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City Council Columns - December 2024
Happy Holidays Ward 1! By the time you read this, Kitchener will have approved our 2025 Budget with an increase of 3.9%. Kitchener’s increases over the past decade are well under the 10-year average of Ontario inflation. So, why then, does your tax bill seem so much higher every year? It’s a question I’ve been asked a LOT, and it’s a sore point for myself and fellow members of council.
The explanation is that Kitchener only accounts for 30% of your total property tax bill. The Region of Waterloo, a different level of government with different responsibilities (and different council), are responsible for 58% (the remaining 12% goes to Education.) While the Education portion has been frozen, the Region’s yet-to-be-approved tax increase will be 8-12% this year. Assuming the midpoint of that figure, we can do the math of exactly how much your taxes will have gone up so far in this Municipal term (i.e. 2023-2025 budgets).
Combining Kitchener’s three budget increases and adjusting for our 30% portion of your tax bill, we’re responsible for a TOTAL property tax increase of 3.98% over three years. Combining the Region’s three years of increases and adjusting to their 58% portion of your bill shows they have raised your TOTAL property tax bill by 15.96% over those same three years. So you’re right, your property taxes have gone up nearly 20% since 2022 but it’s important to note only 3.98% of that increase is the result of actions by the City of Kitchener. I know it’s confusing but hope this helps clarify!
Our 2025 Budget will be adopted on December 27. Mayor Vrbanovic, council and staff worked together on a budget that advances the priorities of the 2023-26 Strategic Plan, delivers strong city services and invests in infrastructure. In Ward 2 we’ll see improvements to the Centreville Chicopee Community Centre. Citywide we invested in the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Centre, a new Downtown Firehall and more. I have budget highlights on my website, daveschnider.com
Winter program registration at the Stanley Park and Centreville Chicopee Community Centres opened December 10. Our Community Associations have put together a great variety of programs for all ages. To register, visit kitchener.ca/activenet.
During the holidays and throughout winter season, Josslin Insurance sponsors free skating at Kitchener arenas. To find out when and where, visit kitchener.ca/skating. City Hall’s rink is open daily from 9am to 11pm. You can borrow skates at the Kitchener Public Library Central Branch.
There are always cool events happening in Ward 2 and our city. I keep an active list of them on my website. If you’re looking for something to do, visit daveschnider.com and click on Events and Festivals.
For Christmas Eve services in Ward 2, visit my website daveschnider.com. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2025!
For assistance, contact me directly or use our 24-hour contact centre, 519-741-2345 or info@kitchener.ca. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @DaveSchniderKW or “friend” me on Facebook. Visit my website daveschnider.com for lots of Ward 2 and city info.
I hope some of you were able to get out and enjoy the Doon Pioneer Park Community Association’s (DPPCA) Christmas Party last weekend. As usual, it was a great event! I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the DPPCA and the community centre staff for all their hard work in organizing and inviting the Doon South Toy Drive to take place at the Centre.
Celebrate the new year with the mayor and city council on Sunday, January 5, 1:30-4:00 PM at our free carnival-themed celebration under the big top of City Hall. There will be live entertainment, magic, face painting, balloon twisters, light refreshments, games, prizes and more! Bring your skates and enjoy the outdoor rink too.
As we head into winter, I’d like to direct you to kitchener.ca/snow for information on everything related to snow clearing and on street parking during the winter.
For example, from December 1 to March 31, no overnight parking is allowed on city streets. And, when there’s a snowfall of 8cm or more forecasted, we will declare a snow event. This means for the period of the snow event, you will not be able to park on city streets. Subscribe to receive notifications at kitchener.ca/snow.
On this same page, you’ll also find two interactive maps this winter. The city’s “snow plow priorities map” will show you the order in which roads are cleared, and the “getting around map” is activated during snow events to show which roads have already been cleared, to help you plan your trip.
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season. Contact me with your questions and concerns at Christine.michaud@kitchener.ca.
Hello Ward 5! Happy Holidays! It’s a great time to enjoy all that the season – and the City of Kitchener – has to offer! The weather has turned cold quickly, which means that the ice skating rinks are now open. Along with the one on Carl Zehr Square, there are 27 rinks the City maintains. The outdoor rinks are completely dependent on weather and volunteer support. Without generous help from our community volunteers, our rinks wouldn’t be possible. We are currently recruiting winter rink volunteers (ages 18+) to help prepare, flood, and maintain our outdoor rinks from December through March. If you are interested, apply online at kitchener.ca/skating.
