Pelham Portion of Residential Property Tax Increasing 3.5%

If you pay your property taxes by installments, you will know that your first installment of your 2018 property tax bill comes due on Wednesday. With this deadline, I thought I would provide an update about Council’s recent budget approval.

Council recently approved the Town’s 2018 Capital and Operating Budgets. The new budget translates into an increase of approximately 3.5% (or about $55) on the Pelham portion of your property tax bill for the average residential property (assessed at $328,138).

Since Pelham’s portion of your property taxes represents roughly 38% of your overall residential tax, we approximate that the Town will receive $1,610 of the $4,200 for the average residential property tax bill; the Niagara Region will receive 48% of the total amount (approximately $2,015) and the Province (to fund education) the remaining 14% (approximately $575).

We expect the blended property tax increase to range from 2.0% to 2.3% -- depending on Regional tax policy considerations later this spring. With this type of blended increase, it will mean that Pelham’s blended tax increases continue to keep pace with inflation over the last 12 years. And, the Town continues to compare very favorably to other Niagara Cities and Towns by increasing less than the average of others.

In preparing the budgets, Council directed Staff to review all expenditures against customer service needs and the Town’s strategic plan.

Obviously the big project for this year will be completing and opening the new Pelham Community Centre. We received a great update from the Oversight Committee on February 5 – that the new Centre is on-time and on-budget. On-time means “substantially complete” in June; on-budget means within the $36.2 million budget after 97% of the project has been tendered.

It made sense, therefore, that Council spent a lot of time discussing the plans for staffing, running, and opening the new Centre. During our deliberations, Staff outlined the flexible staffing model – having a number of part-time employees available to meet the community’s demand as required – for the successful operation of the Centre. This approach will not only allow for a “scalable response” to meet the community’s demand, it will also allow the Town to gauge and re-evaluate the staffing requirements after the Centre’s first six months of operation.

Other Council discussions included maintaining the excellent level of service for sidewalk snow clearing, working to improve Pelham Transit by trying to link to West Lincoln and Wainfleet and attain additional Provincial funding, and slightly increasing the grant to the Pelham Public Library. Council also ensured that we set aside funds to fight the expected Gypsy Moth infestation. And, just like small business, the Town was impacted by the increase in the minimum wage; we expect to pay $21,850 more in 2018 for these wage costs.

The capital budget will continue to improve and fund infrastructure and other important capital items in 2018.

For instance, not only are we continuing to replace fire fighter bunker gear, we are also funding new radio equipment to help expedite the transition to a new and improved regional communications system. We also look forward to partnering with the Fabulous Fenwick Lions to help fund their new concession canopy. We funded the repairing of some of playground turf and equipment. And, after designating the former Quaker Meeting House / Model Railroad building in Fenwick as an historic structure, we also earmarked some funds to help repair the heritage windows.

We also included funds to design and build two new parks in the Lookout / Haist Street North area. We look forward to working together with local residents on the design of these new neighbourhood parks this year.

The roads budget includes a number of important initiatives like road rehabilitation of Pancake from Effingham to Blackwood, and of Welland Road from Pelham Street to Milburn; maintaining a strong road-side ditching program; repairing / maintaining some storm-ponds (like on Station Street and for the Timber Creek neighbourhood); and funding the study and design of a solution for the erosion on Sulphur Springs Drive.

On the water and wastewater side, we approved funding for upgrading the existing sewer capacity along Foss Road (near Church Street), extending water and sewers to Rice Road (north of Regional Road 20), and planning for a water backflow prevention program.

Finally, other increases include utility costs, staffing and benefit costs, and contracted services so we can maintain expected service levels.

As a result of these and other initiatives, Council approved a net budget increase of $412,737 on a $12,530,619 net budget.

I plan to write more about your total property tax impact and compare with previous years after Regional Council approves the 2018 rates and ratios later this spring.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca or read past columns and link to documents at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.

Next Steps Toward Arena Property Renewal

Last week Council approved taking the next steps toward the plans to redevelop the existing Arena property on Haist Street.

You will recall that the Town’s 2017 budget included funds to hire a planning and design firm to work together with the community to discuss and design redevelopment options of the existing Arena property on Haist Street.

Since 2017-18 will be the last ice season in the existing arena, Council prudently began planning for the future of the property. This included not only this work, but also funding a renovation of the Town’s Tice Road Operations Centre to accommodate parks and cemeteries staff (who currently work from the Haist property).

The Planning Partnership won the bid for the redesign work and started with two “community co-design” sessions at the Arena this past June. Representatives from user groups, neighbours, and interested residents worked in three design groups to develop 12 concept plans. Based on the discussions and work, each plan looked at ways to keep as much greenspace as possible, provide trail connections, minimize impacts on existing residential uses, and improve existing parkland features.

The firm then reviewed the concepts and gleaned them into five “explorations”: single detached houses; central park; rear-laneway townhouses and singles; front driveway townhouses; and apartments. Each of these options were posted online for public feedback. 120 survey respondents preferred some features in the explorations over others – including no change in the park and to only consider residential development in the area around the existing Town buildings and parking lot.

