Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: March 28, 2011

Regional Council – March 9, 2011

Regional Budget & Business Plans - 2011

Council approved the 2011 Regional Business Plans and Property Tax Budget, resulting in a Regional Budgetary impact of 2.92% or an increase of about $65.00 on a residential home with an assessed value of $308,600.00. The Commissioner of Finance advised that residential property tax increases vary across municipalities due to reassessment. The average Regional tax impact to Ajax residents is estimated to be 2.54%.

The first phase of transit improvements in Ajax/Pickering have been included in the budget with introduction of the mid-day and Saturday service to address current South Ajax off peak deficiencies. Ajax routes 281 and 283 evening service from the GO station to southeast and southwest Ajax currently do not meet the minimum boarding per hour and therefore will be under review for the 2012 transit business planning process.

The Solid Waste Management approved budgets included provisions for programs such as:

• implementation of a standardized waste bylaw;

• implementation of a multi residential waste electronic and electrical collection pilot;

• further investigation of depot style eco-station facilities;

• investigating the introduction of plastic food clamshells and trays (#3 to 7 plastics) for recycling;

• conducting a preliminary analysis of an anerobic digestion facility to enable the processing of organics not currently accepted in existing composting facilities due to health and safety issues(ie: pet waste);

• implementation of expanded polystyrene recycling drop off program; and

• expanded reuse programs at Waste facilities, including community partnerships.

Currently the blue box program has an over 80% participation rate and over 60% participation for the green bin. Since 2003, waste diversion from landfill has gone from a rate of 31% to 52% in 2010. The 2011 business plans will assist in progressing towards the 70% diversion target.

Works – March 23, 2011

Staff will be reporting back prior to the summer recess on costs to include toilet pick up in the contracts for waste pickup in Ajax and Pickering. Regional Works staff also advised that they are currently investigating potential markets in order to recycle used toilets.