Hello Neighbour,
In this update I'm sharing a high level overview of the two year budget which Council approved last week, letting you know that next Monday December13th City staff will be recommending approval of a 52 unit development at 520 Speedvale Avenue East, and sharing an opportunity to provide feedback on our Cycling Network Study.
Before I get into those updates, I wanted to share a message I received from our Medical Officer of Health at the last Public Health board meeting on December 1st.
Public Health Update
Now that youths aged 5 to 11 are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Public Health has changed how they are reporting our vaccination rate. As of today 83% of eligible Guelph residents (5 years and older) are double vaccinated, and 87% have received at least one dose.
Dr. Mercer is asking that parents book in their kids aged 5 to 11 to get vaccinated. For more information on the youth vaccine or to book appointments click here: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/covid-19-vaccine-information/covid-19-vaccine-children-ages
Late last week the province announced that starting on December 13th, adults over 50 years of age will be eligible to book appointments for their third dose. As the mass vaccination clinics are now closed, it's taking a bit longer to get appointments... So if you are eligible to get your booster dose now because you're over 70, live in a congregate setting, are first nations, or you're a health care worker, I'd suggest booking your appointment before December 13th.
You can click here for more information on booking booster doses: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/covid-19-vaccine-information/third-booster-doses
If you are over 50, you will be able to book your booster appointment starting on December 13th by using the above link, or you can also make an appointment with your family doctor or at a local pharmacy.
If you are an adult (12+) that needs to get your first or second vaccination dose, you can now go to Stone Road Mall for their drop-in clinics throughout December and January. Here's the list of dates and times: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/covid-19-vaccine-information/first-and-second-dose-covid-19
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Municipal Budget Update
Last week on Thursday December 2nd, Guelph City Council approved our first multi-year budget for both 2022 and 2023. I have spent several weeks reading comments and having many conversations with Ward 2 residents to understand your priorities for this budget. After a long and difficult budget Council meeting, I voted in favour of approving this budget, which prioritizes improvements to our public transit system, replacing aging infrastructure, and maintaining levels of service as our city grows.
The budget was approved at a 4.21 per cent levy increase over the 2021 budget, and for 2023, a 5.17 per cent levy increase over the 2022 budget. This translates to an increase of about $153 over 2021, or about $12.80 per month for the average household in Guelph, calculated for a residential property assessed at $389,500.
This is a substantial property tax increase and supporting this budget was not a decision I took lightly. As Guelph grows and we are faced with a significant backlog of aging municipal infrastructure (including buildings, roads, sidewalks, etc.) that need to be maintained and replaced. I felt it was fiscally prudent to frontload our investment in maintaining and replacing these assets, without depleting our municipal reserves. If you'll allow me this analogy: We live in an old house that needs urgent repairs and it's cheaper for us to to fix them now that we're seeing the cracks in the walls and foundation, than it would be to let a wall fall and have to pay for emergency repairs down the road.
Here are the budget highlights:
- $3.2 million in 2022 and $1.3 million in 2023 for the Guelph Transit route review strategy
- $750,000 levy for Guelph General Hospital in each year, to be paid out of reserves,
- $384,800 in 2022 and $24,200 in 2023 to improve our Paramedic services
- $116,000 for a permanent heritage planner to keep up with development applications
- $380,000 for consulting and a two-year temporary position in 2022 to catch up on a backlog in our Cultural Heritage Action Plan
- Community Benefit Agreement enhancements for the Guelph Neighbourhood Group Coalition and the Guelph Humane Society
- Pilot projects for tiered low income Affordable Bus Pass and Kids (ages 5–12) Ride Transit for Free
- Up to $120,000 for one-time funding to cover police volunteer record checks
- $50,000 in one-time funding for a court support worker in 2022
- $91,000 in one-time funding in 2022 for the Welcoming Streets Initiative to ensure downtown Guelph is safe, inclusive and welcoming for all community members
- Hourly parking rate increases from $2.18 to $2.66 per hour, resulting in an anticipated additional $93,100 in revenue in 2022; downtown permit parking fees to increase by 5 per cent in 2022 (with the exception of the Norwich and Arthur Street parking lots, both of which will remain at the 2021 fees).
