Transport Canada Rail Safety Improvement Program
In 2015, Transport Canada developed new Grade Crossings Regulations (GCR) under the Railway Safety Act to improve safety. By November 27, 2021, railway companies and road authorities must meet all requirements to upgrade existing road and rail crossings. Six crossings at Richmond Hill local roads (Hillsview Avenue (pedestrian crossing), Gormley Road West (pedestrian crossing), Weldrick Road East, Centre Street East, Crosby Avenue and Bethesda Side Road) require improvements to enhance the safety of for users. The cost to complete all necessary recommended improvements is estimated to be $211,250. The successful Transport Canada Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP) grant application resulted in a partial funding contribution of $91,670 towards this work, leaving the remaining $119,580 to be funded by the Town. The improvements must be complete by March 31, 2019 in order to meet the requirements of the grant. For more information, contact Richard Hui, Manager of Transportation, 905-771-5478.

New Geographic Information System (GIS) Strategy
Council endorsed Richmond Hill’s first Geographic Information System (GIS) Strategy, as recommended in the IT Strategy (approved July 2017). GIS is a system designed to capture, store, analyze and manage geographic data. By mapping and analyzing data, GIS helps municipalities prioritize and improve processes to deliver service excellence, such as pinning the location of parks and recreation centres or optimizing snow routes for winter maintenance. The new Strategy provides a roadmap for improving the Town’s GIS leadership, coordination, capabilities and data. The GIS Strategy is linked to the IT Strategy vision to become a leading smart community and to Richmond Hill’s mission statement to provide exceptional public service to our community. For more information, contact Anthony Iannucci, Chief Information Officer, 905-771-5510.

Textile Donation Bin Program
Council directed staff to begin a new public awareness campaign focused on education and outreach to provide information about the reduction, reuse and recycling of textiles in Richmond Hill. Textiles, including clothing, drapes, sheets, shoes and accessories, represent approximately three to five per cent of the Town’s residential garbage stream. The goals of the public awareness campaign are to draw attention to the environmental impacts of textile production/disposal and to inform residents of the many reputable textile diversion programs available in Richmond Hill. Currently, Richmond Hill residents can drop-off their unwanted textiles at textiles donation bins operated by reputable charities and private organizations throughout Richmond Hill. In addition, residents can take their unwanted textiles to used clothing stores, such as Value Village or Salvation Army Thrift Store or they can have them picked up from their homes by various charities. By reducing the amount of textile waste generated, residents are reducing their impacts on the environment and supporting the social programs provided by charities. For more information, contact Terry Ricketts, Director of Corporate Asset Management and Environment Services, 905-771-6504.  

Ontario Main Street Revitalization Grant Program
Richmond Hill has been allocated $202,115 under the Main Street Revitalization Initiative to help municipal governments undertake main street revitalization initiatives that support and benefit small businesses. Council has approved staff’s proposal that this funding be allocated to the new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant program which includes four categories: façade restoration, landscaping, signage and building renovation. The additional Main Street funding will be used to enhance the current program for properties located in the Downtown and provide grants of up to 90 per cent of eligible cost in all four categories, up to a maximum amount; provided the project is completed by March 31, 2020. Projects already approved by Council, but not yet started will also be eligible for the Provincial Grant without having to reapply. All other requirements and criteria for the program would remain the same. Once the Main Street funding is fully allocated, the façade, signage, landscaping and building renovation grant program will revert back to the previous matching funding model of up to 50 per cent of eligible projects. For more information, contact Daniel Olding, Manager of Grants and Strategic Initiatives, 905-771-5505. 

Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Governance Structure
Richmond Hill's mandate as a local government is to deliver a wide variety of services to our community. Infrastructure assets, like buildings, roads, parks and water pipes are required to provide these services. All told, Richmond Hill has over 41,000 traditional infrastructure assets worth $1.85 billion that need to be maintained and eventually replaced, as well as a number of environmental assets such as urban forest and valleylands requiring maintenance and protection. In December 2017, the Province of Ontario released new regulations for asset management under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act (2015). These regulations require municipalities to have an Asset Management Policy approved by July 1, 2019. At the July 9 meeting, Council approved $125,000 to fund the development of an Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Governance Structure, with the help of external consultants and under the direction of an Asset Management Steering Committee. An Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Governance Structure will enable Richmond Hill to make better decisions about how to fund and manage assets in the delivery of services to the community. The regulations further require updated asset management plans of increasing sophistication by 2021 and 2023 respectively. For more information, contact Terry Ricketts, Director of Corporate Asset Management and Environmental Services, 905-771-6504.