Newmarket Council Meeting on August 31, 2020
Council advanced its strategic priority to increase parking in the Downtown area by endorsing short-term and long-term solutions
Newmarket Council was provided with an update to the Joint Business Improvement Area (BIA) / Town of Newmarket Task Force on opportunities for short-term and long-term solutions to provide increased parking options in the Downtown area. This task force met several times, held feedback sessions, and participated in walkabouts in the area to identify potential solutions.
At the meeting, Newmarket Council endorsed new measures that will be investigated further to see if they are viable in the Downtown area. These include, but are not limited to:
Leaving the 30- minute maximum parking regulation on the north and south side of Main Street in place. This regulation will be revisited with feedback from the BIA in the first quarter of 2021.
Amending the by-law to allow for parking on D'Arcy and Church Street. Doing so will allow an additional 14 parking spaces on the north side of the street.
Potentially adding four new parking spaces along Main Street north after further analysis can be done.
Having discussions with St. Paul's Church to allow use of their parking lot when not in use by the Church.
Learn more about the other options discussed at the Council meeting by viewing the full report and the proposed regulations.
Council continues to pursue a GO Train Station on Mulock Drive
An update to the Mulock Station Area Secondary Plan was provided to Newmarket Council. A draft of the Mulock Station Area Secondary Plan has been completed. The next step is to provide this draft plan as background information to York Region for input to their new Regional Official Plan that is being prepared. The submission of this draft to the Region is not the final submission for approval as that will occur at a later date. Elements such as land uses, street network, densities and phasing are still draft and will be brought to the public in future engagement sessions. In addition, Council members and the public will be able to provide their comments at a future statutory public meeting.
The purpose of the draft Mulock Station Area Secondary Plan is to guide development surrounding the future Mulock GO Station. If approved, the area will allow for a range of land uses and densities and a future road network to assist with transit-oriented development in the area.
For more information or to provide your feedback on the project, please visit newmarket.ca/mulockgostationarea
Financial Update during the COVID-19 pandemic
Newmarket Council was provided with an update to the Town's current financial situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Town will receive approximately $1.8 million through the joint Provincial-Federal Safe Restart Agreement. However, the Town may have a tax-supported deficit due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for a second wave.
The rate-supported budgets have not been significantly impacted and are on target at this time.
There will be a second phase of financial assistance provided by the Provincial and Federal Governments. If the Town decides to apply for additional funding assistance and the application is successful, payments will be received in early 2021.
The Town will continue to monitor its financial status with focus on COVID-19 related costs. An update will be provided to Council at the next Committee of Whole on October 5.
To learn more about the Town's current financial status, please view the full staff report.
Council endorses the definition on Antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
Newmarket Council adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism:
"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities"
This endorsement is part of the Town's commitment towards its strategic priority of diversity and inclusivity and a key component of the Town's role in the York Region Inclusion Charter. Newmarket believes that we all have a shared responsibility to stop antisemitism in all of its forms through education and public consciousness.
For more information on what happens at the August 31, 2020, Council Meeting, please view the archived video or view the agenda.