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Council Info: May 13, 2020

Council Info is a summary of discussion and the major items presented at Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. You are encouraged to quote from and copy this information. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Housing and Homelessness Plan - progress report

As Service Manager, the Region recently submitted a progress report (year 6) to the Province for the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The review of the plan highlights a variety of achievements to date, including:

  • Setting an affordable housing target for Waterloo Region: the local target is for 30 per cent of all new residential development between 2019 and 2041 to be affordable for low and moderate income households.
  • The Waterloo Region Housing (WRH) Master Plan was approved by Regional Council in November 2019. This plan complements the Region’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan and serves as a framework for the operations and management of the WRH housing stock. Among other things, the plan maps out a timeline to create at least 600 new WRH units over the next 10 years.
  • The Alternative Housing Project was initiated early in 2020 and involves a review of alternative housing types, including tiny, micro, container and modular homes.
  • A new governance structure was created by merging the steering committee, advisory committee, and planning teams of the Master Plan with those of the 10-Year Plan. This reduces redundancy, improves communication efficiency, and reduces time commitment for members.
  • There are currently 150 community housing units under construction in five projects across Waterloo Region. The first 31 units at 25 Linwood Avenue, Cambridge are expected to be ready for occupancy this summer.

Transit fares to be re-instated June 1

Grand River Transit (GRT) has implemented a number of safety measures to protect both employees and customers, including the recent installation of Lexan barriers (similar to those in retail outlets). GRT will reintroduce transit fares beginning June 1, 2020. As a result, customers will return to front door boarding.

Financial assistance request

Regional Council supported the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in their proposal for immediate financial assistance from the federal government to assist municipalities in managing the financial impact of COVID-19. The Region will request that the federal government establish a municipal financial assistance program.

Tenders/Contracts:      

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

  • $9,678,333.58 to Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd. for the reconstruction of Dundas Street (RR8) from Shade Street to Briercrest Avenue, in Cambridge. There will be an increase in project cost of $3,006,000 to facilitate work undertaken on behalf of the City of Cambridge.
  • $8,777,024.10 to Capital Paving Inc. for improvements to Road No. 9 (Erb Street West), from Ira Needles Boulevard to Fischer-Hallman Road in Waterloo. There will be an increase in project cost of $485,000 gross and $0 net to facilitate work undertaken on behalf of the City of Waterloo.
  • $4,329,416.36 to Steed and Evans Limited for improvements to Regional Road #17, the Waterloo Spur to Arthur Street South in the Village of St. Jacobs, Township of Woolwich. There will be an increase in project costs of $487,300 to facilitate work undertaken on behalf of the Township of Woolwich.
  • $2,899,000 to Baseline Constructors Inc. for Bridgeport Sewage Pumping Station upgrades.
  • $1,401,104 to Waterloo Demolition Inc., for Waterloo Landfill Site Gate 1 Road Reconstruction Waterloo.
  • $600,000 to Steed & Evans Limited for winter maintenance of the separated cycling lane pilot network in Waterloo for a six month period over the 2020/2021 winter season.
  • $120,000 (as a contract extension) to Skyhigh Maintenance Inc. for GRT bus stop maintenance from July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020 for an estimated total contract of $253,875.

Next Council Meeting
June 3, 2020 at 7 p.m.


For more information, contact:
Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408
Regional Clerk’s Office, 519-575-4400