PUBLIC WORKS — KEEPING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL: 2025 Seasonal Guide
KEEPING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL: 2025 SEASONAL GUIDE
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Table of Contents Our team . .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Message from the Mayor ............................................................................................................... 5 Message from the City Manager .................................................................................................. 6 Message from the Deputy City Manager ................................................................................... 7 Messages from the Public Works Directors ................................................................................ 9 Program overview .......................................................................................................................... 13 Preparing for the season .......................................................................................................................... 14 Equipment ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Services and service levels ............................................................................................................ 18 Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations . ............................................................. 18 Forestry Operations . ........................................................................................................ 26 Horticulture Operations .................................................................................................. 30 Community Programs ..................................................................................................... 33 Transportation and Fleet Management Services ....................................................... 36 Environmental Services ................................................................................................... 43 Water Services . ................................................................................................................. 45 Wastewater and Stormwater Services ......................................................................... 48 Looking ahead ................................................................................................................................ 49 Additional services ......................................................................................................................... 52 Communicating with the public ................................................................................................. 53
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Emilie Alderman Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Reeta Singh Executive Assistant
Shanon Kalra-Ramjoo Director, Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations
Steven Fantin Director, Transportation and Fleet Management Services
Andy Lee Director, Environmental Services
Akila Tavarasa Administrative Assistant
Olivia Iaboni Administrative Assistant
Laura Consalvo Administrative Assistant
Emily Fahlgren Manager of Compliance and Operational Support Jennifer Gill Manager, Solid Waste Management
Kent Sherman Manager, Fleet Management Services
Miles Peart Manager, Urban Forestry
Carmine Mainella Manager, Parks and Cemeteries Operations
Piragal Thiru Manager, Horticulture Operations and Community Programs
Daniel Sepe Manager, Roads Operations
Paul Caon Supervisor, Fleet Management Services
Andrew Swedlo Supervisor, Forestry Operations
Nino Paldino Supervisor, Central Parks Operations
Mimmo Sisto Supervisor, East District
Michael Campoli Supervisor, Horticulture Operations
Michael Perin Manager, Water Services
Joe Battaglia Supervisor, West District
Zachary Guizzetti Supervisor, Forestry Operations (A)
Maurizio Mucciarone Supervisor, Parks East Operations
Mark D’Amico Supervisor, Traffic Engineering Margie Chung Manager, Traffic Engineering
Loui Kakarelis Mike Hampton Lead Gardeners
John Molinelli Supervisor, Water Services
Vacant Supervisor, Afternoon (A)
Teresa Agostino Co-ordinator, Forestry Operations
Brett Rutledge Supervisor, Parks West Operations
Nolan Sherin Supervisor, Water Services
Hasib Moeen Program Manager
Brenda Bisceglia Manager, Mobility/MoveSmart
Steven Barry Supervisor, Cemetary and Events Operation
Domenic Castellano Supervisor, Wastewater and Stormwater Brendan Strongman Supervisor, Wastewater and Stormwater Rebecca Stewart Manager, Wastewater and Stormwater Services
Our Team
Julia DeGasperis Supervisor, School Crossing Guard Program
Melinda Richardson Supervisor, North Maple Regional Park Operations
Rey Shen Program Manager – Corridor Control
John Salviato Program Coordinator, Parks Operation (A)
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Message from the Mayor
The dedicated people within the City of Vaughan’s Public Works portfolio continue to deliver Service Excellence to our residents 365 days a year. From keeping our parks and boulevards clean of litter and debris and maintaining our roadways and sidewalks, to managing our winter operations and beautifying our city – this team continues to keep our residents safe while ensuring a high quality of life for all. I want to express my admiration and thanks to our incredible Public Works team. The work you do every day has a meaningful impact on our community. Our city
is stronger because of your passion and commitment. Thank you for continuing to keep Vaughan moving!
Steven Del Duca Mayor, City of Vaughan
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Message from the City Manager
The City of Vaughan’s Public Works professionals are dedicated to keeping Vaughan safe, clean and beautiful year-round. Through careful planning, process improvements and a focus on staff safety, the team works diligently to carry out ongoing maintenance and respond swiftly to emergencies. By meeting service levels, using advanced technologies and finding ways to innovate, Public Works staff deliver Service Excellence and ensure that everyone who lives, works and plays in Vaughan continues to enjoy our public spaces. I offer my sincere gratitude to the entire Public Works portfolio for their hard work every season.
