King Township Council Meeting - April 29, 2025
- JA
- Apr 30
- 7 min read
At Monday's meeting we heard from the York Region Food Council and were given an progress report on King's 2023-2026 Corporate Strategic Plan.
Quick Links
Mayor's Comments
The King Township Historical Society had a successful launch event for The History of King Township: A Community Shaped by Ann Love with Sharon Bentley. Copies are $40 and can be ordered online at kingtownshiphistoricalsociety.com and can be picked up at the King Heritage and Cultural Centre.
Thank you to Councillor Eek for coordinating King's Team in the 2025 Nature's Emporium Run for Southlake - more on this in New Business
Thank you to the Nobleton and King City Tim Hortons owners Rita and Len Mizzoni who have chosen Hope House Community Hospice to be the recipient of proceeds from the sales of Smile Cookies once again this year. From April 28 – May 4th 100% of proceeds from Tim Hortons Smile Cookies sold in the King Community will be donated to Hope House.
Congratulations to Mark Carney on his election victory. Prime Minister Carney' s stated commitment to economic stability and environmental sustainability alights with our community's priories. We look forward to working together to ensure the prosperity and well-being of our residents.
Congratulations to Anna Roberts on her re-election as the Member of Parliament for King-Vaughan. King appreciates her unwavering commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of our residents, like tax rates and crime. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to enhance the quality of life in King-Vaughan.
The 100th Anniversary of the Holland Marsh (60% of which is in King Township) is being kicked off with the annual Marsh Mash - the 4th oldest marathon canoe race in Ontario. The event is on Saturday May 10th from 9am at the Sovereign Grace Church (1466 5th Sideroad, Bradford).
Celebrate National Youth Week May 1-7 with one of the many recreational activities for kids including pickle ball, basketball, badminton, soccer, and shiny. Enjoy a workout, pilates, spinning or zoomba. Young writers are encouraged to pen a “Timeless Tale” in a letter writing contest being hosted by Art Society King. Learn more about all the events here.
Community Yard Sale & Electronic Recycling – both are on Saturday May 3 at Trisan from 8am – 1pm. A bargain-hunter’s dream come true, so many deals in one spot! AND bring your computer, video game consoles, printers, DVD players and more to have them safely disposed of. Learn more here.
Thanks to funds secured through York Region's Urban Tree Canopy Disaster Mitigation and Adaptive program, 5500 native trees and shrubs are being planted in King City at the Blue Heron Park and Centennial Park. This initiative is carried out by the Toronto Conservation Authority which aims to enhance the natural environment and improve community well being. There are also two community tree planting events in King on May 10th, one at Osin Lion Park 200 Western Avenue, Schomberg from 9:30-12pm and one a Dean Plummer Park in 96 Parkheights Trail, Nobleton from 1-3pm.
EVENING HIGHLIGHTS
York Region Food Charter
York Region Food Council is an initiative of the York Region Food Network and envisions a community where health and social justice are prioritized, and all residents have economic and physical access to nutritious, local, culturally acceptable and environmentally sustainable food.
The Food Charter is a statement of values and directions to guide food and agriculture policy and was first published in 2013 and was subsequently endorsed by King Council. The York Region Food Council has voted to update the Charter and King’s Council one again endorsed the Charter in recognition that agriculture and food are central to complete and healthy communities.
The Charter aligns with many of King’s Policies and Plans including:
2019 Official Plan - section 3.6 Addressing Land Use Impacts - “That the geographic continuity of the agricultural land base and the functional and economic connections to the agri-food network shall be maintain and enhanced
Corporate Strategic Plan - A Greener Future - Planning for a green and sustainable future and sustainable future means finding ways to adapt to climate change pressures while also offsetting the effects that it has already had. Learn more here.
Two Year Corporate Strategic Plan Annual Progress Report
In June 2023, Council adopted the 2023-2026 Corporate Strategic Plan and this week we heard the Year Two (2024) Annual Progress Report. The Plan focuses on four Priority Areas that each have two main Objectives which are each achieved through 29 Key Results.
Overall, 20 Key Results (69%) are proceeding as planned, 1 Key Result (3%) is not scheduled to start until 2026, 4 Key Results (14%) are being monitored, and 1 Key Result (3%) has been completed.
Following is a summary of the work being done, but you can see all the details on King's website.
PRIORITY AREA 1: A GREENER FUTURE
OBJECTIVE 1: Develop environmentally sustainable solutions that reduce King’s footprint and mitigate against the impacts of climate change
Key Result 1: Adopt and Begin Implementation of Climate Change Action Plan by 2026
Progress: 80%
Key Result 2: Reduce corporate emissions by 140 Tco2E (tonnes of carbon dioxide)
Progress: 97% - This item is being monitored as corporate emissions data is unavailable for the 2024 reporting year due to the federal government of Canada having not released their emissions factors by the time of the release of this annual progress report. These factors are critical for accurate reporting as they consider things like climate change trends, which impact how corporate emissions are calculated.
Key Result 3: Develop a Green Development Standards Incentive Program by 2026
Progress: 70%
OBJECTIVE 2: Promote Tree Canopy Growth and Enhance Natural Lands
Key Result 1: Inventory Township natural assets by 2026
Progress: 60%
Key Result 2: Develop an Invasive Species Management Plan by 2026
Progress: 50%
Key Result 3: Plant 50,000 trees, shrubs, and wildflowers
Progress: 32% - This initiative is being monitored. Term to Date Planting = 15,834. Volume of tree plantings in 2024 slightly below forecasted target for mid-term (25,000). Expecting plantings in 2025-2026 to account for variances in the first half of the term (2023-2024).
Key Result 4: Achieve the York Region minimum canopy cover recommendation for King of 36%
Progress: 95% - Canopy cover currently at 34% at the end of 2023.
PRIORITY AREA 2: SUSTAINABLE ASSET MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVE 1: Develop asset funding strategies which ensure long term fiscal sustainability.
Key Result 1: Implement a Stormwater Charge by 2023
Progress: 100%
Key Result 2: Finalize and Implement the Asset Management Program by 2025
Progress: 70%
Key Result 3: Develop an Asset Management Funding Strategy by 2025
Progress: 70%
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve our capital assets (transportation, environmental, facilities and parks) for continued community use and enjoyment.
Key Result 1: Develop and Implement a Stormwater Monitoring and Maintenance Strategy by 2026.
Progress: 40%
Key Result 2: Establish the levels of service for all capital assets by 2025.
Progress: 70%
Key Result 3: Update (5) asset-related Master Plans & Strategies by 2025.
Progress: 45%
Key Result 4: Develop an Asset Disposition Strategy by 2025.
Progress: 25% - this initiative is being monitored. Conflicting information over municipal parcel assets also contributing to delay; project team has now identified accurate information on available properties. Key result is under review and being evaluated if baseline target requires adjustment.
PRIORITY AREA 3: COMPLETE COMMUNITIES
OBJECTIVE 1: Implement regulatory changes to manage growth which best serves King’s unique landscape.
Key Result 1: Complete the Official Plan review and update (to 2051) by 2025.
Progress: 25%
Key Result 2: Update Urban Zoning By-law within 1 year of the OP update.
Progress: 0% - Key Result expected to begin in 2026.
Key Result 3: Conduct the Blue Box Transition by 2025.
Progress: 85%
Key Result 4: Explore Opportunities for Commercial Licensing and If Approved, Implement Programs by 2025
Progress: 45%
OBJECTIVE 2: Enrich community well-being and make King the ideal place to live, work and play.
Key Result 1: Develop and implement a streamlined program that consolidates all existing municipal funding, grant programs, donations, and in-kind contribution requests by 2024.
Progress: 100%
Key Result 2: Develop an Action Plan and begin implementation to become an “Age-Friendly Community” by 2026.
Progress: 25% - This initiative is being monitored. Delays were experienced with consultant completion of background report to initiate the needs assessment and analysis.
Key Result 3: Represent King’s interest in major external developments within the Township.
Progress: 50%
Key Result 4: Develop and implement an annual Traffic-Safety campaign that runs for (1) month annually.
Progress: 50%
PRIORITY AREA 4: SERVICE EXCELLENCE
OBJECTIVE 1: Increase data-driven decision making to improve organizational performance.
Key Result 1: Develop and evolve a Corporate Performance Accountability Program by 2026.
Progress: 50%
Key Result 2: Develop a Digital Transformation Framework and implement Phase 1 by 2025
Progress: 90%
Key Result 3: Publish (4) new open-data sets.
Progress: 100%
OBJECTIVE 2: Enhance citizen service experience.
Key Result 1: Develop and implement Customer Experience (CX) Framework and Action Plan 2025.
Progress: 35%
Key Result 2: Launch (2) new ServiceKING locations for expanded community use and access.
Progress: 80%
Key Result 3: Reduce “Information Only” Customer Cases by 30%.
Progress: 78%
Key Result 4: 90% of all Township application, requests and registration forms can be submitted through an automated online form.
Progress: 100%
NEW BUSINESS
Residents are reminded that to protect property there are cameras in Tasca Park... and ATVs are not allowed.
Nobleton Victoria Day is on May 19. New this year, Battle of the Bands. Join the parade. Apply to be a vendor. Watch (and donate to!) the fireworks display. More information here.
Thank you to Vivo Pizza+Pasta restaurant for generously supplying council's dinner with awesome pizza!
Jane's Walk in Schomberg on May 3 - Meet King Township's Jane's Walk chapter at the Schomberg Community Hall between 11am and 3pm. Jane's Walk participants will be able to tour the Hall, learn about the history of the community, and celebrate community milestones. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Organized by the creators of our highly popular "Hidden Histories of Schomberg Main Street" events!
Schomberg Agricultural Fair - May 23 -25 - The Schomberg Agricultural Fair is a heart-warming (and fun!) local tradition that has been upheld for 175 years. Every May, rain or shine, Schomberg plays host to a colourful celebration of local agriculture, art, and talent.
The Kettleby Christ Church (292 Kettleby Rd) is hosting an English Tea on May 3rd from 1:30-4pm with seats and nice conversation. Enjoy a traditional cream tea with scones with Devonshire cream and homemade jams. $10 per person. Bake table, treasure baskets, candles, jewellery, preserves, visual fine art.
The Southlake Run/Walk was a great success and had 2021 donors, 1669 runners,
123 teams and raised $442,724 goal to raised. There is still time to donate! Click here.
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