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Canada’s housing crisis will not be solved without all levels of government pitching in and pulling in the same direction.

The Task Force for Housing & Climate was launched in September 2023 to help federal, provincial and municipal governments take the right steps towards more and better housing. Together we can face down the twin crises of housing affordability and climate change, and build the homes that Canadians deserve. Federal, provincial and municipal governments all have a critical role to play in achieving these goals. The Blueprint for More and Better Housing provides governments with clear recommendations and practical policy actions to do it. It offers ten recommendations across all orders of government, supported by 50 specific policy actions for the federal government, 50 specific policy actions for provincial governments, and 40 specific policy actions for municipal governments. VIEW THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR GOVERNMENTS HERE

Committee of the Whole Meeting Wednesday April 17, 2024 at 9:30am >> Revised Meeting Agenda >> Watch Meeting video Recap: All agenda items were moved to the next Council Meeting. The majority of discussion was about the development application for 122, 124 and 126 Cartier Crescent. There were a number of delegations and correspondence in opposition to this application. The item was voted to be moved to next week's council meeting. In favour- West, Chan, DiPaola, Davidson, Cilevitz Opposed - Liu, Cui, Shiu and Thompson

The scope of work includes new sidewalk installation, excavation, grading of driveways and boulevards and driveway asphalt paving. Construction is scheduled to begin April 2024 and be completed by Sept 2024. In Oak Ridges a new sidewalk will be installed on the east side of Bayview Avenue from Marron Drive to Balliol Avenue.

Council Meeting Wednesday April 10, 2024 at 9:30am >> Revised Meeting agenda (view staff reports here) >> Watch meeting video Recap: All agenda items were approved by Council. There was a separate discussion regarding the request for approval for 13572/13586 Bayview to add additional units within the existing approved building footprint. It was approved by council with Councillors Davidson, Thompson and Cui voted against. The York District School Board Trustee By-election for Wards 1, 2 and 4 will be held on Monday July 15th with nomination day being on Friday May 31st. The City is responsible for conducting the election and the school board is responsible for all costs. There will not be any online voting available due to the unavailability of an online voting provider.

Committee of the Whole Meeting Wednesday April 3, 2024 at 9:30am >> Revised Meeting Agenda (Spatafora Letter re 13586 Bayview) >> Watch Meeting video Recap: The majority of Council's discussion was around the development applications for 13572/13576 Bayview Avenue and 9301/9325/9335 Yonge Street. The primary concerns were around affordability. The Yonge/16th development will have 37% of the units which are considered to be affordable ownership units in accordance with the City’s policies. The Bayview development will not have affordable units in accordance with the City’s policies but the applicants are open to discuss with York Region their affordable housing program. Council indicated that they are looking for a real commitment regarding this. According to the applicants approximately 10% of the building will be One Bedroom units, priced between $600,000 to $700,000. Another 50% of our units will be One Bedroom and Den/interior second bedroom designs priced below $800,000. There will still have larger Two Bedroom and Three Bedroom units; however, the average net suite size will be around 750 square feet. The applicants believe the current direction of the project will create affordable units since most townhouses in Richmond Hill are priced well-over $1M. All agenda items are moved to next week's Council Meeting.

The purpose of the notice is to advise local area residents, stakeholders and business owners that York Region is making improvements to Bathurst Street from Major Mackenzie Drive to King-Vaughan Road in the City of Richmond Hill and the City of Vaughan from April 2024 to September 2024. More info here

The City of Richmond Hill has completed a study to determine the best way to rehabilitate the Humber Flats Stormwater Management Facility and reduce the number of residential properties in the Regional floodplain. The study area is shown in the map and services the surrounding residential subdivision. The preferred solution includes the following: Replace the existing 2.4m wide x 1.8m high concrete culvert under Humberland Drive with three 3.0m wide x 2.1m high concrete box culverts Clean out the sediment, and deepen and expand the existing wet pond to provide enhanced quality treatment of stormwater runoff Minor regrading works to decommission the existing filter pads in the valleylands Detailed design of this project is expected to start in 2025. A Project File Report outlining findings and recommendations is available for public review and comment at RichmondHill.ca/HumberFlatsEA until April 26, 2024. Any outstanding concerns can be directed to: Jowell Liang, P.Eng. Project Manager, Water Resources City of Richmond Hill 225 East Beaver Creek Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4 905-780-2049 jowell.liang@richmondhill.ca