Zoran Postic City Manager
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Message from the Deputy City Manager
The City of Vaughan’s Public Works team is committed to fostering a safe, vibrant and sustainable community for both residents and visitors to enjoy. This year, we are excited to roll out our new Community Programs Strategy and advance our Green Guardians program. In doing so, we look forward to even greater collaboration with residents and local organizations to share in our commitment to keeping Vaughan safe, clean and beautiful. Reflecting on the past year, we are proud to have upheld our resident-focused service delivery approach during extreme weather events, including the record rainfall that we experienced last summer. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Public Works professionals for their unwavering commitment to delivering City services, responding swiftly to emergencies and prioritizing the
well-being of our community during this season and beyond. From maintaining parks, boulevards and stormwater ponds, to beautifying our public spaces, the success of our 2025 Outdoor Maintenance Program is attributed to the hard work of our incredible staff. This document provides a snapshot of our daily operations, seasonal service levels and some of our most popular community programs. As we move forward, Public Works remains focused on building innovation, resiliency and sustainability into our seasonal programming with a focus of meeting the short- and long-term needs of our growing community.
Emilie Alderman Deputy City Manager, Public Works
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Messages from the Public Works Directors
TRANSPORTATION AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES
we continue to find new strategies and initiatives in partnership with community feedback, to find innovative ways to keep traffic moving while always maintaining a safety lens. Crucial to the success of Public Works and the City as a whole, the Fleet team ensures our vehicles and equipment are always available for staff to deliver the City’s essential services every day. It is the strong collaboration with both City staff and the community that allows the Transportation and Fleet Management Services team to exceed residents’ expectations every day.
The Transportation and Fleet Management Services team is committed to ensuring that residents can move safely and efficiently throughout the city, regardless of if you are driving, walking or wheeling. Our team takes immense pride in our work, and we consistently strive to improve and innovate while listening to the community to ensure that our services consistently meet residents’ needs. With strong partnerships among Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations and Environmental Services, the Transportation and Fleet Management Services team ensures that our roads are safe throughout every season, whether it is sunny, snowing or raining. Through our Traffic Operations team, coupled with our MoveSmart program,
Steven Fantin Director of Transportation and Fleet Management Services
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PARKS, FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE OPERATIONS The Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations department is dedicated to creating and
City and community-led events – such as Concerts in the Park and Winterfest – bringing celebrations to life for all to enjoy. Our Horticulture Operations and Community Programs team continues to elevate Vaughan’s natural beauty, enhancing entry features, planters, hanging baskets, medians and pollinator gardens. Beyond beautification, our expert staff foster environmental stewardship by engaging the community in meaningful green initiatives. Our Urban Forestry team is shaping the future of Vaughan’s urban canopy, ensuring the city’s trees thrive for generations to come.
maintaining safe, clean and beautiful spaces for all to enjoy. From our vibrant parks and trails to the welcoming entry features that define Vaughan, our teams take immense pride in delivering service excellence throughout the city. Our Parks and Cemetery Operations team ensures that Vaughan’s parks, trails, cemeteries, sports fields and splashpads are maintained to the highest standards, providing residents with exceptional spaces for recreation, reflection and community gatherings. This team also plays a crucial role in supporting
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place, particularly during the spring and summer seasons. Their dedication, expertise and passion ensure that our city remains a place of beauty, recreation and community pride. Shanon Kalra-Ramjoo Director of Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations
With the endorsement of the Urban Forestry Management Plan and Woodlot Management Strategy, this dedicated team is well-positioned to protect and enhance our urban forest, reinforcing Vaughan’s commitment to sustainability. Every member of Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations plays an essential role in making Vaughan a vibrant and welcoming
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ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
From inspecting hydrants and cleaning the City’s catch basins to promoting water conservation and endorsing recycling and reuse of used goods through our Curbside Giveaway days, Environmental Services adopts a comprehensive and environmentally friendly approach for serving and encouraging residents and businesses to support green initiatives to progress our City towards a more sustainable future. It is because of the pride, commitment and hard work of the Environmental Services staff that we are able to work with our Public Works teams to deliver service excellence for the people of Vaughan.
The Environmental Services Department is dedicated to providing the residents of Vaughan with the highest quality of standards in the delivery of safe and reliable drinking water, efficient wastewater collection, effective stormwater management systems, and sustainable solid waste collection services. Our team collaborates closely with our partners in Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations, and Transportation and Fleet Management Services, to support their maintenance and operations programs throughout the year with a determined goal of working towards building a safe, livable and sustainable community.
