Fay Calliste

The committee meeting addressed several agenda items, including parking and site-specific exemptions for local events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Treasurer's annual statement regarding development charges reserve funds, and an overview of 2025 operating results and reserve allocations. Discussions included managing traffic and neighborhood impact, potential partnership opportunities with local vendors for public viewing events, and the strategies for maintaining financial stability through reserve funds in response to unforeseen economic and seasonal pressures.

The council information package contains a variety of correspondence from regional municipalities, local towns, and organizations. Key topics include regional reports on smart mobility, fiscal framework reviews, and meeting schedules. Additionally, the document covers requests for police budget adjustments, heritage and housing grant funding proposals, food insecurity emergency declarations, and concerns regarding high-speed rail projects. The package also includes advisories on accessibility and municipal accountability initiatives.

The Town of Ajax's strategic direction centers on fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and building a thriving community through a forward-thinking approach. A core element is the 2025-2027 Business Engagement and Support Strategy, which prioritizes deepening business relationships, strengthening key economic sectors (manufacturing, tourism, retail, and food services), and positioning Ajax for investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The town also commits to addressing social challenges like homelessness and mental health with compassionate support, upholding equity, diversity, and inclusion, and investing in significant infrastructure development and financial preparedness.

The meeting included various presentations and public meetings regarding planning and zoning applications, including official plan amendments and zoning by-law amendments for multiple sites. Key agenda items involved reports on sponsorship and advertising asset inventory, supportive housing projects, and a motion affirming freedom of religious expression. The council also addressed reports from the General Government Committee, including business engagement strategies, strategic plan updates, and tax section status reports. Additionally, several by-laws were proposed and reviewed concerning fire department regulations, road closures, and municipal compliance audit committees.

The meeting commenced with acknowledgements of traditional land treaties and discussions regarding respectful delivery of these acknowledgements. Key topics included strategies for business engagement and support, specifically addressing gaps in communication methods based on 2025 outreach data, and the forthcoming launch of the business licensing initiative on April 1st. Discussions also focused on facilitating growth through tourism aspects, including sports tourism, film, and the restaurant sectors, and tracking businesses that close or relocate, with tariff challenges cited as a past concern. Further deliberations covered the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), including the selection of Durham Tourism as the recipient entity and the comparison of influence between utilizing Durham Tourism versus establishing an in-house Municipal Services Corporation. Inventory of available commercial real estate listings, facilitated by the CoStar program, was discussed, as was the development of a new GIS-based site selection tool expected by summer. Finally, the committee addressed measurable economic outcomes tied to engagement activities, methods for tracking business retention/expansion, and efforts to support businesses owned by women, newcomers, racialized residents, and people with disabilities, referencing events like International Women's Day.