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The road reconstruction work on Blackforest Drive, Acorn Road and Rosegarden Crescent will resume in mid-April 2025 and is expected to be substantially completed by December 2025. The contractor will be starting the sidewalk construction on Blackforest Drive in the week of April 14 (weather permitting). They plan to mobilize and start the sanitary sewer construction on Rosegarden Crescent in the week of April 21.

The City of Richmond Hill will be conducting major maintenance works at the Verdi stormwater management facility located at the intersection of Verdi Road and Madison Avenue. The works at the stormwater management facility are being conducted to remove accumulated sediment and correct component deficiencies. The stormwater facility works will help mitigate flooding, erosion, improve water quality and will increase the protection of the natural environment. Construction is expected to begin the week of April 21st and is expected to take approximately one month to complete. The trail through the stormwater facility will be closed for the length of construction as shown on the map.

The City is undertaking the detailed design for the reconstruction of Maple Grove Avenue and Wendy Way. The scope of work includes removal of ditches and culverts, boulevard regrading, pavement reconstruction, new curb and gutter, new sidewalk, watermain replacement, new storm sewer system, sanitary sewer replacement/repair and streetlight upgrade. Construction is scheduled to start in late 2025. Virtual Public Meeting Date: Monday, March 31, 2024 Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. To Register go to: https://MapleGroveWendypic.eventbrite.ca/ Preliminary Design Drawings and Presentation Online Comment Form The general public is welcome to view the preliminary design and submit comments using the  Road Design Comment Form  by Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Committee of the Whole Meeting Wednesday April 2, 2025 at 9:30am Meeting Agenda: Revised Meeting Agenda Watch Meeting: Meeting Video Meeting Minutes: Minutes Recap: All agenda items were moved to next week's Council Meeting. Agenda Items Include: Request for Approval - Municipally-Initiated Official Plan Amendment on Employment Land Protection The amendment aims to add policies authorizing the continuation of legally existing excluded uses within the city's designated employment lands. This is in response to changes in the Planning Act and a new Provincial Planning Statement that came into effect on October 20, 2024, which revised the definition of "area of employment". The proposed amendment would allow stand-alone offices, commercial uses, and institutional uses established on or before October 20, 2024, to be considered part of the "area of employment". Request for Approval - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - 262 Douglas Road A request to approve a Zoning By-law Amendment application to facilitate the creation of one (1) additional building lot Status Update - Pending Items List The purpose of this report is to provide an update to Council on pending items originating from Committee of the Whole and Council meetings for the 2022-2026 Term of Council. 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.

Many have expressed concerns, myself included, that X Corp., under Elon Musk's leadership, may no longer reflect the city's core values of respect, inclusivity, integrity, and responsible communication. Additionally, worries have been raised about data security, potential surveillance, and the influence stemming from Musk's access to U.S. government files. In response, I am tabling a motion at the March 19th Committee of the Whole Meeting. The motion aims to task city staff with preparing a report on suspending all official City accounts on X and exploring alternative platforms.

Transparency and accountability are paramount. To uphold these values, the City has published the Council Members 2024 Year-End expense reports on its website. You can access them through the link below. Detailed expense and event reports can be found here

