Katie Mahoney Mississauga Councillor – Ward 8 [email protected]Telephone: 905-896-5800 Fax: 905-896-5463 Councillor’s Report – Spring 2007 Peel Youth Violence Prevention On Thursday, March 29, the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Initiative took another step toward reducing youth violence in the community when its steering committee members endorsed and signed the Peel Youth Charter. The Charter forms the foundation for safe and supportive environments for all Peel youth, and demonstrates the commitment of the steering Community Partners Act on Peel’s Gang and Youth Violence New playground equipment New playground equipment will be installed at Crawford Green Park this year for children ages 2 to 12 years. Nearby residents will be notified by mail two weeks before construction begins. The City plans and budgets for the replacement of old playground equipment as part of the Capital Budget. Playgrounds are inspected and prioritized for replacement by age, structural condition, and other safety factors. For more information, contact Bill Montague (Project Coordinator) of the Community Services Department at 905-615-3200 ext. 3676 or by email at [email protected]continued on page 2 Violence Dear Ward 8 Resident, In this Spring Ward 8 Councillor’s Report, you will find updates on Ward and City issues to keep you informed on community happenings. Be sure to check out the Ward 8 website at www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/ward8 for information and updates. Visit www.mississauga.ca to access information on City services, sign up for courses with Connect2Rec, and view the numerous online services. As always, it is my pleasure to serve as your Councillor. I thank you for your ongoing support of my endeavours at the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel. I invite you to share your thoughts, suggestions or questions. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or issues that affect you. Together we will continue to make Ward 8 and Mississauga a special place to live, work and play. Best wishes for a safe, happy summer. Katie Mahoney Councillor, Ward 8 Members of the committee include representatives from: Regional Council, Peel Regional Police, Caledon O.P.P., Peel Public Health, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, Brampton Safe City Association, Mississauga Crime Prevention Association and the United Way of Peel.
Peel Youth Violence PreventionOn Thursday, March 29, the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Initiative took another step toward reducing youth violence in the community when its steering committee members endorsed and signed the Peel Youth Charter. The Charter forms the foundation for safe and supportive environments for all Peel youth, and demonstrates the commitment of the steering
Community Partners Act on Peel’s Gang and Youth
Violence
New playground equipmentNew playground equipment will be installed at Crawford Green Park this year for children ages 2 to 12 years.
Nearby residents will be notified by mail two weeks before construction begins.
The City plans and budgets for the replacement of old playground equipment as part of the Capital Budget. Playgrounds are inspected and prioritized for replacement by age, structural condition, and other safety factors.
For more information, contact Bill Montague (Project Coordinator) of the Community Services Department at 905-615-3200 ext. 3676 or by email at [email protected]
continued on page 2Violence
Dear Ward 8 Resident, In this Spring Ward 8 Councillor’s Report, you will find updates on Ward and City issues to keep you informed on community happenings.
Be sure to check out the Ward 8 website at www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/ward8 for information and updates. Visit www.mississauga.ca to access information on City services, sign up for courses with Connect2Rec, and view the numerous online services.
As always, it is my pleasure to serve as your Councillor. I thank you for your ongoing support of my endeavours at the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel.
I invite you to share your thoughts, suggestions or questions. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or issues that affect you. Together we will continue to make Ward 8 and Mississauga a special place to live, work and play. Best wishes for a safe, happy summer.
Katie MahoneyCouncillor, Ward 8
Members of the committee include representatives from: Regional Council, Peel Regional Police, Caledon O.P.P., Peel Public Health, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, Brampton Safe City Association, Mississauga Crime Prevention Association and the United Way of Peel.
Council approved a 4.7 per cent increase in the City’s portion of the property tax for 2007. The 2007 budget provides for construction, rehabilitation and renovation of roads, buildings, parks and the purchase of vehicles, equipment and parkland.
Staff and Council worked hard in an ongoing effort to moderate property tax increases while continuing to keep our buses, buildings and roads operational and functioning efficiently. The 4.7 per cent increase is the minimum needed to allow for maintenance of services and to accommodate growth.
