Below is a recent update on my website - I just thought I would create a big blog with a ton of info. If you want to chat more, please come to my Meet and Greet on Aug 24 or 25, in Huntington, and Edgemont respectively - Full Information is available on my website http://www.ck4a.ca/ - See you soon...
Where do I stand?
Most of the time, in a lineup, but with the campaign ramping up, I thought I would tell you my points of view on issues that were brought to my attention, or I was asked to comment on over the past couple of months...
Airport Tunnel: To me, this is a no brainer - why should 90% of the city be forced to access the Airport via Deerfoot trail. In my opinion, new council should do everything in their power to insure the tunnel is built now.
Secondary Suites: This issue is close to my heart, as I live on a transient street, with a number of duplexes, and renters. The main issue is the landlord has to respect his neighbors more than his pocketbook. Renting to groups of people means that parking is a premium. I believe if you change an area to allow for secondary suites, then there will be parking issues. If the housing areas are close to schools, and transit, it means that the cars just sit there. I am in favor of permit parking in all areas where secondary suites are allowed. I just want to park in front of my house.
Traffic: I believe if there is a left turn signal at an intersection, and there is a car in the left turn lane, it only makes sense to use the signal, and have an advance left. (e.g. 64th Ave. and 4th St. NW) Why should the signal just be controlled by the Fire Department? I believe instead of a crosswalk with flashing yellow lights to indicate a pedestrian, put in more pedestrian controlled traffic signals. These stop the traffic, and ensure the pedestrian waits for a walk signal. (e.g. 7th Ave. and Edmonton Tr. NE). If you happen to be heading northbound on 4th street NW near 68th, at 3:15 in the afternoon, it seems the students walk in single file, and continually cross the street. There is no break for traffic to move again.
Parks and Flood Rinks: We have a number of parks, playgrounds, and flood rinks, in Ward 4. I believe that there is economical and possibly eco-friendly solution to lighting that could be used to light these parks. Now, in August, this may not be an issue, but night almost seems continuous in the winter months. I would like to see one or two more skate/bmx parks in our ward. Possibly close to the recreation centre's or schools.
WARD Redefined: I am not sure as to the actual reasoning of the new ward boundaries, but with Cambrian, Rosemount, Queens Park, and Highwood moving to Ward 7, and Edgemont and Country Hills moving to Ward 4, you can see some correlation when you look at a map. Why we would separate Country Hills from the rest of the Northern Hills? To me, this seemed a little odd. Also adding Edgemont to the fold changed the geography a little. They are isolated from the rest of ward 4 by Nose Hill Park.
Financial Accountability: Recently the city commented on the stale-mated growth of the city. One would hope the budget is based on real numbers of people and a tax base that can be calculated. If a budget is forecasted on growth potential and not the actual tax base, what is the new council left with when budget meetings roll around in November? We all know you can't borrow from operations to fund capital expenditures, but we need to be sure the city business continues to run. This means we have to take a look at all our operations to ensure we break even. Unlike a business, our shareholders are more interested in keeping their share cost low (taxes), but still keep all the existing, implement new, and improving on existing services to keep their city one of the best in Canada to live in.
Low Cost Housing: If the city can encourage developers to incorporate low cost housing to new residential areas, and keep the design and aura of the neighborhood that they had in mind, it will encourage new home OWNERS, which in turn creates a larger tax based to draw from. My idea of low cost housing is not in the form of Rentals. I think everyone deserves a chance to own their home.
Developer's participation in infrastructure: With each new community in the city, comes a need for new streets, new sewers, and additional services in the form of power, trash, recycling, and business development. I believe the developers should participate in the financing of city infrastructure. Is it fair for all taxpayers to pay for the new areas?
