Advancing community and economic vibrancy
To advance Council's priority of Community and Economic Vibrancy, which aims to attract and retain amazing people and businesses, Council approved the creation of a Community and Economic Vibrancy reserve fund.
With an initial funding target of one million dollars, the reserve fund will allow Town staff to advance and implement work that aligns with this priority, ensuring Newmarket's long-term viability through sustainable jobs, while creating a strong and unique brand that differentiates Newmarket from other communities. Potential funding sources for the reserve fund will be from annual surpluses and a reallocation of existing reserve balances.
The initial focus of the reserve fund will be the development and implementation of the Community Brand Strategy, which will market Newmarket as the best place to live, work and bring a business. This provides the Town with a once-in-a-decade opportunity to put Newmarket into the hearts and minds of talent and businesses across the GTA and beyond.
The strategy will be rooted in best practices and innovations in economic development, marketing, city branding and place-making. The first phase in this multi-year investment will seek a vendor to provide a well-researched, informed approach to quickly, creatively and inclusively position Newmarket as the go-to destination to live and work.
This is a critical investment into the economic and community well-being of the Town of Newmarket.
To learn more about the advancement of this Council priority, watch the discussion or read the Staff Report.
Council adopts updated Notice Policy
With the announcement from Metroland Media Group in September 2023 that the local newspaper (the Era) is no longer being published, the Town undertook a review of the legislated requirements for public notice to ensure the Town's policies continue to meet the needs of the community. As a result, the Notice Policy and Procedure By-law has been updated to reflect the new ways residents are receiving information and communicating with the Town.
The Municipal Act requires municipalities to adopt and maintain a policy for providing notice to the public for its actions. The Town's Notice Policy has been in place since 2007, and this update addresses some of the changes to how information will be shared.
Certain legislation requires that notice be published in a newspaper, however, without a local newspaper publication, the Town cannot comply with the current legislation. Several municipalities previously supported a resolution sent by the Township of McKellar requesting changes to the Legislation Act, 2006, which Newmarket Council has also endorsed.
A copy of the resolution will be submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO).
Staff are recommending continuing current tactics for communicating with the public, while increasing the visibility of information about statutory public meetings on the website and increasing advertising with Newmarket Today.
To learn more, read the Staff Report.
Council reminds residents how to provide public input
Community engagement is one the reasons why Newmarket continues to be one of the best places to live, work and play. Community members are encouraged to continue to share their input on Town initiatives and programs.
Council values input from the community and encourages participation in issues discussed at Council. There are four ways to join the discussion:
1.Email
Email your questions, input and feedback in regards to an item on the agenda, along with contact information to clerks@newmarket.ca by the deadline outlined on the agenda. Your written correspondence (received by the deadline) will appear on the public meeting agenda. Written correspondence received after the deadline for Committee of the Whole will be included on the Council meeting agenda.
2. Live video conference
Make a live remote deputation by joining the virtual meeting using Zoom and verbally provide your comments over video.
3. Phone in live
Make a live remote deputation by joining the virtual meeting using Zoom and verbally provide your comments over telephone, directly to Council.
4. Attend in person
Make a live deputation in person in the Council Chambers at 395 Mulock Drive.
Whether attending in person, joining the meeting through Zoom, or by calling in, residents are strongly encouraged to pre-register by emailing a request and contact information to clerks@newmarket.ca.