights the important role Public Works professionals play in everyday life and illustrates how they contribute to building vibrant, connected and sustainable communities. For more information about National Public Works Week in Richmond Hill, visit RichmondHill.ca/NPWW or contact Mario DiSalvo, National Public Works Week Committee Chair, at 905-780-2949.

Management Strategies Improve the Health of Lake Wilcox

Council received a presentation from staff on the state of Lake Wilcox, a valuable community amenity and important natural heritage feature in Richmond Hill. After decades of monitoring and remediation, staff noted that Lake Wilcox is a healthier more balanced lake than it has been in 20 years. In the mid-1990s, the lake was in poor health due to an overabundance of nutrients, specifically phosphorus which causes algae blooms that are harmful to fish. A lake remediation strategy was completed in 1996 which laid the groundwork for improving the health of Lake Wilcox and was subsequently updated in 2012. As a result of the strategies developed by the Town, a number of management techniques were put in place to protect and improve the lake. Today, phosphorous and lake clarity are improving and fish species are in a balanced state. Chloride has emerged as a growing concern and will be the focus of future management plans. Staff noted that an update to the Lake Wilcox Management Plan is proposed for approval as part of the 2017 capital budget process. The plan will update Richmond Hill’s goals for Lake Wilcox and identify practical lake management solutions that will help preserve the lake as a unique and valuable feature for generations to come. For more information, contact Terry Ricketts, Director, Environment Services at 905-747-6504.

Richmond Hill Continues to Invest in Infrastructure

Council awarded the tender for the rehabilitation of Lake Wilcox Baif West Stormwater Management Facility, located east of Yonge Street between Ashfield Drive and North Lake Road. The approximately $500,000 project will restore the berm to its original elevation, remove accumulated sediment and redistribute sediment to convert the pond into a treatment wetland. The area will also be improved as a park setting with new asphalt walkways and tree plantings for residents to enjoy. For more information, contact Kyle Paterson, Project Manager – Capital Infrastructure at 905-747-6341.

Richmond Hill Wins Awards for Communication

Richmond Hill was presented with five communication awards representing a wide range of projects. Richmond Hill received a Hermes platinum award for the Terry Fox Tribute communication products and a gold award for the Studio Tour 2015 promotional material. Honourable mention awards were also received for the Responsible Pet Ownership embroidery patch for Scout and Guide groups, the Richmond Hill Blooms integrated communication material and the environment video: “Out of a Fallen Tree, New Things Come to Life.” In addition, Richmond Hill won a Gold AVA digital award for the wood chips promotional video which invites residents to pick up free wood chips at Richmond Green. The video has had more than 1000 views since it was released last fall. The AVA Digital Awards and the Hermes Creative Awards recognize excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, design and production of digital and traditional communications. The international competition is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. For more information contact Meeta Gandhi, Director, Communication Services at 905-747-6311.

Award-winning Guide for New Businesses Brings Business to Richmond Hill

For its Guide for New Businesses, Richmond Hill received a Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award in the category of Special Purpose Print Brochure from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). In an effort to attract and retain new businesses to Richmond Hill, Economic Development created an easy-to-use guide to help businesses understand what they need to know and do before moving to Richmond Hill. The Guide for New Businesses is the first of its kind in York Region and surrounding regions; municipalities as far away as Virginia, USA are considering creating their own version. It provides specific content for companies moving to an existing space and also those designing a new building. Available in an electronic format, the guide provides links to valuable information and relevant forms including specifics on finding the right location, zoning guidelines, building and occupancy permits and key business resources and contacts. IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in their communities. For more information contact Gwen Manderson, Director, Strategic Initiatives at 905-771-2411.

Richmond Hill Continues Call for Subway Extension to be a Top Priority

With consideration to Metrolinx’s Discussion Paper regarding an update to the Regional Transportation Plan, Richmond Hill Council reiterated its commitment that the Yonge North Subway Extension is a top priority for the community. Council further requested that this be reflected in the update to the Regional Transportation Plan. Over the past several months Metrolinx has been engaging local municipalities as part of their review and update of the Regional Transportation Plan. York Region has taken the lead on providing a coordinated response, capturing comments from all nine municipalities, including Richmond Hill. In addition to the subway extension, Richmond Hill also believes that improvements to the GO Transit line should continue to be explored along with consideration for a GO Transit station and/or Mobility Hub at Yonge Street/16th Avenue as part of the update to the Regional Transportation Plan. Richmond Hill is committed to working with the Region and other level of government to improve public transportation access and services. For more information, contact Dan Terzievski, Director, Development Engineering & Transportation at 905-747-6358.

A Summer Camp that Empowers Young Minds

Each year, Richmond Hill awards the William F. Bell Young Entrepreneur Award to a young business person. This year, Arsham Eslami, owner of Design Camp Studios was selected to receive the award. Through the Ontario Summer Company Program, Arsham received start-up funding, business training and mentorship to start his summer camp business. This assistance helped Arsham transform his ideas of teaching young minds about digital media and computer programming into reality! He achieved great sales this summer and successfully taught many ambitious students, aged 8 to 12, programming skills at a university level. Arsham believes this experience was just the beginning and plans to continue as an entrepreneur. This award was established in honour of Richmond Hill’s longest serving Mayor and long-time supporter of youth and business, William F. Bell. In partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth / Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, Richmond Hill’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) delivers the Summer Company Program. Since 2004, Richmond Hill’s SBEC has helped more than 100 young, creative people to explore entrepreneurship as a career option and launch summer businesses through Summer Company. For more information contact Alexandru Horghidan, Small Business Consultant – Youth Programs, at 905-771-2546.

The next Committee of the Whole Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 7, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. and the next Council Meeting is Monday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Council Chambers.