ESLC SECOND ROUND CONSULTATION

HRM is inviting residents back to attend a second round of in-person open house sessions to learn more and

provide feedback on the design development of the Eastern Shore Lifestyle Centre (ESLC) at the following

dates and times:

Public open house #1: Thurs., Oct. 3rd from 5-7:30 pm

Public open house #2: Thurs., Oct. 10th from 10 am-2 pm

Both sessions will be held at the Sheet Harbour Lions Club, 183 Pool Road in Sheet Harbour.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the design architects and municipal employees, view the

design development and provide feedback on the feel of each space. Feedback from the Round 1 public

engagement was summarized and used to inform the design development submission that will be shared with

the public and presented at Round 2. The same information will be available at both October sessions.

HRM Facility Design & Construction is working with HRM Corporate Communications to share this information

with residents in the area through a mailout, social media advertising, print and digital advertising in the

Eastern Shore Cooperator and at www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/programs-activities/recreation-centresyour-

community/sheet-harbour-recreation where future project updates will be available.

LAKE ECHO REC CENTRE RENOVATIONS

The Lake Echo Community Recreation Centre has had some interior re-arrangement of spaces with some

renovations to incorporate a daycare centre and an after-school program. This has been a tremendous

success due to the sheer demand for these services in the area. Now the building is getting more interior

renovations and a heating system retrofit by replacing the oil-burning furnace with a propane model and other

energy efficiency upgrades to include more air-conditioning throughout the facility. A contract (Tender 2024-

0301) was recently award for $1,126,393.00 to the MBA Group. And hopefully soon the repositioning of some

power poles will allow the emergency backup generator to become functional. And the Lake Echo District Park

concept plan that was done back in 2019 is now in the final design stage. Onsite topographical surveys have

been done and technical design plans are being drafted so hopefully soon a tender call can be issued. There is

a long list of other park projects from across the municipality that took precedence during this time but now

Lake Echo has finally made it to the top of that list of new capital park projects.

CHEVIOT HILLS BALLFIELD UPGRADE

Back in July HRM issued Tender 2024-0014 for the renovation and expansion to the Cheviot Hills Ballfield in

Porters Lake to make the field compatible for baseball play. That means expanding the field dimensions from

Softball standards to Hardball. Ten companies took out bid packages and a half dozen showed up for the

onsite field inspection and two bids were received. The winning bid was awarded to Elmsdale Landscaping Ltd

for $431,349.50. Site work began in early September after the ball season was finished. In the Spring this field

should be ready to accommodate both softball and hardball play.

ANTI-BLACK RACISM GRANTS

Back in 2021, HRM acknowledged its commitment to addressing anti-Black racism. Now we have established

a community grants program for activities that align with the municipality’s commitment and support

communities in addressing anti-Black racism.

These projects can be aimed to create a greater awareness of Anti-Black racism and its impact. Help create a

greater understanding of anti-Black racism and the necessary action to address it. Identify and/or bring

awareness to the community organizations that are working to dismantle individual, systemic and structural

racism and create projects that will work towards building a diverse, inclusive and equitable municipality.

Applicants are encouraged to explain/demonstrate how their project will combat or address at least one of the

following forms of anti-Black racism which include: racial segregation historic omission; lack of recognition

systemic expropriation; negative portrayer in the media and literature. Application deadline is October 31st. For

more details, email: ANSAIO@halifax.ca or call: 902-490-3326 https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/fi

les/documents/abouthalifax/abr-grants-guidebook-2024-final-copy-august.Pdf

2024 RESIDENT’S SURVEY

The 2024 Municipal Election will see the election of a new Mayor and a new Regional Council. A new 2026-

2030 Strategic Plan will be developed to reflect direction for the municipality for the term of the new Council.

The 2024 Resident’s Survey provides an opportunity for residents to provide input to this process. The goal for

this survey is to understand resident priorities and satisfaction with municipal programs and services and

where residents would like to see investments made.

Beginning on September 20th, HRM will be conducting the 2024 Resident’s Survey to provide input and inform

the development of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, business planning and budgeting, and support data driven

decision-making. The 2024 Resident Survey will be delivered in two phases, in both English and French:

Invitation-based: From September 20th to October 13th residents in randomly selected households across

HRM will receive a letter inviting them to participate and complete the Invitation survey. Residents can

complete the survey online (preferred), by phone, or by mail (by requesting a copy of the survey to be mailed

to them). There will be 25,000 invitations sent, randomly distributed across all Districts based on population.

This approach was selected because a random-sampling approach is the only way to generate a margin of

error that allows the results to be generalized to the whole population of the municipality. Results of this survey

will be compared to previous surveys for trending and will be used to update key performance indicators (KPIs)

on the municipality’s Strategic Performance Snapshot.

Open: From October 4th to October 27th, the same survey will be made available for all residents via a link at

www.halifax.ca/residentsurvey. This ‘open’ survey is intended to increase the survey’s reach and inclusivity.

Due to the sampling methodology (open to all, not able to control access or number of submissions,

demographic or geographical representation), the results of this survey will be for information only.

Results will be analyzed at the regional level and by demographic attributes (e.g. age, gender) and potentially

at the district-level (although the number of responses by district will determine how reliable the data is).

Residents who wish to know more about this and past surveys can go to www.halifax.ca/residentsurvey to find

more details. Your opinion and input is valued!

DOHERTY & MICHELLE REPAVING

Significant sections of Doherty Drive and Michelle Drive in Lawrencetown will be getting repaved with some

added traffic calming measures (speed tables) incorporated into them. HRM Tender 2024-0198 was awarded

to Cumberland Paving for a bid of $1,169,162.00 . In total, five bids were received for this tender. The paving

strategy for both streets is pulverization of existing asphalt and road gravels, placement of new gravels and full

depth repaving. Doherty Drive will be repaved from Hwy 207 to Lillian Drive. And Michelle Drive will be repaved

from Doherty Drive to Renee Drive.

LOCAL FIREHALLS GET RE-ROOFED

The firehall stations in Mushaboom, Tangier and Oyster Pond have been renovated with new red metal roofing.

This is part of the municipality initiatives to make our assets more sustainable and durable to climate change

and to be more energy efficient.

OPEN-AIR BURNING SEASON AGAIN

As of October 16th, (weather permitting) and whether the NS Forest Weather Index (FWI)

www.novascotia.ca/BurnSafe is at a low or moderate reading, the time of day burning restrictions will be lifted.

For more information about winter open-air burning and safe burning practices: www.halifax.ca/fire-

police/fire/burning-permits/burning-rules-regulations Please be careful whenever burning!

PROPERTY TAXES DUE - OCT. 31st

HRM invoices property tax bills to all property owners twice each year. The tax year covers the fiscal period of

April 1st - March 31st. The first tax bill was sent out (either by mail or e-post) in March and was due on the last

working day of April. The second and final bill will be sent out (either by mail or e-post) in September and is

due on the last working day of October (Monday, October 31st). The first (or interim) invoice is based on 50 per

cent of the current year’s estimated taxes but based on last year’s rates. The final invoice is calculated using

the current assessment with the current year’s tax rates, less the amount you already paid from the first

invoice. The total amounts billed must be paid by the due date to avoid interest charges. Interest is applied

daily to all outstanding taxes at a rate of 10% per annum. For more information; please call 311, or 902-490-

4000 or visit HRM web-site: www.halifax.ca/home-property/municipal-payments/makingapayment