While I voted against several of the items that ultimately made it into the budget, one of my main disappointments this year is that Council decided to not fund the recommendations coming from the service rationalization review we did earlier this year. Several of those recommendations (see pages 18 through 25 in this presentation) would have resulted in savings of between $500,000 and $1,000,000 each, which would have reduced future tax increases. I am hopeful that we can revisit these cost savings opportunities in the future.
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520 Speedvale Avenue East
Next Monday December 13th at 6:30pm, City staff is bringing forward a recommendation for Council to approve a development for 52 stacked and back-to-back units on the former St. David and St. Patrick Anglican Church lot at 520 Speedvale Avenue East.
When this development was first proposed in July 2020, it was for 64 stacked town houses. After significant community feedback and input from City staff, the developer submitted a revised application for 58 units in April 2021. This second proposal had reduced the number of units, but they were still asking for significant variances in the setbacks to neighbouring properties. A third proposal was submitted to the City on September 2021, with further reduction in the number of units to 52. This is the current proposal which also meets all the setback requirements and provides 22 more parking spaces than is required by our zoning bylaw.
You can see all submissions for this development here: https://guelph.ca/2020/07/520-speedvale-avenue-east/
I attended a public meeting hosted by neighbours and the developer a couple of weeks ago on a cool Saturday morning. While there is acknowledgement that the current proposal is better than the original, many neighbours are still concerned that while all adjacent properties are zoned low density residential, this site would become a medium density development. That means more people and more cars on this busy section of Speedvale. I also heard concerns about parking overflow onto adjacent streets and the different look and feel of stacked townhouses on a street with mainly single family homes.
Below is a link to the City Council Planning agenda for Monday December 13th. See Item 4.3: Decision Report on 520 Speedvale Avenue East:
https://pub-guelph.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=074b623b-2d7d-43fe-93b1-886757f440db&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
If you would like to speak at this meeting, you can register here (https://forms.guelph.ca/City-Clerks/Register-to-speak) before this Friday December 10 at 10am. Alternatively you can also submit written correspondence, also before this Friday December 10 at 10am by email to clerks@guelph.ca
Here is where I'm at with this development. On the one hand, I understand and support the residents in the area who would prefer to maintain the low-density make up of their neighbourhood. I am also concerned about parking overflow into adjacent streets and adding more cars to this already very busy section of Speedvale.
On the other hand, stacked town houses are a more affordable housing option, as compared to single detached homes... and with housing prices in Guelph, we need to have more of these type of medium density developments throughout the City. The Province also requires that 50% of our growth happen inside out built up area, and our Official Plan calls for a mix of housing types in neighbourhoods. In addition, the last time that Guelph City Council voted against a development application that had been supported by City staff, we ended up spending a lot of time and some tax payer money only to have our decision overturned by the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal (LPAT).
I would love to hear from you and where you stand with regards to this development application, so I can take your feedback into consideration before Monday night's Council meeting.
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Protected Cycling Network Study
The City is looking for your feedback as we work to create 13 kilometres of protected cycling facilities along three corridors in Guelph:
- Eramosa Road between Woolwich Street to Victoria Road,
- Gordon Street between Waterloo Avenue to Clair Road,
- College Avenue between Janefield Avenue to Dundas Lane.
We are looking for your feedback on parts of these routes where you have accessibility and safety concerns, important destinations and important connections. You can also submit design ideas and other suggestions you want the project team to consider.
Submit your feedback and ask questions before December 17th here:
https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/cycling-network-study
For more information on the Cycling Network Study check the project page in the City website: https://guelph.ca/living/getting-around/cycling-and-walking/protected-cycling-network-study/
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That's it for this last update of the year. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read these updates and stay informed about what the municipality is doing in our Ward. I hope you have a wonderful and restorative holidays and that you get a chance to spend quality time (while observing COVID-19 precautions) with friends and family.
Sincerely,
Rodrigo
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