Questions and Answers from the Candidates running for Mayor:
Pat Sobeski Answers to our questions
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Woodstock News Group … September 14th questions.Submitted by: Pat Sobeski
2. Woodall is a long term project where future recreational facilities will be built over the next 2 to 20 years. For example, when Lions Pool is finally unable to function (which could happen in 2 years or maybe in 10 years), the plans will be to place the replacement outdoor pool at Woodall. I would expect specific fundraising will take place at that time to assist in financing a swimming facility.
3. I have seen previous reports showing residential taxes are high. However, this Council has worked to change the trend and the initial progress has been positive. BMA Management Consulting completes an annual municipal report comparing municipalities in Ontario. Their recently released 2013 Report reviewed 98 municipalities.
One metric used measures “property taxes as a percentage of average household income”. In the 2010 report the provincial average measured property taxes as 4.1% of household income. Woodstock percentage number was higher at 4.6% which earned the City a “High” rating.
However, the trend has improved significantly. In the 2013 Report the provincial average measured property taxes as 3.7% of household income. Woodstock percentage dropped to 3.7% which resulted in a “Mid” rating.
Again, the trend is positive, but there is still work to do to achieve a “Low” rating which would have required a percentage score of 3.4%. (Source: 2014 BMA Report pages 401-402).4. The decision by the University of Ottawa to locate a satellite campus in the central business district will not only rejuvenate the downtown core, but will also reinvent Woodstock. This City Council has set the stage to ensure a university in Woodstock becomes not just a dream but a reality.
6. The City has benefitted from the presence of Southgate Centre in the community and they have pretty much reached the maximum capacity of their current facility. In the next term, I will seek Council’s support to address the increasing needs and financial support for a growing senior population.7. The Municipal Act prohibits providing bonuses to companies. Section 106 (2) outlines the type of assistance that is prohibited including: giving away property, giving away money, selling land below market value and an exemption from paying Municipal taxes.
Despite the above provincial restrictions there has been recent development along the #401 corridor within the city boundary during this term of City Council including: North American Stamping expansion; Execulink Telecom; Nova Steel expansion; New offices for J.E.T. Enterprises and Farm Credit; Trans-Mit Steel; Industrial Developments International reaching 85% of leased capacity; and SYSCO.8. Very few municipalities have performed as well as Woodstock the past four years. The Economic Development reports that there has been an increase of over 1,900 persons in manufacturing companies tracked by the city in the Industrial Directory since 2010. The city will work to continue to diversify our employment base and the university will assist in that objective.
9. The source of the information on Stratford is not provided so I am unable to comment. The BMA Report provides information on the impact of taxation based on the audited financial statements each community. One measurement in the BMA report measures the municipal taxes on an average home plus the average amount paid for water/sewer services. In Stratford the combined municipal taxes plus water/sewer totaled $3,926. In Woodstock the total added up to $3,629. (Source: 2013 BMA Report, page 407). The BMA Report indicates that Woodstock is lower by $297.00.
Another metric that should be considered is the amount of the total debt in your municipality. One measurement used in the BMA study is to compare the “outstanding debt per $100,000 of unweighted assessment” (pages 103-105). For municipalities participating in the 2013 BMA Report, Woodstock was at $184.00, the provincial average was $561.00 and Stratford has an extremely high amount of $2,597.00. Stratford residents are carrying over 14 times the total debt load of this city. The size of Stratford’s debt is not healthy.
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Woodstock News Group … September 14th questions.Submitted by: Pat Sobeski
2. Woodall is a long term project where future recreational facilities will be built over the next 2 to 20 years. For example, when Lions Pool is finally unable to function (which could happen in 2 years or maybe in 10 years), the plans will be to place the replacement outdoor pool at Woodall. I would expect specific fundraising will take place at that time to assist in financing a swimming facility.
3. I have seen previous reports showing residential taxes are high. However, this Council has worked to change the trend and the initial progress has been positive. BMA Management Consulting completes an annual municipal report comparing municipalities in Ontario. Their recently released 2013 Report reviewed 98 municipalities.
One metric used measures “property taxes as a percentage of average household income”. In the 2010 report the provincial average measured property taxes as 4.1% of household income. Woodstock percentage number was higher at 4.6% which earned the City a “High” rating.
However, the trend has improved significantly. In the 2013 Report the provincial average measured property taxes as 3.7% of household income. Woodstock percentage dropped to 3.7% which resulted in a “Mid” rating.
Again, the trend is positive, but there is still work to do to achieve a “Low” rating which would have required a percentage score of 3.4%. (Source: 2014 BMA Report pages 401-402).4. The decision by the University of Ottawa to locate a satellite campus in the central business district will not only rejuvenate the downtown core, but will also reinvent Woodstock. This City Council has set the stage to ensure a university in Woodstock becomes not just a dream but a reality.
6. The City has benefitted from the presence of Southgate Centre in the community and they have pretty much reached the maximum capacity of their current facility. In the next term, I will seek Council’s support to address the increasing needs and financial support for a growing senior population.7. The Municipal Act prohibits providing bonuses to companies. Section 106 (2) outlines the type of assistance that is prohibited including: giving away property, giving away money, selling land below market value and an exemption from paying Municipal taxes.
Despite the above provincial restrictions there has been recent development along the #401 corridor within the city boundary during this term of City Council including: North American Stamping expansion; Execulink Telecom; Nova Steel expansion; New offices for J.E.T. Enterprises and Farm Credit; Trans-Mit Steel; Industrial Developments International reaching 85% of leased capacity; and SYSCO.8. Very few municipalities have performed as well as Woodstock the past four years. The Economic Development reports that there has been an increase of over 1,900 persons in manufacturing companies tracked by the city in the Industrial Directory since 2010. The city will work to continue to diversify our employment base and the university will assist in that objective.
9. The source of the information on Stratford is not provided so I am unable to comment. The BMA Report provides information on the impact of taxation based on the audited financial statements each community. One measurement in the BMA report measures the municipal taxes on an average home plus the average amount paid for water/sewer services. In Stratford the combined municipal taxes plus water/sewer totaled $3,926. In Woodstock the total added up to $3,629. (Source: 2013 BMA Report, page 407). The BMA Report indicates that Woodstock is lower by $297.00.
Another metric that should be considered is the amount of the total debt in your municipality. One measurement used in the BMA study is to compare the “outstanding debt per $100,000 of unweighted assessment” (pages 103-105). For municipalities participating in the 2013 BMA Report, Woodstock was at $184.00, the provincial average was $561.00 and Stratford has an extremely high amount of $2,597.00. Stratford residents are carrying over 14 times the total debt load of this city. The size of Stratford’s debt is not healthy.
Trevor Birtch Answers to our questions for the position of Mayor
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Hi Paul,
Based on the engaement I have been having with business and citizens I will be posting future updates to relevant issues and concerns on my sites in the near future.
For the short answers to your questions please see below.