A tax increase of 3.2 per cent is required to fund the operating budget and an additional 1.5 per cent is being allocated to support the City’s capital program. This equates to a $45 increase on an average residential property tax bill.
The City’s 2007 Capital Budget includes:• $19.3 million for major road
construction including the widening of Mavis Road from Eglinton Avenue to Matheson Boulevard and the construction of Ridgeway Drive from Unity Drive to the north side of Highway 403.
• $23.3 million for road rehabilitation and resurfacing (53 residential and 16 industrial roads).
• $25 million for the replacement of 35 transit buses and the addition of 15 new buses to expand transit service.
• $12 million to begin design and land acquisition for the new bus rapid transitway in the Highway 403/Eglinton Avenue corridor.
• $19 million for parkland acquisition, new trail construction and parkland development, including play equipment and spray pads.
The 2007 Budget reflects continued sound financial management and financial planning for the future.
Looking ahead, the City is faced with escalating cost pressures as the needs for upgrading and eventually replacing our aging roads, buses, fire trucks and buildings grow.
The City portion of your tax bill represents approximately 27 per cent of the total property tax bill, with 46 per cent allocated for the Region of Peel and 27 per cent to the Province for education.
The 2007 Budget includes an operating budget of $477.3 million and a capital budget of $196.4 million, for a combined total of $673.7 million. Highlights of the 2007 Budget and the complete Budget Book are available at www.mississauga.ca/finance
committee to use their best efforts to ensure the safety, health, education and future employment of Peel’s youth.
The Charter was born from the recommendations contained in the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Committee’s 2006 report, Toward a Bright Future for Peel Youth. The report outlined recommendations in four key areas – services and
continued from front pageViolence support for youth, community
development, working with families and education, policy and programs to help develop an area-wide strategy to stem the violent activity in Peel.
While youth violence in Peel is generally under control, the increase in the number of gangs and use of weapons in our community cannot be ignored. The time is now to create a proactive strategy to mobilize the community to create
Capital Expenditures(Includes General Government)
$193 • 19%
Facility Maintenance$114 • 11%
Recreation & Parks$91 • 9%
Library$78 • 8%
Transit$115 • 11%Fire
$282 • 29%
Roads & WinterMaintenance$135 • 13%
What $1,008of City Taxes
Buys You
2007 BUDGET INVESTS IN ROADS, TRANSIT AND PARKLAND
programs and provide resources that better support youth.
The Peel Youth Violence Prevention Committee was formed in January 2006 to proactively examine and develop a collaborative approach to the current situation of violence in Peel schools and the community. Peel is the first community in the GTA to develop a Youth Violence Prevention Strategy.
Changing the Way We Manage Waste
Organics RecyclingOn April 2, 2007, the Region of Peel launched its new weekly organics recycling program. Household organic material, such as food scraps and soiled paper products, are now collected and processed by the Region and turned into a useful end product – clean, rich compost.
The new Organics Recycling Program is a big change in the way we manage waste in the Region of Peel. Currently, household organic material makes up approximately 30 per cent of our garbage, and I’m confident that with your participation in the program we can divert this material from disposal.
Collected organic material is processed at two Regional facilities: the composting plant at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton that can process 60,000 tonnes per year, and the Caledon Composting Facility at the Caledon Landfill Site that can process 12,000 tonnes per year.
One key aspect of the program is that you cannot use plastic grocery bags to line your organics container and bin because plastics contaminate the finished compost. Instead, you have the option of lining your bins with newspaper, paper bags or certified compostable plastic bags.
The Region’s high quality compost is available for sale in loose and bulk formats at Peel Community Recycling Centres. For more information on delivery, pricing and availability, visit www.peelcompost.ca or call the Region of Peel at 905-791-9499.
The Organics Recycling Program is an important component of Peel’s long-term goal of diverting 70 per cent of its waste from landfill by 2016.
