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City launches ward boundary review engagement

Join the conversation online at haveyoursay.guelph.ca

Guelph, Ont., January 4, 2021 – Community input is open for the next phase of the Council composition and ward boundary review—how many wards Guelph should have and where they should start and stop.

The ward boundary review engagement will be done in three separate, but distinct parts. During part one, starting today until January 22, the community will prioritize the criteria from the Municipal Act that must be considered during a ward boundary review:

  • Population
  • Projected growth
  • Communities of interest
  • Natural boundaries and geographic features (rivers, railroads, forests, etc.)

“This phase is really about establishing what’s most important to the community,” says Dylan McMahon, manager of Legislative Services at the City of Guelph. “Whether that’s keeping certain neighbourhoods intact, having as close to equal populations as we can in each ward, or considering natural or physical barriers that are important to Guelph.”

During part two in March 2021, residents will be able to view several ward boundary options, share their preferences and identify strengths and weaknesses of each.

Each ward boundary option will also include the recommended number of councillors per ward, which the community can comment on. Council directed staff at the November 5 Council composition meeting to re-engage residents on scenarios that include eight, 10 and 12 councillors, different numbers of councillors elected per ward and whether councillors should be full-time or part-time.

“Council’s composition is significantly impacted by how many wards Guelph has,” adds McMahon. “Residents will be engaged on several ward boundary options where they can provide feedback on the total number of councillors and the number of councillors elected per ward in addition to different ward boundary scenarios.”

The third and final part of engagement in April 2021 will ask residents to pick their preferred ward boundary options and Council composition. Staff will take a report to Council with recommendations for composition and ward boundaries in June, 2020.

Participate in the conversation online

The Council composition and ward boundary review engagement will take place entirely online during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ensures public safety while still offering a robust and complete way for residents to have their say.

Take the online survey or ask a question

Participate in the virtual town hall on January 13, 7-8:30 p.m.

Event password: CityCouncil2021
Call-in number: 1-416-216-5643
Access code: 179 620 1267

Staff Contact:

Dylan McMahon, Manager
Legislative Services, City Clerk’s Office
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2811
[email protected]

Council approves City’s 2021 budget

Guelph, Ont., December 1, 2020—Council approved the 2021 operating budget with a gross expenditure of $463,361,452 equaling a net tax levy increase of 2.55 per cent; and a one year pause on the Guelph General Hospital contribution approved as part of the 2020 budget, reduced the net tax levy increase to 2.25 per cent.

“Tonight’s budget approval reflects Council’s commitment to our community to provide support and service excellence to our citizens, their families and our business owners. The 2021 budget brings tax relief and funding to help our community through this pandemic,” says Mayor Cam Guthrie. “I’d like to thank my Council colleagues and our City staff for their dedication to putting our community first and ensuring we have a budget that keeps our city moving forward.”

The approved budget reflects the funding needed to maintain current levels of service for both the City and its local boards and shared service partners including Guelph Public Library, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Social Services (County of Wellington), Guelph Police Services, and the Elliott (long-term care).

“Council’s approval of the 2021 budget and receipt of the three-year operating forecast and nine-year capital forecast, set the pace for initiatives that will meet our Strategic Plan goals,” said Trevor Lee, Deputy CAO, Corporate Services.

The capital portion of this budget approval ensures that the South End Community Centre and the Baker District Redevelopment project can proceed with construction to start in 2022, with operating impacts phased in over multiple years.

The City’s user rates have been approved with a 2.8 per cent increase to water, one per cent increase to wastewater, and a stormwater base charge change of $6.40 per month, resulting in a 2.03 per cent increase for the average home in Guelph starting January 1, 2021.

The 2021 budget also includes new budget requests to support a growing community, including initial investments to support digital transformation to become the modern local government the community expects, strategic priority implementation and seven new positions including four paramedics. It also includes the approval of the red light camera implementation and the bi-weekly curbside pick up of yard waste.