Council Meeting Wednesday March 26, 2025 at 9:30am Meeting Agenda: Revised Meeting Agenda Watch Meeting: Meeting Video Recap: All agenda items were approved by council. Agenda Items Include: Member Motion - Councillor Davidson - Suspend City of Richmond Hill Use of the X (Twitter) Platform There are concerns that X Corp., under Elon Musk's ownership, no longer aligns with the city's values of respect, inclusivity, integrity, and responsible communication. Furthermore, there are also concerns about data security, potential monitoring, and influence given Musk's access to U.S. government files. The motion directs staff to prepare a report on suspending all official City accounts on X and transitioning to alternative platforms. Request for Approval – Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 11305 Yonge Street A revised Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications shall facilitate the construction of a high density residential development to be comprised of a 10 storey residential apartment building and townhouse dwellings with a total of 119 dwelling units. Request for Approval - Dave Barrow Civic Square Park Plan Dave Barrow Civic Square Park, located at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive West, is envisioned to be “our gathering place on the hill.” Local Contribution Requirement under York Region Development Charges Deferral for Affordable Rental Buildings Policy  - 9700 Yonge In May 2024, Council approved Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments submitted by Elm 9700 Yonge Lands Limited for 9700 Yonge Street to facilitate the construction of affordable and purpose-built rental housing on the subject lands. This project is eligible for consideration under the Region’s DC Deferral Policy, provided Richmond Hill provides a similar local contribution of DC deferral. Request for Approval – Comprehensive Zoning By-law (Centres and Corridors) and Accessible Parking By-law The report seeks Council approval for a Comprehensive Zoning By-law (CZBL) update focused on Centres and Corridors and a revised Accessible Parking By-law. The proposed changes align zoning regulations with the City’s Official Plan, promote transit-oriented development, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. 2024 Council and Committee Remuneration and Expenses The Municipal Act requires that the Treasurer report to Council by March 31st, a statement of total remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year to any Member of Council or its committees with respect to his or her services as a member of Council or committees. Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Regulation By-law Enactment The report recommends enacting a new "Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Regulation By-law" to modernize and streamline existing animal bylaws, promoting responsible pet ownership and public safety. It also suggests amending the Kennel Licensing By-law to align with the new regulations. To efficiently enforce these bylaws, the report proposes using an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS). The new bylaw will replace five existing bylaws. Key changes include clarifications on pet limits per household, provisions regarding animal abandonment, and a shift to a "permitted pets" list. The report also outlines a public awareness plan and discusses enforcement strategies. Member Motion - Councillor Thompson - Feasibility Study for Highway 407 The motion requests that the Government of Ontario conduct a feasibility study assessing the financial, environmental, and logistical implications of buying back the lease for Highway 407. This motion supports an effort by the City of Vaughan to lobby the province to look into buying back Highway 407 as a means to alleviate the traffic congestion on other high-travelled thoroughfares. 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.  Public Forum:   Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Persons wanting to address Council during the Public Forum portion of the meeting must register by sending an email to clerks@richmondhill.ca  or by using the on-line form . Public Forum participation can be in-person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.

Committee of the Whole Meeting Wednesday March 19, 2025 at 9:30am Meeting Agenda: View Meeting Agenda Watch Meeting: Meeting Video Recap: All items were moved to next week's Council Meeting. Most of the discussion centred around the proposed Dave Barrow Civic Square Park, the Comprehensive Zoning By-law, cats and the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law and the suspending the City's X accounts. Agenda Items Include: Member Motion - Councillor Davidson - Suspend City of Richmond Hill Use of the X (Twitter) Platform There are concerns that X Corp., under Elon Musk's ownership, no longer aligns with the city's values of respect, inclusivity, integrity, and responsible communication. Furthermore, there are also concerns about data security, potential monitoring, and influence given Musk's access to U.S. government files. The motion directs staff to prepare a report on suspending all official City accounts on X and transitioning to alternative platforms. Request for Approval – Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 11305 Yonge Street A revised Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications shall facilitate the construction of a high density residential development to be comprised of a 10 storey residential apartment building and townhouse dwellings with a total of 119 dwelling units. Request for Approval - Dave Barrow Civic Square Park Plan Dave Barrow Civic Square Park, located at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive West, is envisioned to be “our gathering place on the hill.” Local Contribution Requirement under York Region Development Charges Deferral for Affordable Rental Buildings Policy - 9700 Yonge In May 2024, Council approved Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments submitted by Elm 9700 Yonge Lands Limited for 9700 Yonge Street to facilitate the construction of affordable and purpose-built rental housing on the subject lands. This project is eligible for consideration under the Region’s DC Deferral Policy, provided Richmond Hill provides a similar local contribution of DC deferral. Request for Approval – Comprehensive Zoning By-law (Centres and Corridors) and Accessible Parking By-law The report seeks Council approval for a Comprehensive Zoning By-law (CZBL) update focused on Centres and Corridors and a revised Accessible Parking By-law. The proposed changes align zoning regulations with the City’s Official Plan, promote transit-oriented development, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. 2024 Council and Committee Remuneration and Expenses The Municipal Act requires that the Treasurer report to Council by March 31st, a statement of total remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year to any Member of Council or its committees with respect to his or her services as a member of Council or committees. Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Regulation By-law Enactment The report recommends enacting a new "Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Regulation By-law" to modernize and streamline existing animal bylaws, promoting responsible pet ownership and public safety. It also suggests amending the Kennel Licensing By-law to align with the new regulations. To efficiently enforce these bylaws, the report proposes using an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS). The new bylaw will replace five existing bylaws. Key changes include clarifications on pet limits per household, provisions regarding animal abandonment, and a shift to a "permitted pets" list. The report also outlines a public awareness plan and discusses enforcement strategies. Member Motion - Councillor Thompson - Feasibility Study for Highway 407 The motion requests that the Government of Ontario conduct a feasibility study assessing the financial, environmental, and logistical implications of buying back the lease for Highway 407. This motion supports an effort by the City of Vaughan to lobby the province to look into buying back Highway 407 as a means to alleviate the traffic congestion on other high-travelled thoroughfares. 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.

