Tax relief motion tops agenda of a London council meeting unlike any other

About the only thing routine about today's meeting of London city council is that it's happening on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Otherwise, everything will be different. 

First, there will only be eight councillors in chambers. The rest will join online, making use of provincial rules passed last week that allow all Ontario councillors to join meetings remotely. 

Two members of council, Mayor Ed Holder and Ward 7 Coun. Josh Morgan, will be among those tuning in from outside as they serve out self-isolation stints after returning from recent trips to the United States.

Deputy Mayor Jesse Helmer will be in council chambers to chair the meeting.  

As for the councillors who have volunteered to attend in person, you could call them the essential eight. That's the minimum number of councillors needed in a meeting to maintain quorum. City officials want them there so the meeting won't have to end suddenly in case the technology conks out. 

New city manager Lynne Livingstone and clerk Cathy Saunders are expected to be there, but other department heads will be watching online. Staffers and council members who do attend will be asked to spread out as much as possible. 

Among those who will be in chambers is Ward 3 Coun. Mo Salih. 

"I think we'll be able to adjust if there are any hiccups," he said.

The meeting will be more than a curiosity. The agenda includes an emergent motion aimed at providing relief to Londoners hurt by the economic downturn brought on by the outbreak. 

Brought forward by Salih and expected to be seconded by Morgan with Helmer's support, the motion gives Londoners a 60-day reprieve from the property tax installment payments that would otherwise be due at the end of this month. If it passes, London property owners will have until the end of May to pay their property taxes free from the usual penalties and interest charges for late payments. 

The motion includes a similar break for water and wastewater rates. It will also defer all community improvement plan loan repayments on an interest-free basis for at least 60 days, starting March 25. 

The motion also directs city staff to report back to council about the potential costs of pushing back the payment deadlines and to advise council on other options to help taxpayers, including pushing back the the tax payment that will be due at the end of June. 

Normally, London property owners are sent an interim tax bill that's mailed out at the end of January with installments due on the last business day of February and March.

A final tax bill is mailed out at the end of May with installments due the last business day in each of June, August and October.

Emergent motions go into effect as soon as they're passed. Most new bylaws are approved by committees before going to council for ratification, a process that can take weeks or longer if they require input from staff. 

Salih says this outbreak is exactly the kind of crisis that calls for the fast-track approach. With most businesses shut down to curb the spread of COVID-19 local businesses are taking a massive hit. 

"There are people who really have some economic concerns right now," said Salih. "A lot of people are unemployed, they're trying to figure out their EI situation, they have to buy groceries. The last thing I want them to be thinking out is 'How do I pay my property bill.'"

The meeting is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

As with all council and standing committee meetings, it can be viewed on the city's YouTube page.