There will be new choices for city council to consider when the 2025 Municipal Budget Update is debated next week at city hall. Strong-mayor powers awarded by the provincial government in 2023 have shifted much of the responsibility of balancing the budget away from city council. However, council’s opportunity to recommend changes to the mayor’s draft budget will include several new ideas proposed by city councillors.
Enhanced winter park maintenance A motion by Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza would spend an additional $1.2 million annually on enhanced year-round maintenance of city parks. “A total of 7 full-time operations staff and 10 seasonal staff would be hired and outfitted to enhance existing park services during the summer months,” Peloza’s budget amendment states.
She told CTV News that because more Londoners are using parks during the winter months, maintenance levels from November 1 to April 30 should be enhanced to include more frequent garbage collection, extended availability of public washrooms in some parks, and more snow clearing of pathways. Skaters are seen at the Victoria Park skating rink in London, Ont. this undated image supplied by the city.
(Source: City of London/Twitter) “I have heard through the Parks Master Plan that we're the one of the lowest funders of parks [compared to other] municipalities. And honestly, I think it's showing,” Peloza addded. Peloza said after not supporting a similar amendment in the last budget, she’s heard gr.