2007 Roadway Resurfacing ProgramBridewell Court from Bridlepath Trail to EndFarmcottage Court from Folkway Drive to EndFifeshire Court from Promontory Drive to EndFlintlock Court from Folkway Drive to EndHarkiss Road from Mississauga Road to EndKelsey Court from Promontory Drive to EndMillway Gate from South Millway to EndPromontory Drive from Bridlepath Trail to Burnhamthorpe RoadShalebank Court from Folkway Drive to EndStoneybrook Court from Folkway Drive to EndTudor Gate from Harkiss Road to End
If you would like to obtain further information or have any questions regarding the 2007 Road Resurfacing Program, please contact Dagmar Breuer, Project Manager, Capital Works, Engineering and Works Division, Transportation and Works Department at 905-615-3200 ext. 5184 or by email at [email protected]
Hershey CentreSports ComplexOpening Fall 2007
Construction of the Hershey Centre Sports Complex is nearing completion and will provide our City’s athletes with a full-size indoor soccer pitch, triple gymnasium, meeting and leased space, new gymnastics facility and two outdoor soccer pitches. This long awaited and welcome addition to our City’s attractions will bring visitors and sporting events from afar.Located on the north side of the Hershey Centre Sports Complex will be the new home for the Mississauga Sport’s Hall of Fame, Mississauga Sports Council and Gymnastics Mississauga.For a look at the new facility visit www.mississauga.ca/hersheycentre
Mississauga Road –Glimpses of the PastBy Matthew Wilkinson Historian, Heritage Mississauga
Meandering along Mississauga Road today, one can catch glimpses into several layers of history; the journey along Mississauga Road is in part a journey through time. The road shares a story that is akin to that of the Credit River – just as the river meanders through Mississauga, Mississauga Road follows the course of the river closely as it traverses our city from Lake Ontario to our northern border. Both the river and Mississauga Road were once vital lifelines and routes of transportation in the early years of settlement, their quiet and occasionally rural ambience obscuring their importance to early life in what would become the City of Mississauga. But what is the story of Mississauga Road, you might ask? It is a story that has many chapters and tales, and that can only be touched on in passing with this article.
First, let’s start with the route itself; much of Mississauga Road is believed to follow an early Native trail that ambled along the Credit River, slightly removed from the floodplains. The route itself deviates from the traditional survey grid favoured by British surveyors, and as such much of its course is a given road – that is, a route that is accepted and traveled but does not, in parts, conform to the survey. This is very evident from the southern section of the road, south of Eglinton Avenue. North of Eglinton Avenue, Mississauga Road is “tamed” and follows the established survey into Streetsville. The road was planked in the 1850s, became a courdory road in the 1860s, and was layered
with gravel road in the 1890s. When it was first paved, likely in the 1950s, evidence of the planks was found under the gravel. Perhaps some of these remnants, or remnants of stump fences, remain buried under the modern road we travel on today.
Along its route, Mississauga Road passes by former inns and stagecoach stops dating to the 1830s; large estates dating from the early 1900s; humble family dwellings and homesteads dating to the early 1850s; a relocated pioneer log house; farming remnants that remind us of our not-too-distant agricultural and fruit growing roots; the site of the former Credit Indian Village; a venerable stone church that overlooks the intersection of the Credit River, Mississauga Road and Dundas Street; an old school and the modern University – all are dotted along the course of Mississauga Road, harkening to several layers of history in a single glance.
Although the date of the official adoption of its modern name is unknown, in the past Mississauga Road carried many other names, including: Swamp Road, Cedar Swamp Road, Coldspring Road, Spring Road, Springbank Road and the Streetsville Stone Road – amongst others. The road today is named in reference to the Native
Mississaugas, who once lived in this area. The word, roughly translated, means “River of the North of Many Mouths.” The name of the road predates the naming of our city.
