Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 15 Jul 2010, p. 14

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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, July 15, 2010 · 14 Town of Oakville 2009 Annual Report highlights Message from the Mayor As Council finishes its third year, we have reached nearly all the goals we set in our unanimous 2007-2010 Strategic Work Plan. We completed the Livable Oakville Plan to control growth and protect stable neighbourhoods. We made our transit system more useful for trips across town by introducing a new grid system. We now make developers pay 60 per cent more than in previous terms of Council. Our new debt policy will help continue to reduce our facilities deficit. We will be able to issue debt fully paid for by development fees to build what we need to keep up with growth. Our reserves exceed all debt. We are in a very strong financial position. 2009 also brought the Ontario Power Authority's decision to locate a TransCanada power plant on the Ford lands in southeast Oakville. The OMB upheld the town's interim control by-law prohibiting power plants from being built in Oakville until we complete our land-use study on planning rules for power plants. In 2009, the 900-hectare Natural Heritage System won by the town in 2007 was reinforced by Halton Region's new official plan, Sustainable Halton. Livable Oakville works with Sustainable Halton to fit with the Ontario Government's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Council's unanimously approved Economic Development Strategy won the Group Economic Development Achievement of the Year award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada. Council and town staff are dedicated to serving our community. It is a pleasure to work together to achieve our goals. Together, we are creating in Oakville the most livable town in Canada. Sincerely, Key accomplishments To enhance our natural environment Livable Oakville, the town's new official plan, was approved in 2009. This plan defines and maps the future growth of Oakville for the next 20 years as well as protects our natural environment, heritage properties and stable neighbourhoods. The Active Transportation Master Plan was presented to Council. The plan aims to improve the quality of life for all Oakville residents by enhancing walking and cycling connections to public transit and encouraging residents to walk, cycle or use public transit. To enhance our cultural environment Heritage Planning Priorities and Actions were established. In 2009, the Oakville Heritage Register was expanded by 354 properties and the 10 properties were designated. Council approved our first municipal cultural plan, Enabling Culture to Thrive in Oakville: Oakville's Strategic Directions for Culture. The cultural plan will help the town develop the appropriate policies, infrastructure and partnerships to facilitate culture in Oakville. Renovations began on the ueen Eli abeth Park Community Centre multipurpose recreation, arts and culture facility. a 144,000 square foot To enhance our social environment The town opened its new ServiceOakville counter at Town Hall. A more accessible service counter and more services offered just inside the front doors will help make doing business with the town easier. Oakville's brand new indoor soccer facility opened. The Pine Glen Soccer Centre is operated by the Oakville Soccer Club (OSC). The Bronte Youth Centre opened providing local teens with access to a wide range of programs and services such as homework help and free activities including movie nights. To enhance our economic environment The town's award winning Economic Development Strategy 2009-2019, is the town's road map to building a healthy business environment that is strong, diversified and prosperous. An agreement with Oakville Tourism Partnership was completed and a consultant was hired to develop a sustainable business plan for tourism in Oakville. To have programs and services that are environmentally sustainable Oakville Transit implemented a new grid transit service design that offers more choice, direct travel across town and more convenient service. Council passed an interim control by-law and official plan amendment to ensure the necessary planning work and studies could take place before any power plant over a 10 megawatt capacity could be constructed in Oakville. To have programs and services that are fiscally sustainable New development charges that more accurately reflect the costs of growth were approved. The new rates will generate $625.9 million to fund new facilities to 2018 and new road infrastructure to 2031. The town acquired funding from the federal provincial governments through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for a new transit facility, as well as through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC in Ontario) program for upgrades to Kinoak Arena, Bronte Athletic Park and the North Park fields. Who receives your tax dollars Population growth in Oakville 177,200 2009 Rob Burton Mayor 2009 highlights Examples of where your tax dollars are spent within the town Environmental Policy Human Resources Economic Development Regulatory services Administrative Executive Management Culture Library Infrastructure Planning and Improvements Capital Assets Parks and Open Space Development Services Service Oakville Recreation Services Road network Building services Emergency services Oakville Transit Infrastructure renewal 0.06 ¢ 0.13 ¢ 0.16 ¢ 0.24 ¢ 0.31 ¢ 0.52 ¢ 0.77 ¢ 0.8 ¢ 3.12 ¢ 3.13 ¢ 3.23 ¢ 4.08 ¢ 4.61 ¢ 4.97 ¢ 10.6 ¢ 16.68 ¢ Information Systems + Solutions Planning Services Political governance Financial Services Strategy, Policy and Comm. Internal Audit Legal Services -1.67 ¢ -1.58 ¢ -1.32 ¢ -0.44 ¢ 0.03 ¢ 0.04 ¢ 0.05 ¢ Education 24.5% Region 38.9% Town o 36.6% 2006 2007 157,500 161,600 165,600 169,800 2004 25.63 ¢ 25.85 ¢ Decrease Increase For the full report, including the Municipal Performance Measurement Program, visit www.oakville.ca. 2005 2008 173,600

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