Councillor Dasko is happy to share another update, as promised. Resulting from the last report and Councillor Dasko’s advocacy for his residents councils direction was to staff to come back to Council. Yesterday, on September 25, 2024 with Corporate Report: 10.2. entitled “Council Update – July and August 2024 Extreme Rainfall Events” (attached). This report, which was passed by Councillor Dasko and his colleagues unanimously, is an action-oriented approach to accelerating flood mitigation initiatives, inspection enhancements and increased maintenance and operation activities. Councillor Dasko has also attached his motion for your perusal which was again unanimously passed by all of council.
The following items were passed and are to be actioned:
- A Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant Program to provide a one-time grant of $1,000 to Mississauga residential property owners who incurred damages as a result of basement flooding following the weather events on July 16, 2024, or August 17 and 18, 2024, as a result of Councillor Dasko’s motion on September 11, 2024.
- A basement flooding prevention rebate program to provide up to $6,800 to make basement flood prevention improvements more affordable.
- With the number of staff meetings with Councillor Dasko he was pleased to see that staff were convinced to step up the timeline of new and accelerated stormwater projects, as outlined in the Project-based action plan includes accelerating the Design and Construction of the Dixie-Dundas Flood Mitigation Project by 6 years, including infrastructure improvement projects in 2025, 2026, 2027, with a completion year of 2028.
- Enhancements to routine maintenance of stormwater infrastructure
- City staff will work further with local authorities like the TRCA, Alectra, and the Emergency Management Team to identify opportunities to enhance public alerting to residents during localized flooding.
- Staff have been directed to prepare and submit applications to the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program – Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (second intake- November 1, 2024) and Housing-Enabling Core Services Stream programs to support the Dixie-Dundas Flood Mitigation Project.
Furthermore, at the Region of Peel, Regional Council passed a motion on September 12, 2024 to have an increase in the Sanitary Backwater Valve Rebate Program. The program is available to property owners in priority areas in Peel who had experienced sanitary flooding because of a storm event in the past 10 years. Residents living in neighborhoods outside the priority areas can also apply for a subsidy if they have reported flooding to Peel Region in the past or have an insurance claim. Subsidies are 60% of the invoiced cost, up to a maximum $1,500. Residents are asked to call Peel Region at 905-791-7800 to confirm eligibility for the backwater valve subsidy before proceeding with an installation. For more information please visit peelregion.ca.
Please note that there will be an upcoming City-wide Public Information Session for 2024 Flood Events. Councillor Dasko will share more details when they are announced.