City of Mississauga COVID-19 Response: Council Meeting April 15 – Managing the Impact of COVID-19
Recently Council discussed actions and impacts in response to COVID-19 to improve safety and help mitigate impacts on residents and businesses.

Renewal Fees Deferred for Animal and Mobile Licences
  • Renewal fees are being deferred for Pet licensing and the Mobile Licensing until June 1 or 30 days after the re-opening of public counters.

 Hiring Suspended
To assist with mitigating the financial impact of COVID-19, City of Mississauga hiring will be suspended temporarily for all positions effective end of day Tuesday, April 14. Essential services will be maintained.

Litter and Waste Dumping
  • All litter, particularly masks and gloves as well as dog waste must be disposed of properly using the appropriate waste containers available or by bringing it home.
  • Dumping household waste and garbage is unacceptable and in contravention of the City’s Debris and Anti Littering By-law and is actively being enforced. Dumping can be reported online.

Enforcement Actions

COVID-19 Information
The City is working on a coordinated response to the virus with Peel Public Health and government partners. This link provides important information, maps and apps that are related to location of medical facilities, community services and general locations of vulnerable populations in Peel.
Covid-19 - Frequently Asked Questions
In regards to COVID-19, what is the City enforcing and who is enforcing it?

The City of Mississauga is following procedures to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19.

The City is enforcing four Emergency Orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and continues to enforce City by-laws. In Mississauga, Corporate Security is responsible for enforcing the Orders within parks. The Enforcement Division is responsible for all other locations and is also enforcing against businesses that fail to comply (excluding bars, restaurants and other food premises, which are being addressed by the Region of Peel).

The Government of Ontario has enacted the following orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act :


Enforcement approach:
·        Educating residents about Provincial Emergency Orders and City by-laws
·        Issuing Notices of Contravention as the first step and then issuing tickets to residents and businesses for non-compliance of Provincial Emergency Orders and City by-laws

Am I allowed to go outside? Will I get a ticket or a fine?

No. You do not need to worry that you will be ticketed if you leave your home. However, Peel Public Health guidelines advise residents to stay at home and only leave your home for essential items or for solo exercise. You can engage in outdoor activities/exercise close to home like walking, running or biking on a trail.

If you need some fresh air or want to exercise, it is okay go outside for a short time while practising physical distancing . Consider these tips:
o   Stay close to home
o   Go out alone or only with other members of your household
o   Keep your distance
o   Be aware of others around you
o   Walk, bike, jog/run or roller blade
o   Walk your dog
o   Go outside at times when there are fewer people outdoors, then go straight home

Do I need to practise physical distancing?

According to Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health and Peel Public Health guidelines, everyone should practise physical distancing; reducing exposure to other people outside their household by staying two metres (six feet) away from other people. The City is asking for continued co-operation in following the recommendations made by Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health and Peel Public Health. These precautions are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19.

I live near a park. Can I use it?

Yes – parks, green space, trails and pathways remain open for walking, cycling or running. However, do not linger, play or use parks as you normally would. You can engage in outdoor activities/exercise close to home.

Mississauga parks have pedestrian access. However, all parking lots are closed to unauthorized vehicles. Please refrain from engaging in any recreational activities in our parking lots. You can still enter the park/trail for activities such as walking, running or biking.
Please stay close to home – you won’t have access to a parking lot at our parks or community centres.

Please follow the spirit of the Provincial Orders, City by-laws and Peel Public Health guidelines and physical distancing.

For more answers to questions such as:

Can I invite friends to come over to my house even if we’re less than five people?

Can my kids use the playground at the park?

My dog has been cooped up at home. I’d like to let him run around – can I take him to one of the City’s leash free parks?

I’d like to have my lawn cut. Can I hire a landscaping company?

Please click here or on the button below!
FAQ
City Prepares for Financial Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 Impacts

Today, City of Mississauga Council considered  a report  from City staff that describes the impacts of COVID-19 on the City’s financial position.

City’s Current Financial Position
  • The City’s financial position is significantly different from the budget approved on January 22, 2020.
  • The biggest impact on City finances comes from lost revenues due primarily to a reduction in recreation fees and transit fares.
  • This loss is offset by some cost savings due to reduced levels of service and temporary layoffs.
  • The City has budgeted for emergencies such as floods, ice storms and other weather-related events. In the past, these have been limited in duration and been targeted to specific geographies or stakeholders, making financial recovery more straightforward.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has affected most stakeholders all at once and municipal reserves are not sufficient to support the Corporation beyond the medium term.

City’s Projected Financial Position
  • The projection model in the report identifies pressures on the 2020 operating budget arising from the various COVID-19 impacts. It is unknown how long the physical distancing and self-isolation practices will remain in effect. Scenarios have been developed assuming these practices continue to the end of April, May, June, September and December.
  • The preliminary forecast of the impact of COVID-19 is an operating deficit of $43.4 million (April) to $59.1 million (June). This could rise to $100 million by the end of the year if the strict isolation conditions remain in place until then.
  • The April 3, 2020 announcement by the Province stopping all non-essential construction will have an impact on the City’s 2020 capital program. This impact will need to be analyzed.
  • Projections do not include other actions Council is considering – reduction of paid parking fees, exemption for late license renewal fees for pet and mobile business licences.
  • A budget deficit is unavoidable in 2020 as revenues decrease while many costs continue.
  • Staff will review Council-established reserves as one of the tools to partially mitigate the 2020 deficit.
  • According to the Municipal Act, a city can run a deficit in a given year; however it cannot budget for a deficit.
  • Any deficit can be offset through increased taxes in the subsequent year, an increase in revenues or the reduction of expenses or the use of reserves where available.
  • The City cannot borrow to fund a deficit.

