Progress Report – Year 1

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uPRIORITY – Facilitate job creation and retention to ensure a variety of employment opportunities. 2015 Progress

i. Launched upNextAjax, an entrepreneur and employment pilot program for young adults. Approximately 70 local businesses and 35 youth participated. Program will continue in 2016.

ii. Expanded PriorityPath program to PriorityPath Prime to include large-scale and complex development projects. New process was used to facilitate the relocation and expansion of Grandview Children’s Centre to Ajax.

iii. Supported the opening of the Ajax Business Centre, a 30,000 square foot co-working office for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

iv. Surpassed goal of creating 2,015 jobs by 2015 through the OnTrack Ajax campaign. More than 2,900 jobs were created during the campaign.

uPRIORITY – Continue to redevelop Ajax Downtown into a more vibrant and prosperous destination. 2015 Progress

i. Ajax Downtown Road Network Environmental Assessment underway.

ii. Hunt Street and Finley Avenue Improvements Environmental Assessment completed.

iii. Sidewalk improvements completed on Westney Road and Kitney Drive.

iv. Site plan for Central Park Ajax (formally Grand Harwood Place) approved in April 2015. Construction of new sales office commenced. Office to open spring 2016.

v. Development agreement for Vision at Pat Bayly updated in December 2015. First 25-storey building scheduled for occupancy in 2017. Second 25-storey building to commence construction summer 2016.

vi. Pat Bayly Square construction agreement approved in December 2015. Phase 1 of the square to commence in spring/summer 2016.

Strategic Development & Economic Prosperity

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uPRIORITY – Improve traffic flow, gridlock and safety for all users of public roads, trails, bike lanes and sidewalks. 2015 Progress

i. Installed a covered staircase from Westney Road to Go Station to improve pedestrian access to the station.

ii. Redesigned Ajax Active and Safe Routes to School material for the web and schools.

iii. Installed trail etiquette signs along Ajax Waterfront as a pilot project.

iv. Implemented a Shared Roadway system on Doric Street, Mandrake Street, Chambers Drive and Emperor Street.

v. Installed Share the Road signage on Ontoro Boulevard to link Ajax and Whitby waterfront trails.

vi. Traffic Calming Warrant program was updated and approved by Council.

vii. Developed Transportation Demand Management Plan to alleviate traffic congestion. Plan will be implemented over next three years.

viii. Phase 1 of Rossland Road realignment/reconstruction complete.

uPRIORITY – Continue to explore and capitalize on tourism opportunities. 2015 Progress

i. Council approved applications submitted by Picov Holdings to amend the Ajax Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow for the expansion of the Slots at Ajax Downs.

ii. Approximately $75,000 was allotted for façade and sign improvements in Pickering Village.

iii. Leveraged Pan Am Games to launch You’re Invited Campaign which involved more than 50 local businesses.

iv. Partnered with Ajax Downs to host largest Canada Day Celebration in Durham Region.

uPRIORITY – Ensure tax rates remain reasonable and competitive. 2015 Progress

i. Reviewed and updated the Town’s Financial Sustainability Plan in June 2015. A further comprehensive review will take place in 2017 for the 2018-2022 period.

uPRIORITY – Seek fair representation for Ajax on Regional Council. 2015 Progress

i. Participated in the Regional Council Composition Review. Committee endorsed an additional Regional Council member for Ajax. Final recommendations to be reviewed by Regional Council in 2016.

ii. Participated in the provincial Municipal Act and Municipal Election Act reviews to encourage mandatory reviews of council composition and other improvements.

uPRIORITY – Ensure that staff resources support corporate priorities. 2015 Progress

i. Conducted a corporate staffing review and realigned positions and responsibilities.

ii. Updated staffing forecast (i.e. addition of Volunteer Coordinator).

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Excellence in Service Delivery &

Governance

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Strong Sense of

Community

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uPRIORITY – Support effective customer service communications and outreach.

2015 Progress

i. Town teamed up with fire departments across Durham Region to launch ‘Get Real Durham’, a three-week fire education campaign. Selected Ajax households received an automated telephone message, an information card, and a visit from firefighters.

uPRIORITY – Improve accountability and transparency. 2015 Progress

i. Reviewed and updated the Council procedure By-law to improve transparency of Council meetings, including reporting-out of in-camera decisions.

ii. Approved a corporate Whistleblower Policy.

uPRIORITY – Implement new strategies and partnerships to support seniors.