Thank you, Trevor Birtch
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
The future has never been brighter for this City! With good leadership, vision, teamwork and community participation, we can be the envy of other cities.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
Potential families looking to call Woodstock home will look for recreational options that provide diverse activities. Participation by way of community involvement and donations by various groups is always a sign of success.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
Review current costs of all services and expenditures based on performance indicators prior to service expansions.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
Any activity or growth is welcome in the downtown.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
We can not focus on just one area of expansion, the City will welcome all.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
Expansion and growth in this area would be welcoming. Respect for the senior citizens in this City would be one of my goals.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
Yes we will encourage new business to the City. I believe the City will sell itself because of its location.
The short answer to the tax relief question would be no. We need to be fair to all current rate payers.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
Growth, Comfort and Security lends itself to steady expansion. Having a City with all the current services etc, Police, Full-time Firemen. Having a strong community environment will attract growth.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
Municipal involvement that includes citizen participation translates to efficency of local government.
Michael Harding's answers to our questions, running for Mayor.
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“…looking for transparency, accountability and honesty…” is often requested on this site along with “substance”. One has only look at how the Woodstock Hydro sale to Hydro One was handled to know what those words should mean. Before we break out into song like that depression era tune “happy days are here again…”. I’d be laughing if it wasn’t so sad.
Politicians are by nature gun shy. They try (unsuccessfully) to not piss people (read voters) off. And they don’t like being attacked where they can’t fight back. This site has gone to great lengths to encourage honesty and responsible criticism. I too have tried to explain and justify and talk about real action, something that gets me into trouble for being arrogant. So I’ll just have to try harder.
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
I’m sure everyone commenting on this question paints a rosy picture but I know that it will take considerable effort to make wise choices. Any growth must be sustainable and by that I mean we either have or can afford the infrastructure that’s required. By sustainable I mean no more than 6% growth in any year. That figure, based on the past, appears to be something we can afford. One can easily see what rapid growth did to Milton, for example. Home prices soared as did infrastructure costs. We need to increase housing density because it costs less on the tax base. And we need the second and third floor housing on Dundas to be improved. Many are in slum condition. The conversion that started happening has stalled. Incentives are clearly part of the answer.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
Let’s do what we did for the Soccer facility, use federal/provincial monies when available to help fund it and let the groups using it commit to fundraising a portion. What isn’t being asked however, is should the city put the money out to get it built or should you wait until the money shows up? More thought to the price tag before everyone concludes that it’s a go.
My questions are not being addressed. For instance what is the exact nature of the need, who will be using it in the decades to come as the majority of our residents “age”, and can we afford to charge 25 years of taxpayers for it. The latter is the most important. I’m not impressed with the argument that we’ll be able to stage regional and national competitions ‘cause those very things don’t pay the capital cost nor am I going to engage in the “these are minorities” making the requests since every recreational venue caters to one minority or another. That’s the nature of our recreational assets.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
Nobody likes cutting that cheque every quarter, me included. I think we need to do a better job at the value for money equation, something I say council should do something about.
Study after study has shown that we’re somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to taxation. And please remember that we are paying three taxes when one cuts that tax cheque: city, county, education.
During my last term, by concentrating on raising new income (industrial increases) not from existing sources, we all gained on tax reduction. The four year city average was 0.4%, basically flat. Compare that with the last four years and the rate climbed to 8.9% with increases year over year.
Some are commenting on our relationship with the County, saying that we should be “more assertive” with the county. Tax policy is created by the County politicians. My experience is that they have been ready to consider our needs like the elimination of the large industrial tax rate. One must remember that there are seven of “them” and only three of “us” and that we’re not getting out of the relationship. BTW, we get a dollars service for about 25 cents of county tax.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
These questions are two very different things that require different responses. Some have lost sight of the fact that the central core of this city is for retail and their success contributes tax money into the city. This council has tried to dump inherited (defaulted) properties on anyone with the remotest chance of occupancy. And of course there is the fiasco of the Dundas property used to entice Fanshawe into downtown without first asking the provincial government if it was possible to use cultural dollars for education. It failed because it was ill advised and it bruised our relationship with Fanshawe.
It’s nice to be considered for something like a University albeit a French language one, but whatever happened to the expansion of the Fanshawe College site where there was room, parking etc. At the end of my last term, we were committed and yet this council has failed to proceed.
There’s an old saying “if you want a different outcome, do something different”. While one should never bank on the future, one can plan for it. We need people living in the core and we need families with children close to it. Otherwise we’ll lose both our downtown elementary and high school.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
It depends what you’re looking for as a council. I always wanted large industrial because it paid the most in taxation although I also led the charge to remove the large industrial tax bracket which helped keep businesses in town that were growing. Not every industry stayed open and some left town for the U.S. but the vast majority stayed here and prospered. During my last term, we had a 200% increase in new revenue that greatly lowed residential taxation.
The box mall came at the right time to reduce retail dollars from leaving town for malls, like White Oaks. And there are still some who like the whole idea of an indoor mall but these are not being built anymore, the result of trying to shrink retail overheads. Still others want greater selection.
Virtually every community along the 401 corridor hangs a sign “open for business”, it is the customer that determines commercial growth, not the politicians. They come when it’s right for them.
As for recreational assets, as one ages and as the number of youth living here declines, we should be concerned with low impact recreation with things like trails, for example. And I’m still waiting for an excuse to wax my cross county skies for a nice trail through our parks this winter! And I need to walk more and cycle more (my tires are flat) and take more responsibility for my health.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
Some sources have data that says we are a wealthy community but if we are, why are an increasing number of those retiring living hand to mouth. Just take a moment to see if you can live on Canada Pension and Old Age security income. A huge number of us don’t have private pensions to survive on.
So the issue that will be critical in the next four years is housing. It will not get cheaper to live in the home where one raised one’s family. We need to move on to something smaller and more affordable. My work with the Harvey Woods Lofts project on Vansittart Ave has taught me that public private partnerships are possible. Private financing helped retrofit this historic building to a standard that the community will be proud of. Working with and supporting Oxford County efforts will be necessary. What’s coming is a slow motion tsunami of need that the private sector alone cannot meet. It’s already started.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
Tax relief is not permitted in general but certain benefits are available where a community development plan (like the business core) are passed by council. Remember that the politicians don’t really influence whether commercial comes or not, but does say where it can locate. The politicians, however, have to be vigilant against retail “creep” that is simply poor land use. I could spend a great deal of time on just this subject but suffice it to say that there will be greater pressure to expand the boundaries of the box mall site. We must avoid things like the failure of the TD Bank site there, something I warned them against putting there is the first place. People just don’t bank when they go to Walmart or Canadian Tire. Lesson learned.