Andy Lee Director of Environmental Services
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Program overview
The City of Vaughan delivers exceptional services to residents throughout the spring and summer, ranging from grass cutting and street sweeping to shrub bed maintenance. Public Works crews are committed to ensuring that both residents and visitors enjoy a safe, clean and beautiful warm-weather season. Public Works’ Spring and Summer Maintenance program outlines the key services provided by staff, while also highlighting significant portfolio initiatives and events.
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Preparing for the season
STEP 2: Cleaning Beginning in March, staff launch a cleaning blitz to clear winter debris from roadways, sidewalks, woodlots and parks. This is followed by essential seasonal services like street sweeping and grass cutting, with last season’s efforts covering 8,500 lane kilometers and removing 1,202 tonnes of litter and illegal dumping. Before the season kicks off, City assets are inspected to ensure quality and safety.
STEP 3: Restoration
STEP 1: Reflection At the end of summer, Public Works reviews the season to assess performance, gather feedback and identify opportunities for improvement, ensuring clear communication of service levels. STEP 4: Planning Public Works prepares for summer maintenance well before winter ends by organizing a preventative maintenance schedule for City spaces. This includes garbage collection, shrub bed care, litter removal, fire hydrant inspections and stormwater pond grass cutting. This proactive approach keeps the city safe, clean and beautiful throughout the spring and summer seasons.
With warmer weather, staff work to restore areas affected by winter operations, ensuring a smooth transition to spring.
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Equipment Public Works uses various equipment to keep Vaughan safe, clean and beautiful. This includes machinery for tree stump removal, litter collection and grass cutting, ensuring that all public spaces are well-maintained and safe for residents.
Rotary grass mower with wings The City operates 16 rotary grass mowers with winged decks, designed for the efficient maintenance of large green spaces, including sports fields. These specialized machines feature 360-degree rotation, allowing them to navigate both tight contours and open areas with precision. Utilizing high-performance rotating blades, they ensure consistent and timely grass cutting. Throughout the summer, staff deploy these mowers as part of a structured, city-wide maintenance schedule, following a two-week rotation to uphold the quality and accessibility of public spaces.
Infield maintenance groomers The City operates five infield
maintenance groomers. These machines are comprised of a tractor and a leveling section, featuring a rear brush and front blades to efficiently smooth and maintain baseball diamonds. Due to their frequent use during the summer months, Parks Operations levels the fields daily to ensure they remain safe and suitable for play.
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Mini skid steer The City operates one mini skid steer equipped with a forestry grapple attachment, ideal for grabbing, lifting and moving logs, branches and debris. This versatile machine is used for forestry work, land clearing and storm cleanup. Its ability to handle heavy loads enhances efficiency, reduces manual labor and accelerates the completion of challenging tasks.
Stump grinder The City operates one stump grinder, a machine designed to remove tree stumps by grinding them into small wood chips. It features a rotating cutting wheel with blunt teeth that efficiently break down the stump, facilitating area clearance for new tree planting or site restoration. In 2024, approximately 2,717 stump grindings were completed.
Line painters The City operates six line painters, used to refresh boundary lines on baseball diamonds. Each line painter consists of three wheels, a central bucket and a handle. Staff fill the bucket with chalk and wheel the painter across the field to accurately mark the lines. Line painting is conducted as needed, typically when an inspector identifies that the lines have begun to fade.
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Madvacs The City operates three Madvacs. This machine is an innovative litter collection vacuum that is used to keep parks, open spaces, boulevards, sidewalks, paths and trails clean. An industrial-sized garbage bag inside the machine collects litter through a suctioned tube. Once the garbage bag is full, it is disposed of at a waste facility. This all-terrain vehicle is easily operated and maintained, working up to nine hours per use. Introduced into Vaughan’s service levels in spring of 2022, Madvac replaces six to eight manual litter pickers and can reduce carbon dioxide emissions if used 20 hours per week.
Water trailers The City operates seven water trailers to support daily operations during the warmer seasons. Each trailer can hold up to 500 gallons of water, which the Horticulture team uses to ensure the health of hanging baskets, pollinator gardens and flowerpots throughout the summer.
Streetsweepers The City has five street sweepers. These machines remove fine dirt from City roads and help keep the community safe, clean and beautiful. The machine’s innovative systems also support improved road aesthetics, air quality and stormwater runoff quality, reducing hazards to all road users. Street sweeping is completed on an eight-week rotation, meaning it takes eight weeks to complete a full “sweep” of the city.