2015 Progress

i. Expanded “Books on Wheels” service to the new Harwood Place Seniors’ Residence.

ii. Installed a new community puzzle table at the Main Branch Library.

iii. Library hosted a variety of new programs (Technology training, Ageism in the workplace, Passport to healthy living, etc.) to encourage seniors’ participation and engagement.

uPRIORITY – Continue to implement the Town’s Diversity and Community Engagement Plan. 2015 Progress

i. Thirteen Diversity & Inclusion Ambassadors were recruited for the Pan Am Games. The volunteer position will be introduced to Town events in 2016.

ii. Held a Refugee Sponsorship Information Session in March 2015.

iii. In response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis, the Town donated $5,000 to LifeLine Syria, and developed a Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Bulletin and web page to raise awareness and share information and resources.

iv. The Library partnered with local cultural and social organizations to offer educational, social and cultural events to promote diversity and offered numerous events and programs to engage diverse communities.

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uPRIORITY – Expand youth career programming and services. 2015 Progress

i. Hosted two resume workshops for youth with VPI Working Solutions.

ii. Promoted Town youth employment opportunities at various job fairs (Diversity Job Fair & Workshop, Youth in Policing Job & Volunteer Fair, etc.)

iii. Hosted two summer job fairs at The Spot youth space. YMCA was on-site and staff assisted with online applications and resumes.

iv. Summer jobs within aquatics and recreation promoted through Town website, social media, News Advertiser, flyers, and information booths and postings at high schools and Durham College.

v. Promoted partner skills/employment workshops (Agilec) on social media.

vi. Connected youth job seekers with community partners by promoting local business hirings.

vii. Promoted training opportunities offered by the Town, including Leadership and CIT (Level 1 & 2), First Aid and HIGH FIVE.

viii. The Library hosted an information session with AFS Interculture Canada to present opportunities abroad through international student and work exchange programs.

ix. The Library hosted a Leadership Camp for Newcomer Youth with the Welcome Centre and Agilec.

uPRIORITY – Develop and engage volunteers. 2015 Progress

i. Launched the Town’s first Online Volunteer Database to assist with volunteer management for the Pan Am Games. The database continues to be utilized for Town volunteer opportunities at festivals, events, etc.

uPRIORITY – Improve the Town’s maintenance program to support a Clean Ajax.

2015 Progress

i. Approved a new Anti-Litter Action Plan in December 2015. Includes five strategies to minimize litter and improve waste management within the Town’s park system. Implementation will start in 2016.

uPRIORITY – Implement innovative approaches to manage stormwater runoff. 2015 Progress

i. Hired a stormwater engineer to ensure runoff is effectively managed in both public and private projects and works.

ii. Developed a five-year capital program for major maintenance of stormwater management ponds.

iii. Design for new Central Park Ajax development includes improved management of stormwater runoff.

Leader in Environmental Sustainability

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uPRIORITY – Work with partners to improve water quality along the Ajax shoreline and watersheds. 2015 Progress

i. Continue to lobby the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to require the Regions of Durham and York to undertake a full Environmental Assessment of the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Outfall to curtail phosphorus emissions causing algae along the Ajax shoreline.

ii. Scientific articles by Dr. Martin Auer regarding the Town’s progressive phosphorus research in the Ajax nearshore were published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

iii. Commented on the Provincial Great Lakes Protection Act (Bill 66) which was approved in November 2015.

iv. Hosted numerous events (Container Gardening, Family Fun Day, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, etc.) and produced educational signage for the Lake Driveway Rain Gardens.

uPRIORITY – Ensure ecologically significant areas such as the Greenbelt are protected. 2015 Progress

i. Provided comments on the Carruthers Creek Watershed Study work plan approved by the Region of Durham in March 2015. Phase One includes technical studies to establish baseline conditions and determine environmental sensitivities.

uContinue to advance initiatives which address climate change and sustainability. 2015 Progress

i. Reviewed strategies resulting from the Paris Climate Change Conference.

ii. New promotional material created for Town’s Anti-Idling program and continue to work with School Boards and Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade to expand Anti-Idling Zones.

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