Ward 11 E-Newsletter - March 2015

As always, I am pleased to assist you and your family with any municipal issue that you have.  Please don't hesitate to contact my office directly at 905-896-5011 or

george.carlson@mississauga.ca.   

 

In This Issue...

2015 City and Region Budgets

 

The 2015 City and Region budgets have been approved by Budget Committee and Council.  This year, residents will see a 2.2 per cent increase on their total tax bill.  This means an increase of $92 on a home assessed at $479,000 or $19.30 per $100,000 of assessment.  The 2015 City budget includes a $694.8 million operating budget, which is used to deliver services like transit, parks, forestry, recreation, roads and stormwater management, and fire and emergency services.  The 2015 City budget also includes a $195.2 million capital budget, which supports transportation projects like the new Transitway, road and bridge rehabilitation and other infrastructure projects like park facilities and storm drainage.  The City budget ensures that services will be improved and important investments will be made in public transit, recreation centres, and neighbourhood safety.  Some highlights of the 2015 budget include:

  • Transit services are increasing to meet the growing demand.  MiWay will add 41,000 service hours and new express routes along the Mississauga Transitway.
  • Capital projects like the Meadowvale Community Centre renovation will continue to improve recreation and community services.
  • The Mississauga Library system will receive increases in funding for library collections. 
  • An Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) will make the City's traffic control system more efficient and responsive to changing traffic conditions.
  • The two per cent Capital Infrastructure and Debt Repayment Levy will help the City pay for its infrastructure.  The City needs about $128 million per year.  Current sources of funding, including property taxes, reserve funds and gas taxes, will still leave the City short about $60 million.
  • City staff identified $6.2 million in savings for 2015 through efficiencies. These savings have ensured the costs to maintain existing service levels remain below the rate of inflation.

The Region's budget includes an operating budget of $2 billion and a capital budget of $0.4 billion. The current budget provides resources to support day-to-day operations. The capital budget provides resources to acquire, improve or maintain land, buildings, roads, watermains, pumping stations, machinery and equipment, to install computer software, and to conduct studies relating to corporate assets. The 2015 Region of Peel budget provides funding to support the following regional services:

  • 17,000 Ontario Works cases per month
  • 583,000 accessible transportation trips
  • 20,716 social housing units/beds/homes
  • 7,800 subsidized child care spaces provided annually, 1,427 which are reserved for children with special needs
  • 1,655.5-lane kilometres of roads, 172 structures and 452 signalized intersections
  • More than 500,000 tonnes of waste managed per year
  • Provide 703 beds, including four temporary beds, in our five long term care homes
  • 50,000 children are offered dental screening annually, 11,000 of whom are in need of urgent treatment
  • 663 million litres per day of wastewater collected and treated
  • 608 million litres per day of municipal water treated, transmitted, and distributed
  • 19,500 more Regionally controlled trips for accessible transportation services
  • Additional 2,555 paramedic service hours to address an increase in 9-1-1 calls
  • 300 additional child care subsidies
  • 100 additional housing rent subsidies

For more information about the 2015 City and Region budgets, please visit  www.mississauga.ca/budget or www.peelregion.ca.  Top 

New Streetsville Village Square Event Committee

 

I am very pleased to report that City Council approved a new events committee and by-law changes that will bring Streetsville Village Square to life with community programs and events.

 

"Streetsville Village Square will attract many new exciting activities and be a great location to expand and host our traditional events such as Canada Day, Remembrance Day and the Bread and Honey Festival," said Ward 11 Councillor George Carlson.  "No matter what time of year, the new square is a welcoming place, attractive meeting place and focal point for the Streetsville community.  We are looking forward to celebrating our community's diversity and hosting fitness, music, art, dance activities and events for residents of all ages to enjoy."

 

The new community based committee, led by the Streetsville Business Improvement Area (BIA) and City of Mississauga staff, is responsible for assessing and approving event and activity requests. It also includes representatives from the Streetsville Legion, Main Street businesses, Peel Regional Police and the not-for-profit community base in Streetsville.

 

Council also approved changes to City bylaws including the Noise Bylaw, Special Events Temporary Road Closure Bylaw and the Prohibit Sale of Goods on Highways Bylaw to accommodate activities and traffic during events. 