Business to Business: What am I going to do to make sure businesses stay in the core or at least in Calgary, and not leave for the suburbs of Okotoks, Airdrie, Strathmore, etc? This problem is two fold. The small cities on the outskirts of Calgary provide space and lower taxes to lure the businesses into a new home. In Calgary, property owners in the core can help with this dilemma. As much as there is a business tax base, we need to make sure the businesses are located in Calgary. Landlords do not want empty office towers. The onus lies on their doorstep to try and keep their occupancy rate low. The city can help, but I am not prepared to say how, as it is or could be considered a broken promise. I do think something could be done about parking in the core. Is there a reason that parking spots cost as much as a small apartment? And even the meters. You get a discount for the first hour, but have you ever tried to get anything done downtown in less than one hour? This one needs to be investigated. I sure hope that our meter rates aren't based on the implementation of Park Plus. Maybe once it has paid for itself they could lower the rates. After all, the BC Government did remove the Toll Booth on the Coquihalla.
Transit: It seems to me that we need to evaluate how transit operates at rush hour. I know they try, as you see three route 301 busses packed to the rim go by the bus loop at 78th every morning. We want people to ride the bus, but must make it work for all. Is it fair that a Crowfoot train is full at McMahon. four car trains are coming, but when? Staggered starts may be an option, and this may already be happening. As for transit rates, to me, they seem fair. I was paying $2.75 in greater Vancouver 15 years ago. We also need to figure a way to operate for people in communities. For me to get from Huntington to Edgemont, I need to take 3 busses. Circle routes have some balance, but when all main routes operate on a straight line through the city, as the city grows, getting from A to B requires thought and great timing. Transit also has an affect on our schools. The express busses that make one run in the morning, immediately switch to a district school run, and then after school operate in reverse. I do not have the ultimate solution, but it is on my Radar.
Recycling/Trash: When the city wide recycling program started, the first 3 weeks, my blue bin was packed. I saved it, knowing it was coming. Now with the program established, I never fill the bin in a week. We could realize some cost savings in this department one of two ways. Change the schedule to a 7 business day rotation. Also, as each resident has to insure the bin is properly placed in the alleys and on the streets, would it not make sense to have them all on one side of the street. This would save driver time; in they would not have to go down the same streets twice. I know that I would not have a problem moving my bin across the alley if it meant the costs of the program were lowered. As for trash, I have yet to fill my bin on a weekly basis. When this program is fully functional city wide, I will have no problem buying a tag for my excess garbage. Grass clippings and leaves are the biggest space takers in garbage scenario. I imagine, as with recycling, the compost program will also eventually return to our ward / city.
The $60 Million Budget shortfall: New council will have their hands full with this one - if all programs, and business units are to get the same treatment as CPS (which I agreed with), then each unit will need to evaluate all aspects of their business. With this in mind, key services, such as the Fire Department and Calgary Police Services I foresee their budget request being approved if they are reasonable. As the city grows the needs for these services grows. This means recruitment, equipment, and other capital expenditures associated with their infrastructure. If we (the new council) are not blindsided by the previous administration, then all should move forward. Is 6% increase in taxes unreasonable - it is, and it is threatened every year? They cut, chop, snip, and eventually lower it to a more workable figure. Is the 6% just a scare tactic, so that when the real increase is announced, it is accepted?
More later - Have a great Day !
My husband and I have lived in Hidden Valley for six years now and the transit situation has scarcely improved since we first moved here. I've written to the CT folks a few times to ask them to improve transit in the area. Until fairly recently, there was no bus available to take a person from Hidden Valley to the C-Train line. Now they've made a bus that does that, but it only runs early in the morning and the buses are jam-packed as they head to Brentwood Station.
ReplyDeleteIf I walk over to the Co-op in the Hamptons (a treacherous proposition up a steep hill, along a highway, with no sidewalk, although I've done it even in winter) there's a bus that runs all day long between those stops and the Dalhousie station.
I was on a bus once heading to Sandarac station when a few tourists boarded and asked the driver how they might get to Market Mall. The easiest proposition for them (as the beleaguered driver explained) was to continue on our bus, take the #3 all the way downtown...and then take the C-Train back NORTH where they could catch a connector bus to take them there. It's no wonder that people don't take the bus as much as they could - who would choose a 1.5 hour trip that included backtracking to get to a shopping centre that's only fifteen minutes away from home?
As someone who relies a great deal on transit for my mobility - to hear you acknowledge the transit issues in Ward 4 is very heartening. It's definitely of major concern to me!