Council also approved the following:

  • A wage freeze for non-union employees, Mayor and Council equaling a savings of $831,800.
  • $1,128,500 of one-time community and business support to assist through COVID recovery including business licence fee subsidy, volunteer records check subsidy, Guelph Neighborhood Support Coalition funding, continued funding for the Welcoming Streets initiative and the Addiction Court Support Program, and increased support to long-term care.
  • A total of $1,000,000 to local organizations and businesses to rebuild and adapt to the impacts of COVID-19—$650,000 to non-profit organizations, groups and individuals to support the community across all sectors to help adapt/create services or programs to meet community needs, and $350,000 to local businesses in the tourism industry.
  • $833,000 for the first year phase-in of the operating budget for the South End Community Centre and the Baker District Redevelopment.
  • $134,500 for a new Economic Development Officer dedicated to investment attraction, retention and real estate focusing on proactive business migration to Guelph from GTA, and support pandemic economic recovery in our community.
  • $300,000 for a service rationalization of City services.

“This year’s budget reflects Council’s direction to prioritize our Strategic Plan initiatives and services that will make our community and organization future-ready,” said Tara Baker, treasurer and general manager of Finance. “With the operating and capital budget forecast well in hand, we can set our sights on continuing with our multi-year budgeting program and our long-term financial strategy.”

What’s next?
With the budget now approved, Council will set the tax policy in April to determine what percentage of the total levy will be paid by each tax class.

All final budget documents will be available at guelph.ca/budget and comply with the Province’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Accessible formats available by calling 519-822-1260, extension 2325 or TTY 519-826-9771.

Media contact:

Tara Baker
Treasurer, GM Finance
City of Guelph
519-822-1260, extension 2084
[email protected]

Guelph Growth Strategy Town Hall November 26

Earlier this year we heard your thoughts about where and how to add new housing throughout our city. Now it’s time to start a conversation about how we grow.

Virtual town hall November 26

There are different ways Guelph can adapt to reach the 2051 population and employment growth forecasts and targets that the Province has set for our community. Join us for a virtual town hall on Thursday, November 26, 7-8 p.m. to learn about one way our community could grow. You can join the town hall through the virtual WebEx event or watch it live on guelph.ca/live or the City of Guelph’s Facebook page. Ask questions, share reactions and suggest other ways we could grow during this live event.

Take the online survey November 26 to December 18

Learn more about how Guelph might grow and complete the online survey between November 26 and December 18. Hard copies of the survey are available by calling 519-837-5616 or emailing [email protected].

Your input will help us develop a made-in-Guelph growth strategy that will guide and manage our growing city for the next 30 years. Please visit Shaping Guelph to learn more.

Should you have any questions about Shaping Guelph or wish to be removed from our contact list please email [email protected].

Natalie Goss, MA, MCIP, RPP| Senior Policy Planner

Planning and Building Services | Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise

City of Guelph

519-822-1260 ext. 3548

[email protected]

guelph.ca

facebook.com/cityofguelph

@cityofguelph

Help us shape how we travel around Guelph

Provide feedback as part of Guelph’s Transportation Master Plan by December 4

Guelph, Ont., November 12, 2020 – We’re sharing our progress and looking for your feedback on values, goals and possible options for Guelph’s Transportation Master Plan. Whether you walk, ride a bike, take a bus, drive a car or use some other form of travel, we want to hear from you by December 4.

We developed the vision, values and goals and identified challenges and opportunities for transportation in Guelph based on over 4,000 responses gathered during community engagement activities in 2019.

Four ways we can address the transportation challenges facing our city include:

  1. Do nothing: make no changes to the existing transportation network
  2. Focus on sustainability: encourage walking, cycling and travel by bus by creating walkable streets, developing a core network of cycling links and reducing bus travel times in critical transit corridor
  3. Build for sustainability and resiliency: in addition to the sustainability focus, develop a core network of four-lane streets running north-south and east-west across Guelph to improve conditions for walking, cycling or transit
  4. Large-scale infrastructure expansion: build for sustainability and resiliency while allowing congested streets to be widened to accommodate car capacity for existing and forecasted future car volumes

Take a moment to check out our virtual open house story map and read background papers, then complete the survey to help Guelph move better in every way.

