Mid-term Update: Regional Council s Strategic Plan & Priorities. Regional Chair Alan Caslin. Presentation to Town of Niagara-on-the- Lake July 2017

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1 Mid-term Update: Regional Council s Strategic Plan & Priorities Regional Chair Alan Caslin Presentation to Town of Niagara-on-the- Lake July 2017

2 Progress & Success in % through term, 60% of Strategic Plan projects complete Using a proactive and collaborative approach, we have been seeing results: 1. Investment in Advanced Manufacturing by General Electric in Welland Regional Council commitment via Gateway Incentive Program & Waiving of Industrial DCs 220 manufacturing jobs created 2. Team Niagara Action Plan 10 Gateway Economic Zone CIP applications approved Creating 498 jobs; $23.4M in new development 3. Foreign Trade Zone Point Designation First in Ontario; critical and large manufacturers like General Motors 4. Work initiated on Daily GO Rail service between Niagara & GTHA Commitment from Provincial Government in 2016 Budget

3 Transportation in Niagara Roads Invested in an additional $2M in regional road resurfacing and rehabilitation. GO Rail - Station Work Initiation of station upgrades in St. Catharines & Niagara Falls. Project Team working closely with GO & MTO to advance 2023 timeline. Inter-municipal Transit Plan by Dillon Consulting being considered by 3 transit operating municipalities. Unanimously approved by Regional Council on June 8. Airport Study Completing due diligence on Regional role in airports Niagara District Airport & Dorothy Rungeling Airport. Port Robinson Ferry

4 Affordability for Residents Waste Management The net operating budget for waste management, for collection and processing of garbage, recycling and organics for residents and businesses, is set at $34.9 million in per cent reduction from 2016, resulting in $410,000 in savings for residents. Property Tax Rate During term to date: INFLATION TAX RATE INCREASE % 1.92% % 0% % (+1% Infrastructure levy) AVERAGE.97%

5 Effective Government Value for Money Audits (VFM) External value for money audits 3 in 2015, and 2 in 2016, were identified and completed in both operational and capital project areas; the Audits contained several recommendations for future operational and service delivery models and process improvements Combined sewer overflow tank at the pumping station in Chippawa; Fleet Management Burgoyne Bridge Contractor Selection; Broad Oak & Fitch St. NRH Developments; Winter & General Road Maintenance Internal audit will be monitoring the degree of implementation and the success of operational improvements related to the audit recommendations. Alternate Service Delivery (ASD) Alternative Service Delivery looks at alternative ways to obtain critical infrastructure assets or deliver services other than the traditional method of building, owning and operating. Under Council's strategic priorities, $1 billion in corporate assets have been identified for potential Alternative Service Delivery reviews. During the priority-setting process, Council identified long-term care home redevelopment and social housing as priority candidates for comprehensive review for applicability of Alternative Service Delivery. Standard and Poor s Reaffirms Niagara Region s AA Stable Credit Rating Niagara Region continues to maintain its AA credit rating, with a stable outlook (Provincial A+ S&P stated that the stable rating comes as a result of Niagara s exceptional liquidity, low debt burden, and strong financial management. S&P noted that Niagara Region demonstrates strong financial management and points to the Region s robust annual operating and capital budget documents

6 Investment in Communities Council is investing in a number of important projects and priorities for Niagara communities. Through our Operating Budget, we are investing: $906,000 to fund a new 24/7 shift of paramedics to serve Niagara s residents $361,000 to help make Niagara Specialized Transit more affordable by bringing fares into parity for traditional transit $300,000 dedicated to increasing Niagara s global attractiveness, growing our population and attracting and retaining Niagara s youth $765,000 for inter-municipal transit infrastructure funding $200,000 to bring the new Niagara-on-the-Lake wastewater treatment plant online Council also approved a number of infrastructure investments in our transportation systems, senior s care homes, and growth-related infrastructure. Our Capital Budget investments include: $40 million towards the implementation of daily GO rail service to Niagara and initial work on station upgrades in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. $8 million to upgrade and improve Niagara social housing stock $12.5 million for general road resurfacing and repair $12 million to begin the planning and design for the redevelopment of three of Niagara Region s long-term care homes $14 million to provide new water infrastructure to support population growth in Grimsby

7 Key Projects in 2017 Successful Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games Bid Council approved $10.5M to support bid for Niagara region to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. Decision made end of March. Establishing oversight committee and 2021 Games management team Transportation Facilitated agreement among existing municipal transit providers on a plan for Inter-municipal Transit Facilitating improved timelines for GO Transit expansion to Niagara and initiating station work in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls Housing & Homelessness Working closely with providers and the private sector to develop our affordable housing stock Building our case to the province for improved CHPI funding model to combat homelessness in Niagara. Ground-breaking of 527 Carlton Street build in St. Catharines 85 units Retention of our U-35 demographic Has resonated with Niagara s young adults and our region s post-secondary institutions. Making Niagara an attractive place for our young business leaders and entrepreneurs to succeed and young adults to raise their families. Regional Procurement Ensuring that the private sector is keen to invest in our region, and have trust and confidence in the effectiveness of the Region s procurement and business processes.

8 Questions? Office of the Regional Chair (905) x3247 Niagara Region Headquarters 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way Thorold, Ontario L2V 4T7