Skip to content

City scaling back services in response to COVID-19

Changes will come into effect on March 20
270617_tom-davies-square_night2
The City of Greater Sudbury, with guidance from Public Health Sudbury and Districts, is taking additional steps to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 in the community, while maintaining services that are essential to residents and businesses. (File)

The City of Greater Sudbury, with guidance from Public Health Sudbury and Districts, is taking additional steps to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 in the community, while maintaining services that are essential to residents and businesses.

Mayor Brian Bigger held a brief telephone conference on March 19 to go over the changes that will take effect beginning Friday, March 20, and will remain in place until April 5.

The city is closely monitoring local COVID-19 developments and will re-evaluate city service and program changes as needed.

As of Friday, March 20, to encourage public health social distancing guidelines, the following temporary steps will be implemented on Gova Transit: 

  • Riders must board and exit buses through the rear doors only. Anyone with accessibility needs can still use the front doors.
  • Bus fares are being temporarily waived, as fare box locations are not favourable to social distancing guidelines. 
  • The front seats of each bus have been blocked off to maintain required space around the operator. Riders are asked to stay behind the yellow line at the front of the bus to ensure proper social distancing. 
  • The downtown transit hub has been closed.

"Obviously we're looking out for our transit drivers and we're also very aware of what's happening throughout the province, so just in an abundance of caution we're really trying to step up our social distancing on the buses," said Bigger.

The mayor says ridership numbers have take a dip of late, but there are no plans in place at this time to make route changes to GOVA service.

"Our ridership numbers have reduced significantly from a normal March Break," said Bigger. "With the cancellation of school and student riders and the number of people staying at home, we are seeing a significant reduction in ridership on the transit buses, but still we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable when they take the transit service."

Tom Davies Square and the 199 Larch St. building will be temporarily closed to the public as of 4:30 p.m. on March 19. 

Access to the following essential services will be available by appointment only:

  • Ontario Works
  • Housing Registry
  • Building Services, including permits 
  • Planning Services, including rezoning applications
  • By-law Services, including business and lottery licences

To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call 311. Residents attending Tom Davies Square and 199 Larch St. for appointments will be screened, as per Health Unit guidelines.

In terms of city business such as council and committee meetings, Bigger says that steps are being taken in order to allow city council to proceed on their regular schedule.

"I have been on phone calls with provinicial representatives earlier this week and the minister of municipal affairs today; announcements from the provincial government indicated that they have approved changes to legislation that will allow us to meet using technology and so staff have been working on different ways of implementing that for city council meetings," said Bigger.

"I expect us to continue with city council meetings, there may be some committee meetings that are postponed for the time being and a lot of that is related to agenda items and also our opportunity to move things to the council meetings."

Tax Payments:

Late payments for the April 2, 2020, tax due date will not attract interest or late payment penalties until June 4, 2020.

Other Changes:

  • The service counter at the Recycling Centre at 1825 Frobisher St. is closed. Please use the online services at www.greatersudbury.ca/eservices.
  • Residents are encouraged to use credit or debit at Landfills, and limit cash payments. 
  • Applications for firefighter recruitment will close, as scheduled, on March 20 at 4:30 p.m. Candidate testing will be postponed. Successful applicants will be contacted via email regarding next steps. 
  • The Animal Shelter will accept visits by appointment only. Please call the Shelter at 705-694-PETS or email [email protected]. Animal licences and tags are available online at www.greatersudbury.ca/live/animal-services-and-wildlife/animal-licences-and-tags/
  • The Finance and Administration Committee, and Audit Committee meetings scheduled for March 23 have been postponed. 

Online services:

Many City services are available online or over the phone, including: 

• Ordering garbage bag tags, blue boxes and green carts
• Payment of parking tickets 
• Purchase of animal tags

Visit www.greatersudbury.ca for a full list of online services or call 311 to learn more about your options.

For up-to-date information and details on service changes, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/COVID.


 


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.