Addressing transportation challenges

We’ve created background papers to provide more detailed information about the key challenges affecting Guelph’s transportation system:

  • New mobility: how we use new transportation technologies and the new and different ways we move around
  • Changing travel habits: how we need to travel in the future to meet our goals
  • Road safety: how we protect all road users
  • Network planning: how we make decisions when planning transportation and connections
  • Resilience: how we can build an adaptable transportation system
  • Transportation and land use: how we travel between different areas such as where we live, work, play and shop (available November 20)

Next steps

We’ll start the next phase of community engagement in 2021, to gather feedback on the plan we build from our research and the input you share now.

Have your say on speed limits in Guelph

Interested in transportation and road safety in Guelph? We’re collecting feedback on speed limits too. This community engagement opportunity includes quiz questions to raise your awareness about the impacts of driving speed on road safety and survey questions about ways you think the City could make our streets safer for all road users.

Take the online quiz and survey by November 30 to:

  • Learn how driving speeds factor into road safety
  • Share ways you think we can make our streets safer for all travellers
  • Share your thoughts on speed limits on residential city streets
  • Provide feedback on other ways we can encourage drivers to slow down

Resources

Guelph’s Transportation Master Plan

For more information

Terry Gayman, General Manager/City Engineer
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2369
[email protected]

Should Guelph lower speed limits?

Complete the online survey by November 30

Guelph, Ont., November 9, 2020 – Whether you drive, walk, bike, ride transit or use a mobility device to travel around Guelph, we want your feedback on speed limits in our city. Take the online survey by November 30 to tell us:

  • How you feel about the possibility for lower speed limits on residential city streets
  • How we can make our streets safer for all travellers
  • How you think speed limits impact travel times and collisions
  • Other ways we can encourage drivers to slow down

We’ll use the information gathered through this survey along with technical considerations, collision data and a municipal best practice review to develop a recommendation for Council’s consideration next year.

This work is part of Guelph’s Community Road Safety Strategy to improve road safety for all road users, regardless of age, ability or how you travel.

Making our streets safer as we travel around Guelph supports the Navigating our future priority in the City’s Strategic Plan by improving the safety, efficiency and connectivity of the whole transportation system. This work also supports the Community Plan by ensuring people feel safe walking, jogging, wheeling, driving and riding their bikes throughout our city.

For more information

Liraz Fridman, Transportation Safety Specialist
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 3620
[email protected]

2021 City Budget Virtual Ward 2 Town Hall

Hello Neighbours!

You are invited to join Councillors James Gordon and Rodrigo Goller on Wednesday November 18th at 7pm for a conversation about the 2021 City of Guelph budget.

We will be joined by a City staff member from the Finance department, who will present an overview of the 2021 budget and answer your questions. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing about your priorities for next year’s budget.

Here’s the 2021 City of Guelph Budget Information: https://guelph.ca/city-hall/budget-and-finance/city-budget/2021-budget/

You can follow the link below to join the Virtual Town Hall, or you can call in using the toll-free number and the meeting numbers below.

Information Session about the Drop In Centre’s Proposal to create Supportive Housing at The Parkview Motel

This is the recording of the Ward 2 Town Hall held on Thursday September 17th, to provide Guelph residents with more information about the Drop In Centre’s proposal for permanent supportive housing at the current site of the Parkview Motel. If you have any questions about the proposal, please reach out directly to Gail Hoekstra ([email protected]), the Executive Director of the Drop In Centre.

Ward 2 Virtual Town Hall about the Drop-In Centre’s proposal for Supportive Housing at the Parkview Motel

Hello Neighbours!

You’re invited to join your Ward 2 City Councillors, James Gordon & Rodrigo Goller and our special guest, Gail Hoekstra, the Executive Director of Guelph’s Drop In Centre. At this town hall we will be discussing the Drop In Centre’s plans to purchase the Parkview Motel (located at the corner of Woolwich Street and Marilyn Drive, Guelph), to create permanent supportive housing.

We ask that you please submit your questions in advance to James ([email protected]) or Rodrigo ([email protected]), so we can allow enough time during the meeting to address everyone’s questions and concerns.