Some will say that Toyota didn’t put us on the map. Hogwash. The 401/403 has been here for decades and didn’t bring that plant here. If anything, it was rail. Our first try some 25 years ago failed and the Toyota plant went to Cambridge. Some have said that the plant fell into our laps and even that the provincial government put it here. Nothing could be further from the truth. We out performed 4 other Canadian communities and a number of American sites. We were better planned, had negotiated the land transfer into the city, had the county on side and the Ontario government on side with oua dedicated city team. It all came together for success. That’s what put us on the map and the rain shadow affect meant thousands of new jobs and investment across a number of sectors that followed.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
We need to use our existing assets better. And we need to address questions that just won’t go away. Like sidewalks in winter, later hours for our bus service and weekend service. The paratransit service issues will have to be addressed (and not just the cost); an assertive economic strategy must continue; the municipality has a role to play in the downtown including investment, not just by default where we all pay.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
I’m behind on the investigation as to the reasons. I will respond to this next week because I think you cannot compare taxes by square footage or by the number of rooms or even frontage. Comparison is by current assessed value and in order to make a proper comparison, one must equate the difference between the average home in these communities. Our average home here in 2014 is $221,000. In Stratford the average residential assessment is about $250,000 with taxes of about $3,400. The source is MPAC.
I think the bag tag issue was poorly handled from the get-go. The public was left with the impression that it was just another tax grab. I have always supported the fee for service model behind bag tags to get it off the tax levy. Why would anyone want their garbage charges to be based on the assessed value of their home? I know there are lots of other questions about garbage that could be answered if anyone wishes. But it does speak to the need for greater communication with taxpayers doesn’t it?
Thanks for the opportunity to write about matters that affect us all.
Michael Harding's answers to this week's questions and Michael is running as Mayor
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1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
I’m reluctant to spend significant money keeping Lion’s Pool working. It’s a summer only facility and there are other options. Anyone who’s seen how much the children enjoy the splash pad at Vansittart and Ingersoll Ave knows how accessible it is for parents.
The money spent on Lion’s might be better spent installing splash pads in parks where there are significant numbers of children. Installation could be a multi-year process.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident, traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Definitely. Attempts to enforce the EDR (Emergency Detour Route) have proven to be impossible to reliably enforce. It’s time for the County to move on a proper truck route around Woodstock for traffic moving from and to the 401, heading north. There is a possibility of a route using county road 59 above county road 33 east to the 16th line, south to county road 4 to the 401, completely missing Innerkip. It’s been talked about on and off for years. The roads will have to be upgraded but it can be done.
One must realize that it will take the agreement of a majority of county councillors to agree to such a project.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Lansdowne. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
I’ve made it through the report and I’m still not convinced either way. There was a plan to build a joint facility with EMS and police that showed promise but it disappeared. I can’t determine if the obstacle is increased staffing or capital cost or response times. I think we have to a broader consultation with the parties before taking any step. And the public needs to be better informed about the risks.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
We forget that a bus service is a user pay system, the more passengers, the less it costs the taxpayer in support. I haven’t checked the current figures just yet but I recall that it costs us all about $4 for every $2 fare. We need greater ridership to make it work but it will never break even. I don’t think there is a single transit system that doesn’t require public financial support. We replaced an aging fleet with accessible Canadian built buses and built a proper transit hub. So ridership remains the important issue. And yes, we should be ready to find a solution to later service hours and Sunday service. I’m ready to try it but ridership needs to be there and we need to remember those that depend on it.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesore?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and yes there are properties that are ugly. We have plenty of municipal tools to demand that owners meet property standards. We’ve had at least one property collapse, the result of improper maintenance. The lesson is obvious: strict enforcement of safety standards is required. Keep in mind that the city doesn’t have an automatic right to enter private property.
In terms of revitalization, our residents vote with their wallets. If they don’t come downtown and spend money at the shops that are there, then it will wither and die. But there’s something else happening. A number of new eateries have opened and a couple more in the last few months. We need people living in the core and in a small way, this is happening. For me, the municipality must be a player in any solution.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Winter use of the park is a good idea. Manicured cross country ski trail(s) would be a good start. What would be the result if we could have an outdoor skating rink? I guess we’d have to have cold weather to make it work. How about a dog sled race? Council could ask Brad J to investigate as many opportunities as can be dreamed. After all, Cowapoluza took time to mature. All it takes is to start.
And while we’re thinking about it, what can be done that would involve downtown. Maybe we close of that section of Dundas, cover the street with snow and have dog sled races there. Just sayin’.
Thanks for reading.
Michael Harding's answers to this week's questions Michael is running for mayor.
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1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
While I agree that council is there to make difficult decisions and that not everything can be resolved by a referendum, this is one question that should have been on the ballot. If you’re asking why not, I don’t have an answer. And why have a “public meeting” AFTER the decision was made. I cannot recall a single issue that affected every man, woman, and child here, and affected every resident, business and industry. If you are asking why there was no consultation, well, that’s a good question you should ask those that voted for it.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility?
Something has to be done for this overcrowded building. The city purchased the Swiss Chalet site and set aside half of it for a building addition. The other half went to the bus terminal. We had a plan to house police, fire and ambulance in an additional location but time and circumstances ruled that out for the moment. There has been no action for the last four years even though the need is still there. In the coming term, we will have to make a decision.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock?
If it were something like sewer pipes and street paving that we have been tendering for years, and where the abilities of those submitting is known, there may not be a problem. I prefer in other circumstances to use the RFP (request for proposals) where the requirements, maybe even the law, are less strict. In the example you site, there is more than simple price at issue, that you pointed out. Strictly speaking this is not “outsourcing” as we can’t do or want to do a tree service. Issues like timeliness of the service, how they clean up the site after they work should be an RFP issue. I should also say that no one service provider, local or otherwise, can be guaranteed a contract. But the question that remains is, how will this work over time.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
This is a complicated issue as that particular use was not in the zoning, requiring a change. Council voted no. I’m left with the opinion that it might have been an overreaction since in other areas, you wouldn’t even know it was there.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
No problem with this. I’ve supported a code of conduct which became and remains “toothless” and during my last term, hired a meeting investigator to review closed meetings upon complaint. A recent review I initiated with the meeting investigator led to a recent change in the procedural bylaw and “suggestions” that the content of that meeting be made public. Council has still chosen not to make it public. The investigator needs to “compel” release. The Ontario Ombudsman needs to have that ability as well.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
Will it remain so? We are aging in this community faster than the Ontario average. This age group is under the most stress often living paycheque to paycheque according to recent surveys. So how we tax, and what services we provide need to be reflected in our expenditures. Recreation comes to mind but we need to keep in mind what the future will bring – a changed demographic. I would recommend that all multi-year expenditures also include assessments of how and what the community will look like in the 10 to 25 year horizon.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Is there any question about my abilities to promote this city? All the mechanisms I put in place have been abandoned in the last four years. I would restore them.
Pat Sobeski Answers to our questions for the week of September 29 that is running for Mayor.
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1 – Woodstock Hydro: It is hard to think of your municipality owning a private-for-profit business
, but that is exactly what we have here with Woodstock Hydro. A potential sale is a commercial transaction and the parties entered into a confidentiality agreement at the beginning which is what every municipal owner and every potential buyer does. These kind of commercial discussions and negotiations are done in confidence.
