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October 2021 Ward 2 Update

Hello Neighbour,

I hope this update finds you well and enjoying these cooler fall days. As we're coming out of the fourth wave of this pandemic, I'm very grateful that we have been fairly safe in Guelph. We now have 92.6% of us with at least one dose and 88.8% with full vaccination.

The City of Guelph has implemented the provincial requirements for vaccination passports at City Facilities, so all individuals aged 12 years or older must provide identification and proof of vaccination or medical exemption to:
  • Attend a City facility rental,
  • Watch/supervise a game or activity,
  • Use the washrooms or visiting customer service at recreation facilities,
  • Attending a hockey game, basketball game or special event at the Sleeman Centre, and
  • Attending a performance at River Run Centre.
Please note that the Library is not deemed a high risk setting, so proof of vaccination is not required to use our library system, unless you are booking a meeting room in a library.

Here are the contents in this update:
  1. Eastview Splash Pad & Bike Park design survey & working group application
  2. Transportation Masterplan survey
  3. Micro-transit update
  4. Real estate assets update
  5. Speedvale avenue bridge reconstruction update
  6. Coming up later this month:
    • October 18, 2021 – Council Workshop – 2022 City Budget Workshop – Prioritization and Affordability 
    • October 20, 2021 – Special City Council – 2021 Development Charges By-law Amendment
1. Eastview Splash Pad & Bike Park design survey & working group application

City staff are looking for your feedback on two new facilities at Eastview Park – phase one of the bike park and a new splash pad. You are welcome to fill out two surveys online at haveyoursay.guelph.ca by October 26.

https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/eastview-splashpad
https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/bike-park

You are also welcome to apply to be part of the Bike Park Working Group by filling this form before October 26.

We expect construction to start in spring 2022 and be done in time for seasonal splash pad openings in spring 2023. 

Oh, while we're on the subject, we're also planning to open a second 18-hole Disc Golf course on Eastview Park next spring (pending funding approval at budget time)! Here's more information about our municipal disc golf courses.
2. Transportation Masterplan survey

Earlier this year City Council approved moving ahead with a Sustainability and Resiliency Focus to our Transportation Masterplan. Now city staff is looking for your input on again, to help us:
  • Consider what future changes are most important for our resilience transportation network,
  • Weigh in on the policies and programs that will support improvements to Guelph’s transportation network including roads, trails, sidewalks and transit corridors,
  • Help decide how we prioritize transportation projects
Your feedback will help shape the final master plan that City staff will bring to Council for approval early next year.

https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/transportation
 
3. Micro-transit update

Last year Council gave direction for our transit system to explore different ways of delivering our transit service by testing out an on-demand micro-transit initiative.

This means that instead of running busses on a regular schedule, residents can use an app to schedule a bus stop pickup, and busses are only deployed for that route when people need them. We are currently using this 'on demand' system for the Community Bus and the Hanlon Creek bus routes.

Last week staff released an information update letting us know that we have saved approximately $162k this year by using this on-demand service. You can read the Guelph Transit Microtransit Service Delivery Model Update here

For more information on the on-demand bus service: https://guelph.ca/living/getting-around/bus/schedules/on-demand-bus-service/
4. Real estate assets update

At the September 27 Council meeting, staff brought a closed report on the Shortreed Farmhouse, which was built in the 1840's and is located at 797 Victoria Rd. N. This property is owned by the Grand River Conservation Authority, and unfortunately it has been sitting vacant for some years. This year there were two fires on that property, and our fire department issued an order to demolish the building. It was a difficult decision for Council, but ultimately we had to abide by the order from our Fire Chief. Here's a good article about this topic:

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/left-to-rot-city-council-approves-demolition-of-grca-owned-heritage-building-4465188

 Then, at this week's Committee of the Whole, Council gave direction for staff to initiate repairs on the old Drill Hall, located at 72 Farquhar Street, and to start looking for community partners to use that space. We also gave direction to repair and maintain the heritage farmhouse at 341 Forestell Road and Carter Farm located at 880 Victoria Rd South. Although both of these buildings are located in Puslinch Township, they are owned by the City of Guelph and are used as drill sites for our water services. 

The loss of the Shortreed Farm was regrettable and preventable, so I will be supporting more proactive maintenance of our existing heritage designated buildings.
5. Speedvale avenue bridge reconstruction update

As you may have heard, there was a setback in the reconstruction of the Speedvale Avenue East bridge over the Speed river. With COVID impacts and delays, City staff were planning for the bridge removal and reconstruction to happen in 2022... Unfortunately, the City had had to cancel the tender process for the bridge reconstruction because the lowest bid came in at 50% over budget. We had costed the work at $10M, and the lowest bid came in just over $15M. There are likely a number of reasons why this occurred, including things like COVID supply chain impacts, contractor market conditions, etc. 
 
The city’s engineering team is now reviewing a number of options to ensure the future success of this project. We expect staff to report back in the coming months with additional information and next steps. 
6. Coming up later this month:

Council Workshop – 2022 City Budget Workshop – Prioritization and Affordability - October 18, 2021, 6pm

On Monday October 18 at 6pm, staff are hosting a workshop planned for Council to discuss priorities and affordability as we step into the City’s first multi-year budget. 

During last year's budget, the forecast for tax levy impacts from 2022 to 2024 were projecting in the 6% range, each year in order to maintain current service delivery, expand services for growth, and implement the Strategic Plan goals.

This year we are going to face critical pace and prioritization decisions as part of the 2022-2023 Budget. If you are interested in the City's budget, I suggest you watch this workshop and let me know what your priorities are for the next four years. 

Special City Council – 2021 Development Charges By-law Amendment - October 20, 2021

As new development occurs in the city, the demand for municipal services, such as roads, sewers, parks and community centers, increases. Development charges are used by cities, to pay for the increased capital costs required to pay for these services. 

We need to align and update our Development Charge Bylaw with the changes from recent provincial legislation, so we have an updated bylaw in place when Guelph’s current Development Charge Bylaw expires in September 2022. 

As part of this update, staff are reviewing:
  • The Development Charge rate calculation.
  • Infrastructure needs and capital planning for Guelph.
  • Service categorization changes, for example “Indoor recreation and outdoor recreation” becoming “Parks and Recreation services”.
  • Proposed Development Charge bylaw changes.
You are welcome to watch this workshop on Wednesday October 20 at 6pm.

You can use this link to watch either of these workshops here:
https://guelph.ca/news/live/
That's it for this update. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about your municipal services. 

Warm regards,

Rodrigo
Rodrigo Goller 
City Councillor, Ward 2
City of Guelph
226-821-1146
Rodrigo.Goller@Guelph.ca
 
ward2guelph.ca
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Ward 2 Guelph Councillors · 1 Carden Street · Guelph, Ontario N1H3A1 · Canada

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