Back to SearchKey decisions and activity from Kitchener Council – Dec 14, 2020
This is a summary of major discussion items presented at City Council meetings. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Council approves downtown cycling grid to better connect neighbourhoods
Kitchener City Council has approved the downtown cycling grid, connecting the downtown core to adjacent neighbourhoods and regional cycling arteries. It is a crucial step forward towards the City’s goal of ensuring that residents can walk, run, roll, or cycle across the city safely with dedicated active transportation infrastructure.
The grid was developed as part of the City’s recently approved Cycling and Trails Master Plan, which aims to link Kitchener’s extensive trail network and bikeways by identifying key locations where a new connection or upgrade would link neighbourhoods. This will eventually provide trail and bikeway access to most of the City.
The City has committed to supporting people-friendly transportation options as one of the goals of its 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. The downtown cycling grid delivers on this commitment. To learn more, visit www.engagewr.ca/downtown-cycling-grid
Council approves Housing For All strategy to address housing challenges
Kitchener City Council has approved the Housing for All strategy, a plan to guide the City’s actions and investments to address housing challenges in our community from 2020 through 2025. In collaboration with the Region of Waterloo, not-for-profit housing providers, and the development community, the City will use several tools to help make housing more affordable and accessible to everyone.
The strategy outlines seven priorities, including a human rights-based approach to housing, helping to end homelessness, and creating a working group of community members with lived experience of homelessness and housing challenges to advise staff in implementing the strategy.
Addressing housing affordability and supporting Kitchener’s growth as a caring community was identified as a top priority when the City consulted residents on its strategic priorities. To learn more, visit www.kitchener.ca/housing
Business plans: progress report and 2021 outlook
Yesterday evening, Kitchener Council received a year-end report highlighting 2020 business plan projects celebrating some of the major milestones of 2020. Some of these key projects include the cycling and trails master plan update, the Make it Kitchener 2.0 strategy, housing strategy, an anti-stigma learning program for city staff, and a variety of business plan projects.
As well, Council endorsed a recommendation for 2021 business plan projects including 25 strategic plan actions and 15 business plan projects to continue from 2020 into 2021. For more information, the report is available at CAO-20-008-2020 Business Plan Year-End Progress Report and Recommended 2021 Business Plan Projects List
Council approves 2021 water utility rates
Kitchener Council approved the lowest water rate increase in 10 years for 2021.
Kitchener Utilities customers will see water and sanitary water rates remain unchanged from 2020, and an increase of about $11 for the year to the stormwater rate for the average household.
Stormwater fees will allow Kitchener to meet its financial contribution to receive the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), a cost-sharing partnership with the federal government to advance our climate change adaptation efforts.
For more information about DMAF, visit www.kitchener.ca/DMAF
Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications | Communications and Marketing | City of Kitchener
519-741-2200 x 7094 | TTY 1-866-969-9994 | shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca
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