The report recommends requesting provincial and federal government support to offer municipalities:
  • An operating grant to help fund current operations and maintain appropriate service levels during the COVID-19 crisis, and further allow for service levels to quickly be re-established during the period of recovery.
  • A new infrastructure building program by increasing the amount of gas tax to stimulate the economy later this year.
  • Approval of project applications under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) submitted by the City of Mississauga on October 23, 2019 and November 12, 2019 to help speed economic recovery.

Staff are continuing to monitor the situation and identify options to offset the deficit. The size of the 2020 deficit, the state of the economy and the financial position of the City’s residents and businesses will inform strategies and actions to be considered. 2021 Budget discussions will be launched at Budget Committee on June 24, 2020.

EAB Removals Taking Place in a Number of Parks
City contracted crews (Miller Tree Service) will be working in Ward 2 to remove Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Birch Glen, Lornewood, Hindhead, Forestview, Birchwood & Kogaydiwin Trail . Crews will be practicing social distancing and appropriate signage will be posted. Park EAB Removals

Crews will be working Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. After the initial tree removal, crews will remove the tree stumps, repair the ground with topsoil and reseed. All works will be weather dependant.

All City-owned park trees removed due to EAB will be replanted over several years. This is due to the high number of trees removed from parks, the short planting season and weather conditions.
 
Forestry is currently working on plans to replant woodlots. Each woodlot is unique and will require additional work to create individual plans for each site. For some, that may mean letting them regenerate naturally while others will have trees replanted.
Essential Spring Maintenance Work Continues in the City of Mississauga
While the City continues taking action in response to COVID-19, essential spring maintenance work is already underway around the city. Works operations crews have been providing maintenance work and repairs to infrastructure (e.g., roads ,
sidewalks ) such as pot hole/asphalt repairs,debris clean-up, catchbasin and drain cleaning and more. Street sweeping is scheduled to begin next month.

In addition, the City’s parks and forestry crews have continued to care for City parks and natural areas, as well as responding to emergency and high priority service requests for tree clean-up.

As spring clean-up work is done around the city, works operations crews will focus primarily on major roads and in commercial/industrial areas where physical distancing from the public is more likely. Work in residential areas will only occur if there is a safety or emergency need.

Residents can also help keep their neighbourhood and street clear of debris by not sweeping any yard waste onto the road. Yard waste should be bagged for regular yard waste collection .

For the safety of frontline staff and contractors, physical distancing rules apply for the public and will be enforced by the City’s Security Officers. Residents should also respect all barricades and signage at work sites.

For more information, please click here.
Donations of clothing and other reusable goods in Peel, during COVID-19
As part of the ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of the community, many charities have suspended the collection of clothing and other reusable goods in Peel.
Residents are asked not to drop off any donations at Diabetes Canada bins or other charitable organization drop-off bins that are overflowing throughout Peel, as they will not be collected. Suspended collection also applies at Peel’s Community Recycling Centres.

Residents are asked to dispose of only what they need to during this emergency, however residents who have waste that needs to be disposed of immediately can visit a Community Recycling Centre (CRC) and no fees will apply. During the pandemic, any reusable goods brought to the CRC will be put into garbage and go to landfill. CRCs are not accepting tires, electronic waste, large appliances or bulky items until further notice.

For the safety of the community and employees, CRCs have implemented measures of physical distancing and have limited the number of vehicles allowed into the CRCs at any one time. As such, residents should be aware that there may be delays. Residents are also encouraged to visit  peelregion.ca/waste/community-recycling-centres  for all affected changes at CRCs and for operating hours.

The Region stresses that illegal dumping spoils neighbourhoods, can threaten the environment and is against the law. Everyone is being asked to do their part to help keep our communities clean.

Residents who observe illegal dumping are encouraged to report as much information as possible including date, time and location of the incident. They can do so anonymously by calling 905-791-9499.

For the latest updates on all services and facilities temporarily affected in Peel, please visit  peelregion.ca/coronavirus/affected-services
Helpful Resources
The City is working with Peel Public Health and recommend you visit the  Region of Peel Health  site for the most up-to-date details.
 
Peel Public Health has advised that if you develop symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), please self-isolate and contact Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 and if you require     immediate medical attention     , please call 911 and advise the operator of your symptoms     but please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
 
Below are links you may find useful:


Important Phone Numbers

  • Mississauga 3-1-1 or 905-615-4311 (outside City Limits) available 7am - 7pm
  • Peel Public Health  905-799-7700 Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
  • Peel Regional Police Non Emergency Line: 905-453-3311
  • Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000 Toll-free TTY:1-866-797-0007

The  City of Mississauga   and   Region of Peel   websites will be updating their information on a regular basis and will be the best place for the most recent updates for all residents.
 
As always, my office is available to assist residents on municipal or regional matters by e-mail at  karen.ras@mississauga.ca