Public Notice

Short survey will probe effectiveness of City communication tools

Guelph, ON, June 9, 2014 – This week Oraclepoll Research will administer a telephone survey to approximately 400 randomly selected households in Guelph. The survey is part of the City’s efforts to continually improve communication of City news, services, programs and more.

The survey is designed to understand residents’ preferences for receiving information and their use of current communications products.

The telephone survey, conducted in English, will be completed in the evenings and on weekends. Calls will take approximately 5–7 minutes.

For more information

Tara Sprigg
Corporate Manager
Corporate Communications
519-822-1260 extension 2610
tara.sprigg@guelph.ca

Notice of completion: Guelph Water Supply Master Plan Update

The City of Guelph has completed an update to the 2007 council–approved Water Supply Master Plan. The purpose of the Guelph Water Supply Master Plan Update is to define where and how Guelph will continue to access a safe and sustainable supply of water—for residential, industrial, commercial and institutional use—over the next 25 years.

The Master Plan Update followed the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) and satisfies Phases 1 and 2 of the planning and design process. This involved investigating Guelph’s existing water supply capacity, identifying and evaluating potential alternatives, and recommending implementation options. The Master Plan update included two Community Open Houses, a dedicated Community Liaison Committee, and meetings with agency representatives and municipalities. These engagement opportunities provided valuable input in the development and evaluation of alternatives.

30 Day Review Period

The draft Water Supply Master Plan update report will be available for thirty (30) days for public comment, after which the report will go to Guelph City Council for approval. Review the update report online under the Related documents section of the Water Supply Master Plan update webpage, or view a paper copy of the report at the following locations:

  • Library, Main Branch, 100 Norfolk Street, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 
  • City of Guelph, Water Services Department, 29 Waterworks Place, Guelph, Ontario. Monday to Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Service Guelph, City Hall, 1 Carden Street, Guelph, Ontario. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Interested parties should provide written comments to the contacts below within 30 calendar days from the date of this Notice, May 29, 2014:

Dave Belanger
Water Supply Program Manager
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2186
dave.belanger@guelph.ca

Patty Quackenbush
Senior Project Manager
AECOM
519-650-8691
patty.quackenbush@aecom.com

If concerns regarding the Guelph Water Supply Master Plan update cannot be resolved through discussion with the City of Guelph, a person may request that the Minister of the Environment make an order for the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act (referred to as a Part II Order) which addresses individual environmental assessments. Requests must be received by the Minister at the address below by June 27, 2014. A copy of the request must also be sent to the City of Guelph.

Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1L5

This Notice issued May 29, 2014

Please note: Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in a submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person.

Spring Watermain Cleaning Program

The Spring 2014 Watermain Cleaning Program is now complete
Thank you for your cooperation throughout program delivery.

To reduce the likelihood of customers experiencing discoloured or brown water, Guelph Water Services is completing the spring component of its watermain cleaning. The program begins Monday, April 21 and will end on the targeted completion date of Friday, May 16. Watermain cleaning will take place weekdays between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Customers may experience discoloured water during the cleaning process.

Discoloured water results when iron and manganese, minerals that are naturally present in Guelph’s groundwater, combine with chlorine to form small rust particles or flakes. The chlorine Guelph is required to add to its groundwater aggravates this situation. Iron sediment normally settles on the bottom of the City’s watermain piping, but can be disturbed during system maintenance or during times of high water use to cause discoloured water.

The purpose of the watermain cleaning program is to remove accumulated sediment from the City’s watermains. Customers connected to the watermain being cleaned and residents in the immediate area may experience discoloured water. This is a normal part of the cleaning program.

To minimize customer inconvenience, Water Services delivers notification letters to these affected customers prior to the beginning of cleaning activities. Occasionally, customers located outside the watermain cleaning area may also experience discoloured water. These instances of discoloured water may be due to the migration of discoloured water from one area of the distribution system to another and/or high water demand. If you experience discoloured water and have not been notified of watermain cleaning in your area, please contact Guelph Water Services at 519-837-5627 or waterservices@guelph.ca.

Frequently asked questions

Have your say: proposed updates to long-term care in Guelph

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care invites public comments until April 30

The City is encouraging people to provide input as the Province considers plans to have The Elliott Long-Term Care Residence fulfill Guelph’s requirements under the Ontario Long-term Care Homes Act.

