Category Archives: Stormwater

Guelph, Ont., April 13, 2018 – We are prepared for the forecasted freezing rain expected this weekend.  The following list will help you prepare too. Roads and sidewalks City crews will monitor the weather throughout the weekend and will apply salt and brine to the roads and sidewalks as needed. If you must drive, give yourself plenty of time to get around. You can follow our trucks at guelph.ca/snow. Report a road and sidewalk Trees Ice buildup can make trees heavy, causing branches to break and trees to fail. Even healthy trees that are structurally sound can fall under the weight of ice. Keep an eye on your private trees. Our forestry crews will be dealing with tree issues on City property, as they become… Continue reading Freezing rain is coming: here’s what you need to know

As part of the 2018 budget, City Council approved a series of rate and fee increases to ensure that the City is able to continue delivering programs and services that meet the community’s expectations. Continue reading City’s 2018 rates and fees released

Options for Guelph businesses and residents Guelph, Ont., December 15, 2017 – Starting January 1, 2018, the City will offer Guelph businesses and residents credits and rebates for making changes to private property that help manage stormwater runoff. The new program includes rebates for residential properties and credits for businesses and multi-residential properties of six or more units. Residential program The residential program includes an enhanced seasonal rainwater harvesting rebate that offers a one-time rebate to residential property owners who purchase and install an approved tank to capture and manage stormwater runoff on site. Residents will be able to claim a rebate of $0.50 per litre of storage capacity for new, approved systems installed in 2018, up to a maximum of $1,000, and up to… Continue reading Stormwater credit and rebate program starts January 1

On July 24, Guelph City Council approved staff’s recommendation of pursuing a hybrid credit program that provides options for both businesses and homeowners. Residential program Staff proposed that residential stormwater credits be aligned with existing water efficiency rebate and incentive programs. This collaborative approach will help keep program development and administration costs low. Residential credits will be one-time rebates rather than monthly credits on the stormwater service fee. Business program For businesses and large property owners (e.g. plazas or malls), the City proposed to develop a credit program that would apply monthly credits toward stormwater service fees. Credits will continue as long as owners demonstrate that stormwater mitigation on the property continues to be effective. Multi-residential housing may fall under the business credit program since… Continue reading Stormwater service fee credit program study: July 2017 update

Recommendation includes options for homes and businesses, industry Guelph, Ont., June 22, 2017—City staff have finished a study looking into the possibility of a stormwater service fee credit program for property owners that make changes to their properties to reduce stormwater runoff. The recommended program was reviewed to ensure it would not affect the City’s sustainable stormwater funding strategy. Staff are proposing that residential stormwater credits be aligned with existing water efficiency rebate and incentive programs. This collaborative approach would help keep program development and administration costs low. Residential credits would be a one-time rebate rather than monthly credits on the stormwater service fee. “By piggy backing on our successful water efficiency programs, such as the rainwater harvesting rebate program, we can offer our residents… Continue reading Stormwater service fee credit program to be considered by Council July 4

The City of Guelph and its consultant, AECOM, are exploring options for stormwater service fee credits. Credits would provide property owners with opportunities to reduce stormwater runoff on private property for a credit towards the stormwater service fee they pay. A stormwater service fee credit program would also recognize the efforts Guelph property owners are already making to reduce stormwater runoff and the pollutants that flow with it. Stormwater credit study open house The City held the first open house for the stormwater service fee credit program study on November 17, 2016. The open house provided an opportunity to learn about stormwater management, the stormwater service fee that begins January 1, 2017, and what a credit or incentive program might look like. Stormwater credit study open house presentation [PDF 787kB]… Continue reading Information from the stormwater service fee credit program study open house, November 17, 2016

2017 Non-tax-supported budget receives Council approval Guelph, Ont., November 3, 2016—Earlier this evening, Council approved the City’s Water, Wastewater Services and Stormwater Services, Ontario Building Code Administration and Court Services budgets for 2017. This is the first year that Stormwater Services is included in the non-tax-supported budget. “We have seen what the strong financial policies of Water and Wastewater Services can do to close the infrastructure gap and ensure healthy reserves,” says James Krauter, acting city treasurer. “The approval of the stormwater service fee will provide stable and dedicated funding for this critical service much like we have for water and wastewater.” Approved 2017 water and wastewater rates, effective January 1, 2017 Recommended rates and fees 2016 2017 change Water volume – $/cubic metre (m3)… Continue reading Council approves four dollar monthly residential stormwater service fee

Guelph, Ont., March 23, 2016—Guelph City Council approved a staff recommendation for a dedicated stormwater user fee by a vote of 11 to 2 at Monday night’s Council meeting. The introduction of a user fee is a shift from funding Guelph’s stormwater management system through property taxes. The fee model proposed was selected to provide a balance between fairness, equity and ease of administration. The recommendation from staff was made following more than two years of study and community consultation. “Like many other municipalities, Guelph is faced with the problem of aging infrastructure and our stormwater management system needs upgrades, especially as we face more severe storm events,”  said Arun Hindupur, Infrastructure Planning Engineer for the City. “Many cities, including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Waterloo and… Continue reading Council approves user fees to fund stormwater management

Guelph, Ont., November 30, 2015—The City has arrived at a recommendation to address Guelph’s underfunded stormwater system. Following more than two years of study and community consultation City staff plans to recommend a stormwater user fee. “Faced with the challenges of aging infrastructure, increases in hard surfaces from urban growth, and more severe storm events, many cities, including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Waterloo and Kitchener, have moved to a fee model to address funding challenges,” said Arun Hindupur, Infrastructure Planning Engineer for the City. “The fee model we’re proposing is a balance between fairness, equity and ease of administration.” The proposed fee model, called the Equivalent Residential Unit model, was selected because it provides the best balance between fairness to property owners and administrative costs for the… Continue reading City to present stormwater user fee recommendation at December 2 open house