As you travel along Mississauga Road, one passes through areas that were also once known to locals by other descriptive names: Church Hill, Ross’ Hill, Maple Hill, Windy Hollow, Cedar Swamp, Springbank, Sawmill Creek, Garden Farm, Grange Farm, Stonehouse Road, Barbertown Road, Adamson Sideroad and Rogers’ Road, amongst others. Some other early settling families are commemorated in modern street names which intersect with Mississauga Road: Harkiss Road, Featherston Drive and O’Neil Gate. Many of these early pioneer families are buried in the two cemeteries behind St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
As you travel along Mississauga Road today, you are, without a doubt, traveling in the footsteps (and wagon wheels) of those who have come before you – including the Rebel Leader William Lyon Mackenzie who traversed down the course of Mississauga Road when fleeing from authorities following the Rebellion of 1837! Mississauga Road truly is a heritage route!
Older Adult ProjectDid you know in 30 years Mississauga’s population of older adults will more than double to 188,000? This means about four out of every 10 residents will be 55 years of age or older. It’s a significant demographic shift and one that we are planning for early. The Community Services department is leading a project that will provide Council with a long-term plan that addresses changing lifestyle, leisure, and learning needs and interests of the City’s growing older adult population.The plan will consider:• leisure and lifestyle differences between the current and future
generation of older adults. The “Boomer” generation is expected to have different needs and interests than today’s older adults;
• ideas and thinking from other international cities that are responding to the same demographic shift;
• a system for older adults living in poverty to have access to municipal programs and services that support healthy active living;
• municipal subsidies for senior programs and services;• expected increase in demand for older adult programming, facilities
and other services; and• partnership opportunities with community groups, agencies and other
levels of government that serve older adults.For more information on this exciting project, visit www.mississauga.ca or contact staff at [email protected] or call 905-615-3200, ext. 7024.
Did You Know?...Residents who plan to hold a garage sale this spring and summer are permitted to post signs advertising the sale. However, residents must comply with the Sign By-law to ensure that signs are posted in areas that do not create traffic or pedestrian hazards.Garage sale signs may be posted on the untravelled portion of the street allowance. Garage sale signs are not permitted on traffic islands, medians, stop signs or official traffic signs. The best location for posting signs is on the designated plastic poster sleeves which have been placed throughout residential neighbourhoods for this purpose.In addition to traffic and pedestrian safety issues, garage sale signs can also cause visual clutter and litter. For this reason, the Sign By-law specifies that garage sale signs must be displayed no earlier than 5 p.m. of the day immediately before the garage sale and all signs must be removed by no later than 7 a.m. of the day immediately following the garage sale. Signs must not exceed 0.6 metres (2 ft.) in any dimension and must not exceed 0.36 m2 (3.9 sq. ft.) in sign area.If you have questions regarding the display of garage sale signs or the Sign By-law, contact the Sign Unit at 905-615-4046.
R A P I D is Renovation and Addition Permit Issuance Days which means extended hours for homeowners or their agents who are planning home renovations such as: decks, porches, fireplaces, and basement entrances.Tuesday Evenings 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Available April 17th, 2007 to September 18th, 2007 at the Building Division, 9th floor, Mississauga Civic Centre 300 City Centre DriveFor further information call: 905-896-5619www.mississauga.ca
BUILDING PERMITS - R A P I D SERVICE FOR HOMEOWNERS
City of Mississauga www.mississauga.ca [email protected] of Peel www.region.peel.on.ca [email protected] Peel Regional Police www.peelpolice.on.ca School Boards Peel Board of Education www.peel.edu.on.ca [email protected]
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board www.dpcdsb.orgGreater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) Aircraft Noise Complaints www.gtaa.com Mississauga Crime Prevention www.mcpa.on.ca [email protected] GO Transit www.gotransit.com
Poison Control www.sickkids.ca/ poisoninformationcentre Ministry of Health www.health.gov.on.ca [email protected] Ministry of Environment www.ene.gov.on.ca [email protected] Enersource www.enersource.com [email protected]
Most people who live in Mississauga make this city their home because they enjoy our community with the many amenities and quality of life that it offers. Not surprisingly, these are the qualities that also attract new residents and businesses to our community and our ward. One of the City’s greatest challenges is to put the plans and policies in place that protect this quality of life in our established neighbourhoods while accommodating new development and growth in appropriate ways and areas.
