Council Highlights from the October 18, 2021 Meeting

Council requests Provincial funding for community celebrations

Clarington is asking the Province to provide funding to help pay for community celebrations organized by municipalities and community groups. COVID-19 has negatively impacted the community forcing the closure of large-scale gatherings and community-wide celebrations. Council is asking the Province to provide a funding stream to support these celebrations to strengthen the local community and local community halls and arena groups who often support and plan these events.

Read the approved motion.

Council approves set fines for blocking municipal roads

Clarington Council has approved new set fines for anyone leaving vehicles, construction materials or landscaping equipment that blocks a municipal road causing a visual obstruction and hazard. Set fines have also been established for blocking or damaging the boulevard. Under the current rules, a contractor can apply for a road occupancy permit to place equipment needed on the road near the building site. You cannot leave any materials, objects, or vehicles on the road without a permit. The fines range from $150 for blocking a boulevard to $500 for performing construction work on a municipal road without a permit or damaging a boulevard/highway.

For more information, read Report LGS-025-21.

Clarington removes parking fees for veterans

To recognize the sacrifices made by Canada's war veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Clarington will offer free parking for any vehicle with the Ontario Veteran (poppy) Licence Plate. Clarington Council has approved a motion amending the traffic by-law to reflect this change.

Read the approved motion.

Council passes 3.95% guideline for Municipal budget

As staff prepare the 2022 Municipal Budget, Council set a target guideline to allow for a maximum proposed increase of 3.95 per cent for the local portion of taxes to pay for the services Clarington provides. It's important to note that this is just a planning guideline and not the final budget as staff prepare a budget report which Council will consider in January. It's also important to note that this would not be the increase reflected on your tax bill since it's divided into three portions (Region, Clarington, education), with Clarington's portion comprising 33 per cent. This means that the 3.95 per cent guideline is equal to a 1.3 per cent increase in the overall tax bill, and when combined with the Region of Durham's 2.5 per cent proposed target, the overall impact on the property tax bill is 2.55 per cent.

The 3.95 per cent proposed budget target is based on the projected current cost of living for 2022 and will cover the cost of current Municipal services. From that budget target, 1.75 per cent will be dedicated to paying for repairs and rehabilitation of our existing infrastructure, buildings, facilities, and roads. Each year Municipal staff prepare a projected budget for Council approval to pay for services such as winter control, road repair and needed upgrades, fire services, facility operations and maintenance, as well as park maintenance and more. As the Municipality grows and new homes are built, there is an increased demand for services and need for infrastructure support. The proposed budget for Council consideration will be released on January 14, 2022, when Council is expected to set priorities and deliberate the budget at several special meetings. Final budget ratification will take place early in February.

For more information, read Report FSD-040-21.

Council approves a process to recruit a new Chief Administrative Officer

Council has established a recruitment process to hire a new Chief Administrative Officer, following the announcement that the current CAO is retiring. A recruitment firm will be retained to help search for a new candidate. Council will also establish a CAO selection committee made up of the Mayor, a member of Council, and an executive professional with leadership experience in public sector organizations.

For more information, read Report CAO-05-21.

Customer First Approach: Council looks to centralize Clarington's Customer Service

Council is looking to streamline and simplify Clarington's customer service by creating a single point of contact for resident inquiries. Clarington staff have been directed to analyze the recommendations made in the Centralized Customer Service Review report prepared by a consultant retained to look at Clarington's current customer service model, find efficiencies, cost savings, and streamline the approach. The report recommends a multi-year, three-stage implementation plan to create a single entry-point for all inquiries, including one phone number for calls, one consistent email address, an online customer self-serve portal and one centralized desk for in-person inquiries. The stages contain a series of recommendations with potential financial investment, efficiencies, and corresponding cost savings. The recommendations also outline which services will be fully or partially centralized and lists the services that need to stay decentralized, mainly because of their complexity. The Customer Service Review was paid for through the Province of Ontario's Audit and Accountability Fund, dedicated to assisting municipalities when undertaking organizational structure reviews. Staff will review the recommendations outlined in the report to create an implementation plan.

For more information, read Report CAO-009-21.

Putting the environment first: Clarington moves forward with a Green Development Program

Clarington Council is taking the next steps and directing staff to fully integrate Clarington's Green Development Program into the Municipality's development application and review processes. The features of the Clarington Green Development Program were approved by Council in 2015, providing a roadmap, detailed design, and implementation of these standards in future residential development. It has taken time to consolidate the program into the current development process. By integrating the Green Development Program into the development process, Clarington joins many Ontario municipalities in creating building practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build infrastructure that is resilient to future climate change and create a healthier environment for residents. Moving forward, the Municipality will be updating its policy to entrench the Green Development Program into the development review and application process. Staff have consulted with stakeholders from the community and the building industry in the development of the program and will continue to consult with the development sector and subject matter experts on how best to integrate these policies into the process. Staff will also create a Green Development Standards checklist to guide applicants wanting to build in Clarington.

For more information, read Report PDS-045-21.

Clarington to assist Community Arena and Hall Boards with COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate Screening

To help with the Provincially mandated vaccine certificate screening regulations, Clarington Council has directed Municipal staff to work with the volunteers running the Community Arena and Hall Boards to establish proof of vaccination processes and protocols. Municipal staff will work with the volunteers to determine what they need and ensure that the necessary resources are in place to check proof of vaccination for the public entering the building for a function or event, following the regulations set out in the Reopening Ontario Act. The Municipality will also cover all costs incurred to provide the resources required using the Provincial COVID-19 Recovery Funds. The Community Arena and Hall Boards are the very heart of the community and contribute to our overall well-being and sense of belonging.

For more information, read Report CSD-007-21.

The next Council Meeting is on Monday, November 1, 2021.