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October 21, 2019

Thank you for your interest in this critical issue in Port Credit, in fact, Ward 1 and the City as a whole. Allow me to highlight some of the issues regarding the funding proposal for the Marina of Port Credit.

• Canada Lands has conveyed the current break wall, the water lot and the land at the north-east side of the Marina to the City, provided that the project be completed or well underway within 10 years.  Otherwise the property site would revert back to Canada Lands;

• The City is undergoing a significant transformation along the waterfront of Lake Ontario which is rich in its history, culture, and definitely of course tourism.  For the first time in over a generation, the waterfront will be accessible for all;

• The marina is a rare entity on Lake Ontario as it has a deep water port and also provides over direct 150 jobs in the marina industry alone;

• Port Credit is a dynamic and unique Village on the lake and the indirect economic benefits are measured not only by boaters, the boating industry as well, but by the thousands of tourists that visit every year to be by the water and enjoy all types of boats;

• The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) offers an opportunity for the City to receive 27 cents on the dollar to be able to submit a proposal to keep the Port in Port Credit – maintain a working marina, have boat slips, boat storages, and have 3.5 acres of new parkland for all to enjoy;

-It is critical that Mississauga continues to be home to a working marina.  This comes at a time when the waterfront is going through a dramatic transformation. The City as a whole, will benefit from being known, the City with the impressive and spectacular waterfront;

This issue is expected to be before the General Committee meeting which on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

I would like to personally invite you to come and if you would like to make a presentation before General Committee, please contact the General Committee Coordinator:  Stephanie Smith at Stephanie.smith@mississauga.ca or by phone at 905 866-3795.  If you are unable to attend, please send me your comments on this matter and I will bring them forward to your Mayor, Commissioner of Community Services and Members of Council.

• http://www.grants.gov.on.ca/GrantsPortal/en/OntarioGrants/GrantOpportunities/PRDR019953

Stephen

Our Vacuum Leaf Collection Program will begin in late October. As you are aware, it is difficult to predict when the leaves will fall. However, in response to resident feedback, we have scheduled the program to begin one week later this year. We hope that this will allow us to collect as many leaves as possible before we have to transition to winter operations.

Streets that qualify for the program will be visited according to the following schedule:

This year, 130 streets have been added to the program according to our criteria. This brings our total to 1,738 streets. Residents eligible for Vacuum Leaf Pickup will receive a postcard in the mail with their collection dates (see attached). These cards are delivered on a staggered schedule so that they arrive approximately two weeks prior to the zone’s first pickup.

Residents are instructed to rake leaves to the boulevard’s edge or into their ditch by the Sunday prior to their leaf collection dates. Leaves should not be raked onto the road as this can cause catchbasins to become blocked and impact road drainage when it rains.

Residents who miss their leaf pickup, or who have additional leaves to collect after the program has ended, can rake their leaves into open reusable containers (e.x. bushel baskets, labelled rigid plastic containers) or paper yard waste bags and place them curbside for pick up by the Region of Peel on the resident’s regular waste collection day until December 12, 2019. This option is also available to residents who do not qualify for the Vacuum Leaf Pickup Program.

September 17, 2019

Citing the City of Mississauga’s “solid budgetary performance,” Standard and Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) has reaffirmed the City’s ‘AAA – Stable’ credit rating for the 16^th straight year. The City’s outlook remains stable.

In this year’s report, S&P stated, “The City of Mississauga benefits from a solid budgetary performance with high operating balances, very low debt levels and extremely high liquidity.” The report goes on to state that “Mississauga’s competitive tax rates, proximity to major markets and extensive transportation infrastructure network have aided its economy and helped attract and retain investment.”

“I’m pleased that for the 16th year, Mississauga is being recognized as a municipal leader in fiscal management,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Council has made it a top priority to realize savings, attract new investment and hold the line on taxes. This positive financial outlook is proof that Mississauga is a great place to live, work and invest.”

S&P added that companies in the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, financial services and information and communication technology sectors have helped to boost Mississauga’s economy, and that the City has “very good budgeting practices” that include multi-year business plans updated annually, operating budgets and a three-year outlook.

“This metric is a strong, third-party endorsement for Council and staff who focus on maintaining the City’s strong financial position,” said Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. “We continually work to deliver quality services and infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner. S&P has recognized our strong business planning and budgeting practices and our commitment to transparency in reporting as they confirmed our ‘AAA –Stable’ status for the 16^th consecutive year.”

S&P stated, “We believe that continued growth and diversification will further strengthen the City’s economy and help it weather tough economic cycles.” The report also stated that an exceptional liquidity position added to the City’s strengths.

Mississauga’s Long-Range Financial Plan is a snapshot of the City’s current and anticipated financial position over the next 10 years. The plan supports the vision of the City’s Strategic Plan: Our Future Mississauga. The City’s Annual Report Highlights reflect its commitment to transparency in financial reporting.

For more information, visit standardandpoors.com.

To learn more about the City of Mississauga’s finances, visit mississauga.ca/financereports.

Mississauga residents are invited to participate in a telephone budget session on the proposed 2020 Budget with Mayor Bonnie Crombie and the City’s senior staff. Residents can choose from sessions taking place on October 2 (city-wide) and October 16 (Wards 1 and 2) and 17 (Wards 3 and 4). Staff from the Region of Peel will also participate in the city-wide session.

A random selection of residents will receive a telephone call in advance, with an invitation to participate in one of the upcoming sessions, and a second telephone call on the night of just before the session begins.

“Telephone budget sessions provide residents with the opportunity to ask a question and hear about the City’s proposed 2020 budget,” said Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. “Our priority is balancing increasing costs with continuing to provide residents and businesses with the levels of service they need.”

Residents can also register to participate in the telephone budget sessions. In addition, the city-wide session will be available to watch on Facebook Live and online. Anyone who receives a call and does not wish to participate can simply hang up.

Information about the City’s budget is available at mississauga.ca/budget. Other ways to participate in the budget process include:

• Email questions and comments to budget@mississauga.ca
• Contact the Mayor or your Councillor
• Attend Budget Committee meetings in person or watch them live online
• Receive updates on Twitter and Facebook