Committee of the Whole Meeting
Agenda

CW#02-26

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 9:30 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Chair, Councillor Karen Cilevitz

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

City facilities are open to the public to attend Council and Committee meetings. The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by attending in-person or by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings which can be accessed on the City’s website (Richmondhill.ca) or on the City’s YouTube page (linked from the City’s homepage).

Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to [email protected]. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City’s website.

Delegations: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by using the on-line application form found on Richmondhill.ca. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.

 

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Council Announcements

3.

Introduction of Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

4.

Adoption of Agenda

5.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

6.

Identification of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

7.

Adoption of the Remainder of Agenda Items

8.

Public Hearing(s)

9.

Presentation(s)

10.

Delegation(s)

11.

Committee and Staff Reports

11.1

SRIES.26.002 - 2025 Municipal Infrastructure Assumption Summary under Delegated Authority

• a) That staff report SRIES.26.002 regarding the 2025 Municipal Infrastructure Assumption Summary under Delegated Authority, be received.

11.2

SRPBS.26.001 - Request for Approval - Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature Final Concept Design

• a) That Staff Report SRPBS.26.001 regarding the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature be received;

  b) That Council approve the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature final concept design appended as Attachment “B” to Staff Report SRPBS.26.001;

  c) That all comments be directed to staff for consideration as part of a future detailed design stage for the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature;

  d) That a future project be included in the Ten-Year Capital Plan Forecast to facilitate the detailed design and subsequent construction of the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature project as contemplated in the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature: Final Concept Design report (Attachment “B” to Staff Report SRPBS.26.001);

  e) That Council direct staff to collect funds through Community Benefit Charges (“CBC”) under the 2022 Community Benefit Charge Strategy for the future design and construction of the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature;

  f) That Council direct staff to apply for the Region’s Sustainable Transportation and Urban Design Partnership Program for cost share funding to implement the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature at the same time as the Capital Budget request for this initiative;

  g) That, should the Sustainable Transportation and Urban Design Partnership Program application be approved, the Commissioner of Planning and Building Services be authorized to execute an agreement with the Regional Municipality of York regarding the maintenance of the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting feature; and,

  h) That Council direct staff to continue the detailed design and construction phases of the Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature once funding through the 2022 Community Benefit Charge Strategy is collected.

11.3

SRCM.26.07 - York Region Municipalities Insurance Pool Program

• a) That staff report SRCM.26.07 regarding York Region Municipalities Insurance Pool Program, be received;

  b) That Council approve the City of Richmond Hill’s participation in the York Region Municipalities Insurance Pool;

  c) That Council direct the Treasurer to negotiate and, if negotiations are successful, recommend for execution all required agreements with the Town of East Gwillimbury, Town of Georgina, Township of King, Town of Newmarket, York Region, City of Vaughan, and Town of Whitchurch‑Stouffville to establish the Insurance Pool for a five‑year term, with the option of two additional five‑year extensions, on business terms satisfactory to the Treasurer and legal terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor;

  d) That Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute any documents necessary to give effect to Richmond Hill’s participation in the Insurance Pool, including the Subscriber Agreement, upon the recommendation of the Treasurer and City Solicitor; and

  e) That Council appoint the Treasurer as the City of Richmond Hill’s representative on the Insurance Pool Board, consistent with the governance structure established by the participating municipalities.

12.

Other Business

12.1

Member Motion - Councillor Thompson - Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

Moved by:  Councillor Thompson

• Whereas the Province of Ontario has announced its intention to modernize and consolidate Ontario’s Conservation Authorities to improve efficiency, consistency, and service delivery; and

  Whereas the City of Richmond Hill is located within the Ontario Greenbelt, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area, and the Rouge River watershed, where flood protection, environmental protection, and development decisions depend on strong, locally informed watershed governance; and

  Whereas the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) provides these services for Richmond Hill and is a well-established and trusted watershed agency with significant technical capacity, long-standing intergovernmental partnerships, and a broad, multi-municipal service area that already functions in many respects as a regional hub.

  Now Therefore Be It Resolved That the Council of the City of Richmond Hill supports the province’s goal of improving efficiency and consistency within Conservation Authorities, provided that any new regional structure serving the Toronto Region Conservation Authority area:

  • preserves strong watershed-based decision-making for the Oak Ridges Moraine and Rouge River system,
  • ensures meaningful municipal representation and funding clarity for Richmond Hill, and
  • maintains uninterrupted front-line flood protection, environmental review, and permitting services; and

  That the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) name, identity, boundaries, and operating continuity be retained in order to preserve public trust, regulatory certainty, and institutional relationships relied upon by the City of Richmond Hill and that the costly proposed re-naming of TRCA to Central Lake Ontario Regional Conservation be abandoned; and

  That all costs of the new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, and proposed regional consolidation with any transition, be entirely borne by the Province; and

  That this resolution be forwarded to:

  The Honourable Doug Ford, MPP, Premier of Ontario

  The Honourable Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

  The Honourable Michael Parsa, MPP, Aurora- Oak Ridges- Richmond Hill, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services

  Daisy Wai, MPP, Richmond Hill

  The Regional Municipality of York

12.2

Member Motion - Councillor Liu - Strengthening Oversight and Enforcement of Snow Clearing Obligations in New Subdivisions

Moved by: Councillor Liu

• Whereas in newly developed subdivisions, the responsibility for winter maintenance, including snow clearing on roads and sidewalks, rests with the developer and not the municipality;

  Whereas residents in these subdivisions have raised concerns that snow clearing is not being carried out in a timely or adequate manner by developers;

  Whereas inadequate snow removal poses significant risks to public safety, emergency vehicle access, pedestrian mobility, and overall community well-being; and

  Whereas the municipality has an interest in ensuring that developers meet their contractual and regulatory obligations during the subdivision assumption period;

  Now Therefore Be It Resolved:

  a) That Council direct staff to review current policies, agreements, and enforcement practices for developer-led snow clearing in unassumed subdivisions, including improvements to complaint processes, increased penalties for non-compliance, and the potential inclusion of windrow removal; and

  b) Staff report back to Council before Summer Recess of 2026.

13.

Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

14.

Adjournment