Recap: Committee of the Whole Council Meeting - June 4
- Marian
- May 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 4
Committee of the Whole Meeting Wednesday June 4, 2025 at 9:30am
Meeting Agenda: Meeting Agenda
Watch Council Meeting: Meeting video
Recap:
There was a short agenda so it was a quick meeting. All items were moved to next week's Council Meeting.
There was a brief discussion on Councillor Davidson's motion to shift Council Public Meeting start times to 6pm, aiming to make it easier for residents to participate when meetings extend beyond 9pm.
Agenda Items Include:
Richmond Hill’s Economic Mission to Hannover Messe – Summary
Purpose: Promote Richmond Hill internationally to attract investment and business growth.
Event: Attended Hannover Messe 2025, the world’s largest industrial tech trade show. Canada was the featured country.
Key Wins:
Met with 15 potential investors; 8 more leads to follow up.
Built partnerships with German businesses, trade groups, and government agencies.
Promoted Richmond Hill’s innovation strengths (e.g. SBEC, CLIC).
Supported local companies at the show—Maple Advanced Robotics won a top award.
Cost: $27,100 for three delegates, with funding support from York Region and CanExport.
Takeaway: Richmond Hill is gaining global interest, but ongoing efforts are needed to build its international reputation and attract investment.
2025 Property Tax Highlights – Richmond Hill
Total Levy: $152.1M (includes 3.19% increase + $12.9M for infrastructure)
Tax Due Dates:
Residential: Aug 1 & Oct 1 (Sep 2 if postal strike)
Commercial/Industrial: Oct 1 & Nov 3
New Discounts & Changes:
35% tax discount for new rental buildings
Removed tax breaks for vacant commercial/industrial land
Updated Tax Deferral Program for low-income seniors (GIS-based)
Mail Disruption Ready: City can adjust due dates if postal service is affected
Public meetings let residents voice concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback on planning applications and zoning changes.
Lengthy meetings with packed agendas can stretch late into the evening, making it harder for residents to participate and adding strain on Richmond Hill staff and attendees. The motion requests that starting September 1, 2025, these meetings will begin earlier—at 6:00pm.
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.