Currently, the City meets its long-term care requirements through an agreement with the County of Wellington. The City has asked the Province to approve The Elliott as Guelph’s municipal home. If the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care approves the City’s request, the County will continue operating the Wellington Terrace without financial support from the City of Guelph.

Proposed updates to Guelph’s long-term care service model would not change the number of long-term care beds in Guelph, or how people access long-term care services in the area.

Come to the meeting

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care is hosting a public meeting to discuss the matter on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Victoria Road Recreation Centre, 151 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Ontario.

Send your written comments

The Ministry is also accepting written comments until April 30, 2014. Written correspondence should refer to The Elliott Long-term Care Residence and quote Project #14-024

Written submissions can be submitted via email to LTCHomes.Licensing@ontario.ca, or by fax to 416-327-7603, or by mail addressed to:

Director under the Long-term Care Homes Act, 2007
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Performance Improvement and Compliance Branch
1075 Bay Street, 11th Floor
Toronto, ON M5S 2B1

The Minister will consider all submissions before making a final decision relating to this matter.

About the Elliott Community

The Elliott Community is a not-for-profit, registered charitable corporation that provides mature living arrangements with four levels of care:  78 independent life-lease suites, 134 assisted living retirement suites, 85 long-term care beds and 8 interim convalescence and respite care beds. Learn more at elliottcommunity.org.

For more information

Barbara Powell
General Manager
Community Engagement
519-822-1260 extension 2675
barbara.powell@guelph.ca

guelph.ca/longtermcare

Guelph City Council approves 2014 Development Charges By-law

On February 10, 2014 Guelph City Council passed Development Charge By-law No. (2014)-19692 under section 2(1) of the Development Charges Act, 1997, S.O., 1997 c.27.

Development Charges imposed by the by-law come into effect on March 2, 2014.

2014-2015 Residential Development Charges
Service

Single & Semi-Detached Dwelling

Apartments with 2+ Bedroom

Apartments Bachelor and 1 Bedroom

Other Multiples
Services Related to a Highway

$3,411

$2,053

$1,432

$2,569
Transit

$505

$304

$212

$380
Parking

$686

$413

$288

$517
Fire Protection Services

$284

$171

$119

$214
Police Services

$399

$240

$167

$300
Outdoor Recreation Services

$3,341

$2,011

$1,402

$2,516
Indoor Recreation Services

$2,556

$1,538

$1,073

$1,925
Library Services

$540

$325

$227

$407
Administration

$318

$191

$133

$239
Provincial Offences (Court)

$9

$5

$4

$7
Health Services

$64

$39

$27

$48
Ambulance

$29

$17

$12

$22
Stormwater Services

$121

$73

$51

$91
Wastewater Services

$6,344

$3,818

$2,663

$4,778
Water Services

$8,625

$5,191

$3,620

$6,495
Total

$27,232

$16,389

$11,430

$20,508
2014-2015 Non-residential Development Charges
SERVICE

Per Metre Squared of Gross floor area
SERVICES RELATED TO A HIGHWAY

$15.50
TRANSIT

$2.58
PARKING

$3.44
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES

$1.29
POLICE SERVICES

$1.83
OUTDOOR RECREATION SERVICES

$1.51
INDOOR RECREATION SERVICES

$1.18
LIBRARY SERVICES

$0.22
ADMINISTRATION

$1.61
PROVINCIAL OFFENCES (COURT)

$0
HEALTH SERVICES

$0.11
AMBULANCE

$0.11
STORMWATER SERVICES

$0.54
WASTEWATER SERVICES

$28.77
WATER SERVICES

$39.09
TOTAL

$97.78

The by-law applies to all lands within the geographic boundaries of the City of Guelph.

2014 Development Charges By-law

Any person or organization objecting to the by-law may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board under Section 14 of the Development Charges Act by filing with the City Clerk on or before 4:30 p.m. on March 24, 2014. The notice of appeal should set out the objection to the by-law and the reasons supporting the objection.  The applicable fee of $125.00 paid by cheque or money order, made payable to the Minister of Finance must also be submitted with the appeal.

Blair Labelle, City Clerk
City of Guelph
1 Carden Street
Guelph, ON
N1H 3A1
519-837-5603
clerks@guelph.ca

Learn more about Guelph’s Development Charges at guelph.ca/dc

Repairing the living wall at City Hall

Guelph, ON, February 14, 2014 – The living wall in Guelph’s City Hall is being repaired and the project will be completed by the end of the month.

