Ratepayers Associations

 

A Ratepayers Association is a group of residents and/or land owners within a geographically bounded area that come together to address issues affecting their neighbourhood.

You can find your Ratepayers Association by using the search function and typing in your address in our Interactive Ratepayers Association Map. A list of all registered Ratepayers Associations, including contact information, can be found above.

Before registering as a Ratepayers Association, please review the Town's Ratepayers Association Policy.

To register as a Ratepayers Association with the Town, the following requirements must be met:

• Election of a formal executive team;
• Representation of no less than 10 households, or contain a membership of at least 20 persons; and
• Submission of a completed Town of Aurora Ratepayers Association Registration Application including a list of all members and a map outlining the boundaries of the Ratepayers Association to the Town of Aurora.

Fill out the Ratepayers Association Registration Form.

Registration with the Town is not required, but includes benefits such as:

• Recognition as a Ratepayer Association to speak on behalf of their membership at Council and Committee meetings;
• Listing in the Town Resident's Guide, Town website and any other Town material containing Ratepayers information; and
• Based on availability, and in accordance with the Town Room-Hall Permitting Policy and/or any other applicable policies, provision of meeting room space for one meeting per year at no cost.

The Town recommends that the catchment area of a Ratepayers Association be no larger than a concession block. The Town Clerk reserves the right to ask associations to modify their boundaries should they be larger than this.

The name should reflect the area or purpose of your Ratepayers Association. For example:

• Town Hall Area Ratepayers Association
• Ratepayers of Town Hall

Yes, there can be overlapping Ratepayers Associations. Residents can be a member of more than one Ratepayers Association.

No, your Ratepayers Association does not require a constitution and by-laws to be registered with the Town, but is a common practice amongst large Ratepayers Associations.

No, other than the process of registering with the Town, the Town is not involved with the administration of any Ratepayers Associations.

An AGM, or Annual General Meeting, is a general meeting held once a year to confirm the executive and membership of your Ratepayers Association. There is no meeting requirement for registration with the Town other than an AGM.

Ratepayers Association renewals are due within one year of your last Annual General Meeting (AGM).

To renew your registration as a Ratepayers Association with the Town, the following requirements must be met:

• Have held one meeting in the preceding 12 month period;
• Election a formal executive team;
• Representation not less than 10 households, or contain a membership of at least 20 persons; and
• Submission of a completed Town of Aurora Ratepayers Association Renewal Form, confirming requirements have been met; and
• Submission of an updated membership list, upon request, to the Town of Aurora.

To renew your Ratepayers Association status with the Town, please fill out the Ratepayers Association Renewal Form.

To book a room at a Town facility, please see the Town's Facility Booking Webpage. If you are booking on behalf of your Ratepayers Association, please be sure to mention it at the time of booking.

If the executive and the membership agree that there is no longer need for a Ratepayers Association or if their mandate has been fulfilled, they can agree to disband. If your Ratepayers Association has decided to disband, please contact the Clerks Division so Town records can be updated.

Agendas and minutes can be found on the Town's Agendas and Minutes page. As outlined in the Town's Procedure By-law, the posting schedule is as follows:

General Committee – Agenda published one week prior to the meeting date
Public Planning – Agenda published one week prior to the meeting date
Council – Agenda published on Thursday prior to the meeting date

From time to time, agendas may not go out on the specified date due to holidays or other circumstances. Special meetings may have a different publishing schedule.

Minutes do not have a set publishing schedule, but are generally available within one week after the meeting date.

Yes, any residents including Ratepayers Associations can be notified when specific reports are published sending a request to the Clerks Department.

To find more information about how you can participate, please visit the Town's Public Participation Webpage.

To access most Town records, a Freedom of Information request is required. More information can be found on the Town's FOI Webpage.

For information on appeals, please visit the Ontario Land Tribunal site. Note that there are no third-party appeal rights for Committee of Adjustment decisions.

The Town of Aurora does not provide advice on Local Planning Appeal Tribunal appeals or anything related to incorporation.