 

For more information about the Streetsville Village Square Event Committee contact Angela Trewartha, general manager, Streetsville BIA at angela@villageofstreetsville.com or 905-858-5974. For more information about the staff report contact Heather Coupey, Community Development Coordinator at 905-615-3200 Ext.3407 or heather.coupey@mississauga.ca.  Top 

Money Smarts Expo for Seniors

 

If you are a senior, you may be interested in checking out the 2015 Money Smarts Expo for Seniors this month. If you know any interested seniors, please feel free to pass this information along to them as well. The Expo features over 45 exhibitors who will share their latest financial well-being strategies such as:

  • Mass marketing fraud and cybercrime awareness
  • Understanding wills and powers of attorney
  • Renovating homes for seniors
  • Smart travelling tips for seniors
The Expo will be held on:

Money Smarts Expo for Seniors
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
9:30am to 4pm
Trinity Hall, Canadian Coptic Centre
1245 Eglinton Ave W, Mississauga

Admission is free of charge.  For more information about the Expo, please contact   admin@peapn.ca  or 905-450-1608 ext. 161.  You may also visit the Peel Elder Abuse Prevention Network's website at www.peapn.ca.   Top  

2015 Designated Heritage Property Grant Program is Open

 

If you own a designated heritage property in Mississauga, you are eligible to apply for grant funding to help with the repair, restoration, and conservation costs associated with your property. Matching grants from $500 to $5,000 are available for general conservation and from $500 to $10,000 for the repair or restoration of structural elements.

 

Mississauga has a wide range of heritage properties that collectively reflect a cultural history that defines Mississauga. These grants allow the City to partner with property owners to preserve our historic properties.


For more information about Heritage Property Grant Program and to apply for grant funding, please visit the Heritage Planning website at 
mississauga.ca/heritageplanning. Applications are due March 31, 2015 by 4:30 p.m.  Top 

Preventing Frozen Water Pipes

 

With the extreme temperatures that we have had this winter, frozen water pipes have unfortunately become a problem.  Here are some useful tips from the Region of Peel to help prevent the occurrence of frozen water pipes and what to do if you encounter frozen water pipes:


 

To prevent frozen pipes

  1. In the fall, before the first frost, locate your shut-off valve and turn it off. The shut-off valve is located inside your home, close to where your outside taps are.
  2. Disconnect your garden hoses and drain all outside taps.
  3. Go through your home to identify areas where pipes may freeze. This can be in a basement or crawlspace near an outside wall, window, areas that have a draft or near a cracked foundation.
    • Use caulk or insulation to seal these areas keep the cold out and the heat in.
  4. Find your water meter. It is found in the lowest part of your home, in your basement or crawl space. The meter is adjacent to the main water shut-off valve to your home.
  5. Protect your meter by insulating the pipes on either side by applying a low-wattage wrap heater, heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables around the incoming pipe. Use products approved by product safety certification organizations, such as Canadian Standards Association or Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and use them only as intended (exterior or interior).
    • If your meter is located inside a cabinet, leave the doors open to allow warm to reach them
  6. If you are going to be away, turn off the main water shut-off valve and drain your pipes through a sink or tap in the lowest level of your home.
    • Have someone check the house daily to ensure the heat is on and that no problem occurs.
  7. Maintain a consistent temperature of 15 C or 60 F in your home at all times
To thaw frozen pipes
  1. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe (commonly adjacent to an exterior wall or where the water service enters the home through the foundation).
  2. Leave a cold water tap downstream of the location open, so that when the water begins to flow again, you know the pipe has thawed.
  3. Apply heat to the suspected area (section of pipe) by using one of the following methods:
    • electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe,
    • electric hair dryer,
    • portable heater (be sure not to place near flammable materials.)

If after following these instructions you are unable to thaw the frozen pipe, please contact the Region of Peel at 905-791-7800.  Top 

ActiveAssist Recreation Fee Assistance Program Expanded

 

I am very pleased to report that Mississauga's "ActiveAssist" Fee Assistance Program has been expanded to allow 2,500 more low-income households to register and participate.

 

"ActiveAssist" provides eligible low-income households a fee credit of $275 per person per year. The credit can be applied to activities such as swimming, skating, fitness and summer camps.  Participants have one year from the date of activation to use their fee credit.  To be eligible for fee assistance, you must meet the Low-Income Cut Offs (LICO) established by Statistics Canada and be unable to pay for recreation programs and services.