This challenge becomes even more evident as parcels of land become available for redevelopment. Often, residents ask if it is possible for the City to purchase property and develop it as parkland in order to protect it from housing or commercial development. Unfortunately, the cost and pressure to increase taxes to accommodate land purchases make this solution unachievable. Also, Council must weigh other planning considerations and how significant redevelopment proposals impact the City’s overall plan for the City.
The City’s planning process directs the orderly development of land, provides for important services, the right mix and location of parks, shopping, employment areas and a wide variety of housing options – everything that makes a vibrant and active community. As part of this process, Council bases its planning decisions on a number of key documents: the City’s Official Plan (Mississauga Plan), planning policies and
zoning by-laws. These documents ensure that the City grows in areas where development is appropriate and in forms that complement our existing communities, taking into consideration the needs of our current and future residents, as well as the financial and service impacts of this development.
Another important part of the planning process is public input. Throughout the development application process, there are many opportunities for residents to become involved. Residents are invited to call the Planning and Building Department if they see a sign on a property indicating that the City has received a proposal to change the use on that property. Plans and drawings are available for viewing at Ward and Public Meetings where residents are invited to comment on the development proposal. During the process, Council considers the proposal and the input received from the public, and may approve, defer, refuse or recommend modifications to the development.
For more information about the City’s development application process, please go online to “Get Involved in Planning Mississauga” on the Planning and Building website (www.mississauga.ca/portal/services/planbuild), or call my office for a copy of this publication.
It is important to note that this public input process takes place only when a property owner has requested a change in use. Construction on a property for development or redevelopment purposes is permitted without
City Plans for Appropriate Community Development and Redevelopment
a public input process if the proposed use is already permitted by the applicable zoning by-law. In such instances, residents are still welcome to contact the City’s Planning and Building Department for more information regarding these development projects.
If you have any questions about development in your neighbourhood, contact the Planning and Building Department in one of these ways:• Visit the Development and Design
Division Service Counter during business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the 11th floor Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive
• Call the Planning and Building Department at 905-896-5511
• Send an email with your question or comment to [email protected] or
• Visit the City’s website www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/planning - for a copy of Planning and Development Committee meeting agendas, including planning reports and minutes.
Provincial Under-Funding Impacts Peel The Region of Peel’s ability to meet local needs continues to be limited by provincial funding issues – namely the downloading of provincial programs, chronic underfunding of cost-shared programs, and the Toronto Tax – also known as “Pooling”.
The history of pooling dates back to the provincial government’s 1998 restructuring initiative (Local Services Realignment) and subsequent downloading of services to municipalities which requires taxpayers in the Regions of Peel, York, Halton and Durham to help the City of Toronto fund its social assistance and social housing programs. By the end of this year, Peel taxpayers will have transferred more than $600 million to Toronto – or one third of the total $1.6 billion paid by the 905 regions – under this program.
The recent provincial budget included a promise to phase out pooling over seven years, and this is good news over the long term. This will significantly reduce the level of encroachment that
the province has imposed on taxpayers to fund provincially-run programs. The impact on Peel for 2007 breaks down as follows:
Provincial Encroachment – mandatory payments levied by the province (in millions):• Toronto Tax $59.1• Ontario Disability Support
Program $34.5• Municipal Property Assessment
Corp $14.1 Subtotal $107.7
Besides these impacts, the larger issue remains that the property tax payer in the province of Ontario continues to have to fund programs that everywhere else in Canada is funded by the income tax. Approximately 30 per cent of this year’s Regional property taxes, or $201 million, is required to fund cost-shared programs.
While this issue is significant, it is more frustrating that the provincial government also continues to underfund its actual share of these mandated cost-shared programs. Of the $201 million dedicated to cost-shared programs, more than $32 million reflects the amount that Peel taxpayers have also had to invest to make up for provincial
underfunding. Together these remain one of Regional Council’s greatest challenges in balancing our community’s need for service and the cost to provide those programs.
