Lisa Kearns l Councillor l Burlington.ca/Ward2 |
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Happy New Year Burlington!
2020 brought us closer to community, ignited a new appreciation for nature and challenged us in ways we never thought imaginable.
We made it through and are a new day closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Wishing you good health, happiness and prosperity for they year ahead.
Welcome 2021!
My office continues to work at full capacity, I can be reached through e-mail at Lisa.Kearns@Burlington.ca
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COVID-19 Response
City Hall Committee Meetings
City Hall News
- Budget 2021
- Low-Income Seniors Property Tax Rebate
- Funds Recovered due to Online Fraud
- Safe Restart Municipal Operating Funding
- Snow Removal
- Transit 5-Year Business Plan
Ward 2 News
- Downtown Parking - Pilot Project
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Metrolinx GO Rail Layover - Update
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Ward 2 Virtual Community Update - Feb. 11
Planning + Development
- 2243, 2269 Fairview Street and 864 Drury Lane - Information Report
Community
In Closing
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Province-wide Lockdown
Due to the alarming rate of increased COVID-19 cases, on Dec. 26, 2020, the Ontario government imposed a Province-wide Shutdown. This is in addition to the City of Burlington still operating under Emergency Declaration. The shutdown is in place for all regions of southern Ontario until Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. Additional restrictions are in place and all residents are advised to stay at home as much as possible to minimize transmission of the virus and prevent hospitals from becoming over-extended.
Please continue to support local hospitality establishments that are offering take-out or our local businesses that are offering curb-side pick up.
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Resources:
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For more details about the Province-wide lockdown, visit www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-provincewide-shutdown
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For information about COVID-19 in Halton Region, including the latest public health guidance and the status of COVID-19 cases, visit www.halton.ca/coronavirus, email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311
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For information about current available city services, view Services at a Glance
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Community questions and requests regarding City of Burlington services can be directed to Service Burlington by phone at 905-335-7777, by email at city@burlington.ca or online at www.burlington.ca/coronavirus
- To report an incident of non-compliance with the provincial emergency orders in Halton, please call the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 hotline at 905-825-4722.
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JBH - Regional Pandemic Response Unit
Joseph Brant Hospital’s Pandemic Response Unit (PRU) – the first of its kind built in Ontario – is ready to welcome its first COVID-19 patients this week, as part of a strategy to respond to a heightened need for COVID-19 care and increasing pressure on hospital capacity across the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant and Burlington (HNHBB) region.
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City Hall - Committee Meetings |
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City Calendar of Meetings for 2021
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What is Happening at City Council in January?
Agenda items of note specifically to Ward 2 include: (select the Committee name to view the complete agenda)
- Clerks Department - Update on Accountability and Transparency Initiatives
- COVID-19 Emergency Response Verbal Update
- Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan Update
- Update on Skyway Community Centre (Ward 5)
- City of Burlington Housing Strategy - Proposed Terms of Reference
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LINK TO REPORT HERE
- Site Plan Application at 2243, 2269 Fairview Street and 864 Drury Lane (Holland Park)
At time of writing, agenda not yet available
At time of writing, agenda not yet available
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Due to COVID-19, all city meetings are conducted virtually. Only the chair of the meeting, clerk and audio/visual technician are in Council Chambers, with all other staff, members of Council and delegations participating in the meeting by calling in remotely. All meetings are live webcast and archived on the city website.
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Budget 2021
Work to determine the City of Burlington's 2021 budget is underway. The budget consists of both an operating budget for the delivery of services to the community and a capital budget to invest in the construction and renewal of city assets and infrastructure.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is placing considerable pressure on the city’s financial position with a forecast of over $18 million in revenue losses by the end of 2020.
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While a large portion of these losses are being mitigated with an on-going expenditure restraint program and support from senior levels of government, the City is projecting an unfavourable variance at year end of over $2.7 million. It is anticipated these challenges will continue to impact city finances until such time as a vaccine is developed and provincial restrictions are fully lifted.
To partially mitigate the 2021 impact of COVID-19 on the city’s operating budget, the planned increase to the city’s dedicated infrastructure renewal levy in 2021 (1.25%) has been temporarily redirected to the operating budget for one year. This will provide $2.18 million of one-time funding to offset the anticipated one-time COVID-19 impacts in 2021, reducing the amount of 2021 capital funding.
2021 Budget - Key Meeting Dates:
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Capital Budget Overview - An overview of the capital budget was presented to Burlington City Council at the Dec. 10 Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee meeting. View the webcast along with Report F-42-20: 2021-2030 Capital Budget Overview.
Proposed 2021 Capital Budget
The proposed 2021 capital budget is approximately $72.1 million, with a ten-year program of $786.4 million. From the 10-year capital program:
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70% is focused on infrastructure renewal projects, e.g. repair, refurbishment or replacement of an existing asset to extend its useful life, in accordance with the city’s asset management plan
- 16% is for growth projects, e.g. capital to service growth in the city
- 14% is for new or enhanced projects, e.g. increases to current service levels that are not the result of growth.
