Regional Council: Making Decisions That Matter - Feb. 22, 2023

With input from the community, Regional Council sets the direction for the Region as an organization and makes decisions that help improve the lives of Waterloo Region residents every day. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting. 

Region looks at rapid growth for automated speed enforcement

Council is helping to improve safety on Waterloo Region roads. The Automated Speed Enforcement Program has successfully decreased driver speeds in school safety zones. Regional Council approved eight new sites for the program in the 2023 budget, and have also directed staff to consider adding an additional eight this year. That would bring the total across the Region to 32 sites.

The Region will also prepare a plan that will come back for Council’s consideration that could expand the system to all 175 school locations across Waterloo Region, as well as community safety zones.

Council also approved the creation of an administrative penalty system that would take camera-based charges out of the traditional court system and provide a new process to make a payment or dispute a charge without the involvement of a judicial officer and valuable court time.

Looking ahead to waste collection improvements

Regional Council has approved several ways to modernize the community’s waste collection. The next waste collection contract, which begins in 2026, is expected to include these changes:

Garbage and green bin organics collected from automated carts. Automated collection is now the industry standard, and tends to be more safe and time-efficient. This type of container can also reduce litter from windy days and pests.

Waste collection vehicles that use alternate fuel sources that are more environmentally-friendly than diesel.

A four-day collection schedule, running Tuesday to Friday. This creates a back-up collection day in case of bad weather or other delays. It also makes staffing easier by reducing collections on statutory holidays.

Council directed Region staff to examine the curbside waste collection currently provided for 1,500 businesses in downtown areas. Before the next collection contract, the Region will assess the services businesses receive. Service levels will remain the same for everyone else.

The Region of Waterloo will begin the Request for Proposal in fall 2023 for its next curbside waste collection contract. The new contract will take effect in March 2026, after the current seven-year waste collection contract ends.