Council Public Meeting Tuesday March 25, 2025 at 7pm Meeting Agenda: Meeting Agenda Watch Meeting:   City's YouTube  or Livestream On the Agenda: Request for Comments - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Chloe Ansari and Bijan Ansari - 99 Lucas Street A request for comments concerning a proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application to facilitate the construction of two (2) semi-detached dwelling units on the subject lands. Request for Comments - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - 14796721 CANADA CORP. - 112 Elgin Mills Road West The applicant is seeking approval of a Zoning By-law Amendment application and related draft Plan of Subdivision and Site Plan applications to permit the construction of a medium density residential development to be comprised of 15 townhouse dwelling units on a private common element condominium road. Public Comments:   The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda matters by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca . Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, considered as public information and noted in the public record.   Delegations:    No prior registration is required to make an in-person Delegation, but is encouraged. Prior registration is required should the public intend to make an electronic delegation by video conference or telephone. Applications to appear as a delegation must be submitted by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca  or  by using the on-line application form .   The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.

York Region is reconstructing King Road from Yonge Street to Bond Crescent to improve road condition and replace aging infrastructure. As part of this work, night closures are required on King Road between Yonge Street and Schomberg Road while crews work on a culvert.

Council Meeting Wednesday February 26, 2025 at 9:30am Meeting Agenda: Revised Meeting Agenda Watch Meeting: Meeting Video Part 1 & Part 2 Recap: Council approved all meeting agenda items. Councillor Davidson added an Emergency & Time Sensitive Motion in order to receive detailed information on the snow cleanup efforts during the recent extreme weather event. Council members had the opportunity to question Operations staff about the status of cleanup efforts. Staff also gave an informative overview of the inner workings of snow operations process. You can watch the snow discussions here: Snow Clean Up Motion Agenda Items Include: Response to February 12, 2025 Member Motion – Regarding a “Made in Canada” Procurement Policy Key Messages: The United States (U.S.) announced proposed tariffs to all goods originating in Canada and imported into the U.S, beginning in early March. The proposed U.S. tariffs will have significant impact to Canadian goods and the economy. This report examines the key considerations of prioritizing Canadian made goods and services while ensuring compliance with trade agreements, fiscal responsibility and value for taxpayer dollars. The majority of the City's current procurements are with Canadian suppliers. Increasing the procurement threshold and specifying Canadian content can support more procurements with Canadian suppliers. The City has developed resources to help support Richmond Hill businesses and will work to determine the appropriate next steps to further support local businesses. Member Motion - Councillor Cilevitz - Motion to Request the Redistribution of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to Municipalities for Sustainable Infrastructure Funding That Richmond Hill Council formally requests the Provincial Government to consider redistributing a portion of the Land Transfer Tax collected on property transactions to municipalities That Richmond Hill Council calls on the Federal Government to allocate a percentage of the GST collected on property sales to municipalities; Member Motion - Councillor Davidson - Richmond Hill's Commitment to Transparency and Accountability Richmond Hill residents and Council must be confident that the City is delivering services and projects that maximize value for taxpayers while effectively meeting the community's needs and expectations. To that end, I am bringing forth a motion requesting a presentation on Richmond Hill's continuous improvement projects to be delivered to Council by March 19, 2025. To maintain transparency and accountability, City staff will be required to provide regular reports on efficiencies, cost savings, and service improvements to both Council and residents. This report will include details on efficiencies, service improvements, cost savings, opportunities for further enhancements, and recommendations for sustaining and expanding continuous improvement efforts. Additionally, it will cover ongoing and upcoming projects planned for 2025 and beyond. Blue Box Collection Changes - Non-Eligible Sources The City of Richmond Hill is preparing for the transition of its Blue Box Program to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, as mandated by provincial legislation, by January 1, 2026. This shift means that producers of recyclable materials will be responsible for the collection and end-of-life management of their products. The city needs to make decisions about providing recycling services to locations that will become "non-eligible sources" under the new EPR system. These include city facilities, businesses in the downtown core, religious institutions, non-profit organizations, daycares, and some industrial/commercial properties. The recommendations are: Continue recycling collection services to City facilities. Continue recycling collection services to the 88 businesses in the downtown core BIA that currently receive municipal waste collection, and implement a $365 per year waste management fee for each of those businesses. Discontinue recycling collection services to religious institutions, non-profit organizations, and daycare providers. Discontinue collection of all waste streams from industrial and commercial properties outside of the BIA. Terminate the Super Mailbox Recycling Program. Blue Box Transition - Waste Collection Contract Update An update on the required amendments to the City’s residential waste collection contract with Miller Waste Systems as a result of the Blue Box Program transition to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); and to receive direction on procuring a new, long-term waste collection contract. The existing contract with Miller Waste needs to be amended to remove recycling collection and adjust the cost for organics collection. A one-year contract extension is recommended to allow time to procure a new long-term contract. Recyclables and organics can no longer be collected in one truck, as per the new regulation. Therefore, Miller Waste informed the City that their cost to collect organics will increase as of January 1, 2026. Staff and Miller Waste have negotiated a mutually acceptable tentative agreement that includes a one-year extension to the contract. As per this tentative agreement, the City would pay Miller an additional $640,000 annually for organics collection, effective January 1, 2026 A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to secure a new long-term residential waste collection contract commencing in April 2028. Provincial Housing Pledge and Federal Housing Accelerator Fund: Launch of Richmond Hill Centre Zoning By-law In support of the City of Richmond Hill’s Provincial Housing Pledge and Federal Housing Accelerator Fund obligations, this report serves to inform Council that the Richmond Hill Centre Zoning By-law is being initiated. The Zoning By-law aims to implement the Richmond Hill Centre Secondary Plan (RHCSP), encourage density and affordable housing, accelerate infrastructure, and streamline development. The City’s HAF Action Plan commitments for rezoning the Richmond Hill Centre include setting land use permissions, heights and densities, built-form and public amenity requirements and requiring family-sized units. An approach to zoning in the context of the Minister’s Zoning Order for the High Tech Transit-Oriented Community, which has established specific zoning standards, must also be coordinated. The pre-zoning will make it easier for development to implement the RHCSP vision and is one of nine initiatives funded through the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The City was awarded over $31 million of HAF funding by the Federal Government in November 2023, to eliminate barriers to building housing. To remain eligible for HAF funding disbursements, the City is committed to achieving all milestone dates pursuant to the HAF Agreement. 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.  Public Forum:   Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Persons wanting to address Council during the Public Forum portion of the meeting must register by sending an email to clerks@richmondhill.ca  or by using the on-line form . Public Forum participation can be in-person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.