 

Highlights of the "Active Assist" program since its inception include:

  • More than 42,000 residents have been approved to access the program
  • 80 per cent of participants are children and youth, three per cent are older adults
  • During five years of the program, 63 per cent of all subsidies are used for registered programs and 37 per cent are used to purchase memberships and visits
  • In fall 2014, the program was expended to provide access for Children in Care (Peel Children's Aid Society)

Applications for "ActiveAssist" may be made in person at any City of Mississauga Community Centre or the Customer Service Centre located at Mississauga Central Library, Ground Floor.  For more information and a complete listing of all recreation programs, visit www.mississauga.ca/activeassist or call 905-615-4100.  Top 

New Investments in Public Transit

 

I am pleased to report that the City of Mississauga and the Government of Canada have invested a total of $110,400,000 improving public transit services, as part of the Gas Tax Fund.  This investment was used to increase the MiWay fleet with new buses featuring state-of-the-art transit technologies.

 

Since 2009, the City has purchased a total of 168 new buses, replacing 112 older vehicles and increasing its fleet to meet the demand and growing needs of residents and visitors. The new accessible, low floor, kneeling buses are equipped with ramps that allow passengers to board and exit the bus with ease. Voice and visual stop announcement systems call out and display pre-recorded stop information onboard, alerting passengers of the next stop. Meanwhile, buses also feature external audio-visual displays announcing the route name, number and direction, to help ensure that all customers have access to the information they require. These features are especially beneficial for riders with visual or hearing impairments  For more information about MiWay transit, please visit www.miway.caTop 

New Standards for Leash Free Zones in Mississauga

 

City Council recently approved changes to Mississauga's Leash-Free Zones to keep them safe for users.

 

Anyone walking more than four dogs at one time, up to a limit of eight dogs, in one of Mississauga's Leash-Free Zones will need to apply for a permit from the City of Mississauga. This permit must be visible while using any Mississauga Leash-Free Zones.  The Dog Walker Permit Fee will be $250, with a $50 charge, for each additional dog walker. The new Dog Walker Permit Fee will take effect this Spring.

 

Leash-Free Zones in City parks began in 1997.  There are presently 7 Leash-Free Zones in Mississauga.  Leash-Free Zones are maintained by Leash-Free Mississauga (LFM), a non-profit organization established in 1997.  To find a dog park in your area, please visit www.mississauga.ca/parks.  Top 

 

Write for a Better World

 

If you are a student in grades 5-8 and enjoy using your imagination for creative writing, check out World Literacy Canada's Write for a Better World national children's writing contest.


 

Write for a Better World encourages kids to use their imaginations and practice their creative writing skills while promoting  values of global citizenship.  As part of this contest, you must write an original story in 400 words or less and you could win great prizes as well. 


 

World Literacy Canada is a non-profit organization that works to inspire young people to read and write and to be inquirers, thinkers, and communicators.  For more information about this great writing contest, please visit www.worldlit.ca/write2015.  Good luck with your stories!  Top 

Peel Police Crime Prevention Cyber Academy

 

The crime prevention experts at Peel Regional Police have developed a unique cyber related course for parents, caregivers, educators and other professionals.  


 

The Cyber Academy is delivered over four evenings, 2.5 hours each evening for a total of 10 hours of instruction and is designed to teach participants how to avoid the risks on the following:

  • COMPUTER SAFETY (passwords, firewalls, viruses, spam)
  • CYBER-FRAUD Unlocking The Secrets (identity theft, phishing, electronic banking, credit checks, mail tampering)
  • MEDIA DISTRACTION
  • CYBER-BULLYING At The Click Of A Mouse (bullying on digital mediums, computer, cell phone, records, evidence)
  • ...and much more.    
This month, sessions will be offered as follows:

Session 1....Tuesday, Mar 24.....7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Session 2....Tuesday, Mar 31.....7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Session 3....Tuesday, Apr 7......7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Session 4....Tuesday, Apr 14 ....7:00p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

 

Police academies are free of charge, and space is limited, so be sure to register early.  You must attend all required sessions to receive a certificate.  All sessions will be held at the Emil V. Kolb Centre for Police Excellence at 180 Derry Road East, Mississauga, in the Community Room.  For more information, please contact Cst. Heather Cannon or Cst. Sandro Strangio at 905-453-2121 extension 4021 or e-mail cyberproofed@peelpolice.ca.  Top 

Councillor George Carlson| | george.carlson@mississauga.ca | 300 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, ON   L5B 3C1