COVID-19: Update on City services
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COVID-19 Updates
City of Vaughan news is released on a daily basis and kept on vaughan.ca for reference purposes. For the most recent updates and news as they happen, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the official corporate channels on and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Sign up for City’s eNewsletter for the latest updates
As the City of Vaughan continues to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of the community is the priority. Vital services continue to be offered and information is always available on the City’s website at vaughan.ca/COVID19. Citizens are also encouraged to sign up for the City’s eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate for alerts on the latest efforts to break the chain of transmission of this virus.
Ongoing
services
During
this time, essential services remain in operation. These include fire and
emergency response, waste collection, winter maintenance operations, water/wastewater
services, by-law and enforcement services, and the Access Vaughan contact
centre at 905-832-2281.
Many other
City services continue to be offered online or via telephone, including the Service
Vaughan reporting tool at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan, Vaughan Public Libraries online resources, virtual
fitness classes and online Vaughan Playschool activities through Recreation Services, and Economic and Cultural Development department front-line
services.
Closures
and cancellations
Current
facility closures, program cancellations and service disruptions are as
follows:
City facilities
All City facilities, including Vaughan City Hall, Joint Operations Centre, the Vaughan Animal Shelter, the City Playhouse Theatre, all community centres and public library branches, will remain closed to the public until further notice.
Recreation Services
The
City’s spring recreation programs and all permits have been cancelled. These
include spring swim lessons, outdoor sports leagues, indoor facility permits,
outdoor field permits and City Playhouse Theatre programs. Refunds will be
issued automatically to all registered participants and permit holders without
penalty. As an alternative, Recreation Services is now offering free
programming online
and on Instagram.
Events
All
City-led events from April to June have been postponed until further notice. For
a complete list of events no longer taking place, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19. Check the Event Calendar webpage at vaughan.ca for the
latest updates about non-City-led event cancellations.
Vaughan
Fire and Rescue Service fire station tours are also cancelled until further
notice.
Parks
All
facilities within City parks have been closed to the public, including playground
equipment, sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, dog parks and benches. Several
measures have been taken to reinforce the closures including signage, caution
tape, removing nets and conducting daily inspections. Any violations of the
park facility closures can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Calls
of this nature will be referred to the City's By-law and Compliance, Licensing
and Permit Services department for investigation. Fines in the amount of $150
to $400 may be laid.
Waste and litter
To
protect waste collectors in Vaughan during the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are
reminded to place all personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks,
and personal hygiene and sanitary products – including wipes and tissues – in
the garbage.
During
the weeks of April 7 or April 14, Double-Up Days will be offered on regular
collection days, allowing up to six items of garbage to be put out without
tags. The City asks that large or bulky items, such as furniture, be held and
not placed outside for pick-up to help collectors manage the additional garbage
volumes during this time. To assist in prioritizing this essential service,
leaf and yard waste collection will be deferred until the week of May 19.
Littering
and illegal dumping are prohibited and may be subject to a $205 fine. Instances
of illegal dumping or litter can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
By-law enforcement officers are proactively patrolling the City for violations
of illegal dumping, including inspecting all commercial plazas. Private
property conditions are governed by the City’s Debris By-law and Property
Standards By-law. Those who do not keep their properties clear of litter, waste
and debris may be subject to a fine of $5,000 for each offence. As well, the
City may have the waste and debris removed at the owner’s expense and it may be
subject to an Order to Comply, under the Building Code Act. Failing to comply
with an order is a chargeable offense.
By-law services
By-law
officers continue to operate, patrol and respond to calls on a priority basis. If
an administrative monetary penalty, such as a parking ticket, is received, it
can be paid online at PayVaughanTicket.com. To arrange an
alternative method of payment or schedule a dispute appointment, call Access
Vaughan at 905-832-2281 within 15 days of receiving it. Scheduled disputes are
being conducted over the phone until further notice.
Event,
filming and lottery permits will not be issued at this time. A grace period of
90 days has been established for business licence renewals.
Vaughan Animal Services
Vaughan
Animal Services continues to operate and serve Vaughan, Richmond Hill and King
Township communities. Limited access into the Vaughan Animal Shelter is
permitted for adoption and pet recovery services, by appointment only. Book
your appointment by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing animal.services@vaughan.ca.
Water services
Stormwater
charges have been deferred for 60 days and the planned 2020 water and
wastewater rate increase has been cancelled. Residential and commercial water
meter replacement appointments are also being postponed – owners with an
existing appointment will be contacted to re-book at a later date.
Property tax
Late
penalty charges on interim property tax bills have been waived. Payments for
the Thursday, March 26, Monday, April 27 and Wednesday, May 27 due dates will
not be subject to any late payment fee or interest until Monday, June 1. The
deadline for the Elderly Home-Owners Tax Assistance 2020 program has been
extended to Thursday, April 30 and the deadline remains Wednesday, Sept. 30 for
the Seniors, Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Disabled Persons Property Tax
Deferral program.
Committee meetings
All
Council committees and task force meetings are cancelled until further notice. Electronic-participation
Council and Committee of the Whole meetings will still take place.
Vaughan Public Libraries
While
public libraries remain closed until further notice, citizens are asked to
refrain from returning items back to their local library branch. No fines for
late returns will be implemented. Digital resources from Vaughan Public
Libraries are also available online and on Facebook and Instagram.
For more
information, visit vaughan.ca or follow the City of
Vaughan’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Updates are
frequently posted.
Those
who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should
contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For
additional information and resources on COVID-19, visit York Region's website
at york.ca/COVID19.
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