Welcome to the Mayor’s Mailbag – February 2022 roundup.
The Mayor’s Monday Mailbag is a weekly initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office has launched to share answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.
At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.
Mayor’s Mailbag – February 2022 Roundup
- I Don’t Have a Computer, How Can I Participate in Virtual City Meetings?
- What is Burlington’s Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund About?
- As Burlington’s Mayor, What Are Your Thoughts on How Halton Should Accommodate Growth?
PARTICIPATION IN VIRTUAL CITY MEETINGS
QUESTION:
“I don’t have a computer — how can I participate and listen in on virtual City of Burlington meetings?”
ANSWER:
While City of Burlington Committee and Council meetings have been webcast live on burlington.ca/calendar for several years now, since the pandemic began, public participation at these meetings has gone virtual and away from in person.
Those in our community interested in delegating can contact the Clerks Department by email at clerks@burlington.ca to be set up with the Zoom platform and get assistance and walked through how to delegate virtually.
Participate/Listen in by Phone:
However, many folks don’t have access to a computer or don’t feel comfortable using Zoom, but still want to participate by sharing their feedback and follow along with committee and council meetings.
The good news is, you can — by phone. You can call the Clerks Department at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 and let them know you’d like to participate in an upcoming virtual meeting by phone.
Clerks will walk you through the process that includes a “tele-delegate room” where you can listen in on the meeting and follow along, and then you will be prompted when committee/council members are ready to hear your delegation (if you are registered to delegate).
Share Feedback by Email:
Some folks also do not wish to delegate, but still want to share their feedback on a particular item that is on a committee/council agenda — and you can, by emailing clerks@burlington.ca
Dedicated Webpage for Sharing Feedback:
If you wish to speak at a Council or committee meeting, the City of Burlington has a dedicated webpage at burlington.ca/delegate with:
- some frequently-asked questions;
- a list of presentation tips; and
- an Electronic Meetings and Remote Participation Guide to help you prepare for your presentation.
• • •
NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMUNITY MATCHING FUND
QUESTION:
“I have an idea for a Burlington community neighbourhood project — does the City of Burlington offer any support or assistance in helping me bring this together?”
ANSWER:
Absolutely. Firstly, thank you for thinking about your community and working to better your local neighbourhood.
The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund has been created to inspire Burlington residents to actively champion projects in our community to improve, build and strengthen Burlington and enhance the quality of life for everyone. Bringing neighbourhoods and communities together to make new connections and create a sense of belonging is just as important as the project itself.
The funds objectives are defined as follows:
- Improve, build and strengthen Burlington neighbourhoods;
- Create a greater sense of belonging;
- Foster individual well-being and community pride;
- Inspire residents to become more actively involved in the community; and
- Build stronger relationships.
The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund focuses on projects that enhance infrastructure amenities within parks, gardens, buildings on public lands or on lands that are accessible to public that met the goal of the fund.
These projects will allow neighbourhood and community groups to initiate, manage and implement projects that make a difference to the neighbourhood or community group. Approved projects receive up to 50 per cent of the funding for the project from the City. The neighbourhood or community group would match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of volunteer hours, donated service, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised, such as cash donations.
Deadline for Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund: Monday, Feb. 28, 2022
To apply, click here: burlington.ca/matchingfund
You’ll also be able to view the 2022 criteria and guidelines, and previously-approved projects in past years.
• • •
ACCOMMODATING GROWTH IN HALTON
QUESTION:
“As Burlington’s Mayor, what are your thoughts on how Halton Region should accommodate growth and any potential boundary expansion in Burlington?”
ANSWER:
Burlington Mayor Meed Ward recently published a post answering this specific question — click here for the full response.
• • •
RELATED LINKS:
- Mayor’s Mailbag – January 2022 Roundup – Parks’ Upgrades, Windrows When Snow Clearing
- Mayor’s Mailbag – December 2021 Roundup – Vaccine Booster Eligibility, Clearing After Major Snowfalls
—
*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist
