Council cuts vacancy tax rebate, supports school safety zones, OKs flex street

Vacancy tax rebate cut

City Council is set to phase out a vacancy tax rebate for property owners with vacant buildings.

The city will decrease the current 30 per cent rebateto 15 per cent by 2018 and then eliminate itby2019.

Cancelling the rebate will save the city about $900,000in the first year.

City staff will report back on ways to invest the accumulated savings.

Support for school safety

City councillors will continue to have a seat at the provincial table,discussing ways to make school zones safer.

• Driving in a school zone? Police enforcing new speed limits

Council approved a decision to participate in the province's Traffic Council's Automated Speed Enforcement working group to develop proposals.

A big part of the discussion focused oncurrent 40 km speed limit in school zones, an automated speed enforcement tool to control speeding and the red light camera system.

Flex street debate

Debate flared Tuesday overthe management of Dundas Place London's first 'flex street'.

• See the new look for Dundas Place as 'people space'

Councillors argued over the management reporting structureand who should have oversight over that position the city or Downtown London's MainStreetboard?

An amended motion for the position of business manager to be directed by the city was defeated. The original motion proposed givingoversight to the MainStreet board.

Councillorsapprovedthe original report on the flex street, which would stretch from Ridout Street to Wellington Road.

Abattoir: a provincial matter

The city will not reconsider itssupport fora proposed abattoir, despite anappeal of its recent decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

• City staff seek zoning changes for London abattoir, residents speak out

Councillors initially approved a rezoning proposal that would allow a livestock facility and an abattoir to be built at 8076 Longwoods Road.

However, the city was met with pushback and an appeal to the municipal oversight agencyin May,

On Tuesday, the city saw no reason to change its decision, which remains inthe hands of the OMB.