Since restructuring in 1999 of electrical distribution companies, some 225 municipal councils have sold their interest in their local hydro company. Many larger communities such as Aurora, Barrie, Brampton, Brockville, Owen Sound and Richmond Hill no longer have an ownership share in their local utility. Not a single sale of a local hydro distribution utility has being tied to a referendum vote.
2 – Police Station: The current location is in a central location and the current proposed addition will eliminate the need to continue renting the building on Metcalfe Street and bring all the staff together under one roof. Another factor in maintaining the downtown location is that the firing range located in the basement would be very expensive to duplicate in a new facility.
In 2006, City Council approved $25,000 to review a possible police/fire joint venture. Artist drawings were completed on a site located at Devonshire and County Road 4 that also included fire training facilities and eventually a possible hotel. However, I discovered at the start of this term, those plans were never shared by that Administration with the other members of city council.
3 – The tendering process is an open, fair and provides a service at the best price to ratepayers. If each municipality restricted competitive bidding to local firms only, Woodstock based companies would be shut out from opportunities in London (375,000), Waterloo Region (500,000) and Brantford (125,000). The industry accepts this method of procurement.
4 – Zoning allows for sustainable planning. It regulates where residential, commercial and industrial can be located to make greater use of existing roads, transit service and water/wastewater infrastructure. Zoning can be employed on a municipal-wide basis or on a site-specific site which allows for some subjective flexibility. Each application must stand on its own merits.
5 – Agree. As Andre Marin has indicated “he is about as welcome as a skunk is to a garden party”. However the Ombudsman’s office can play an important role in monitoring all municipal activities.
6 – The municipality can create the environment that will encourage companies and families to locate in Woodstock. This means continuing to improve our overall taxes relative to neighbouring communities and during this term, progress has been made with the average home in Woodstock valued at 221,000 having a 0.3% increase or less than $10.00. Young parents that are well educated will find excellent opportunities in the area to pursue a career and know that they can raise a family in a safe community.
7 – The best way a Mayor can promote Woodstock is to bring a culture of success where every staff member and stakeholder understands their role and responsibility. Our city has benefitted greatly from other municipalities where the level of service is poor. I know of neighbouring communities where development applications often can sit for six months before a response is received. Cornerstone Builders of Belleville, the company that constructed SYSCO, was so pleased with the way they were treated by City staff, Cornerstone is telling investors and other builders to take a serious look at doing business in Woodstock.
In the Mayor’s role, I can accomplish anything if I am willing to let someone else take the credit. When I hear comments that City staff has executed as promised, I know we are headed in the right direction.
Candidates running for City Council here are the Questions and Answers
Shawn Shapton Answers to our questions Shawn is running for City Council.
WEEK 3 QUESTIONS
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
When it comes to selling city owned assets of this size, no precedence has even been set. There is NO question more public information sessions should have taken place BEFORE the sale went through. At bare minimum this should have gone through the tendering process the same way the procurement department would when purchasing goods or services. Going into “private negotiations” right away with just one potential buyer is ludicrous and a HUGE business mistake. If selling Woodstock Hydro is the decision that council felt was right for our city, we certainly didn’t give ourselves the greatest opportunity to receive a premium price. Especially when Hydro One knows there are no other competitors.
I am disappointed when talking to existing council members that voted in favor of this decision. Is it too much to ask council to be clear on why this is the best choice for Woodstock prior to closing the deal? With it being an election year why not slow the process down until the city has a clear indication of what the residents want. Simply by adding the question “Would you support the sale of Woodstock Hydro” YES or NO to the bottom of the ballot would have solved many of the issues with no extra cost to tax payers. The actual sale of Woodstock Hydro is just the topic, it’s the failure to communicate that is the real issue. I agree elected officials are there to make decisions on behalf of their constituents. However, there will be circumstances when it is necessary to go beyond council chambers. Including the share holders of the city in a decision that affects everyone should be mandatory in decisions like selling Woodstock Hydro.
Its decisions like this that creates a negative reflection between council and residents. Woodstock has a great opportunity to pick a new team that will put more focus on accountability and transparency. We definitely need to find new ways to close the communication gap between residents and council in order to change the culture at city hall.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility? I think we should start by looking at the needs both short term and long term for the Police Dept. With the current Police station already land locked, there is limited opportunity to expand at that location in the future. We must consider the needs of our growing city before we spend millions on a facility that isn’t in the proper location, and won’t meet the needs for our future.
I believe that to meet our short term needs creating a satellite office on the north side of town would be a great start and a much more affordable solution. This would allow the city more time to effectively budget for a large expansion including the Police and Fire dept. Joining the police and fire departments in the same facility makes sense for our growing city. The synergies between the two will result in cost savings and the ability to communicate much more effectively. These two services represent a large portion of the annual budget so we need to focus on cost saving where we can.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock ? The tendering process helps to ensure we receive the best price for the goods or services that are required and that there is no favoritism shown to one supplier or the other. This is NOT a perfect system by any means. There are certainly times that the best price doesn’t mean the proper service level, or quality of goods. If all we want is the best price, just imagine what people are cutting to achieve the “lowest bid.” It becomes a very slippery slope. Of course being a business owner in Woodstock I would love to see local businesses supported more often, but I also understand the importance of being transparent and ensuring competitive pricing.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed? I think the city has created a good level of order for businesses but they fell short on this decision. The crematorium would have been a good way to add a diversified business to our city. It would have created new jobs and is a true recession proof business. The other one that comes to mind is Personal Service Coffee that was forced out of their location on Ridgeway Circle. There was a large amount of time and money spent to move a franchise coffee supplier that just wanted to make a living. There was very little risk to the city by allowing him to stay in that facility and instead it was dragged out over several months. I’m sure the cost associated with that decision far exceeded the reward of him moving to a new location. There should be a better policy and procedure to ensure fairness across the board.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government? I would completely support the increase of power to the Ontario Ombudsman. This would give the residents a safety net at the municipal level on decisions deemed unfair or non transparent.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats. Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
I have been out talking to so many young families and the fact is a large percentage of families are struggling. Getting into the real estate market, finding good paying jobs or just finding a way to stay current with their bills seems impossible. Like I have said in my response to many other questions, affordable housing needs to become a priority. It has been neglected for far too long and is now at a critical impasse. Creating a job growth strategy, attracting more investors to build affordable housing that can be purchased or rented on an entry level income are a few ways to support young families. Making changes to the operation hours of our transit system would also help people get to and from a job, pick up supplies, and have the ability to get to areas of interest in our city.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Woodstock has so many hidden gems that should be promoted more often like our trail system, our parks and our recreation facilities. We have so many great retail stores, restaurants and planned events that will draw people to our city. Woodstock has the friendly small town feel with big city amenities that sets us apart. Our historical buildings and recent economic growth, along with our geographic location gives us an advantage in attracting new visitors to this great city
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions For City Council
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Thanks Paul for the opportunity to address the questions from the readers of the Woodstock Newsgroup. As many of the questions are interconnected I have not address each question individually but I have tried to address all the different topics.