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Services and service levels PARKS, FORESTRY AND
HORTICULTURE OPERATIONS Parks and Cemetery Operations
Parks staff begin summer maintenance in late March to early April, weather dependent. Throughout the spring and summer, staff perform scheduled maintenance on all City-run parks, sports fields and courts to help ensure residents of Vaughan can enjoy these public spaces. Playzones Playgrounds Playgrounds are inspected bi-weekly* from May to November. MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL MONTH(S) Fiber top-ups: wood/sand As needed June - October Servicing/repairs As needed May - November Surface maintenance/ cultivating/sifting Three times May - November Playground precinct surface material top-up As needed May - November Rubber surface cleaning As needed April, July and August *Bi-weekly, in the following instances, means once every two weeks.
Splashpads Splashpads are inspected daily from July to October and on weekends from May to June.
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Building and facilities activation/deactivation email
Twice per season April and October
Repairs
As needed May - September
Rubber repairs
As needed May - October
Rubber surface cleaning Once or twice per season
April - October
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Courts Tennis/pickleball courts Tennis/pickleball courts are inspected bi-weekly from April to November.
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Bocce courts Bocce courts are inspected bi-weekly from May to November.
Nets in/out
Twice per season April and November
Debris pick up
Bi-weekly
May - November
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Line painting
As needed
May - November
Weeding/ vinyl blowing Boards/edging
As needed
May - November
Basketball courts Basketball courts are inspected bi-weekly from May to November.
As needed
May - November
Line painting
As needed
May - November
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Volleyball courts Volleyball courts are inspected monthly from May to November.
Debris pick up
Bi-weekly
May - November
Line painting
As needed
May - November
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Nets in/out
Twice per season May - November
Surfacing
Once per season
May or June
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Sports fields and diamonds Premium* soccer fields Premium soccer fields are inspected twice a week from April to September.
Junior, mini and mini-mini soccer fields Junior, mini and mini-mini soccer fields are inspected weekly from May to September.
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Aerating
Twice per season May - September
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Overseeding/ slit seeding Top dressing Grass cutting and lining Fertilizing Centre restoration Goal mouth restoration
As needed
May - September
Aerating
Four times per season April - September
Overseeding/ slit seeding Top dressing Mesh in/out Grass cutting and lining
As needed
May - September
Twice per season April - September
Once per week
May - September
Twice per season May - September
Twice per season April and October
Twice per season May - September
Mid-September - October Mid-September - October
Twice per week
April - September
As needed
Four times per season (spring, summer, fall and winter)
As needed
Fertilizing
May - September
Cleaning (debris)
Once per week
May - September
Mid-September - October Mid-September - October
Centre restoration Goal mouth restoration
Once per season
Note: mesh is not used in junior, mini and mini-mini fields.
Once per season
Cleaning (debris)
Twice per week
May - September
*Premium fields include irrigation, lighting, bleachers and enclosed fencing.
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Artificial soccer fields Artificial soccer fields are inspected twice a week from March to November.
Premium* baseball diamonds Premium baseball diamonds are inspected daily from May to September.
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL Three times per season
Decompaction/ grooming/sanitizing
As needed
May - October
Aerating
Repairs
As needed
April - October
Fertilizing
Four times per season
Rubber infill top-up
As needed
May - October
Overseeding/slit seeding
Twice per season
March and November
Top dressing
As needed
Nets in/out
Twice per season
Grass cutting
Twice per week
Cleaning (debris)
Twice a week March - November
Grooming/lining
Daily per season
Infield top-ups
Once per season
Home plate replacement
As needed
Infield edging/warning track
As needed
Mound/batter box tamping
Daily per season
Overhaul/mound batter box restoration
As needed
*Premium diamonds include lighting, bleachers and enclosed fencing.
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Senior baseball diamonds Senior baseball diamonds are inspected twice a week from May to September.
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
Aerating
Twice per season Three times per season Twice per season
Fertilizing
Non-premium junior baseball diamonds Non-premium junior baseball diamonds are inspected weekly from May to September.
Overseeding/slit seeding
Top dressing
As needed
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
Grass cutting
Twice per season
Aerating
Once per season
Grooming/lining
Daily per season
Fertilizing
Twice per season
Infield top-ups
As needed
Overseeding/slit seeding
As needed
Home plate replacement
As needed
Top dressing
As needed
Infield edging/warning track
As needed
Grass cutting
Once per week
Mound/batter box tamping
Daily per season
Grooming/lining
Once per week
Overhaul/mound batter box restoration
As needed
Infield top-ups
As needed
Home plate replacement
As needed
Lip cutting/edging/warning track
As needed
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Additional park assets and services Furniture and other park assets
SERVICE LEVEL
MAINTENANCE
MONTH(S)
Gazebo restoration
As needed April - October
Bench painting/sanding
As needed April - October
May and September
Canopy shade sails
Twice a year
Flag poles
As needed April - October
Skateboard (multi-ramps) open/close Skateboard (multi-ramps) inspections and repairs
Twice a year May and October
Shrub beds Parks Operations maintains shrub beds within City parks from April to October.