The Region’s approved 2007 budget includes a tax increase of 3.9 per cent, largely driven by provincial underfunding. Almost 45 per cent of the total Regional tax levy is dedicated to funding mandated provincial programs. This amounts to approximately $685 per household, or 20 per cent of the total property tax bill as illustrated below:
I will continue to keep you informed on this important issue, particularly as we approach the provincial election this fall.
PEEL PUBLIC HEALTH RELEASES
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLAN FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN PEEL Peel Public Health has released the plan that outlines the steps that health-care organizations and services should take to prepare for and respond to a pandemic. The Pandemic Influenza Plan for
the Health Sector in Peel 2007 is a guide for local pandemic planning and includes roles and responsibilities of health-care organizations in Peel, surveillance, public health measures, communications and logistics for anti-viral and mass immunization activities.
“This plan reflects current knowledge and best practices in public health,” says Regional Councillor Katie Mahoney. “The extensive public health planning
for pandemic influenza will benefit the Region of Peel as it develops a coordinated regional approach for pandemic planning.”
The current Plan is a new version of the Region’s first Peel Public Health Pandemic Influenza Plan developed in 2002. It has been updated and enhanced in accordance with the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (2006) and the 2006 version of the
Working Towards a People-Friendly DowntownThis is an exciting time to live in Mississauga, as we continue to grow and transform. One of our focuses is exploring the challenges and opportunities for developing a prosperous and vibrant City Centre.
Today, 40,000 people live and 20,000 work in the City Centre area and when fully developed, it will be home to more than 100,000 people and a work destination for more than 60,000. With the input of residents through public meetings and workshops, we have developed a vision for City Centre parks and public spaces for downtown residents, workers and visitors from all over Mississauga and beyond.
The City consulted with Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a New York-based organization with global expertise in creating better public spaces – a process referred to as “Placemaking.” With the help of PPS and members of the community, the report, “Building Mississauga around Places: A Vision for City Centre Parks and Open Spaces in the 21st Century” was finalized this year.
We think you’ll be impressed with the plan which incorporates a range of people-friendly settings. From cafes, portable stages, ornamental gardens, an outdoor library and farmers’ market, to a skate park and climbing wall, there is something for everyone. In fact, many of the ideas for programmed events, which took place as part of “My Mississauga” last summer, were the result of the Placemaking meetings and workshops.
This plan will guide the design process of individual parks and public spaces over the next few years to help make our downtown a thriving and exciting destination. To view a copy of the report, please see: www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/publicspaces
Take Ownership of Your Community!Join the many local organizations that have adopted a City park or street through the LitterNot volunteer cleanup program. Your business, sports organization, service club, school, community group or neighbourhood can help keep Mississauga clean.
This volunteer cleanup program involves a two-year commitment with a minimum of three cleanups per year. The City will support your group by providing necessary training, safety equipment, garbage bags and garbage pickup.
To recognize your efforts, the group will be identified on a sign at your location and be acknowledged with a certificate from the Mayor at the completion of each two-year term.
Commit to cleaning up an area that is important to you, such as a street that leads to your place of business, a park your children play in, or a watercourse that runs through your neighbourhood.
By keeping this area clean, you will be promoting a positive image and discouraging litter in your area.
HERE’S HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE LITTERNOT PROGRAM: To adopt a street, contact Mississauga Works: 905-615-3200 ext. 3033 or [email protected]
To adopt a park or watercourse, contact Park Mississauga: 905-615-4100 or [email protected]
Ontario Health Pandemic Influenza Plan. To ensure effective planning for pandemic influenza, Peel Public Health has been working collaboratively with many local health partners including hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, multi-faith leaders, long-term care centres and other organizations who contributed to the Pandemic Influenza Plan.
continued from page 7Pandemic
The plan is a living document which will be frequently updated to stay current with regional, provincial and federal planning activities and with advancements in science and health care.
A copy of The Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector in Peel 2007 is available on the Region of Peel pandemic website at www.peelpandemic.ca. For more information, please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
CONTACT YOUR COUNCILLOR:300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C1 Telephone: 905-896-5800