My vision and outlook for the city is to pursue new business and industry for the next four years. Presently we are experiencing tremendous growth in residential housing and I believe that must be matched with good paying jobs from new business and industry. I do not want Woodstock to become a bedroom community for the London and Kitchener areas. Council needs to do all it can to encourage business and industry to locate here in order to take the tax burden away from the property owners who are already heavily taxed as compared to similar areas. We must remain competitive with other cities when it comes to attracting industries that are relocating or starting up. Past councils have had some success in this area but we must be even more aggressive in the future as our location at the crossroads of the 401 and 403 gives us a tremendous advantage. The Woodall Complex will certainly be an issue in the next four years and it would be exciting to be a part of those decisions. A properly built complex would generate tremendous revenue for Woodstock by bringing tournaments and events to our city which brings players, parents and spectators with their tourism dollars as well as fulfilling the cities recreational needs. But we must be mindful of the taxpayers dollars and look to private sponsorship and corporate donations to offset the costs. I think the discussions that have started with the University of Ottawa is fantastic news for the downtown core with a lot of potential. Downtown development has been an issue, forever, and never seems to go away. We have some fantastic businesses downtown and I think if shoppers felt more safe and secure while walking the downtown streets that these businesses would thrive and new businesses would want to open up. I know it is a difficult subject to address but many shoppers have expressed to me that they are not comfortable in certain areas of the downtown core and I believe this needs to be thoroughly examined by council. Our senior population is our fastest growing section of our city and Woodstock must do all it can to ensure their quality of life. We have a tremendous senior population who spend countless hours volunteering and helping make our community what it is today. A society is measured by how it treats the elderly and the city must help the private sector in anyway it can to help provide affordable housing for seniors as well including the senior voice in all recreation decisions that are made in the future. Once again Paul, thanks for the opportunity to address your readers and I look forward to any future communication. Todd Poetter
Owen Farrell Answers to our questions
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Thanks for the questions, I look forward to the coming weeks.
1. I would like to see more private investment of both commercial and income residential properties. If the University of Ottawa locates in downtown Woodstock there will be a need for more private affordable housing units for both our current and future residents.
2. If the Woodall recreational development is needed then fundraising should be the major source of income for the project. The City of Woodstock will be responsible for maintaining the site and this will be a never ending cost to tax payers once the fundraising campaign is complete.
3. The taxes in Woodstock are high and with an increased density among the new residential subdivisions and infill housing we can also decrease the per household tax requirement on a street by street basis. We will have to keep a tight control on all City Departments at budget time.
4. The downtown needs the University of Ottawa as the City of Woodstock alone cannot increase the traffic and pedestrian flow without having Institutional partners, including the County of Oxford building.
5. The City of Woodstock currently has large serviced industrial developments, with vacant land ready to be sold. If required we have the Woodall development for future recreational expansion.
6. The City of Woodstock has an obligation to ensure all of the residents are represented, but with the increasing number of active seniors this portion of our population will require more attention and resources.
7. The Woodstock Development Department has done a good job of marketing our vacant and ready to sell Industrial and Commercial properties within the City and both large and small companies know the benefit of the 401 and 403 corridor. The Toyota manufacturing plant did not put Woodstock on the Map, it reminded people that we have a prime location and the ability to accommodate all sizes of companies.
8. We need to maintain our current level of services and concentrate on keeping the taxes at a moderate increase. Attracting the University of Ottawa could be the catalyst to further increasing the exposure and investment in Woodstock.
9. I do not know why Stratford residents pay less but the City of Woodstock maintains a High Level of Service and I feel that Woodstock residents and future employers would not want it any other way.
Shawn Shapton, Answers to our questions Shawn is running for City Council
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1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
Over the next four years I see our community continuing to grow in both the commercial and residential sectors. I
see a fresh and vibrant downtown core bustling with students, new retail businesses and offering new affordable
housing opportunities. I also see a new Woodstock City Council that is committed to working together with its
residents, businesses and city staff. Communication and transparency needs to become a main priority.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay
for part of it?
I believe Woodstock is ready for another sports complex. There will need to be a large amount of input from
residents prior to building so we can ensure the new facility meets many needs. After seeing the popularity of the
skate park in Southside Park it’s clear “if you build it they will come”! We need more locations that encourage a
healthy and active life style for ALL of our residents. Having a facility that will draw new events and more people
into Woodstock will have a positive effect on our local economy.
At a projected cost of over $30 million dollars community fundraising, corporate sponsorship and government
grants will all play a vital role in this development. Having a dedicated and diversified committee representing a
variety of interests will also be imperative to the success of this project.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
High taxation rates are a common complaint with most municipalities. But the truth is Woodstock seems to be on
the higher end of that spectrum. I believe with the success and growth of Woodstock in the last decade, it’s time
we made tax reduction a priority.
In order to keep an increase at a minimum we will need look at all programs and funding to see what’s working
and what’s not. Specifically I would like to see less use of EXPENSIVE consultants and instead utilize the knowledge
of Woodstock City staff and residents to help improve efficiencies and reduce costs. I would like to see a strategic
plan put in place with its main focus on reducing taxes.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our
downtown?
I would like to fill the void that Zeller’s left with a new business that will attract people to our downtown on a daily
basis. I would also like to see more affordable multifamily housing solutions, utilizing some of the older buildings
and empty lot’s to create a vibrant and fresh city centre.
After touring cities with comparable downtown issues, specifically Brantford, it’s amazing to see how adding
university and college campuses can completely revitalize a downtown core. Locations that once sat empty are
now full of excited students and prosperous new businesses.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
Education - Woodstock would definitely benefit from expanding in the education sector. Fanshawe College has set
a great example for us and now with the opportunity of bringing the University of Ottawa here - that’s a fantastic
start.
Recreational - The Woodall development would enhance our recreational facilities and fill a void on the north side
of Woodstock.
Industrial - Adding to our thriving industrial and manufacturing sector will continue to promote new jobs and
enhance our economy.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for
'seniors'?
The City of Woodstock seniors are an extremely important part of our community! As our demographic changes
and a larger portion become “young at heart” the creation of new programs and facilities will become a necessity.
The value of their opinion is immeasurable.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new
businesses on the 401 corridor?
Location, location, location! Because Woodstock is centrally located in southwestern Ontario with easy access to
the 401 and 403 that alone is a strong influence for most companies. Promoting Woodstock globally as a prime
business location would help attract and diversify our current economy. Len Magyar and Brad Hammond do a
great job of attracting new businesses to our city with the resources available to them.
Tax relief for “NEW” business is a tough one for me because it would seem like we have forgotten about our
existing businesses. We need to look at a plan that will work for all businesses. Perhaps creating an open dialogue
between businesses and City Council could help lay the ground work for a strategic tax relief program.