At the February 26, 2025 Council Meeting, I introduced an Emergency & Time Sensitive Motion to advocate for residents and obtain detailed information on the City's snow cleanup efforts during the recent extreme weather event. Council members had the chance to question Operations staff about the progress of cleanup efforts. Additionally, staff provided an informative overview of the inner workings of the snow operations process. If you want answers to your snow clearing questions and concerns then I urge you to watch the meeting video. You can watch the snow Q and A discussion here Here's a high level summary of the snow-clearing discussion: The recent storm brought approximately 70 cm of snow, but the more notable figure is 65 cm over just 8 days—a historic event not seen since around 1951. This was an intense, prolonged storm that presented significant challenges. Despite the city's best efforts, the storm placed a heavy strain on staffing and equipment resources. Labor laws require mandatory rest periods after 70-hour work weeks, impacting workforce availability. Additionally, heavy-duty snow removal equipment, which is used only a few times per year, needed servicing after multiple consecutive days of operation. These factors were key challenges in managing this historic snowfall event. Initial Approach and Priorities: The priority was set based on the anticipated extent of the storm. Road salting came first, followed by plowing and windrow operations. Sidewalk operations commenced after roads were properly plowed. The strategy had to be sustained for 8-12 days due to the ongoing snowfall. Snow Removal Efforts: Snow removal has been concentrated on areas with limited storage like the downtown core, laneways, associated side streets, dead ends, bridge decks, and school bus drop zones. They are now working on clearing snow banks from side streets, hauling snow to the operations center. Sidewalk Clearing: Sidewalk operations start on primary roads, then move to secondaries and smaller streets. The continuous and intense storm meant crews were often called back to primaries before going back and finishing secondaries. Expectations: Complete snow clearance on every street is not in the works due to cost and manpower. Priority is given to areas with limited snow storage. One-Lane Plowing Explanation: The streets appear to have one lane because the plows push snow to the right and left, and snow banks from windrows and homeowners narrow the streets. Contractors: The city uses a mix of in-house staff and outside contractors for snow removal. Road plowing is mostly done by contractors, while windrow operations and sidewalks are handled internally. Plow Distribution: Each ward has the same number of plows dispatched simultaneously per kilometre of roadways. Municipalities classify roads based on importance and usage. Snow plow routes are determined using a combination of priority-based routing, efficiency modeling and logistical constraints. The southern parts of Richmond Hill benefit from an urban design with closely positioned streets, enabling snow plows to cover ground more efficiently. In contrast, Oak Ridges features a more spacious layout, leading to longer clearing times for each street due to the increased distance between them.