The Planning Partnership tested an “emerging preferred concept” at a community workshop in September. While suggesting some improvements – like ensuring that any new lighting doesn’t shine on existing properties – the majority of participants liked the plan. Why? The plan suggested no change in the location of the open spaces (soccer fields), the playground, or the platform tennis. The plan also maintained the wooded area along the western edge of the property and constructs a walking trail. Further, the concept blended townhouses and single-family homes – similar to housing in the surrounding neighbourhood.

During this process, a few folks strongly expressed a desire “that nothing be done with respect to this property until after the new east Fonthill community center be opened and that it's 1st year of operation is proven.” Realistically, the status quo option is neither judicious nor responsible. Obviously, there’s no going back from building and operating the new Community Centre. And, since we know that no one will be using the Town buildings (aside from paddle tennis) after August 2018, it’s Council’s responsibility to plan and prepare for the future.

So, this “emerging preferred concept” was presented to and discussed by Council on October 10, 2017. The concept responds to community desires by maintaining green areas and park amenities, creating a connected trail system, and calls for similar type of housing. The concepts also provides two points of entrance, increases safety through “eyes on the park” from the housing, and offers lane-based and attractive townhouses.

So, last Monday, Staff officially presented a report with the recommendation to have Staff develop design guidelines, and official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment. Why? Beause by codifying it in this way we can help make the community’s preferred concept a reality.

For a copy of the preferred concept and the presentation to Council, please go to my online journal at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca or the Town’s website www.pelham.ca.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca to suggest future column or read past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.

Pre-Budget Consultation with Province

It was cool for Fonzie to live above the Cunningham's garage!

Last Monday, I had the honour of welcoming Yvan Baker, MPP (Etobicoke Centre), and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance as I presented first at the Province’s “Pre-Budget Consultation” in the Niagara Peninsula. Mr. Baker was joined by Jim Bradley, MPP (St. Catharines) in this public engagement.

Partner on Downtown CIPs:
I started by thanking the Government for their recent announcement of a $40 million over three years in Main Street Enhancement Funding, to help strengthen small businesses in downtown and enhance their digital presence. While Council has not yet seen detail on spending criteria for Pelham’s $50,000 share, we recognize the importance of Downtowns in our community. So, I also recommended that the Province partner with Cities and Towns in our “Community Improvement Plan” (CIP) incentives – to further enhance mixed-use buildings and businesses and help strengthen our sense of community. With more than one-third of Downtown Fonthill properties using our CIP incentives, you can really see the transformation and improvement!

Fund Recreation “Social Infrastructure”:
I also encouraged the Province to ask the Federal Government about their promise from a couple of years ago to partner with Provinces and Municipalities on “Social Infrastructure” – in particular for recreational and cultural facilities. I underscored that these facilities are the heart of communities and should be supported.

Transit Pilot:
I thanked the Government for funding Pelham in 2016 with the maximum grant to establish a Transit Pilot. You will recall that we established the system, tendered it to the private sector to operate, and increased our ridership. Pelham also partnered with Brock and Niagara College students. And, as a result of the Province continuing the grant another year, the ridership continues to increase. Staff are now reaching out to Wainfleet and West Lincoln to provide service. Since we are to apply again for a grant, I asked the Government to maintain funding for community transit pilot and operating expansions.

Accelerating GO Rail:
I also encouraged the Province to accelerate their timetable for the expansion of GO Rail into the Niagara Peninsula. You will recall that the Province announced in 2016 their proposal for GO Rail expansion – to Grimsby in 2021 and to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines by 2023. I reminded the Province about Niagara winning the bid for Canada Summer Games in 2021. I suggested that the Province and Niagara work together with CN Rail and Metrolinx to advance the roll-out of GO Rail to Niagara in time for Canada Summer Games.

Housing that’s Affordable:
As many folks call for more housing that’s affordable, I suggested that the Province could help financially encourage “Fonzie” units. What’s a “Fonzie” unit? You will recall that Fonzie on Happy Days lived above the Cunningham’s garage because it was affordable for him; the rent also helped that family with their mortgage, thereby making their housing costs more affordable. I pointed out that since the Province encourages Cities to allow secondary units and accessory building units in Zoning Bylaws, there could be an opportunity to also encourage more housing that’s affordable. I suggested that the Province look at ways to incentivize conversions or new construction to these units – through rebates or partial funding. They could use a similar mechanism to other conversion programs – like the Green Ontario Fund rebates to reduce energy costs with home improvements.

Promote Storm Water Separation:
Finally, I suggested that the Province should help reduce the impacts of climate change by helping to stop diluted sewage overflows. You see, in many historic communities, aged sewer systems also collect rain water; storm water and sewer systems are not separated like in newer areas (like in Pelham). As it rains more often and with greater intensity because of climate change, rain storms flood waste water plants, and operators must dump diluted sewage into natural lakes and streams. Sadly, Niagara dumped more than 1.1 billion litres of diluted sewage in 2017 because of storm overflows. Therefore, instead of funding increased sewer plant capacity, I encouraged the Province to prioritize storm water separation in their “Clean Water & Waste Water Fund.”

I appreciate the opportunity to present workable solutions to some of the issues in Pelham and across the Niagara Peninsula to Mr. Baker and Mr. Bradley.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca or review documents and read past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.