Real estate along the 401 corridor needs to be marketed properly, so prospective companies realize they will
receive maximum exposure every day from both 401 & 403 traffic.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
My vision for the city includes a rejuvenated downtown core, continued growth in the education, industrial and
recreational sectors. We need to start listening to our residents and businesses and create a plan specific to their
needs. We are very fortunate to live in a successful community but we can’t become complacent, the City of
Woodstock needs to focus on a plan that is self sustaining.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where
garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
Without being fully aware of the services that are offered in those municipalities it’s hard to give an accurate
answer. As I mentioned in question # 3 I do feel there needs to be a strong effort put forth by City Council to
examine the current tax rates.
Laurie Fraser
Paul: thanks for the opportunity. I have already learned something from this. Not responding first is going to make some of your answers look like copying and nobody will remember who responded next. Nonetheless here goes
1. Without anything note worthy happening I see Woodstock maintaining slow constant growth
2. I strongly favour the Woodall project. I don't think anyone expects the city to fund the whole project. I am aware of some fund raising that has already been done and at one time there were those that wanted to take funding of the project to industry and business. Council cautioned against this until approval for the project. Hopefully momentum can be found again.
3. Examine every issue at budget time. I think we can save money with fewer consultants and trips to the OMB just to make a point.
4. I would like to see fewer vacant lots and buildings. I would suggest changing, deferring or eliminating the BIA levy in order to attract more services and institutions to the core. The University of Ottawa would be an exciting addition to downtown.
5. I believe in our current resources. What we need is to attract people/business to Woodstock.
6. I believe that the city should take a leadership role in supporting senior programs. I think the programs run best when ran internally
7. I would support our Business Development Department in whatever legal manner asked for if it will drive results.
8. Without anything exceptional happening I see us growing slowly. Keeping roads,pipes parks etc working is a must
9. The quality of service is not the same. I don't mind paying $1.12 per day for full time fire vs volunteer. Neither do I mind paying .72 per day for four firefighters per shift vs three.
Jerry Acchione
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
My goal would be to keep industry coming to Woodstock so that we continue to have job growth, therefore bringing City population growth.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
There should be fund raising involved similar to our Community Complex. Woodstock deserves first class sports fields and I believe it would ultimately benefit Woodstock as a City by bringing more physical activity to its citizens and the spin off economic spending at our restaurants, hotels, shopping areas etc. Once given the opportunity to see the expected costs and truly learn the status of our City financially, I would like to answer this further.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
I have to imagine this is every Cities concern and I look forward to the challenge of finding ways to limit any future increases and ways to cut costs without affecting our daily living.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
University of Ottawa (or similar ideas) coming to Woodstock has to become a priority if we want to help revitalize our downtown. As a City Council we will need to look at different ways to keep people shopping and spending time in our City core and attracting a wide variety of businesses.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
To stay a well rounded, healthy City we need to expand in every way proportionally.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
This is another area that I would think many Cities are facing. As our population is "aging" I do believe we need to take care of those that brought us to the point we are at now. We need more "active" places (like the Southgate Center) to keep our "seniors" staying healthy and enjoying themselves. City Council should be involved in finding ways to make this happen where ever possible.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
To help bring more businesses to Woodstock we need to look at what each prospective business will need to have the City of Woodstock on its future sights and plans. Offering Tax relief isn't always ideal as it's our citizens that need to pick up that slack. Our location has to be one of our strongest assets. From there we need to assess what else is needed to complete "selling our great City" in order for them to move to within our borders. We also need to continue to be willing to work with our City staff (Len Magyar & Brad Hammond to name a couple) and provide them the tools they need.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
As a City we are headed in the right direction. I certainly have not agreed with some of our current Councils decisions and its blatant lack of Transparency and its Accountability has certainly come into question for not just my liking, but for many of our citizens. The direction forward for me is to bring INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY back to Woodstock City Council and to start listening to our Citizens BEFORE big decisions are being made.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
This is a hard one to answer without knowing all the facts. I do not, nor have I ever, lived in either City and cannot attest to their "way of City life". As a City we may have higher City Taxes than some, but I do know that other Cities pay much more for certain things like "garbage bag tags" etc.
If Elected I will investigate this even further and bring ACCOUNTABILTY back to Woodstock City Council!
Thank you,
Jonnathan Brownlee
Hi Paul,
I wanted to start off by thanking you for this opportunity. I understand the power of open dialogue and this is a shining example of community engagement at its finest. Please continue to send questions as this is the perfect opportunity to understand the concerns our community has. Here it goes:
1. With the potential of the U of Ottawa campus coming to Woodstock, I feel the next 4 years have the potential for growth of population, young talent, and local businesses downtown. There will need to be many considerations made such as parking, traffic congestion, affordable housing, etc, but I am confident that Council will be able to handle this when the time comes.
2. The Woodall proposal offers a solution to many concerns that we had this past year with the numerous baseball teams/leagues we have running in our city. On top of the sports already considered for this proposal, I believe there are additional needs for other sports that should also be considered. This development would be an added plus to the community, but I do not believe that the City should be responsible to fund this project solely. I believe community support through fundraising and City assistance at certain stages will help make this a reality.
3. The City of Woodstock has done a lot of ‘investing’ over the past few years. With the growth we have experienced and the foundation that has already been laid, moving forward City Council must review current expenses on a granular level and investigate creative ways to reduce/avoid unnecessary expenses while capitalizing on our current assets. I could not in good conscience support an endeavour that would result in a significant tax increase unless it was an essential need.
4. The rebirth of the Downtown core has always been a topic for discussion within the community. I believe that the larger retail stores are shying away from downtown as most retail is located near the Walmart plaza and there is more access in that area. We do have a strong presence of local businesses in the downtown core and I think that should be encouraged further. If you look at cities that have successfully brought the downtown to life again (Waterloo, Brantford), there was an emphasis on arts and social life. Supporting new local businesses through the already established grants for improving the downtown and looking at creative ways to further encourage existing business growth should be a priority for the next council. The U of Ottawa campus really would fit into that vision as it would naturally add life, vibrancy and business to the downtown area.
5. The city has laid a good foundation for future growth. Nurturing this growth will be key in the next 4 years. We will need to start looking at leveraging the commercial and residential land we have plotted for expansion.
6. The Senior population is at an all time high and there is definitely a need for affordable housing. I’ve heard many stories of pension cuts/old age security reductions that have made it impossible for those who have retired to afford the cost of living. The City will need to look at solutions for this need, whether it be partnerships or federal funding, as affordable housing is a growing concern.
7. Historically Woodstock has done a great job at attracting new businesses as we are a natural choice due to our strategic location off the 401. There is a need for local businesses that are hiring young professionals just out of college/university or just starting families. Being a commuting hub to bigger tech/financial companies in nearby cities is a great start. Retaining young talent and employing locally will promote further growth longterm.