Ring in the new year with your family and friends at Kitchener’s New Year’s Night of Legends! Our New Year’s Eve celebration has something for everyone! The evening kicks off with a pre-New Year’s show featuring tributes to Pink, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, and Blondie, leading up to an early family countdown for a festive start.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! Get set to ring in 2025 with Canada’s top Abba tribute band, AbbaMania! As we head toward midnight, join us for a “Dancing Queen” moment and say “Thank You for the Music” as we welcome a brand-new year with legendary style.
Then on January 5, celebrate the new year with the mayor, city council members and your neighbours at our free carnival-themed celebration under the big top of City Hall!
Plan for an afternoon full of family-friendly fun with this year’s New Year’s Levee activities: games, prizes, live music, magic, facepainting, balloon twisting and more!
Dear Ward 6 Neighbours,
I’m proud of the work that has gone into Kitchener’s 2025 draft budget, which reflects our shared priority to support a growing, vibrant community, while keeping life affordable.
This year’s proposed tax increase is 3.9%. While any increase is significant, Kitchener’s 10-year average increase of 2.47% remains below Ontario’s inflation rate of 2.64%, confirming our commitment to delivering value and maintaining affordability for residents.
The budget supports vital services and key investments in and close to our Ward 6 community. I’m particularly excited about the new and improved splash pad at Chandler-Mowat Community Center and upgrades to McLennan Park - spaces where families can gather and connect. We’re also building for the future with new facilities like the Schlegel Park Recreation Complex, a library, and a community centre in southwest Kitchener.
Sustainability and affordability remain top priorities. The budget will also fund the expansion of our tree canopy, allow for energy-efficient upgrades in city owned facilities, and support affordable housing initiatives. These projects reflect our vision of a greener, more inclusive city.
Kitchener continues to grow thoughtfully, and I’m confident this budget strikes the right balance between meeting immediate needs and investing in the long-term well-being of our community. Thank you for your trust and engagement as we work to build a better city for everyone.
Wishing you a happy holiday and prosperous and healthy New Year.
Hi Ward 7! I heard a lot of residents inquiring about the Westheights Park Natural Area restoration, so I wanted to give you an update. The City of Kitchener is developing a plan for the ecological management and restoration of the park, but also wants to listen to the residents who will be using it, so there has been significant community input recently. Based on these community workshops, the project has identified these key priorities:
Plant management priorities include removing invasive species like Phragmites, enhancing bio-diversity through native plantings, and restoring woodland areas. Wildlife management strategies focus on creating turtle nesting habitats, installing wood duck nest boxes, and protecting areas critical for species like Chimney Crayfish. Pollinator-friendly planting zones are also proposed.
Public input has emphasized the importance of maintaining the pond’s natural state, enhancing accessibility, and fostering educational opportunities. Suggestions include installing interpretive signage, organizing seasonal clean-ups, and involving residents in ecological initiatives.
Concerns about potential pond dredging highlight its ecological, financial, and regulatory chal-lenges. Instead, monitoring water quality and invasive species is recommended as a proactive approach to preserve pond health.
The City encourages community participation through cleanup efforts and responsible waste disposal to protect this cherished natural area. Public feedback continues to shape this evolving plan to ensure sustainable management and community connection to the park.
Hello Ward 8! Winter has arrived! The downtown, City Hall and Victoria Park look absolutely beautiful! It’s always a terrific time to visit our downtown, but this time of year is magical. The Tree is up and decorated in Carl Zehr Square, and the rink just opened this week! It’s lovely to watch the skaters, from kids learning to skate, to people who look like they may have been Olympians doing lovely routines. Come and enjoy our downtown, do some shopping and grab a beverage at one of our local shops.
For those that are looking to do some special shopping this month, I would encourage you to Shop Local. We have amazing local businesses who would love to have you check them out and spend your money supporting your neighbours. Belmont Village is right in our Ward and I know the shops and retailers there would love your support! Small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy.
With winter comes overnight parking restrictions to be aware of. If you want to park in a legal parking spot overnight between December 1 and March 31, you need an overnight parking exemption. Here is the link to get an overnight parking exemption: kitchener.ca/parking/overnight-parking-exemption.
