City services at your fingertips

Feb. 10, 2021 1:00 p.m.
City programs, events and services continue online throughout the pandemic

The City of Vaughan continues to respond to the second wave of COVID-19 – including the Province of Ontario’s stay-at-home order – with many City programs, events and services continuing, virtually.
 
Although the City’s physical doors remain closed, departments across the organization have reinvented traditional services online for residents to access from the comfort of home. By adapting service offerings, enhancing digital platforms and modifying in-person programs, the City is delivering Service Excellence – virtually – throughout the global pandemic.
 
Service Vaughan
The City’s online reporting tool – Service Vaughan – is a digital platform that enables individuals to easily submit a service request, report on non-emergency City services and track submissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The tool is available at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan.
 
Planning and Growth Management
The City continues to provide essential city-building services such as building code enforcement, processing of building permits, conducting inspections and issuing occupancy permits. Further, processes have been innovated to ensure planning approvals and shovel-ready projects can move forward throughout the pandemic, including new digital development applications and virtual Heritage Vaughan and Design Review Panel meetings. The City has also developed a process to arrange Pre-Application Consultation meetings and to receive planning applications digitally. Visit vaughan.ca to view the application process. 
 
To help maintain Vaughan’s resilient economy and streamline city-building processes, the City implemented a new online portal tool – vaughan.ca/DEPermits – that accepts, reviews and approves development applications electronically. The portal allows users to apply and pay for grading and pool permits, including posting securities online. This is a further enhancement to the City’s initial launch of the online permit portal – vaughan.ca/PermitPortal – for both building industry professionals and citizens in which permits can be applied and paid for virtually, all in one place.
 
By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services
Online payments of administrative monetary penalties, such as parking tickets, can be made via payvaughanticket.com. To arrange an alternative method of payment or schedule a dispute appointment, call 905-832-2281 within 15 days of receiving it. At the time of call, individuals will be asked their preferred option for a screening – phone or online. If an online screening is requested, a form will be sent via email. Once completed, the Screenings Officer will review the information and inform the resident of the decision via email, in addition to any applicable next steps.
 
On-street, visitor and overnight parking permits can be obtained online at vaughan.ca/parking. For all other permitting inquiries, contact 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.  
 
Business owners can also submit an application to be included on the Open For Business webpage – an online directory of local businesses currently open in Vaughan. The voluntary listing includes both essential services and businesses that are open or providing modified operations by phone, online, takeout or delivery in compliance with provincial and municipal regulations. The list – which is available at vaughan.ca/COVID19 – is being updated regularly. Vaughan businesses interested in being included in the list may apply through this online form.
 
Public Works
The Public Works team has launched a pilot project using Quick Response (QR) codes to alert staff about full garbage cans in select City parks. Residents can scan the code found on the garbage can using their smartphone to notify City staff when it is full and needs to be emptied. Regular waste collection of these bins continues, but the codes allow residents to alert the City when additional cleaning is required. These bins have smaller openings that help deter animals from getting inside as well as illegal household dumping.
 
Additional virtual offerings include:
 
BUSINESS SUPPORTS
The City is continuously working to support businesses and entrepreneurs throughout 2021 with resources and virtual networking opportunities. Join in the 19th annual Vaughan Business Expo presented by Allstate Canada on Tuesday, Feb. 23 for a day of workshops, panels with leading business experts and more.
 
For additional supports, including virtual business advisories, interesting webinars and the latest innovations from Vaughan’s business community, visit vaughanbusiness.ca.
 
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Electronic-participation Committee of the Whole and Council meetings continue. Upcoming agendas can be viewed at vaughan.ca/CouncilMeetings. While Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public, visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay to learn more about how to participate virtually, including speaking live to Council via teleconference or telephone. Email or written communications are also accepted. Citizens can watch the meetings by tuning in to the live broadcast at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil.
 
The City is committed to involving citizens, businesses and stakeholders in conversations about municipal decisions that interest and/or impact them. There are virtual public engagement opportunities currently in the works for city-building projects. Visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay to learn more.
 
EVENTS
City-led events continue virtually so residents can enjoy them from the safety and comfort of home. Coming up soon are Lunar New Year on Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. at vaughan.ca/live, the International Women’s Day celebration on Monday, March 8 and the Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April, 21. Visit vaughan.ca/EventCalendar to stay informed about all upcoming City events.
 
LIBRARY
Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) continues to keep residents informed, educated and active with many online resources,  including:
  • VPL at home: VPL’s digital library service features a variety of free online resources, including eBooks and audiobooks, films and television programs, music streaming services, e-learning courses, bilingual materials and more. Visit vaughanpl.info/vpl_at_home to learn more.
  • Virtual programs: Storytime live-streams, STEAM-activity videos, scavenger hunts, science experiments and more are available daily on VPL’s Instagram.
  • Extended Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi has been extended to reach the parking lot of Bathurst Clark Resource Library, Civic Centre Resource Library and Pierre Berton Resource Library.
  • Curbside Pickup: The program is available at every library in Vaughan to provide customers with quick and convenient access. Reserve books and arrange a pickup date at vaughanpl.info/curbside.
RECREATION SERVICES
New virtual recreation resources are shared on the Recreation Services webpage on an ongoing basis, including arts and crafts, Vaughan Playschool educational worksheets and Vaughan Playhouse Academy drama activities. To keep the community engaged and entertained, the City also runs fun, family-friendly social media contests. For regular updates on recreation programs, visit vaughan.ca/recreation.
 
Fitness classes are available via Zoom, free to Vaughan Fitness Members. Classes include spinning, yoga, total body conditioning, barre, HIIT circuit training and Zumba. Pre-registration is required through the new online registration system, PerfectMind. Classes are livestreamed Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Non-members can also participate for $50 for 6 weeks. For registration assistance, call 905-832-228 or email RecCSD@vaughan.ca.   
 
Free, full-length fitness classes (40 to 60 minutes long) are also streamed Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. on the recvaughan YouTube channel. In addition, the Vaughan Fitness team has filmed family-friendly, easy-to-follow five-minute exercises in a new Vaughan FITbreak series. Tune in to the sessions, streamed live weekdays at noon, on @recvaughan IGTV. For more information on virtual fitness offerings, visit vaughan.ca/fitness.
 
WASTE
In response to COVID-19 and the Joint Operations Centre’s current closure, many services have moved online to assist residents with proper waste disposal. Residents can use the City’s Service Vaughan tool to exchange broken City-issued blue boxes and green bins and purchase garbage tags. Visit vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan. To get helpful sorting and waste disposal tips and information, check out vaughan.ca/waste or download the free Recycle Coach app.
 
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
For more information, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Residents can also visit:
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