8. I believe Woodstock is ripe for growth and development. I intend on bringing creativity and critical thinking to the table to really examine how we can best facilitate the must needed changes our city will encounter. Community engagement through relevant means will be essential in a successful 4 year term of City Council.
9. I agree that taxes are high, and it will need to be something that is examined by council. I think that bringing in new blood with fresh eyes will help in responsibly handling expenditures. However we must ensure that we are not arbitrarily cutting costs without weighing how it will impact us longterm. Maintaining healthy relationships with essential services such as Fire/Police is key in the upcoming term.
Thanks again Paul! I look forward to speaking with you further.
Laurie Fraser Answers to our questions September 21 who is running for City Council.
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The people I have talked to regarding Lions Pool were more concerned about irregular hours than the location. I really do not know if moving it to Woodall would end up with a net gain of users or not. Could provide better parking but long way out for some.
What a nightmare question the truck route is. I think the truckers already try to avoid Dundas Street but depending where the accident is have no choice. None of our east west streets have any ability to handle truck traffic without crating bottlenecks trying to go north or south.
When we need a new fire hall it goes without saying that it needs to be north of Dundas and east of Springbank.
I lived here since 1961 and never understood why we need such large buses. Surely smaller would fit our city better and accommodate those riding nicely. I don't see Sunday service as necessary.
Relax the BIA levies and make it cheaper to locate downtown. We should keep a better eye on absent landlords do avoid a repeat of the Capital. As long as the building is safe I think the appearance is up to the tenant/owner. "Eyesore" will not be the same for everyone.
I have been involved in some Winterfests previously and they are very dependent on the weather. I would approach cautiously when organizing. Approached the city on behalf of someone looking to run a Snow Pitch Tournament and the city was not excited about winter use on the facilities. I did not pursue as to whether it was a liability or potential damage issue. I will bring up at WRAC.
Jerry Acchione Answers our questions from September 21 Jerry is running for City Council
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The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
As a proud member of the Woodstock Lions Club I feel it would be tough to see it moved to another location though I think it likely needs to be. Once given the opportunity to see the financials of the current location and what it would cost to build at a more suitable location (with better parking and accessibility etc) I would likely think it would be in the best interest of the City if it was moved. My family would likely use it more if it also had more features with it than just a pool.
Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
This absolutely needs to be considered. We sit here at the dealership and we know right away anytime the 401 is closed due to accidents etc as they are lined up often in front of us here on Dundas Street. With proper signage and minor reworking of our current “industrial” roads I do believe we can achieve this without needing to spend a fortune. With this accomplished we can make a safer downtown and save a lot of “Wear and Tear” on those roads.
5. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
6. Not sure on this one presently. Without seeing all the information this is difficult to answer knowledgably. If there was an immediate need and a budget that could afford it then I would agree to it as I do believe all our First Responders need the proper tools to ensure the safety of our City.
In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Once again, if there was a demanding need and a budget that could afford this then absolutely yes. I do find it odd what the current system hours are. City Council should look at making our Transit system available later and on Sundays if we want to make it a more relied on transportation system within our City. I believe if people could rely on it ALL DAY, EVERYDAY then they would use it more.
9. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
10. Isn’t this one of the biggest questions facing all Cities? Having a University presence downtown would be a great start but I’m not convinced the complete answer. We need to make people living here want to go downtown and be proud of it and care what it looks like. Landlords would need to be dealt with any way possible to ensure their buildings represent what we as a Community represent.
11. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
12. Absolutely! Many families (including my own) would benefit from having more year round activities within the City. Southside Park is an obvious location for anything BUT we do not need to limit ourselves to just there. This should be addressed by our next City Council for sure and ideas welcomed from the public.
Questions? Email me [email protected] or call my office at Anderson’s GM 519-537-2326.
Connie Lauder Answers to our questions for September 22nd Connie is running for city Council
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1. I think the life of the Lions Pool is coming to an end. With the talk of the Woodall Complex I assume that a pool will be proposed for that location. I think what would be more bang for the buck in addition to a pool at Woodall if warranted, would be for some splash pads in various parks throughout the City. Splash pads would have very little maintenance cost, outdoor pools are wonderful but with such a short season I do not believe they are an economical way to go.
2. Yes I do believe that Woodstock needs a truck route in order to get the traffic off of Dundas Street. We now have restaurants and coffee shops with outdoor patios it is most disturbing trying to talk over the noise of the traffic if people wish to enjoy the patios. When the 401 is closed for any reason Dundas Street can become terribly congested. I understand there has been different thoughts about establishing a truck route but that is as far as it gets.
3. I think a 3rd fire hall will be required in the future to service all of the new building happening to the north and east of the City. I think that in preparing the 5 year Capital budget a 3rd fire hall should be included, in order to prepare for the future expense as we grow.
4. I know that people are asking for the buses to run additional hours, if the need is proven to
be there it is something that certainly should be looked at. Possibly there is a way to have a skeleton service to accommodate additional hours not the full fleet running the additional time. These issues will require future Council discussion.
5. I would like to see a seniors or adult apartment building downtown. I would picture the first
2 or three stories front graduating to 4 stories then 5 or something such as that so that it would not be just a tall building standing out above all of the other buildings downtown. I do think with the announcement of the possibility of the University of Ottawa campus coming to Woodstock the downtown will change immensely, I look forward to that.
With the out of town landlords, I think the least they could do is have regulated window coverings (curtains) on their windows, they should be encouraged to keep their building fronts maintained. With the Downtown Community Improvement plan in place there certainly is monies available for owners to fix up their buildings through grants or the 10 year interest free loans which are available.
6. A Winterfest would be a great idea either in the park or in Museum square. Museum square
might be a great place for an outdoor skating rink in the winter such as Victoria Park in
London.
