City of Mississauga COVID-19 Response Continues: Additional Amenity Reopenings, Preparing for Stage 2 Recovery with Economic Resiliency Task Force, Summer Camp Update, Temporary Zoning By-law and Fireworks Restrictions Lifted

COVID-19 | June 17, 2020

Today, Mississauga City Council reviewed and approved initiatives in relation to COVID-19 including: additional amenity reopenings, lifting restrictions on fireworks as well as preparing for stage 2 of recovery with an Economic Resiliency Task Force and changes to the Zoning By-law allowing businesses to expand their outdoor patios spaces and seating.

“I know many residents and businesses are frustrated by the province’s decision to keep Mississauga in Stage 1 for now. While Mississauga has made significant progress with an average of 13 new daily cases last week, there is still more to do in terms of a sustained decline across all cities in the Region of Peel,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Every day our Medical Officers are reviewing the data, and if the trends continue positively, I’m confident we will reopen soon. I know that our businesses, especially our small businesses, including restaurants and bars are feeling this the most. Please get ready. Council continues to do what we can to help with recovery and voted today to allow businesses to easily expand their patios into public areas and parking lots. As part of our economic recovery plan, we are striking an Economic Resiliency Task Force to listen to and assist local businesses with recovery, including how we as a City can make life easier. We also continue to reopen city amenities safely and responsibly and have a plan in place to proceed with Stage 2 reopening as soon as we are given the green light by the province. I know it’s hard but please stay patient, we are almost there.”

Economic Resiliency Task Force                                                                                

The City of Mississauga’s Economic Resiliency Task Force will oversee and offer Council advice on sector specific economic recovery plans including industry, small business, creative industry, and land development and is a refreshed version of the Economic Development Advisory Board (previously formed to provide input into the City’s Economic Development Strategy). The Task Force will coordinate with Tourism Mississauga’s Board of Directors on review of a tourism recovery plan. It will include Mayor Bonnie Crombie as Chair, Councillor Stephen Dasko, Councillor Dipika Damerla, Councillor Pat Saito, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer Paul Mitcham along with a wide range of business sector representatives, educational partners including the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, Mississauga Board of Trade as well as representatives from Peel Public Health, land development, business improvement areas, small business, creative industry and more.

Stage 1 Amenity Reopenings

The following amenities will be reopening on June 19, 2020 as allowed under the Province’s Stage 1 recovery currently in effect for Peel Region:

• City of Mississauga and School Board track facilities
• Bocce courts
• Beach volleyball courts

These reopenings are in addition to amenities already reopened including community gardens, marinas and Lakefront Promenade public boat launches, golf courses, leash-free zones, BMX and skateboard parks, public and community tennis courts, benches, shelters and shade structures and seasonal washrooms.

Temporary Zoning By-law
The City of Mississauga has introduced a temporary zoning by-law to allow patios in Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and other areas where restaurants have direct street frontage and at restaurants located at malls that have their own access. The bylaw allows strip mall based restaurants to use parking areas to accommodate patios, where mall management permits. Restaurants who wish to use the city sidewalk or a public street would need city approval and obtain a modified minor encroachment permit. A patio design guideline and minor encroachment permit application will be available soon. Patios will only be permitted upon the Province providing approval for Mississauga to enter into Stage 2 recovery meeting all COVID-19 guidelines from Region of Peel Public Health. Fees with respect to temporary patios will be waived during this time.

The final step will be to hold a Planning and Development Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 9 a.m. prior to the Council meeting. The meeting will focus on the temporary zoning by-law to permit outdoor patios accessory to all types of restaurants on adjacent private and public lands and ensure the City meets its statutory notification requirements under the Planning Act regarding the zoning changes.

Fireworks Restrictions Lifted
Council approved ending prohibition of the sale and use of fireworks that came in effect on April 24, 2020. In order to sell fireworks, stores require a vendor licence which requires a fire safety inspection. In Mississauga, fireworks may be set off only on the following holidays:

• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Chinese New Year
• Diwali

To set off fireworks on private property on any day other than these holidays, please apply for a fireworks permit.

Celebration Square Update
The start date for the Lions Farmers Market is Wednesday, July 8, 2020 and will continue weekly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Wednesday, until October 21, 2020.

The Lions Farmers Market will be barricaded off, with attendants controlling the flow of customers into the Market. Within the Market, vendors will be separated from each other by at least 12 feet/ 3.66 metres and 6 feet/2 metres. Markings on the ground will help customers maintain the proper physical distance when in line. Vendors at the Market will accept both cash and contactless payment. Visitors to the Market are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask.

The start date for Food Trucks will be Friday, July 3, 2020. The trucks will be in place seven days a week with hours between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Food Trucks will be required to be spaced out between one another by at least 12 feet/3.66 metres. To allow for contactless ordering and payment, customers will be required to use the Ritual App.

Mississauga Celebration Square has removed tables, chairs and picnic tables but will create 48 physical distancing circles painted on the artificial lawn. The circles will be 10 feet/3.05 metres in diameter and will be spaced 12 feet/3.66 metres apart. Hand sanitizer will be available at all vendors as well as entry and exit points into the Market. Public washrooms and parking elevators will be cleaned prior to opening, and twice during operating hours.

Summer Camps Update
To support families with working parents, summer camps will be offered starting July 6 and will run for 9 weeks from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The Summer Fun Camp will run for children ages four and half to 10 years at all 11 community centres as well as Meadowvale Village Hall and Port Credit Arena. Spaces are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Registration starts on June 22 at 8:30 a.m. Residents can register online at activemississauga.ca.  If camps are full, residents are encouraged to select the waitlist option. Customer Service support is available at 905-615-4100 (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Safety is a Priority

The City is following the guidelines laid out by the Ministry of Health’s Summer Day Camp Guidelines which include physical distancing, small group sizes only, screening protocols and staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when physical distancing of 2 metres/6 feet cannot be maintained.