Bi-weekly
May - October
Park tree inspections
As needed May - October
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Cleaning (stems, foliage, debris)
All year
Pruning
All year
Eight-to-10-week rotation
Weeding/cultivating
May - October
Mulch
May - October
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Grass Maintenance Parks and open spaces
Garbage collection Staff are responsible for collecting and replacing garbage bags on City property.
Parks Operations manages the maintenance of more than 500 hectares of grass across City parks and open spaces. Trained staff conduct regular inspections to ensure quality and compliance with established service levels.
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Garbage bag replacement Once per week
All year
March - November
Madvac litter collection
Daily
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Grass maintenance (litter pickup and grass cutting)
May - mid-October May - mid-October May - mid-October
Bi-weekly
Interesting fact : There are 890 garbage bins in Vaughan year-round; however, an additional 80 bins are added throughout the spring and summer due to increased visitors. Sports fields and splashpads garbage bins Additional garbage bins are added to Vaughan’s sports fields and splashpads throughout the summer.
Three times per season Six times per season
Trails
Slopes
Stormwater Ponds Parks Operations are responsible for the grass maintenance and debris collection for 129 stormwater ponds. Any additional services for stormwater ponds is overseen by Environmental Services.
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S) March and November April - November
Waste collection at park amenities District Park waste collection (NMRP, CTRP and Vaughan Grove)
Twice per week
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Daily
Cutting/trimming/ debris collection
Three times per season
Late May - October
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Cemetery services The City owns and operates multiple cemeteries, providing a range of interment and cremation services while ensuring well-maintained and respectful grounds for the community.
SmartParks Service excellence remains a top priority for the City of Vaughan. In 2022, the City launched the SmartParks pilot program to enhance connectivity between residents and City services while improving the management of select parks through QR code technology. This initiative allows residents to easily report maintenance needs, such as grass cutting, playground repairs or full garbage bins. QR codes are placed on lamp posts near park entrances, amenities and fencing at sports facilities for convenient access. The Parks and Cemeteries Operations team aims to fully implement the program across all City parks by the end of 2025.
CEMETERY SERVICES SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Casket interments
As needed
Year round
Cremation interments
As needed
Year round
Corner marker installations
As needed May - October
CEMETERY MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Monuments
As needed May - October
Shrub beds
As needed May - October
Existing corner markers
As needed May - October
Parks and Cemeteries Operations also provides service-in-kind with events set up across the city. In 2024 185 events were supported.
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FORESTRY OPERATIONS Urban Forest Management Plan
The City has developed an Urban Forest Management Plan to guide the sustainable management of Vaughan’s urban forest resource for the next 20 years. As part of this plan, a Woodland Management Strategy was also developed to guide the management of all City-owned woodlands. The Urban Forest Management Plan includes: • information on the current state of Vaughan’s urban forest. • a long-term vision to manage the urban forest. • goals, recommendations and targets to achieve the vision. • a financial analysis to guide implementation. Vaughan’s urban forest includes all the trees, vegetation, soils and ecosystem components within the City’s municipal boundary. It also includes all trees growing in Vaughan, such as City-owned street trees, park trees, natural woodlands and trees on private land in urban and rural areas.
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The final plan includes a vision, five goals and 14 strategies.
STRATEGY 3 : Integrate all urban forest asset classes into the City’s broader asset management approach Action 3-5: Ensure current urban forest inventory information is available to support asset management integration and sustainable urban forest management operations. Why: Current and complete tree inventory information is foundational to a proactive maintenance regimen and a key input into an informed risk management approach. STRATEGY 6 : Transition from a reactive to a proactive urban forest management paradigm Action 6-1: Shift to a proactive seven-year pruning cycle for urban street trees. Why: Seven-year grid pruning cycle is an industry-standard and is conformed to be effective by several of Vaughan’s peer communities. A meaningful proactive maintenance regimen is known to extend the life cycle of street trees, optimizing the community benefit for public investment and is known to reduce the costs associated with clean-up following storm events. STRATEGY 10: Increase the rate of new tree planting to support achievement of the canopy cover target
Action 10-5: Increase planting rates to 1,400 net new trees (i.e. in addition to all replacements), per year on City property, mainly urban boulevards and parks. Action 10-6: Explore strategic partnerships with Local Enhancement Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) toward enhancing canopy cover on private land.
