Back to SearchKitchener Council approves bold, ambitious Make It Kitchener 2.0 with a focus on immediate economic recovery
Earlier this evening Kitchener Council approved Make It Kitchener 2.0, the City’s new economic development strategy that builds on the award-winning Make It Kitchener strategy. Make It Kitchener 2.0 will continue with the successes of the previous strategy while also addressing new issues and economic recovery pressures due to COVID-19.
Make it Kitchener 2.0 is a bold, ambitious plan to support business recovery, to create a future where everyone can make a difference, and to propel our community forward. It presents a 10-year vision to guide economic development and community initiatives and presents an innovative funding model through a new Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF) that would enable Council to invest up to an additional $110 million over 10 years, without relying on a tax rate increase.
To learn more about the newly approved, bold, and ambitious Make It Kitchener 2.0 plan, visit www.kitchener.ca/news.
City takes bold step with equity, anti-racism, and Indigenous Initiatives staff team
The City of Kitchener plans to address a range of social justice issues in Kitchener through a dedicated staff team. Earlier today, Kitchener City Council approved forming an equity, anti-racism, and Indigenous initiatives team, made up of five full-time, permanent staff with dedicated leadership, knowledge, and skills in issues of equity, anti-racism, discrimination, Indigenous initiatives and other social justice issues such as homelessness, poverty, mental health, and addiction.
This decision is in line with the City’s strategic plan to make Kitchener a more caring community by improving feelings of connection and belonging and removing systemic barriers to economic and social participation. Hiring for this new team will begin later this year and continue into 2021.
For more information, read the staff report on the City’s website.
Council approves Cycling and Trails Master Plan
Council has approved the City’s Cycling and Trails Master Plan, a long-term strategy for connecting Kitchener’s trails and cycling facilities into a city-wide network. The plan was committed to in Kitchener’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan after public consultation consistently showed that people-friendly transportation options were a top priority for the community.
The plans development was developed by a team led by an external consulting team who are also working with other local municipalities. A resident led advisory committee also met over the past 18 months to provide input to shape the final plan. More than 3,000 residents provided feedback during the development of the plan.
The initial focus of the plan, are recommendations for the next 10 years and include development of:
- 43 km of ‘on street’ active transportation facilities like bike lanes and multi-use trails.
- 13 km of ‘off-street’ multi-use trails
- Improvements to walkways and trails that connect neighbourhoods
- Providing facilities that contribute to a city-wide network of cycling routes and trails suitable for people of all ages and abilities
More information can be found in the staff report: INS-20-015 - 2020 Cycling and Trails Master Plan.
Kitchener Utilities natural gas rates approved
This evening, Council approved Kitchener Utilities’ new natural gas rate. From Nov. 1, 2020 to Oct. 31, 2021, natural gas customers will notice a slight increase on their monthly bills. The section on the bill that shows the rate for gas delivery will increase by 0.5 cents per cubic metre for residential and some business customers.
The average residential customer consuming 2,100 cubic metres annually will see an annual bill increase of $10.50, or less than one dollar per month.
More information can be found in the staff report : INS-20-016 – Natural Gas Rates.
For more information:
Shawn Falcao
Manager, corporate communications
City of Kitchener
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca
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