Article content material
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says he’ll respect council’s choice on new plans to revive downtown — together with his proposal to pay for it by reopening town’s finances.
In an interview on Friday, Dilkens advised the Star he is not going to veto any council-approved amendments to a mayoral choice on the matter launched earlier this week, although he has the facility to take action underneath Ontario’s ‘robust mayor’ laws.
Article content material
The mayoral choice from Dilkens proposes growing Windsor’s working finances by roughly $3.2 million, which would require an additional 0.7 per cent property tax hike.
Council will resolve on Could 13 whether or not to endorse ‘Strengthen the Core,” the multi-part downtown revitalization plan created by employed marketing consultant StrategyCorp. Council can even resolve whether or not to increase hours of service on the Housing and Homelessness Assist Hub and increase the Windsor Police Service presence within the core, amongst different issues.
Dilkens stated it’s his “statutory obligation” underneath modifications to the Municipal Act — Invoice 3, the Sturdy Mayors, Constructing Houses Act, 2022 — to carry ahead any mid-year finances amendments via a mayoral choice. The Municipal Act now offers ‘robust’ mayors the duty to desk municipal budgets and convey ahead any amendments.
“If this matter had been prepared in time for finances, which was produced in December of final 12 months, and in time for debate in January of 2024, then we wouldn’t have needed to have a mid-term finances modification,” Dilkens stated.
“I wasn’t going to place cash in (the finances) for a plan that wasn’t but ready. I wanted it to be prepared earlier than I even thought of including it to the finances.
Article content material
“Now, as a result of it (the downtown revitalization plan) is prepared, I’m required to comply with this course of.”
Beneficial from Editorial
If council decides to not implement the ‘Strengthen the Core’ plan, Dilkens stated, “I need to know what their answer is to repair the issue that we collectively face.”
Dilkens on Tuesday introduced the ‘Strengthen the Core’ plan throughout a media occasion exterior metropolis corridor that drew greater than 100 officers and downtown stakeholders. If accepted by council, the plan will see 12 cops devoted to the core, a bylaw officer devoted to implementing property requirements in Ward 3, collaborative efforts to ascertain a psychological well being and dependancy disaster centre, extra incentives to replace and develop downtown properties, and extra.
Below provincial laws, metropolis council can approve amendments to mayoral choices from heads of council with ‘robust’ mayor powers. The mayor can veto council amendments — one thing Dilkens insists he is not going to do on the downtown situation — and council can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority vote. In Windsor’s case, that might require eight of the 11 council members to agree (the mayor additionally has a vote).
Share this text in your social community
