At its Sept. 25 Council meeting, Mississauga Councillors received and approved several recommendations coming out of a staff report related to this summer’s flooding events. The first is a Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant valued at up to $1,000 for residential property owners who were flooded on either July 16 and August 17. Staff need to work out the details, terms and conditions of the program and establish an application process. It is anticipated the program will be operational by December 1. I will advise you when the program is ready to receive applications.
The second financial relief program approved by Council is a Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate Program. This program expands the existing Sump Pump Subsidy citywide, previously only available to Ward 10 residents connected to the Foundation Drain Collector system. It also now includes coverage for expenses related to the disconnection of downspouts and capping of underground sewer connection. The value has increased to $6,800 from $6,000. It will be renewable after 10 years to account for lifecycle replacement. The other details, terms and conditions of this program will be reviewed over the next several months with applications opening up in late February 2025.
A third financial relief program was proposed by me and approved unanimously by Council yesterday. What we’re informally calling the “Build Back Better” Flood Resilience Rebate, this program seeks to incentivize property owners to use water-resistant materials and flood prevention measures when building back after a flood. The rebate will cover 50% of invoiced costs up to a maximum of $3,000. My office will be working closely with staff to develop the terms and conditions to meet the intent of the program and we hope to align it with the timing and roll-out of the Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate Program. For now, if you’re planning to use flood resistant materials (such as ceramic flooring instead of laminate for example) when restoring your basement, hold on to your receipts/invoices, as you may be eligible for a rebate from the City.
My initial motion submitted to Council included a Flood Relief Grant as well as other financial rebates and these were considered by City staff and included in their report as recommendations. However, staff did not include the concept of a “build back better” rebate as it would have to be funded from a source other than the stormwater charge. I felt strongly that this part of the motion was essential in how citizens can mitigate the catastrophic losses caused by future flooding, which we all anticipate will continue to come more frequently and with more intensity. The insurance industry typically only covers the cost of replacement to what was existing prior to the damage; but we can do better. It’s been said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. This rebate encourages home owners to pay a little extra during restoration to improve their property to better withstand the coming storms. I amended my original motion to remove the recommendations covered by staff and left the flood resiliency component as a stand-alone item. This revised motion passed unanimously.
The City has issued a Media Release outlining several of the actions taken by Council at yesterday’s meeting. A section in the middle of the release specifically references a half dozen or so projects that are either new or have been accelerated. Key projects in Ward 10 – such as the design and construction of three additional permanent pump stations – are not named in this list because they are already funded and in process. Another Ward 10 project that will be relaunched in 2025 is the downspout disconnection program that was piloted in the Black Walnut Trail area in 2023.
Council also approved funding for increased inspection and cleaning of stormwater infrastructure across the City.