This meeting will be hosted online using the City of Guelph’s online meeting platform. Please connect a few minutes before the meeting starts, to familiarize yourself with the meeting platform. If you have any trouble joining us online, you can also call into the meeting by phone. Here are the details:

Date: Thursday September 17, 2020

Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Link to Join the Virtual Town Hall: https://guelph.webex.com/guelph/j.php?MTID=m9ce67bb538c15e2dc134df03ab2f52dc

Meeting number: 173 689 9795 Password: aUGEemwx832

Join by phone: 1-416-216-5643 or 1-613-714-9906 Access code: 173 689 9795

While you’re here, I’d like to share two conversations our Mayor Cam Guthrie has recently had on this topic:

Mayor’s Interview with Dominica McPherson from the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination about the need for Supportive Housing in Guelph: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP3iib7nBhs

Mayor’s Interview with Gail Hoekstra from the Drop In Center about their plans to purchase the Parkview Motel to create Supportive Housing in Guelph: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwWMl1GRUo

City launches Council composition and ward boundary review

Join the conversation online at haveyoursay.guelph.ca

Guelph, Ont., August 17, 2020 – The City invites community input as it starts a review of Guelph’s Council composition and ward boundaries that will explore whether the city’s local government structure should change as it grows.

“This review is an opportunity to come together as a community to evaluate citizen representation and ward boundaries,” says Dylan McMahon, manager of Legislative Services in the City Clerk’s Office. “Residents will help decide if change is needed for fair and effective representation as Guelph grows.”

The first phase, Council Composition, will determine how many councillors Guelph needs in each ward, whether they should be full time or part time, and whether they should be ward specific or serve the community at large. Engagement will take place until September 4, entirely online.

The second phase – a review of Guelph’s ward boundaries— will take place in January 2021 to look at Guelph’s current ward structure and any changes required to ensure a fair election process.

“We recognize that Guelph’s six wards have distinct and vibrant identities,” says McMahon. “The ward boundary review will respect existing geographic and natural boundaries, like main roads, railways and rivers, as well as distinct neighbourhoods within each ward like Old University, St. Patrick’s Ward and the Junction.”

In the third phase, a public advisory committee will be assembled in late 2021 to review Council compensation starting January 2022. A report to Council is expected by the end of June 2022.

Staff will take a report to Council with recommendations for composition in November 2020, and a second report for ward boundaries in 2021. Staff will also consider current and alternative voting systems and methods with public engagement planned for November 2020 following recommendations from the first phase. A report to Council with recommendations on voting systems and methods will happen in early 2021 to be ready for the 2022 municipal election.

Participate in the conversation online

The Council composition and ward boundary review engagement will take place entirely online during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ensures public safety while still offering a robust and complete way for residents to have their say.

Ask a question online at haveyoursay.guelph.ca

Participate in the virtual town hall on August 25 from 6-7 p.m.

Media contact

Dylan McMahon, Manager
Legislative Services, City Clerk’s Office
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2811
[email protected]

Construction notice: Portion of Speedvale Avenue and Woolwich Street intersection closed for repairs August 7 to 8

Speedvale Avenue Reconstruction Project

Notice date: July 31, 2020

About the project

The City is working with Capital Paving Inc. to repair utility trenches and road services at the intersection of Speedvale Avenue and Woolwich Street.

Work starts August 7

Work is expected to start at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 7 and should be complete by 7 a.m. the next day, weather permitting.

Road closure and lane reductions

A 50 metre portion of Speedvale Avenue, just east of Woolwich Street, will be closed to traffic during construction. Local access will be maintained for residents and businesses.

Woolwich Street north and southbound lanes and Speedvale Avenue westbound lanes, leading up to the intersection, will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

https://guelph.ca/wp-content/uploads/Construction-Map-Woolwich-and-Speedvale-1017x1024.jpg

Pedestrian access

Sidewalks are expected to remain open during construction. If sidewalk access needs to be restricted, signs will be posted for pedestrian safety.

Property access

Every effort will be made to maintain access to driveways during construction working hours. Construction activities and equipment movement may temporarily impact access to private property and delays should be expected.

City services

There will be no interruption to any City services during construction. Waste collection will not be affected. Please continue to place your green, blue and grey carts at the curb, as per your regular schedule.

The City appreciates your patience, understanding and co-operation during this important construction project. Any updates will be posted on guelph.ca/construction.

For more information

Ike Umar, Project Manager
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2242
[email protected]