Richmond Hill Renews Commitment to Inclusivity
Council Approves 2023-2027 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
May 18, 2023
Richmond Hill is committed to being an accessible, inclusive community for everyone. Council reaffirmed this commitment with their approval of the 2023-2027 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, which outlines the City’s strategy to identify, prevent and remove barriers for persons with disabilities and meet accessibility standards in consultation with the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
This is the City’s third multi-year accessibility plan, building on successes and opportunities for improvement from its original 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 plans. Key initiatives include:
- Enhancing engagement with the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the community
- Maintaining and improving accessibility related to information and communications, employment practices, design of public spaces, and customer service
- Ongoing review of accessibility policies and procedures
- Continuous improvement based on feedback from the community and collaboration with the Accessibility Advisory Committee
In addition to the plan, the City’s 11-member citizen Accessibility Advisory Committee helps guide Richmond Hill’s accessibility work. The Committee meets regularly through the year to review and comment on accessibility related to City projects, policies and procedures, and to discuss new opportunities to improve accessibility at the City for residents and visitors.
The full plan is available online at RichmondHill.ca/Accessibility.
Humber Flats Stormwater Management Facility Environmental Assessment
You’re Invited to a Public Open House – May 31, 2023
As public engagement is vital to the development and success of this project, the City encourages citizens to join the conversation.
Please join us to review the proposed solutions for the rehabilitation of the Humber Flats Stormwater Management Facility. The Public Open House will provide an overview of the project and study findings, alternative solutions considered, and the proposed solution. Representatives from the City of Richmond Hill and the consulting team will be available at the Open House to discuss any issues or concerns you may have, and receive information for consideration in the study.
The Public Open House is scheduled as follows:
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Oak Ridges Library, Meeting Rooms 1 and 2
34 Regatta Avenue, Richmond Hill
If you are unable to attend the in-person event, you will have a chance to view the proposed solutions and provide feedback between May 31 and June 18, 2023, by reviewing the presentation boards and filling out the survey form that will be posted on this webpage following the Open House.
The notice of the Open House was mailed to homes in the nearby neighbourhood, and is posted below:
RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO GET GROWING THROUGH FREE GARDENING WEBINARS
May 15, 2023
Gardening season is upon us and the City wants to inspire residents to get growing through the Richmond Hill Blooms webinar series. Participants will hear from expert gardeners on how to design, plant and maintain beautiful and bountiful gardens.
Webinar Schedule
Front Yard Gardening with Master Gardener Sally Hossain
Thursday, May 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Planning your front garden, but don’t know where to start? Learn about the importance of planning, including property size, budget, time availability, soil and moisture conditions. You’ll also learn about recommended designs and plants for different conditions.
Pollinators (Part 1): Pollinators in Peril with Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society members Josie and Steve Turner
Tuesday, June 13, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Learn about pollinators, their life cycle, reasons for their decline and the positive steps we can all take in our yards and in our communities to help support and protect them.
Pollinators (Part 2): Planning your Pollinator Garden with Master Gardener Sally Hossain
Tuesday, June 20, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Learn how to plan your pollinator garden, including what plants are best suited for different conditions and suggested designs based on these conditions.
Garden Photography with Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Societymember Harold Hunter
Tuesday, July 4, 8 – 9:30 p.m.
Grow your garden photography skills with a few simple tips and tricks. Learn how to capture your garden at its best and share the results with family and friends.
Thrifty Gardening with Gary and Diane Westlake
Thursday, August 1, 8 – 9:30 p.m.
Hear about some of the ways you can save money while creating and maintaining your garden.
For more information and to register, visit RichmondHill.ca/RHBlooms.
HIGHWAY 7 FROM BAYVIEW AVENUE TO EAST OF HIGHWAY 404
May 09, 2023
Description:
Road improvements
- Initial work will consist of concrete repairs and adjustments to maintenance holes and catch basins
- Once this initial work is complete, a road preservation treatment, called microsurfacing, will be applied to Highway 7
- It is a common and cost-effective way to maintain roads with minor defects and extend the life of the road
- The road surface can feel rougher and sound noisier after the treatment, but over time, the stones will settle and the surface will become quieter
- To learn more about microsurfacing, visit york.ca/RoadsOperations
Read More: Highway 7 from Bayview Avenue to east of Highway 404 | York Region
RICHMOND HILL IS SEEKING RESIDENTS’ INPUT ON SIGN BY-LAW
May 4, 2023
Richmond Hill’s Community Standards team is reviewing and updating some of the City’s by-laws in 2023 and they want to hear from residents!