Why: Canopy modeling has assumed the City will maintain a minimum rate of 1,400 net new trees per year toward supporting a 25 per cent city-wide canopy cover target by 2051. Why: Canopy change on private land will decide whether Vaughan hits or misses its canopy cover target. Strategic partnerships with organizations like LEAF could enhance the City’s influence over canopy cover on private property.
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Urban Forestry Urban Forestry is optimizing processes to ensure proactive tree maintenance within the city. The continued use of innovative technology, including a dashboard of all targets complete with year-to-date data on inspections, pruning and removals, has shortened timelines for maintenance requests, and increased resident satisfaction.
Forestry permitting and plan review Urban Forestry has improved the permitting and plan review process by moving it online to Service Vaughan. Residents and consultants can apply online and receive their permits through the self-service portal.
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL Processed within 30 days Processed within 30 days
MONTH(S)
All year
Plan reviews
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Inspections: Service requests Pruning/removal Stump grinding/ soil and seed Storm response
Within 30 days*
All year
Spring to fall
Subdivision inspections
Eight months*
All year
Issued within 30 days
All year
Tree removal permits
12 months* May - November
Within 48 hours*
All year
Tree planting
As requested May - October
*Depends on volume.
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Plan reviews Forestry permitting and plan reviews often require
During this inspection, Forestry inspectors see if healthy and vigorous trees have been planted, maintained and cared for while determining whether these trees are in good standing within their environment. If the City does not grant an assumption, a re-inspection is required. If any issues arise, the developer is responsible for the maintenance and health of these trees until an assumption is granted.
interdepartmental collaboration and expertise. Staff review various applications, such as subdivision inspections and tree removal permits, and internal projects regarding forestry policies. Subdivision inspections The Urban Forestry department receives inspection requests from the Development Engineering department on behalf of a subdivision developer. Subdivision inspections are carried out from spring to early fall, when trees are in their best condition for inspection. Developers apply for completion approval, which is the first step towards assumption. Forestry inspectors will measure tree health and planting specifications to determine if the trees have been planted (as per the approved drawings) and maintained. When Development Engineering awards completion approval, a guaranteed maintenance period must be in place for 13 months before the landscape architects/consultants can proceed with assumption submissions. Once the guaranteed maintenance period is complete, developers may request an inspection for assumption.
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HORTICULTURE OPERATIONS Horticulture Horticulture Operations enhances the city’s beauty and sustainability by maintaining more than 1,600 horticultural assets , including flower beds, subdivision entry features, decorative flowerpots, hanging baskets and shrub beds. Committed to fostering biodiversity, the team integrates native pollinators, creating vibrant and welcoming neighborhoods for residents and visitors.
Tree removal permits The City is committed to ensuring each tree removed, privately or as part of city-building initiatives, is replaced, maintaining Vaughan’s tree canopy. A private tree removal permit is required to remove a tree that measures 20 centimetres in diameter or greater. Through the Service Vaughan portal, residents can submit an arborist report and apply for a permit to remove one or more trees. These requests are processed within 30 days by Forestry Permitting and Plan Review staff. Should the application qualify for a permit, the applicant must replace the removed tree(s) by replanting on the site or by providing the funds to plant elsewhere or replant in their yard. Forestry Operations also assists with investigations conducted through By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services to ensure all privately owned trees requiring a permit abide by these policies. Approximately 300 permits were issued in 2024.
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Planters and hanging baskets Planters and hanging baskets are placed throughout the city at the end of May and maintained throughout the summer.
STRATEGY OBJECTIVES
CLASSIFICATION
WEEDING PRUNING MULCHING
Significant city sites
10 to 12 times a season
Once a season
Once a season
• native trees,
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
perennials and grass • pollinators • annuals • shrubs • perennials and grass • annuals • shrubs
Planting (planters only)
Once or twice a year
End of May - end of September
Weeding
Between one to three times a week
Mid-June - October
Neighbourhood entrances and community hubs
Four to six times a year
Once every two years
Once every two years
Cutting back
As needed
All season
Watering
Between one to three times a week Completed during each visit
All season
Monitoring
All season
Side streets and boulevards
Once every two years
Once every two years
Turf
One to three times a season
Medians and roundabouts
• perennials and grass • pollinators • shrubs
Once every three years
Once every three years
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Greenhouse and additional maintenance The City operates two greenhouses that serve as the primary hub for growing and distributing thousands of perennials, shrubs and ornamental grasses across Vaughan. Beyond nurturing these beautiful assets, the greenhouses support sustainable horticultural practices, including plant propagation and repurposing. These inventory-saving methods allow the Horticulture team to expand the City’s plant stock efficiently, ensuring a continuous supply for garden renovations and special projects while promoting environmental stewardship.
