Richmond Hill Council Addresses First Nations Signage, Community Safety, and Major Development Charges in September Meeting

Summary:

High-Level Summary

The Richmond Hill city council meeting on September 4th, presided over by Mayor West, discussed critical community and administrative issues, including Truth and Reconciliation initiatives, neighborhood watch programs, and development charges. Major participants included Councillor Tweet, who focused on community safety, and Councillor Silvet, who advocated for committee changes.

Important Topics Discussed

Truth and Reconciliation Initiative: Mayor West acknowledged missing the deadline for a motion on signage recognizing First Nations river names but emphasized its alignment with Truth and Reconciliation efforts, mentioning, "I talked to Chief Salt...she seemed felt that that was would be a really appropriate and good idea." This will be reconsidered in the next council meeting.
Neighborhood Watch Program: Councillor Tweet reported the completion of neighborhood watch visits in Ward Four, involving about 9,000 families. Tweet encouraged community members: "If any res has interesting [sic] to promote this program please let me know."
Development Charges (File No. 11.3): A major discussion involved eliminating phased development charges, with new bylaws requiring 100% development charges for new developments. This change is expected to generate around $185 million for infrastructure, significantly impacting city finances.
Heritage Richmond Hill Committee (File No. 11.2): The council debated removing the education sector representative due to their persistent absenteeism. Councillor Silvet noted, "For this entire term up till now...that school representative has not been present." This aims to improve committee efficiency and quorum.
Election Integrity: Councillor Tweet praised Clerk Stephen Hike and his team for conducting a trustworthy election. This sentiment was shared by other councillors, enhancing residents' confidence in the electoral process.

Opportunities for Public Input

There will be public consultations for Mayor West's proposal on First Nations river signage, allowing residents to voice their opinions in future council meetings.
Residents interested in promoting the neighborhood watch program are encouraged to contact Councillor Tweet.

Motions Passed, Rejected, or Deferred

Signage for First Nations Names of Rivers: Deferred until the next council meeting.
Adoption of the Agenda: Unanimously passed.
Heritage Richmond Hill Committee Changes (File No. 11.2): The motion to remove the education sector representative was unanimously passed.
Development Charges Update (File No. 11.3): The motion to adopt the new development charges without phasing was unanimously passed.

Follow-Up Actions

Staff will present the updated member motion on First Nations river signage in the next council meeting.
There will be further review and amendments to the Heritage Richmond Hill committee's terms of reference concerning the education representative.

Councillors Present