Council Highlights Monday February 13, 2017
2017 Budget
Internet voting and Ranked ballots
Vacant Unit Property Tax Rebate Program
March Music and Magic
All-inclusive Fitness Centre Membership
Wedding services
Town of Newmarket's Summer Camps
Preventing and Managing Conflicts with Coyotes
Thin Ice Warning
snow-clearing procedures

(I AM SHARING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE FROM THE FEBRUARY 15TH 2017 EDITION OF 'NEWMARKET NOW!' SEND YOUR FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EDITIONS BY SENDING COMMENTS TO COMMUNICATIONS@NEWMARKET.CA)

Here’s what happened at the Council Meeting on February 13, 2017 at 7 p.m.:

2017 Budget

Town of Newmarket Council approved a 0.39 per cent tax increase (Town portion) for the 2017 Operating and Capital Budgets at tonight’s Council Meeting. The average resident (based on an average assessment value of $450,702) will see an increase of $6.71 on the Town portion of their tax bill. The Town’s portion of taxes equates to $1726.17, including the Town of Newmarket, Newmarket Public Library (NPL) and Central York Fire Services (CYFS).

This year, the introduction of a new stormwater charge helped to decrease property taxes. By removing the stormwater charges from the tax bill and implementing a separate charge, it saves the average resident approximately $12.07. The stormwater charge lessens the burden on residential property owners by shifting to a ‘user pay’ system where properties that produce more runoff (i.e. commercial and industrial properties) will pay a larger stormwater charge.

The total approved 2017 Operating Budget is $121,554,919 and the Capital Budget is $32,500,242. Additional budget-related information will be included online at newmarket.ca/2017budget.

Internet voting and Ranked ballots

Staff recommended that Council go with a hybrid approach for the 2018 Municipal Election- remote internet voting in addition to the traditional paper ballot voting method. Newmarket Council requested that staff report back in 2019 regarding the use of ranked ballots for the 2022 Municipal Election and to provide further information related to internet voting. Council also asked that staff provide more information regarding a voting model to allow Newmarket residents to vote online, as was done in the City of Ajax in the 2014 Municipal Election. Staff will be reporting back to Council on this method in the near future.

Vacant Unit Property Tax Rebate Program

Newmarket Council has passed a motion providing staff with endorsement in principle to eliminate the current Vacant Unit Property Tax Rebate Program. The current program provides annual property tax rebates to vacant commercial and industrial properties. Staff will report back to Council on the final recommendations that will be made to Regional Council and if approved, sent to the Province for regulatory authority.

Minutes for the Town of Newmarket Council Meetings, outlining Council decisions, is available under Agendas, Minutes and Meetings on the Town of Newmarket website. For more information or to view the reports, visit newmarket.ca

March Music and Magic

March 14: Come enjoy fun for the whole family at March Music and Magic at the Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive) from 9 a.m. to noon. Have a blast with interactive indoor music and magic shows, crafts, games, jumping castle, train rides, face painting and more. Cost is $5 per child. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit newtix.ca

All-inclusive Fitness Centre Membership

Access to fitness centre equipment, public swimming, skating, drop-in programs and more for a low price of $55 per household, $30 for adults and $20 for students per month!

Come out for a tour of our new re-purposed 3000 square-foot fitness centre facility at the Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive) and purchase your Fitness Centre Membership today! Newmarket's goal is to provide a holistic approach to health and well-being while welcoming all members of the community regardless of their age, ability and financial circumstances.

A Fitness Centre Membership will get you and your family access to:

Fitness Centre equipment (cardio, strength training, weights etc.);

Group Fitness Classes;

Aqua Fitness Classes;

Tim Hortons Walking and Running Track;

Public Skating (at Magna Centre and Ray Twinney Recreation Complex);

Public Swimming (at Magna Centre, Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and Gorman Pool [summer only]);

Lane Swimming (at Magna Centre and Ray Twinney Recreation Complex);

Facility Change Rooms;

Sauna and Swirl Pool (at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex) and;

a Fitness Centre Orientation and Equipment Demonstration class.

For more information, or to purchase your membership today, visit newmarket.ca/fitness.

Whether you're having an intimate gathering, a large scale event or are travelling for a destination ceremony, planning a wedding can be an exciting (but sometimes overwhelming) process.

The Town of Newmarket is pleased to offer full wedding services for every step of your journey - from getting the marriage licence to saying "I do" - to make your big day a stress-free and special moment to remember. We offer wedding ceremonies at our Municipal Office and off-site at any location in York Region and beyond.

Our wedding services are ideal for couples who are planning a destination wedding but want to make it legal before or after, couples looking for a more intimate ceremony and couples who want a non-religious civil ceremony.

Your planning starts with us. Visit newmarket.ca/weddings, email weddings@newmarket.ca or call 905-895-5193 to learn more.

The Town of Newmarket's Summer Camps create memories and relationships that last a lifetime. This summer camp guide allows you to navigate through the different camps available. Adventures big and/or small are waiting for you at one of our great camps.Be sure to use #NewmarketSummerCamps and share your favourite photos and memories with us. Follow us @TownofNewmarket on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Visit newmarket.ca/camps or one of the Customer Service Kiosks (Magna Centre, Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, Municipal Offices or Recreation Youth Centre & Sk8 Park) to register for camp today. Registration begins February 22 at 6:30 a.m. for residents and March 1 at 8:30 a.m. for non-residents.

Preventing and Managing Conflicts with Coyotes

Please follow these simple steps to reduce human conflict with coyotes and other wildlife this winter:

Store all garbage in tightly sealed containers

Use motion sensitive lights in your yard or gardens

Never leave children unattended and educate them not to approach or harass any wild animalsor unfamiliar domestic pets

Never let your pets run at large - always keep your pet on a leash when walking and confined to a fenced yard on your property

If you encounter a coyote, remember to stay calm and wait until they have moved on.

To learn more about managing conflicts with coyotes and other wildlife, please visit newmarket.ca/wildlife or call the Ministry of Natural Resources at 905-713-7400. If the coyote poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, call 9-1-1.

Thin Ice Warning

Residents are reminded to take caution around local bodies of water such as Fairy Lake, the Holland River and storm water ponds. Please use extreme caution, and advise your children that the ice may be unsafe for skating or playing.

Snow Facts: When will my street be plowed

Did you know the Town is divided into 11 snow clearing routes and are categorized as 'priority' (roads with higher traffic) and 'other' (residential/secondary streets). 'Priority' streets are cleared first and 'others' are cleared afterwards. Lengthy snowfalls may require re-plowing of priority streets to ensure safety for our community before crews can get to other streets. Therefore, residential streets may take our snow crews longer to get to.

For more information on our snow-clearing procedures, visit newmarket.ca/snowfaq

February 2017 Newmarket News & Council Highlights