MAINTENANCE SERVICE LEVEL
MONTH(S)
Watering
Daily
June - September
Fertilizing
Weekly
June - September
Propagation
Twice a week
spring to fall
Weeding of pots
Once a week
spring to fall
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS The City’s Green Guardians program is growing in 2025, with an expansion strategy to be presented to Vaughan Council in Q2. The program continues to promote environmental stewardship by encouraging residents and businesses to participate in City-led or community-driven events and activities that contribute to keeping the city safe, clean and beautiful. Key Program Highlights Curb Appeal The City’s beloved Curb Appeal program celebrates its 20th year! This award program, driven by our community, recognizes homeowners and businesses that demonstrate exceptional pride and effort in maintaining their properties. This year, the nomination period will run from May 19 until July 1, with judging taking place from July to August by volunteers and Members of Council. All award signs will be distributed by the end of the summer.
In 2024, we received more than 1,670 nominations and awarded 850 Curb Appeal signs.
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20-Minute Makeover In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Vaughan residents will come together for the City’s 20-Minute Makeover community litter cleanup. This initiative is part of the City’s commitment to protecting the environment for future generations and empowers residents to take an active role in keeping their neighborhoods, streets and parks clean and litter-free. Tree and Bench Dedication program The City’s Tree and Bench Dedication program is available year-round for residents to beautify their neighborhoods while honoring a person or occasion. Participants can purchase a park bench or tree, along with a plaque, as a meaningful tribute.
Corporate and Community Tree Planting During the spring and summer seasons, the City facilitates corporate and community tree plantings to encourage residents and local businesses to contribute to expanding the tree canopy within the city’s green spaces. This program also serves to educate and empower the community, fostering involvement in creating a more sustainable and healthier environment for future generations to enjoy.
To date, 47 dedications have been issued through the City’s Tree and Bench Dedication program.
Community planting The Community Planting Fund supports the enhancement of Vaughan’s natural environment by creating or improving greenspaces and wildlife habitats. Once awarded, the plantings will take place in early spring, contributing to the health, resilience and sustainability of the environment.
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Grow with Vaughan Grow with Vaughan is an annual sponsorship program that supports the local business community through cost-effective opportunities that provide visibility for local businesses, all while beautifying the neighborhoods they serve.
In 2025, 23 locations have been sponsored by local businesses demonstrating their commitment to supporting community initiatives and enhancing public spaces.
Community Cleanup program Vaughan’s Community Cleanup is a year-round program facilitated by Public Works, offering community members, non-profit organizations and businesses the opportunity to help preserve the environment by collecting litter in City-owned parks, trails and open spaces. 250 volunteers participated in a community cleanup at City parks, trails and open spaces in 2024.
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TRANSPORTATION AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES
MAINTENANCE
MONTH(S)
Debris clearing (round one)
Mid-April
Roads Operations Boulevard maintenance
Grass cutting/debris clearing
May - October
Debris clearing (round two)
Late October
Spring street sweeping
April - May
Roads Operations staff tend to boulevards across the city in spring and summer. Before grass cutting begins, staff ensure the boulevards are clear of debris following the winter thaw. This past season, the City’s boulevard grass cutting vendor completed 13 cutting rotations and two debris only rotations. The total number of hectares serviced each rotation was approximately 134.
Summer street sweeping
June - November
Madvac litter collection
April - November Case-by-case basis (year-round)
Pothole repair
Guardrail trimming (round one)
Mid-June
Guardrail trimming (round two)
Mid-September
Centre median trimming (round one)
Mid-May - June Mid-August - September Mid-May - June
In 2024, 15 rotations were completed for our mechanical litter collection program.
