Back to SearchKey decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items presented at Kitchener City Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Kitchener moves ahead with indoor recreation complex at RBJ Schlegel Park
Kitchener City Council endorsed moving ahead with the design and construction of a new indoor recreation complex including aquatics and indoor turf facilities at RBJ Schlegel Park. The concept and detailed design development are expected to continue into 2023.
The aquatics and indoor turf facilities are being designed to satisfy the recreation needs of our growing community. These facilities will be built to net-zero efficiency standards, designed to last for the long term. The aquatics facility is expected to cost approximately $55.3 million, and the indoor turf facility is expected to cost $37.9 million. The project will be funded by development fees that the City charges on new residential, commercial and industrial developments, and is supported by $17.9 million from the Provincial and Federal government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. To learn more, visit www.kitchener.ca/RBJSchlegelPark.
Business licensing by-law update will allow residential food trucks, more flexibility
After a successful three years in effect, the new business licensing bylaw review has been completed with some additional changes. After a two-year pilot program, food trucks may now operate in residential zones throughout the summer. Kitchener City Council has approved amending the business licensing by-law to expand permissions, create a new type of license and accept business licensing applications online. A new streamlined online application process expected to launch later this year will allow business owners to apply or renew their license and pay by credit card.
The review was completed to assess the bylaw, associated fees and the process to ensure that the changes to the bylaw would support neighbourhoods, community organizations and the business community. The updated business licensing bylaw now includes more reflective business licensing definitions, new business licensing categories, and reduced fees for some licenses including for shorter-term pop-up businesses. To learn more about the business licensing bylaw and to apply for a license, visit www.kitchener.ca/businesslicensing.
Kitchener Utilities to implement ‘Green button’ energy consumption reporting
Kitchener Utilities will implement ‘Green Button’ energy consumption reporting. Ontario’s new energy data regulation requires electric and natural gas utilities across the province to implement ‘Green Button Connect My Data’ solutions by November 2023. This will provide customers with information about their energy-usage and patterns to help facilitate energy efficiency and cost-savings options for homes and businesses. Kitchener Utilities will launch a new e-billing platform to host this data in late 2023.
Student winners announced as part of My Ideal City
Today, Mayor Vrbanovic and Kitchener Councillors hosted Grade 5 and 6 students and their families at City Hall as part of My Ideal City, a contest that asks Kitchener students to submit an essay about the programs and services they’d like to see from the city. Council announced 14 student winners who will present their essays to Council during an event on June 20.
City employee presented with volunteer award
A City employee has been awarded the 2021 Elaine Robinson Volunteer of the Year award from Good Roads. Mara Engel, a supervisor in Roads & Traffic, was presented with the award at the Good Roads Conference in April 2022 and again at Council on May 30. Mara has volunteered her time, developed course content, and shared her expertise through Good Roads training courses over the past few years.
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