Kicking it off is a review of the community’s Sign By-law. Originally enacted in 2009, the Sign By-law regulates the size, location and number of signs that are allowed on a property and for special events. This phase of the project looks specifically at election signs and highway signs.
Get Involved!
As a Richmond Hill resident, what’s your biggest concern with election signs? What about highway signs? Let us know! Take our sign survey. Your feedback will help shape how to regulate and govern signs used in the city.
For more information about the City’s by-laws and upcoming surveys, visit RichmondHill.ca/Bylaw.
HELP DESIGN RICHMOND HILL’S RAIN GARDEN EDUCATION PROGRAM!
Share your ideas at an Open House on May 13 at Central Library
Richmond Hill wants to raise awareness about the benefits of rain gardens and residents are invited to help us create a public education and engagement program. Drop by the Rain Gardens and Climate Change Open House on Saturday, May 13 between 1 and 4 p.m. at Central Library to explore activities and share your ideas.
Rain gardens are beautiful, cost-effective landscape features that help to absorb rain water and reduce runoff from your property. They consist of native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees planted in a shallow depression filled with loose, deep soil. The hardy plants require little to no watering and provide food and shelter for native bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife.
The goal of the rain garden education and engagement program is to partner with community champions, as well as provide resources to advance rain garden education, awareness and encourage residents to consider installing these landscape features on their property.
For more information and to register, visit RichmondHill.ca/RainGarden.
York Region’s ventureLAB continues to drive strong innovation
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
“Job growth and talent retention are important to York Region’s thriving economy,” said City of Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Joe DiPaola, Chair of the Region’s Planning and Economic Development. “ventureLAB is a key partner to help increase job creation, drive innovation and support commercialization.”
York Region Transit system enhancements continue as ridership rises following COVID-19 pandemic
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Newmarket – York Regional Council received an update on York Region Transit’s (YRT) 2022 system performance, highlighting continued reliability throughout changing travel patterns and increasing travel demand. Read More
Key water and wastewater infrastructure projects underway to support growth in York Region
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
As part of York Region’s 2023 Public Works 10-Year Capital Plan, York Regional Council endorsed an investment of $3.1 billion in water and wastewater projects. The approved budget includes $1.7 billion for infrastructure to support growth and $1.4 billion to proactively manage those assets to ensure reliability of the existing water and wastewater system.
Credit and Debit (PRESTO Contactless)
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
With PRESTO contactless payment you can tap your credit or debit card, including in a mobile wallet, on a PRESTO device to pay your YRT fare.
Pay with credit or debit, including cards on a phone or watch
You can use your Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit cards, most Interac® Debit cards, or add these cards to your mobile wallet on your phone or watch using Apple Pay or Google Pay, to pay your fare on YRT.
Cash fare of $4.25 will be charged to your card. A two-hour transfer is automatically included. Credit and debit is accepted on all YRT services, including Mobility On-Request. Read More
Provincial Regulatory Updates – May 2, 2023
Open for Comments
- The Ministry of the Solicitor General is proposing amendments to the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (PAWS). The amendments would impact inspector powers and update the Animal Care Review Board processes. There is no anticipated cost for municipalities associated with this proposal. For more information on the proposal, or to submit comments, visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until May 25, 2023.
- The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Ministry of the Attorney General are seeking input on proposed amendments to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act. If approved, it would authorize the appointment of more than one Deputy Fire Marshal and provide the Fire Safety Commission (FSC) with authority to extend the time to appeal an order beyond the 30-day period. The proposal would also impact cost recovery where fire departments carry out actions related to immediate ATCs, by allowing for the use of municipal lien or the Provincial Land Tax Act, respectively, and allow the FSC processes to consider ACT actions when an Order to Pay Costs is appealed. For more information, or to submit comments see the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until May 25, 2023.
Decisions
- On April 26, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a new Environmental Compliance Approval (waste) to Terra Nova Environmental Services. This permits the use of a mobile unit to be used to treat solid non-hazardous soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and/or herbicides. Processing may take place at various locations across the province. More information can be found through the hyperlink.