March 6, 2017
Community
Nominations open for the 29th annual Volunteer Recognition Night
 
Help us recognize St. Catharines volunteers
 
Nominations are open for the City of St. Catharines' annual Volunteer Recognition Awards.
 
Nominations are due by Friday, March 17. The City will recognize award recipients during a celebration on Tuesday, April 11.
 
Learn more
Leisure Guide Spring _ Summer 2017
 
The new Leisure Guide is out
 
The City's new look Spring/Summer Leisure Guide is out. Find it at City Hall, City community centres and other facilities and online.
 
Online registration for St. Catharines' residents opens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 21. Walk-in registration opens Wednesday, March 22 at 8:30 a.m. and will be available during regular business hours at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, Citizens First at City Hall and the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.
 
Live outside St. Catharines? No problem - non-resident registration opens Thursday, March 23.
 
Learn more

An easier way to pay City bills
 
Have property tax bill payments paid automatically from your bank account and never miss a payment again.
 
Pre-authorized payments are the fastest and easiest way to pay property taxes and offer the convenience of automatic withdrawals from your bank account. Complete this form to enroll and enjoy the flexibility of making property tax bill payments in four instalments or 10 instalments and have peace of mind payments will be paid on time.
 
New for 2017, property tax instalment due dates have changed to the last business day of installment months.
 
Remaining 2017 instalment dates:

 

  • Friday, April 28
  • Friday, June 30
  • Friday, Sept. 29

 

Learn more


 

_NiagaraAreYouIn
 
Are you in?
 
Show your support for Niagara's bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. Visit www.niagara2021.com to show your support and help Niagara win the bid.
 
The winning bid will be announced March 30. Show your support for Niagara's bid on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hastag #NiagaraAreYouIn and mentioning @Niagara2021 and @CanadaGames.
 
Learn more

A report from Walter Sendzik
 
Mayor Walter SendzikOn Monday, Feb. 27 City Council approved the 2017 operating budget.
 
Whether it is your family budget, your business, or the City budget, it's all about  balance. The 2017 City budget is a responsible budget which balances resources with smart and strategic opportunities to continue to grow our city as a great place to live, work and invest.
 
This year's budget includes a 1.6 per cent operating increase - one of the lowest cost increases in 15 years. The budget demonstrates the Budget Standing Committee's commitment to respect ratepayers ability to pay while still understanding what it takes to grow our city. We have been working year-round with staff to find creative and innovative ways to keep costs down, while still investing responsibly in parks, public spaces, economic development and infrastructure.
 
The 2017 budget builds on our last two fiscally responsible budgets and the path we are building for a fiscally sustainable city. We are balancing affordability today with a vision to grow our city for tomorrow.
 
Thank you to our staff for their consistent work and most importantly, to our residents for their input into the 2017 budget.
Council Highlights
City Council approves 2017 budget
 
City Council has approved the City of St. Catharines' 2017 operating budget.
 
As a result of the approved City budget, property bills will go up by about $93 a year for the average property owner with a home valued at $230,000, about 2.83 per cent over last year's property tax bill when regional and education taxes are included.
 
Council passed the budget Monday, Feb, 27 with a 3.06 per cent City tax increase. The 2017 City budget provides more than $110 million for City services and programs, such as fire protection, recreation programs, street lighting, public transit and more.
 
The 2017 budget once again includes a one per cent infrastructure levy to help the City address its $140 million deficit to maintain infrastructure - such as roads, buildings, trees and parks.
 
Click here for more information about the City's 2017 Operating Budget.

More council online

 

Council Highlights offers informal summaries of some of the recent decisions and business discussed during
St. Catharines City Council meetings.

 

The Office of the City Clerk provides a full recap of decisions and motions in its official minutes, available on the Friday after every 
St. Catharines City Council meeting.


 

Click here for City of
St. Catharines council meeting agendas and minutes.
 
Digital versions of the Garden City Current are available. Click here to read past issues.

March 6 
City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall

Click here to learn about other upcoming meetings.

 

Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.

City of St. Catharines | communications@stcatharines.ca | http://www.stcatharines.ca
50 Church St
St. Catharines, L2R 7C2