Each camp will see:

• 9 children and 1 facilitator for each group
• groups will not mix or co-mingle with other groups
• children must bring their lunch
• no swimming, pizza day or field trips

To stay informed on COVID-19 impacts on City services, please visit: mississauga.ca/coronavirus or call 311.

 June 12, 2020

BRAMPTON, ON (June 11) – Peel’s Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) continue to assess and respond to the waste needs of our community during the challenges of Covid-19. Effective today, CRCs will allow visitors to drop off up to 100 kg of excess waste, once per day, with no fees; however, standard fees will apply to anything over the 100 kg limit. Payment can only be made using debit or credit. Cash will not be accepted.

No fees will apply to loads of only scrap metal and blue box recyclables.

For the safety of the community and employees, CRCs have implemented measures of physical distancing and have limited the number of vehicles allowed into the CRCs at any one time. As such, residents should be aware that there may be delays.

Residents are reminded to dispose of only what they need to during this emergency. If working on any home renovation projects, please note that ceramic, porcelain and other renovation material are not recyclable and should be brought to a CRC for disposal. In addition, batteries are considered household hazardous waste and should also be taken to a CRC for safe disposal. Do not place batteries in the garbage or recycling bin.

At this time, our reuse drop-off locations are closed.  Any reusable goods brought to the CRC will be put into garbage and sent to landfill.  CRCs are not accepting tires, electronic waste, large appliances or bulky items until further notice.

In order to manage the waste needs of Peel residents and continue providing reasonable waste disposal options, extended summer hours from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm have started at the following CRCs:

• Fewster and Heart Lake CRCs – Thursdays only
• Battleford and Brampton CRCs – Mondays only

 

Residents are also encouraged to visit peelregion.ca/waste/community-recycling-centres for all affected changes, operating hours and applicable standard fee amount.

For the latest updates on all services and facilities temporarily affected in Peel, please visit peelregion.ca/coronavirus/affected-services

June 12, 2020

Mississauga Library will offer returns at all locations except Mississauga Valley Library starting on June 17 and curbside pickup for holds as of June 23 at select locations across the city. This is part of the library’s phased approach to resuming services following the Government of Ontario’s announcement on May 14 allowing public libraries to offer curbside pickup.

“As we continue to take a measured approach to reopen City facilities, we are proceeding with returns and curbside pickup services for our library customers,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Based on the best advice of Peel Region’s Medical Officer of Health, we are moving ahead to provide these services in a way that protects the health and safety of residents and our employees. We are slowly returning to business as usual to provide residents with the services they need.” 

Starting June 23, curbside pickup will be available at the Burnhamthorpe, Central, Lorne Park, Malton and Meadowvale libraries. Additional locations will be phased in when it is considered safe to do so.

Curbside pickup will be scheduled by appointment in keeping with physical distancing protocols.

Visit mississaugalibrary.ca for more details, the hours of curbside pickup service and for information on how to book your appointment.

Drop-off boxes at all locations except Mississauga Valley Library will open to accept returns starting June 17.

“Customers will be able to pick up their holds at the curb at selected libraries and drop off returns at all locations, with the exception of Mississauga Valley Library,” said Jennifer Stirling, Acting Director, Mississauga Library. “We are taking all the necessary steps to protect public health and safety. These include implementing stricter cleaning and sanitization procedures and observing physical distancing protocols. We also continue to encourage customers to explore our extensive range of virtual resources as we prepare to resume additional services in the future.”

Library due dates and fines continue to be suspended until further notice.

Customers can continue to use their library card or virtual card to explore our vast collection of ebooks, audiobooks and other online virtual resources.

For more information, visit mississaugalibrary.ca and follow Mississauga Library on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

 

June 10, 2020

Effective July 2, wearing a non-medical mask or face covering will be mandatory when travelling on MiWay, at stops and at transit terminals to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. Children under the age of two, people with disabilities or other medical conditions that prevent them from wearing any mask will not be required to wear one. Fare collection and front door boarding for all customers will also resume on July 2.

“To help keep our riders and drivers safe and following the strong recommendation of Peel Public Health and the Governments of Ontario and Canada, we will be mandating transit riders to wear masks while riding MiWay,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Additional safety measures, including the installation of plexiglass barriers, will enable us to resume fare collection and front door boarding next month. These measures will help our City recover much-needed revenue as a result of this crisis while ensuring the safety of riders. We are taking a thoughtful and phased approach to recovery that prioritizes health and safety, and reduces the risk of a second wave.”

In addition, MiWay will reopen the City Centre Transit Terminal (CCTT) fares booth on June 24 to provide customers with the opportunity to purchase PRESTO fares in advance of the resumption of fare collection. The booth will be open Monday to Friday from 11:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice with appropriate physical distancing measures in place. PRESTO customers are strongly encouraged to load their cards online to avoid congestion at the terminal.

With the introduction of mandatory use of non-medical masks or face coverings by passengers and employees, all MiWay buses will operate at 50 per cent seated capacity to continue to allow for physical distancing.

“The health and safety of our customers and transit operators is our top priority at MiWay,” said Geoff Marinoff, Director, Transit. “We have put several measures in place to ensure a safer commute when travelling on MiWay and we remain committed to providing city-wide transit service during this time. We support the physical distancing efforts recommended by Peel Public Health, and the provincial and federal governments but acknowledge this is not always possible on public transit. We are all in this together and by limiting transit use to essential travel only and wearing your face covering will help us all flatten the curve.”

For more information, visit miway.ca/coronavirus.