The City of Kitchener clears snow and ice from roads and sidewalks, but you are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks around your property.
Property owners must clear the sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall. If you need help with snow removal, you can contact The Working Centre or Community Support Connections, and they will match you with a dependable worker.
Thanks Ward 8 and Happy Holidays!
In March of 2024, Council passed an Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Bylaw to take affect in January 2025. A staff report to the Planning Committee on December 2 recommended postponing the start date to January 2026.
IZ is one of the few tools available to lower-tiered governments to address the affordable housing crisis. It requires a percentage of floor space ranging from 1-5% in all new developments to be affordable. In fact, staff predict that under IZ, at most, 10 affordable units across all developments might be built in a year. But 10 affordable units is better than zero! What do developers get out of helping solve the affordable housing crisis when, after all, they are in the business to make money?
The city has done several things to subsidize the building of affordable units. It waives development charges on affordable units, it waives parkland dedication fees, parking requirements have been reduced to zero (this is one of the most expensive parts of all new buildings) and it has up-zoned all areas around the Major Transit Station Areas where IZ can be applied. The Provincial and Federal governments have provided additional development discounts for purpose-built rentals.
This postponement came days after the point-in-time count of homeless people in the Region was released. There are over 2,370 homeless people, with over 9,000 households on the affordable housing waiting list. This was written prior to it coming to Council, but I wanted to thank all those who provided written submissions or delegated at the meeting. Your contributions are very important.
Happy Holidays Ward 10 neighbours! It’s the season for skiing, skating, sledding, all sorts of winter fun! But with snow, it’s also time to think about snow removal and winter readiness. Property owners must clear the sidewalks around their property of both snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. These sidewalks must be maintained to bare pavement on an ongoing basis. This includes clearing snow and ice on the sidewalk that prevents safe pedestrian access to the road, often found at corner lots. If you need help with snow shoveling, there are two agencies that offer paid snow removal to seniors or anyone who cannot clear their sidewalks:
• Community Support Connec-tions, 519-772-8787
• The Working Centre, 519-743-1151
You can also contact your local high school to see if there are students who need volunteer hours and can help you through the winter.
Also, winter overnight parking changes come into effect. You cannot park overnight on city streets between December 1 and March 31, even when there is no snow. When there is snowfall of 8 cm or more happening or in the forecast in the weather forecast, we will declare a snow event. When we declare a snow event, you cannot park on city streets at all.
The City will clear snow and ice from roads and sidewalks around city-owned facilities, walkways and parks. It takes between 16 and 24 hours to plow all routes after the snow has stopped falling. We assign each snow plow a specific route of the city and priority for plowing. You can check where your street is on the priority list on kitchener.ca/snow.
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic's column will return in December.
It’s hard to believe that the new year is almost upon us, and Council has just passed the halfway mark through our 4-year term. These first 2 years have been exciting, sometimes frustrating but more importantly educational. I look forward to the next 2 years and hopefully beyond to continue to bring Ward 3 concerns to City Hall and make this City the best place to live, work and play.
Christkindl recently wrapped up and what a great turnout and great time had by all who attended. It truly is one of my family’s favourite events that the City puts on. We cannot wait to see what next year brings.
A few exciting events that are happening in the next few weeks are New Year’s Eve December 31st and the New Year’s Levee Sunday, January 5 1:30-4pm
Get ready to dance the night away at Night of Legends, our New Year’s Eve celebration that has something for everyone! The evening kicks off with a pre-New Year’s show featuring tributes to Pink, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, and Blondie, leading up to an early family countdown for a festive start. The excitement doesn’t stop there! Get set to ring in 2025 with Canada’s top Abba tribute band, AbbaMania! As we head toward midnight, join us for a “Dancing Queen” moment and say “Thank You for the Music” as we welcome a brand new year with legendary style.
The New Years levee is free and open to all. Food, prizes and entertainment make this a great event to share with your family and friends.
Just a friendly reminder that December 1-March 31-no overnight parking on City streets. For more information, please head to kitchener.ca/snow
Lastly, I just want to remind everyone that I have a quarterly meet and greet to hear your concerns, questions and suggestions.
As always, please reach out if you have any concerns or comments in between meetings.