Council Meeting
Revised Agenda

C#04-26

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 9:30 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Mayor David West

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. 

 

Public Forum: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Persons wanting to address Council during the Public Forum portion of the meeting must register by sending an email to [email protected] or by using the on-line form found on Richmondhill.ca. Public Forum participation can be in-person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.

 

---

1.

Call to Order

2.

Land Acknowledgement

We are gathering on lands that have been home to First Nations Peoples from time immemorial. We acknowledge that what we now call Richmond Hill is on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations of the Williams Treaty. We also recognize that we are on part of the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and the Huron Wendat.

We would also like to acknowledge all First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples from across North America, also known as Turtle Island, who now reside in the City of Richmond Hill. We are committed to rebuilding constructive and cooperative relationships.

3.

National Anthem

4.

Public Forum (not exceeding fifteen minutes) 

5.

Council Announcements

6.

Introduction of Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

7.

Adoption of Agenda

8.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

9.

Adoption of Previous Council Minutes

9.1

Council Meeting C#03-26 held February 11, 2026

10.

Identification of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

11.

Adoption of the Remainder of Agenda Items

12.

Public Hearing(s)

13.

Presentation(s)

13.1

Presentation by Darlene Joslin, City Manager, to Colin Jenkins, Director, Corporate Donor Relations, and Tarana Rahimi, Manager, Corporate Donor Relations, United Way Greater Toronto, on behalf of the

City of Richmond Hill 2025 United Way Campaign Committee

14.

Delegation(s)

14.1

Donna Genova, 26 Painted Rock Avenue, with respect to the Member Motion submitted by Regional and Local Councillor Chan regarding Water Leak Adjustment Program - (refer to Item 16.1)

15.

Committee and Staff Reports

15.1

Minutes - Committee of the Whole meeting CW#02-26 held February 18, 2026

• That the minutes of Committee of the Whole meeting CW#02-26 held February 18, 2026, be approved as circulated and the following recommendations approved:

15.1.1

SRIES.26.002 - 2025 Municipal Infrastructure Assumption Summary under Delegated Authority - (CW Item 11.1)

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

15.1.2

SRPBS.26.001 - Request for Approval - Yonge Street and Garden Avenue Gateway Lighting Feature Final Concept Design - (CW Item 11.2)

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

  b) That staff report back to Council at a future Council meeting on proposed lighting and signage enhancements for the Dave Barrow Civic Square, including associated funding.

15.1.3

Member Motion - Councillor Thompson - Consolidation of Conservation Authorities - (CW Item 12.1)

• 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

15.1.4

Member Motion - Councillor Liu - Strengthening Oversight and Enforcement of Snow Clearing Obligations in New Subdivisions - (CW Item 12.2)

• 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.

15.2

SRCM.26.07 - York Region Municipalities Insurance Pool Program

- Referred from the February 18, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting without recommendation for Council direction

• 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.

16.

Other Business

16.1

Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Chan - Water Leak Adjustment Program

Moved by: Regional and Local Councillor Chan

• Whereas the mission of the City of Richmond Hill is “where Council and staff work with the community to make decisions and deliver quality services for today and tomorrow”;

  Whereas the Strategic Plan 2024-2027 of Richmond Hill is based on three pillars, and Pillar 3 “Strengthening our Foundations” includes a “focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector and colleagues”;

  Whereas residents who receive water use statements with exceedingly high charges due to accidental, unintentional or undetected water leaks may sustain financial hardship, and have no option but to pay the billed amounts; and 

  Whereas certain municipalities such as Vaughan, Guelph, Belleville, Georgina, Hamilton, Sarnia, London, Loyalist Township, Welland, and Peel Region have implemented assistance programs to offer relief to residents faced with unexpectedly high water bills;

  Now Therefore Be It Resolved That:

  Staff be directed to investigate the feasibility of offering a one-time relief program to assist eligible residents with unexpected high water bills due to accidental undetected leaks and report back by September 2026.

17.

Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

18.

By-laws

18.1

By-law 3-26 - A By-Law to assume above and belowground municipal services.

Explanation: Approved by Council at its meeting held April 28, 2021 (Delegated Authority - Staff Report SRPI.21.038)

18.2

By-law 9-26 - A By-Law to Assign Names to Certain Private Roads

Explanation: Approved by Council at its meeting held December 13, 2023 (Staff Report SRPBS.23.025) 

18.3

By-law 12-26 - A By-Law to Amend By-law 93-25, as amended, of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Leslie View Developments 11580 Inc. - 11580 Leslie Street - City File D02-18006 (Related File D06-19032)

18.4

By-law 13-26 - A By-law to Amend By-law 128-04, as amended, and By-law 55-15, as amended, of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Leslie View Developments 11580 Inc. - 11580 Leslie Street - City File D02-18006 (Related City File D06-19032)

18.5

By-Law 19-26 - A By-Law to assume aboveground and belowground municipal services.

Explanation: Approved by Council at its meeting held April 28, 2021 (Delegated Authority - Staff Report SRPI.21.038)

18.6

By-law 20-26 - A By-Law to assume aboveground and belowground municipal services

Explanation: Approved by Council at its meeting held April 28, 2021 (Delegated Authority - Staff Report SRPI.21.038)

19.

Closed Session

19.1

Resolution to Move into Closed Session and General Nature Thereof:

• That Council move into Closed Session:

  a) To consider personal matters about identifiable individuals, including municipal or local board employees, with respect to the membership of the Board of Management of the Village of Richmond Hill Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 Term of Council, pursuant to Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

19.2

Resolution to Reconvene in Open Session

19.3

Adoption of Recommendations Arising from the Closed Session Meeting

20.

By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council at this Meeting

20.1

By-law 30-26

21.

Adjournment