Staff provided an update to Council on March 20, 2024 in response to Councillor Davidson's member motion in regards to “Prioritizing Neighborhood Traffic Calming Measures”. Staff recommended that the policies, traffic calming measures, parking prohibitions and community safety zones presented in this report be approved by Council in order to support implementation of the 2024 actions related to the TSOS. This is the first step of an ongoing system of improvements to traffic safety in Richmond Hill. Staff will monitor and evaluate each of the 18 traffic calming locations and report back to Council with the results of the effectiveness of these measures, lessons learned, and recommendations for additional locations in 2025. Why was my street not selected for traffic calming? An evidence based city-wide traffic calming network screening has been completed based on current data and information available to the City. Based on this screening, the first 18 priority traffic calming locations (3 locations per Ward) have been identified for 2024. Traffic and speeding are an issue on almost every street in Richmond Hill and Oak Ridges. The reality is that we cannot put stop signs, traffic lights, cameras and police at every corner. Not only would traffic grind to a halt the City just doesn't have the revenue to pay for it without raising property taxes. Ultimately the responsibility lays with the drivers who are speeding and driving recklessly through our neighbourhoods. Hopefully these new ongoing measures will educate them and encourage responsible driving habits. Some Facts: Richmond Hill already has approximately 533 intersections with stop signs. The cost of purchasing and installing one red light camera is approximately $100,000. The cost of purchasing and installing one traffic signal is approximately $80,000-$160,000. 2024 Traffic Calming Actions include: Completed: Undertake a Citywide Traffic Calming Network Screening Status The first 18 priority traffic calming locations (3 locations per Ward) have been identified for 2024. These 18 locations are detailed here. The three 2024 traffic calming locations for Ward 1 are: Augustine Avenue from Brockdale Street to Kingshill Road Regatta Avenue from Coons Road to Yonge Street North Lake Road from Bayview Avenue to Yonge Street Measures include intersection improvements, speed cushions, pavement markings, speed radar and flexible bollards More details here Completed: Conduct a Citywide Community Safety Zone (CSZ) audit 86 new Community Safety Zones have been identified for implementation in 2024 beginning with locations adjacent to Elementary and Secondary schools. A Community Safety Zone (CSZ) is a designated section of the roadway where public safety is of special concern. The purpose is to encourage slower speeds to improve public safety through the designated areas. All fines received within the designated CSZ, including speeding, are doubled. View complete list here NOTE: There will be 19 new Community Safety Zones in Ward 1 In Progress: Develop a ‘Slow Down’ Lawn Sign Program In Progress: Expand the Pole-Mounted Radar Board Program In Progress: Complete initial network screening for candidate Pedestrian Crossover (PXO) locations and for speed limit reductions View complete staff report here

Council Meeting Wednesday March 27, 2024 at 9:30am >> Revised Meeting agenda (view staff reports here) >> Watch meeting video here Part 1 & Part 2 Recap: 15.1   Report from Suzanne Craig, Integrity Commissioner, dated March 4, 2024, titled “Formal Code of Conduct Complaint Investigation Report of Committee of Adjustment Member John Li" The Integrity Commissioner concluded that the Respondent’s aggressive, intimidating and harassing conduct towards, staff and applicants and their representatives, has become a disruptive influence for the City of Richmond Hill’s Committee of Adjustment (COA), creating an atmosphere of dysfunction and intimidation, distracting from the purpose of the COA and creating a intimidating and harassing workplace for staff. The Integrity Commissioners report was received by council and the recommendations were unanimously approved including a reprimand and the penalty of rescinding John Li's appointment to the Committee of Adjustment. All other agenda items were also approved by council.

Council Public Meeting Tuesday March 26, 2024 at 7pm >> View Meeting Agenda >> Watch Meeting Here On the Agenda: Request for Comments – Revised Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 101 Bloomington Development Inc. – 101 Bloomington Road View reports here The applicant submitted revised Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications on January 29, 2024, to permit a medium density residential development to be comprised of 42 three storey stacked townhouse dwelling units and one (1) level of parking located partially above and partially below grade. Access to the proposed development is to be provided via a private driveway from Yonge Street which will also serve as a connection to the vacant lands to the east. Background In November 2019, the City received Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision applications to permit a medium density residential development to be comprised of 18 townhouse dwelling units on a private road In December 2022, the City received a related Official Plan Amendment application and a revised Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit a 12-storey high density residential development The revised Zoning By-law Amendment applications were considered at a Council Public Meeting held on March 21, 2023. During the meeting and in comments received following the meeting, concerns were raised with respect to the scale of the proposed development: its potential impact on the privacy of residents within the subdivision located to the east, the potential cumulative negative impacts of development on the Oak Ridges Moraine, the height of the 12-storey development proposal and the adverse effects it would have on the property, and the compatibility with the character of the area and the green space to the south and east of the subject lands. 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 found on Richmondhill.ca. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.

The annual statement of Council and Committee Members Remuneration and Expenses (as required by the Municipal Act) was presented to Council at the March 20, 2024 Committee of the Whole. Read staff report here. Members of Council receive an annual salary that is set by by-law with annual provisions for cost of living adjustments, as well as a benefits package. The previous Council (2018-2022) approved the compensation for the current Council (2022-2026) based on the recommendations of the citizens appointed to the Council Compensation Review Committee. The previous Council approved the following compensation for this term of Council: The increases in compensation are to be aligned with increases provided to non-unionized City Staff, including an increase of 1.70% effective January 1, 2023, with an annual cap of up to 2.25% in subsequent years. Read June 8, 2022 Meeting Minutes here. Each Member of Council is allocated an annual budget for municipal purposes which include expenses for constituency, communications, and support resources. Members' of Council year-to-date expenditure details are published on a quarterly basis. View them here.