Centre median trimming (round two)
Rural grass cutting (round one)
Rural grass cutting (round two)
Mid-July - August
Shoulder repair
Case-by-case basis
Sign installation
Case-by-case basis
Culvert and ditch repairs
Case-by-case basis
Clearing obstructed signs (vegetation)
Case-by-case basis
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Sign installation The Roads Operations department is responsible for the supply, delivery and installation of traffic calming signage and infrastructure in support of the MoveSmart initiative. These installations encompass a range of elements, including, but not limited to, Community Safety Zone signage, pedestrian crossings and Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) signage. Locations for traffic calming measures are identified and assessed through comprehensive traffic studies and reporting via the CRM system. Curb and Sidewalk Program Transportation and Fleet Management Services remains dedicated to maintaining the safety and accessibility of the City’s infrastructure. Through our curb and sidewalk repair initiatives, we address wear, damage and potential hazards to ensure safe and smooth passage for pedestrians and vehicles. These efforts enhance mobility, uphold community standards and support a well-maintained urban environment that meet the needs of our growing city. Joint deflection is an additional service performed at the same time as the Curb and Sidewalk Program to ensure trip hazards are removed. Staff identify raised sidewalks through service requests, spray paint for safety and complete joint deflection before November.
Street sweeping Street sweeping in Vaughan plays a vital role in maintaining clean and safe roadways while supporting environmental sustainability. This service involves the regular removal of debris, dirt and pollutants from streets to improve air and water quality, enhance roadway aesthetics and prevent blockages in the stormwater system. Guided by our high standards, we strive to sweep all residential streets multiple times annually, prioritizing high-traffic areas and responding promptly to seasonal needs. These efforts contribute to a healthier, more vibrant community and reflect our commitment to Service Excellence.
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Curb cuts and driveway widening Residents of Vaughan may apply for a curb cut or driveway widening to improve the functionality of their property. Applications are accepted, processed and work is completed upon request. Driveway widths and curb cuts are regulated by the City’s Zoning By-law 1-88 (PDF) and Zoning By-law 001-2021 . These by-laws ensure the land is used in accordance with building standards. A municipal services inspector processes applications within four to six weeks. Milling and paving This process involves removing and resurfacing worn asphalt to restore road quality and ensure safe, reliable travel for residents and commuters. These improvements play a vital role in extending the lifespan of our roadways, enhancing driving conditions and supporting the City’s commitment to a well- connected and sustainable transportation system.
Guiderail repairs and replacement As part of the road safety device repair program, guiderails are repaired and replaced as required. These repairs ensure road user safety is maintained throughout the city in areas with significant changes in elevation. These damages are identified by our roads patrol team, through annual inspections and reporting through the CRM.
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Potholes and road repairs Potholes are formed by water accumulation on the road, which expands into ice during winter. As the freeze-thaw process continues over the years, more water gets trapped and stored in the pockets of the road, making larger gaps and voids over time. These are usually visible in the spring when ice thaws. The weight of vehicles over time speeds up the road breakdown in already-weakened areas, which results in potholes. Similarly, weather changes can impact the road causing it to crack or rise. The City conducts road repairs from May to October. This includes pothole patching, asphalt grinding, asphalt replacement and crack sealing. In addition, the City carries out a blitz of road repairs twice a year, during mid-April and late October.
3,297 potholes were repaired in 2024.
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Traffic Services The Traffic Services department oversees the safe and efficient flow of both pedestrian and vehicle traffic throughout the City’s streets. The division is responsible for traffic operations and road safety, maintaining pavement markings, managing traffic signal operations and maintenance, maintaining streetlights, administering the school crossing guard program, co-ordinating utility and road permits, and leading special projects as part of the MoveSmart Strategy . The MoveSmart initiative focuses on enhancing transportation through four programs: 1. The Road Safety program aims to improve road safety by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, using data-driven approaches and raising public awareness. 2. The Sustainable Mobility program promotes active and sustainable transportation options, prioritizing safety and expanding pedestrian and cycling networks. 3. The Mobility Management program modernizes traffic signal systems to improve efficiency and ensure safe movement for all road users.
4. Lastly, the Traffic Data Management program emphasizes accurate, up-to-date traffic data to support evidence-based decision-making and ongoing system performance monitoring. As part of this effort, a total of 900 traffic data collection counts have been completed city-wide. Together, these programs connect people, places and communities.
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Automated Speed Enforcement Automated speed enforcement (ASE) is a system that uses a camera and speed measurement device to enforce speed limits. The City launched the ASE program in April 2025, which will include ten cameras across Vaughan.
Traffic services core program
CORE PROGRAMS
START DATE END DATE
Pavement markings, sign retro-reflectivity, seasonal traffic calming Traffic operations and road safety review Streetlights, traffic signal and utilities
May (weather permitted)
November
All year
All year
March - November (some data collected all year)
Transportation data collection
Speed compliance-radar message board
April
November (weather permitted)
Speed compliance-automated speed enforcement camera School crossing guard program and school programming
All year (by rotations)
September
June
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