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www.insidehalton.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, December 14, 2017 |10 Effect on the propertytax hike mitigated bynumerous factors continued from p.9 vote to have Town staff w ork w ith the BIA to find an approach to Canada D ay that is appropriate for 2018. The com m ittee also voted to provide the BIA w ith a $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 event grant, $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 w orth o f support and $1 ,5 0 0 w orth o f fee waivers for the Canada D ay event. The proposed $2.2 m illion cou n cil chamber renovation w as also a subject o f discussion w ith Ward 4 Town and Regional C ouncillor Allan Elgar reiterating his concerns about the expense. Town staff said the room n eed s to be expanded to accom m odate the tw o additional councillors w h o w ill com e w h en council grow s to 15 m em bers follow in g the 2 0 1 8 m unicipal election. T hey said the cham ber' s inform ation tech n ology (IT ) system and heating and coolin g system s also n eed be replaced and the room n eed s to be brought up to AODA (A ccessibility for Ontarians w ith Disabilities Act) standards. Elgar argued m u ch o f the cou n cil chamber is already accessible and said w h at is n ot could be altered for a lo t less than $ 2 .2 m illion. "I have a h u g e issu e w ith the a m ou n t of m o n e y w e are allocating, esp ecially sin ce 100 per cen t o f it is o n the taxpayer' s tab," h e said. "W e're asking for a Cadillac w e d on 't n eed ." U ltim ately the com m ittee decided to have Town staff take another lo o k at the design and costing of the council chamber renovation. Town staff previously proposed a $321.5 m illion operating budget and a $ 1 2 8 m illion capital budget. Som e o f the m ain projects for the 2 0 1 8 year include: · $21.1 m illion to com plete the Trafalgar Park/Oakville Arena revitalization project; · $ 1 0 .8 m illion to start construction on the South East C om m unity Centre (as part o f the Former Hospital Site Project); · $ 9 .6 m illion for the tow n ' s Road Resurfacing and Preservation Program; · $7.1 m illion for road m aintenance w ork along Speers Road betw een the Bronte GO Station and Fourth Line; · $4.9 m illion for road m aintenance w ork along Sixth Line betw een Threshing Mill Road and D undas Street; · $4.6 m illion for Kerr Street w id en in g and grade separation; · $3.9 m illion for n ew dockage for the Bronte Outer Harbour; · $ 3 .7 m illion for the Emerald A sh Borer M anagem ent Program; · $ 2 .7 m illion for replacem ent buses; · $ 2 .7 m illion to purchase land for the n ew Fire Station # 9 in the Burnham thorpe Road and Sixth Line area; · $2.6 m illion for a n ew library branch in N orth Oakville. T he budget w ill go before council for final approval on Monday, Dec. 18 at Town Hall at 7 p.m. I < 3 OAKVI LLE oakville.ca All Oakville residents are invited to help ring in the New Year. Join us at Town Hall on January 7, 1 to 3 p.m., for the Mayor and Council's Annual New Year's Levee. N e w Y e a r's L e ve e 2018 January 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road Notice of Study Commencement M unicipal C lass En vironm ental A ssessm ent Sheldon Creek Flood M itigatio n O ppo rtunities Stu d y Queen Elizab eth Parkw ay to Lake O ntario The Stu d y solutions, evaluation criteria, environmental impacts and mitigation measures. PIC dates and details will be advertised as the study progresses. Once the study is complete, an Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be prepared and available for public review and comment. A Notice of Completion will be issued at that stage. Com m ents Invited The Town of Oakville has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to assess flood risks along the Sheldon Creek within the Town limits. The focus of this study will be to understand these risks and then establish approaches to mitigate them. This study builds on the 2008 "Town-wide Flood Prioritization Study Review," by undertaking a more detailed study of creek channel reaches with floodprone sites in an effort to determine the most viable and responsible mitigation options. The Process The town appreciates your feedback and encourages you to get involved. A key component of the study is consultation with interested stakeholders, Indigenous groups, the public, landowners and regulatory agencies. You are encouraged to provide your comments so that they may be considered in the study. If you would like further information on the study, have any questions or comments, or would like to be added to the study mailing list, please contact: Kristina Parker, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. Water Resources Engineer, Town of Oakville 905-845-6601, ext. 3889 kristina.parker@oakville.ca Ron Scheckenberger, M.Eng., P.Eng. Project Manager, Wood 905-335-2353, ext. 3109 ron.scheckenberger@woodplc.com Information related to the study and consultation process will also be posted on the town's website at http://www.oakville.ca/environment/flooding.html. The study is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of a Schedule B project under the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015), which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Two Public Information Centre (PICs) are being planned to discuss issues related to the project, including alternative