To ensure the continued comfort of people working and visiting City Hall, the City is performing repairs and adjusting its maintenance schedule as recommended by the City’s Joint Health and Safety Committee. An independent third party has verified that leaks and odours at the wall do not pose any health concerns.

Specifically, the City is replacing the membrane (the media in which plants grow) and plant material used in the living wall to eliminate all leaks and odours. The repairs will cost about $10,000, and are covered in the City’s facility maintenance budget.

Like other city assets (e.g. gardens, pools etc.) the living wall at City Hall  requires regular attention. The cost of maintenance, including staff time and materials, is about $11,000-$12,000 a year.

When it is repaired and working properly, the wall is an attractive feature that can improve air quality inside City Hall. The living wall is one way the building was designed to meet the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Standard established by the Canadian Green Building Council.

The living wall is just one of several projects to be completed this year as part ongoing facility management activities. In accordance with the Corporate Building Maintenance budget, staff will continue managing scheduled maintenance and unexpected repairs quickly and cost effectively.

As part of an Operational Audit of ServiceGuelph, City Hall’s main entrance, service counter and the living wall area are being evaluated in terms of health and safety, security and customer service. Any long-term plans or potential changes to the living wall will be informed by the audit, and any recommendations will be presented to the Community and Social Services Committee for consideration later this year.

For more information

Mario Petricevic, General Manager
Corporate Building Maintenance
519-519-822-1260 extension 2668
mario.petricevic@guelph.ca

Green building features at City Hall

January 2 cancellations at Victoria Road Recreation Centre

Guelph, ON December 31, 2013 — The Victoria Road Recreation Centre will be partially closed on Thursday, January 2 to allow crews to diagnose and repair a temporary power outage in the accessible change rooms.

The pool will be open for the morning fitness lane swim from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. and Bronze Cross classes will be moved to Centennial Pool for the day. The arena and meeting rooms will be open as usual. The City plans to re-open the pool by 3:45 p.m. and run all evening programs.

The following programs will be cancelled:

  • All morning aqua fit classes
  • The noon hour lane swim
  • The afternoon public swim
  • The fitness room will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

View schedules for day time swims at Guelph’s West End Community Centre and Centennial Pools.

For more information

Murray Cameron
General Manager
Parks and Recreation
519-822-1260 extension 2007
murray.cameron@guelph.ca

Final budget presentation and public delegations

Community members are welcome to attend a meeting when proposed 2014 budgets for Guelph’s Local Boards and Shares Services (Guelph Police Services Board, Guelph Public Library Board, Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health, Social Services and Social Housing, Downtown Guelph Business Association) are presented to City Council:

Wednesday, November 27, 6 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Community members are also invited to comment on all aspects of the City’s budget during a public meeting on:

Thursday, November 28, 6 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Registered delegates are invited to speak to City Council. To register, please call 519-837-5603 or email clerks@guelph.ca by 9 a.m. on November 22.

Guelph’s Financial Strategy is presented in four sections:

  • Capital Investment Strategy: 2014-2023 proposed Capital Budget and Forecast
  • Non-tax-supported Strategy: 2014 proposed Operating and Capital Budget and Forecast
  • Tax-supported Operating Strategy: 2014 proposed Operating Budget and Forecast
  • Local Boards and Shared Services Strategy: 2014 proposed Operating and Capital Budget

In each section, the City will show how Guelph is delivering on its mission to build an exceptional city by providing outstanding municipal service and value.

Visit guelph.ca/budget to view the full schedule of budget presentations and budget documents.

November 18 public meeting to discuss Development Charges (DCs)

Community members are invited to a public meeting to provide input on the City’s proposed development charges by-law and underlying background study, pursuant to Section 12 of the Development Charges Act, 1997.

Anyone attending the meeting may make representations relating to the proposed by-law and background study.  The meeting is to be held:

Monday, November 18
6-8 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
1 Carden Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3A1

Anyone unable to attend the meeting can provide written comments on the proposed by-law by writing the City Clerk at the address above or emailing clerks@guelph.ca before November 15, 2013

The proposed by-law will be available for viewing at City Hall and will be posted online at guelph.ca/finance on October 31, 2013.