Please join me for my annual Free Family Skate with MPP Bob Delaney on Sunday December 15th, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Meadowvale Four Rinks.  

Please bring non-perishable food donations for our local Eden Community Food Bank.  There will be free coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn.  Click here for information.

A Holiday "Ugly Sweater"  Youth Skate is being held on Monday December 23rd from 

12:45 pm - 3:15 pm for youths aged 10 - 18 at Meadowvale Four Rinks. 

Hosted by the Meadowvale Youth Freeway, our community centre youth advisory team, the event is free with a non-perishable food item donation. More information can be found here. 

This New Year's Levee is a special one as it is the last one Hazel will attend as our Mayor.

Please stop in and wish the Mayor well on New Year's Day 2014.  Details can be found here.

On Thursday January 2nd from 

12 noon - 4:00 pm watch classic Mickey Mouse movies, draw on real film, dance to music and much more.

More information can be found here. 

Ward Meetings - Update

 
Islamic Centre proposal 

Tenth Line Park  

On November 27th, I held a meeting to show the proposed plans and have further discussion on the design of our new park at Tenth Line and Aquitaine.  We have been able to incorporate almost all of the community suggestions and many residents attended to view the plans and ask questions.  I was also very pleased to see many local youth attend the meeting and give feedback regarding a skate board park on this site.  Design and tendering will be in 2014 with construction set for 2015.  We hope to be able to have the ice rinks available for Winter 2014. 

With local youth interested in the proposed skate board park which will be part of the new park at Tenth Line and Aquitaine

City Budget Update

Council approved the 2014 City budget on December 11th.  After reviewing all the department submissions, we are looking at a 1.8 per cent increase to the City portion of your residential tax bill.   

We are still deliberating the Region's 2014 budget but if we approve a proposed increase in the region portion of 0.6 per cent, the overall impact on your tax bill will be a total increase of 2.4%.  

This increase is mainly to cover increased costs especially in fuel and hydro at both levels of government.  It also includes special annual levies for infrastructure as well as a new levy for dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer.  Council also approved a small levy to support University of Toronto Mississauga's new Management and Innovation building/program.  After much deliberation I voted against this levy. Although I do see the value of the investment in the future and the importance to our economy in the end I felt that the timing is wrong with so many local pressures on our budget. 

Council has looked carefully at all costs at both levels of government and we have not reduced any service levels and in fact have improved the snow maintenance for this year and added additional Sunday library hours to all branches.   

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You may have noticed that we have replaced the all way stop controls at Hazelton and Plantation with a roundabout.  City Traffic technicians determined that we needed more control than an all way stop and finding that this intersection fit the criteria for a roundabout decided to use this method of traffic control instead of traffic signals.

There are many benefits to a roundabout.  Traffic in all directions can flow more smoothly, pedestrians have a much shorter distance to cross the road and still have the right of way.  There is also less chance of vehicles running red lights which can result in higher fatalities.  The first roundabout in the downtown has been operating for some time and has been very successful.

Once you get used to them roundabouts are easy to use.  Motorists in the roundabout have the right of way so as you enter you must yield to traffic already in it similar to making a right hand turn.  You then proceed around the circle and exit onto the street you want to travel along.  Please indicate when you are exiting the roundabout so that the vehicles entering know that you are leaving and it is safe for them to enter.

Motorists MUST YIELD to pedestrians crossing at the roundabout.  Pedestrians should make eye contact with motorists as you would at a signal or stop sign before crossing.  

Hopefully we will not need this information in the coming weeks but when we do get snow, make sure you check the City website by clicking here for information about clearing services. 

You can also follow @MississaugaSnow on Twitter for updates.

Speed Warning Signs

If you are concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood, you can request temporary Vehicle Activated Speed Warning (VASW) signs to be erected in an effort to slow traffic in your neighbourhood. 

These signs stay up for a few weeks and will hopefully change driving behaviour in our community.  

Please contact me at [email protected] if you would like a VASW sign on your street.

Parking Considerations

Make sure you are on the Voters' List for the 2014 Municipal Election

Winter Changes in Parks 

I have been asked why some of our park parking lots have been fenced off and why we remove garbage cans in some areas.

During winter months, park staffing is significantly reduced and services are adjusted to meet the needs of winter users.  This involves the removal of some garbage and recycling receptacles and the closure of some park parking lots. 

