Council Meeting Wednesday November 6, 2024 at 9:30am
Meeting Agenda: View Revised Meeting Agenda
Watch Meeting: Meeting Video Part 1 & Part 2
(3hr & 43min)
Council Members attending in person:
West, Chan, DiPaola, Davidson, Thompson, Liu, Cui, Cilevitz, Shiu
Recap:
All items were moved to next week's Council Meeting.
Considerable discussion was held about the 2024 Stormwater Management Financial Plan. Stormwater, which is rainwater, snowmelt, or other forms of precipitation, must be managed within a municipality to prevent and or mitigate flooding and related issues. Council members were concerned about taking on debt in order to smooth rate increases however they realize that there is no better option at this time.
Stormwater needs have been historically underfunded. Rate increases and funding have not kept pace with the growing needs of stormwater infrastructure. Based on the 2013 approved Stormwater Management Financial Plan, the 2024 forecasted stormwater rate would have generated $18 million in 2024 compared to the actual $5.8 million that was collected.
Due to the deferral of required rate increases in previous budget cycles, essential infrastructure projects have been delayed. This postponement has led to substantial capital needs accumulating over the next five years, heightening the risk of system failures, escalating maintenance costs, and creating additional pressure for sharp rate increases in the future
Agenda Items Include:
The Amendment applications to permit a mixed use high-density 32-storey building on the subject lands were appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in July 2024.
Revisions to the development proposal have been made to address staff comments and concerns related to the design of the building, road dedications and alignment, affordability, and the use of lands at the rear of the site as a privately owned, publicly accessible space; and,
If adopted by City Council, the recommendations contained in this staff report will result not only in the settlement of the outstanding Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment application appeals, but will also serve as a basis for the applicant to withdraw their appeal to the Richmond Hill Centre Secondary Plan.
Rate increases and funding have not kept pace with the growing needs of stormwater infrastructure. Based on the 2013 approved Stormwater Management Financial Plan, the 2024 forecasted stormwater rate would have generated $18 million in 2024 compared to the actual $5.8 million that was collected.
Due to the deferral of required rate increases in previous budget cycles, essential infrastructure projects have been delayed. This postponement has led to substantial capital needs accumulating over the next five years, heightening the risk of system failures, escalating maintenance costs, and creating additional pressure for sharp rate increases in the future.
After deferring some capital projects, analysis indicates if the City relied solely on user rate increases, the annual stormwater management user fees for an average residential property (0.16 acres) is expected to increase from $77 in 2024 to $311 in 2027.
Staff recommend that the capital infrastructure needs (2025 to 2034) be funded by a combination of user fee increases, $3 million annual funding from the Canada Community Building Fund for the next five years, and $22 million debt issuance to smooth rate increases.
Under this scenario, the annual stormwater management user fees for an average residential property (0.16 acres) is expected to increase from $77 in 2024 to $286 in 2034.
The Infrastructure Funding Policy provides guidance on the amount, timing and the method in which the City may contribute towards the delivery of the City’s municipal infrastructure by developers.
The Infrastructure Funding Policy further provides a framework to accelerate the construction of municipal infrastructure in the City utilizing grant funding when such funding is available.
As it relates to the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), a procedure has been specifically developed for the Infrastructure Acceleration Incentive Program that sets out how this initiative will be administered under the Infrastructure Funding Policy.
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to move forward with the implementation of an Automated Speed Enforcement Program.
Automated Speed Enforcement (“ASE”) is a technology-based enforcement tool that is demonstrated to reduce vehicle speeds and improve traffic safety.
Richmond Hill’s Traffic Safety and Operations Strategy (“TSOS”), approved by Council on December 13, 2023, recommends implementation of an ASE program.
ASE may only be used in designated School Zones and Community Safety Zones.
It is anticipated that ASE program capital costs (adjudication software) and operating costs (including staff, camera rentals, site preparation and ticket processing charges) will be offset by fine revenues and associated administrative fees.
If the proposed ASE program is endorsed, staff will report back to Council in 2025 with recommended camera sites, a comprehensive public awareness plan, and an anticipated schedule for implementation.
If approved ASE is anticipated to Go Live Spring 2026 at specific sites.
The purpose of this report is to seek Council endorsement of the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment, a Peer Review of the 2021 Inclusionary Zoning Impact Assessment, and the updated 2024 Inclusionary Zoning Impact Assessment.
These reports have been prepared to support the Affordable Housing Strategy, to comply with requirements for a Federal funding program, and to conform with the Planning Act.
Amendment applications propose to facilitate the construction of a high-rise, high density residential development to be comprised of two high-rise towers, 22 and 18 storeys with 470 apartment dwelling units, 18 townhouses.
The applicant has satisfactorily addressed the City’s comments and technical requirements at this stage of the approval process and therefore, staff recommends that Council support the development proposal.
A request for approval with respect to the assignment of municipal servicing allocation to facilitate the construction of a draft approved Plan of Subdivision within the West Gormley Secondary Plan area.
the Long Body draft Plan of Subdivision application was approved by Council on January 25, 2016.
On January 25, 2016, Council approved four (4) draft Plan of Subdivision applications in the West Gormley Secondary Plan area and assigned Dickson 48 Property Inc., Sedgewick Property Inc., Long Body Homes Inc. and Centerfield Properties Inc. for a total of 2,856 persons equivalent of servicing allocation in order to facilitate Phase One of each draft Plan of Subdivision . Subsequent to this approval, the owners proceeded to register and complete the phased build out of the Sedgewick and Centerfield subdivisions, exhausting the servicing allocation assignment from 2016.
The owners are now pursuing registration of the Long Body Plan of Subdivision. Accordingly, the purpose of this report is to seek Council’s approval to assign and release municipal servicing allocation to the subject development.
Public Comments:
The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City’s website.
Delegations:
Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line application form. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.