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We Want to Hear from You! Share your thoughts on where you feel that community dollars should be invested for 2021. You can do this by:
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Low-Income Seniors Property Tax Rebate
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Funds Recovered following Online Fraud
To date, the City of Burlington has recovered $322,641.67 of a $503,026.66 fraudulent vendor payment made in May 2019. The recovery of monies comes as a result of a Superior Court of Justice action commenced by the City, and a claim made by the City to its insurer pursuant to its Cyber Crime Policy.
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Safe Restart Municipal Operating Funding
The City will be receiving $7,302,000 through the Province's Safe Restart Funding Agreement to help manage the financial impacts of COVID-19. This amount includes $5,411,000 to support our remaining 2020 operating needs as well as $1,891,000 to help with 2021 COVID-related operating pressures. This funding is in addition to the Phase 1 funding of $4,470,700 the City received in August.
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Snow Removal
Each winter, the City of Burlington provides snow removal services throughout the city. Our fleet of snow clearing equipment and crews are ready to clear your roads and sidewalks as quickly and efficiently as possible. Every year, we maintain approximately 1,900 km of roads and 850 km of sidewalks. Please give our crews 24 hours after the storm has ended to make any snow clearing requests. City staff concentrate on the primary and secondary routes first.
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Learn more about the city's Snow Control:
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Transit 5-Year Business Plan
The Transit Five-Year Business Plan was approved at the Dec. 14 Council meeting. For details, view Report TR-02-20 'Transit Five-Year Business Plan (2020-2024)' and the Business Plan. The plan is based on ridership projections and the impact of the route redesign that was put in place in fall 2019. It was also updated to outline the impacts of COVID-19 on each of the proposed strategies. Ridership forecasts reflect the decline of transit use during the pandemic and anticipated growth in the following years after there is a vaccine.
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Downtown Parking - Pilot Project in Effect
Pay $0.25 and get 90 minutes of parking on us! To encourage residents to visit Downtown Burlington retailers and restaurants, Council approved this Pilot Project which runs until April 20, 2021.
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Metrolinx GO Rail Layover - Update
Metrolinx has confirmed that they are moving ahead with the Walkers Line site for a rail layover facility on the Lakeshore West Corridor as part of GO Expansion plans. In other words, the Plains Road East and Maple Avenue Site in Ward 2 is no longer being considered and is therefore no longer part of the scope of the New Track and Facilities Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP).
I extend an appreciation to all stakeholders, especially Metrolinx, for listening and collaborating through this process - ultimately delivering a win-win for Burlington and future riders of 15-minute two way GO Service. This has been an involved process and and important file that my office has been keeping residents informed on.
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Ward 2 Virtual Community Update Meetings
Mark your calendars for the next Ward 2 Community Update meeting which will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Meeting details to be confirmed.
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Planning + Development - Update |
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2243, 2269 Fairview Street and 864 Drury Lane
CLV Group Developments
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Proposal:
- 7 residential towers on top of 4 mixed use podiums
- Heights ranging between 29 and 37 storeys
- Podium heights ranging from 2, 5 and 6 storeys
- Total of 2,494 residential units of mixed type and tenure
- 3993 m2 of commercial space
- 41, 821 m2 of shared amenity space
- 5 levels of underground parking
- 4 storey parking structure, will be integrated with residential units
- Pedestrian connections to surrounding neighbourhood, Burlington GO
- Publicly-accessible park connected to Fairview St offering various outdoor amenities
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Ward 2 Current Projects
To find out more about Planning applications and development projects underway in Ward 2, visit Ward 2 Current Projects. Project pages include details, timelines and contact information.
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First Heated Transit Shelter
As part of Burlington Transit's bus stop review program, shelters on Teen Tour Way have been upgrade and includes one of the City of Burlington’s first heated transit sheltersat Stop 45. Thank you to the Burlington Seniors Community Inc. (BSCI) who has contributed funding towards the purchase and installation of this shelter.
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Being active is an important part of your health and well-being. It can help boost your energy levels, contribute to better sleep and help reduce stress ... and there are plenty of opportunities to remain active outdoors this winter. The City of Burlington is set for winter fun with skating at the Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond, dedicated locations for tobogganing hills and the Outdoor Winter Play Challenge. Restrictions apply due to the pandemic so be sure to visit the links provided above for more detail.
During these challenging times, little acts of kindness can go a long way in lifting up our community. We are in this together and are here for each other - in spite of the daily challenges that continue to stretch us. Ward 2 has shown great compassion and resilience.
Thank you to everyone for staying in this together, taking this seriously and above all for being kind and respectful of one another.
Kindly,
Lisa Kearns
Ward 2 Councillor
City of Burlington & Region of Halton
E-mail: Lisa.Kearns@burlington.ca
DIRECT CELL PHONE: 289-962-2679
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Links & Resources:
Please check these frequently. Information changes quickly so these trusted online sources are the best ways to get the most up-to-date information:
Mental Health Support:
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