Waste receptacles adjacent to sports facilities, splash pads, tennis courts, picnic shelters and other summer facilities are removed as well as along those trails and pathways that do not receive winter maintenance and hence are not accessible to garbage vehicles.

Receptacles continue to be at playgrounds, park access points, pedestrian intersections, and natural and artificial rink sites.   

Another part of winter operations is the closure of selected parking lots throughout the City.  The lots that are closed are those adjacent to sports fields or other facilities that are not in use during the winter, and those lots that have surfacing not conducive to snow removal such as gravel. These lots are identified by barriers and signs indicating that they are closed.

These closures ensure that Parks can direct our snow clearing resources to those areas that are a priority such as community centres, arenas, libraries and paths and trails that are key pedestrian routes to schools and facilities.

It is important to note that although the parking lots may be closed, the adjacent parks and trails remain open for the use and enjoyment of all residents and visitors.

If you have any concerns or questions about waste collection or snow clearing in parks, please call 311.

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Holiday Garbage Collection

There is no change to the Ward 9 garbage collection schedule during the Christmas holiday period.  

If you live outside of Ward 9 please click here for information about holiday garbage collection dates.

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Christmas Tree Collection

Please place your Christmas tree at the curb on your scheduled collection day during the week of January 13, 2013

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Red Light Camera Sites 

in Ward 9

The Region of Peel is planning to install two new red light cameras in Ward 9 on Erin Mills Parkway at Thomas St. and at Eglinton Ave.

This is in addition to the existing locations at Erin Mills and Britannia, Derry and Winston Churchill, Erin Mills Parkway and Erin Centre Boulevard and Mississauga Road and Meadowvale Blvd.  

For information about red light cameras please click here.

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Enjoy a Happy and Healthy Christmas Season

Trillium Health Partners share some tips on how to stay well during this busy season.

• Remember to get the flu shot.  
• If you are feeling sick stay home so that you don't infect your co-workers and friends.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly; this will help prevent the spread of illness, such as the flu virus.
• Make sure to get all your prescriptions filled before the holidays.

If you or a loved one happen to get sick or injured over the holiday season please visit  www.feelbetterfaster.ca to find out what health care options are available to you. 

The site has valuable listings from walk-in clinics, pharmacies, labs and many other community services, identifying health care programs and services that are open during the holiday season in your local communities.

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Clothing Donation Scams

Just a warning to double check before donating to unknown "charities" asking residents to either leave clothing, etc. at the door or to donate to illegal donation boxes.  

In Mississauga, only registered charities can install donation boxes on locations like plazas or other private lands. All others are illegal and the donations do not go to local charities.

If you get a flyer in the mail asking you to leave material at the door, check the charity out and if you can't find information, think twice about making a donation.

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Input Required on Accessible Taxi Services in Mississauga

Are you using accessible taxis in Mississauga? 

The City of Mississauga's Enforcement Division, Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) and Public Vehicle Advisory Committee (PVAC) need to hear from you about this service to determine if legislative requirements and the needs of citizens are being met in Mississauga.

Accessible taxis are part of the range of our accessible transportation options and your input will help support the AAC's and PVAC's recommendations to Council on accessible taxis. 

To provide your input on experiences with accessible taxi services contact the City of Mississauga's Citizen Contact Centre to provide information on specific customer service incidents including date, time, location, vehicle number and taxi service provider: 

Voice: Call 3-1-1 or if outside city limits 905-615-4311
TTY: 905-896-5151 (teletypewriter for people who are deaf)
Fax: 905-615-4081
Email: [email protected]

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During the Christmas season, some of our local agencies are asking for help in the form of donations and support.  There are many ways you can help make Christmas a little brighter for a needy family.  Below are a few suggestions on how you can help.

On November 10th I joined our local armed forces reserve, the 75th Toronto Scottish Regiment, at Celebration Square as they held a special Remembrance Day service.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Canadian Coptic Centre on Mississauga Road on November 19th and touring Philopateer Christian College and the Mississauga Training Centre with staff and Father Saad. What a wonderful facility. I even had a sneak peek at some of the wonderful art soon to be displayed in their new Egyptian museum...looking forward to the opening in the New Year. 

On November 23rd I joined the Mississauga Kerala Association at an exciting and fun filled Children's Painting Competition.