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions for September 21 Todd is running for City Council
Thanks Paul for the opportunity to respond to the questions again. 1. In regards to the life of the Lions pool let me start by saying that I am extremely biased. I spent many days at that pool watching my kids learning to swim, achieving their badges and racing against other cities, and now I am doing the same with my grandkids. I think the Lions pool is a perfect example of small town life in Woodstock but unfortunately I know its days are numbered. There will come the time when the costs of repairs make it financially unacceptable to keep it running, but it will be a sad day. The Woodall complex would be the obvious choice for a new location with the population growth in the north end of the city and Southside Pool being in the south end. But hang in there LION'S POOL for as long as you can!! 2. Yes, I believe Woodstock needs a truck route but it must be logical and one that is enforced. Truck drivers know their business and will take the fastest detour when faced with delays in their route. Supposedly County road 6 was designated a truck route in the past but if there are no consequences ( as in fines ) to the drivers they will take the shortest and fastest route. 3. Woodstock continues to grow and with that comes the challenge of keeping our emergency services at the level that is required to keep our community safe. The question of a third fire hall is probably better answered by looking at all phases of emergency services in Woodstock and seeing if the combining of these services into the same building would be a more economical way to go. I am sure I am like you, for the taxes we pay, if I have to call 911 for any emergency I expect to get highly trained and skilled emergency responders at my door as quickly as possible. I can assure you that having worked with our emergency services in the past, we are getting the " highly trained and skilled emergency responders " part, but I am not sure about the " quickly as possible " part. I am under the belief that some of the areas in Woodstock are under serviced and as the city grows it will only get worse. Council needs to address this issue and make sure our community is fully covered when it comes to emergency response. 4. In regards to our transit system I am confident that our city staff is continually monitoring demand and usage. I am sure that as our city grows the routes and times will change as well. I have heard the complaint that our buses do not start early enough to get workers to their jobs on time in the morning and are forced to take a cab. I have not heard any requests for Sunday coverage. 5. The revitalization of the downtown is certainly not being helped by landlords who allow their buildings to become eyesores. I am aware of grants and loans that have been made available to these owners for downtown beautification but if the buildings are not a safety concern I am not aware of any action the city can take. The issue goes back to having a downtown where landlords want to look after their buildings as it benefits their bottom line to have a well kept building to rent. 6. Most of the Winterfests that I am aware of seem to be run by private groups and charities. Yes, I think the city should encourage these events as a way to promote the city but of course we must be mindful of the costs associated with it. If you are looking for something to do during the winter months may I suggest joining the Woodstock Curling Club, a great winter sport for all ages and athletic ability. ( How is that for free advertising fellow curlers ). Thanks again for the questions Paul.
Jim Northcott's answers to our questions for this week's round September 21 Jim is running for city Council.
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1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced
in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
ANSWER
I believe that Woodstock should have an outdoor pool. Yes a different location is needed for better accessibility
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
ANSWER
Yes it would most definitely be beneficial to have an alternate truck route around Woodstock and the issue is been looked into but in the meantime, unfortunately, Dundas St is a Provincial highway.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
ANSWER
I did agreed with moving the Parkinson Fire Hall to Springbank but the report done for the City does not support a third hall at this time.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
ANSWER.
Yes Woodstock is changing and I support our Transit system and I believe that the hours of operation have to be changed to accommodate its users but at what cost to the taxpayer. That is the question Council has to deal with.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
ANSWER
City Council has to be open and motived to new ideas and to direct change. Things are always changing.
City Council has a wonderful program to help support property owners downtown to revitalize their properties with grants and loans.
City Council has let it been known that we are open to revitalize our downtown and we are ready to work with partners to make this happen. At the start of this term we received interest from Fanshawe College and now we are working with the University of Ottawa. The City of Woodstock is not big enough or rich enough to take on a major revitalization by itself but we have to be ready to partner with people who are.
I wish there was an easy solution to force absentee landlords to clean up their properties. There are bylaws but it takes time to go through the process.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
ANSWER
Sounds like a wonderful suggestion. Let’s pass it onto Brad Janssen to check out the cost and see if we have to take away one of our summer activities or if the taxpayer or some corporate sponsor would pick up the tab
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions for this week Todd is running for City Council
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Thanks again Paul for this weeks questions. 1. Having read through many of our bylaws that are on the books, yes, it seems that a few of them need to be updated or revised. One interesting part under enforcement makes it very clear that the enforcement officer investigates potential violations based on citizen complaints, and then only if the complainer has identified themselves and given contact information. No anonymous complaints will be investigated. The " Open Air Burn " bylaw ( fire pit ) is very indepth and seems to cover all the safety aspects that are required to have the fire. It also covers the " Open Air Burning Medical Relief Form " that can be filed to stop an open air burn in your area if you have a legitimate health problem ( Doctor supported ) that would be aggravated by the burn. 2. I think the best thing that Council can do in the next 4 years to use technology better and more efficiently is to investigate and initiate a fair and much less costly form of electronic voting. Many areas are trying different ways to reduce election costs and I think by the time 4 years comes around we should be able to identify the method that best suits our needs. I believe our voter participation will rise and our election costs will fall. 3. Yes, I believe the city should converse with Fanshawe again regarding a satellite campus downtown. We should talk to anyone and everyone who might be interested in locating downtown, but we must do our part and clean up the sections of the downtown that may be hindering that growth. 4. I would think it would be in the best interest of the city if we continue to expand the list of items that can be dropped off at the James Street Yard, providing we have the space. It would reduce the number of items that have to be picked up and it would also reduce the eyesores in our neighbourhoods of these items awaiting pick up. 5. As a Health and Safety Representative who has worked with all of our emergency services in the past, I can assure our citizens that the level of service we receive is top notch. Obviously we need to keep costs down as much as possible but it is my understanding that the percentage of cost to the taxpayer is in line with other communities of similar size. The bigger question to me is " are we fully utilizing our resources and do we have the proper response times and coverage for the safety of our citizens ". 6. No, I do not believe we should tender out our garbage/recycling. We should be in the best position to do the job in the most economical and efficient manner and I believe that we do. Our city workers do a tremendous job and I do not want the city to lose control over our garbage/recycling by tendering it out. 7. I am not aware of the city's need for a larger community hall. What we have seems to be sufficient for now, but if we found ourselves needing a bigger hall in the future than the Woodall Complex would be a viable alternative. Thanks again Paul for this weeks batch of questions, Todd
Shawn Shapton Answers Shawn is running for city Council.
Woodstock News Group – Week 2
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is
or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be
able to use?
I sadly believe the life of the Lions Pool is coming to an end. For many, this facility represents a
family tradition going back several decades, and is a landmark in our community. The proposed
Woodall complex would make sense to balance out the north side. Personally I would love to
see another outdoor swimming pool with the addition of a splash pad or similar features. But I
would strongly suggest the city use this opportunity to engage our youth and hear their
opinions. Adults/Politicians can discuss this and think they know what the younger generation
would like, but it’s time we start including the future of our city.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways.
When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas
Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Yes Woodstock requires a truck route. Based on the industrial growth we have experienced in
Ontario in the past decade the truck traffic certainly won’t be reduced in the future. With our
city being centrally located to the 401 and 403 I believe we will see more transport traffic
headed this way to cross dock facilities similar to Sysco. I’m sure all truckers would appreciate
an alternate route other than going through our downtown with several stop lights as much as
we would. With the significant amount of money put into our roads this past summer the more
we can reduce the wear and tear the better!
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of
Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
Our city has grown immensely in a short time period and our boundaries are now stretched
farther than ever before. I don’t believe it’s a matter of “if” but more a question of “when” will
we need a third fire hall? The fact is our firefighters can’t get to our far reaching boundaries in
an adequate amount of time to protect our residents. With the amount of residential growth
and large industry coming to the city, our risk for more emergencies is higher than ever before.
To build a new multi use emergency response facility would be years away but I don’t think we
need to recreate the wheel with a solution to the current problem. Creating a staffed satellite
station (basically a house with a large garage) with one truck and 2-3 staff on the north side,
would allow first responders to arrive within 4 minutes of the initial call and staff from the
Parkinson Rd fire hall can assist within 6-12 minutes of the call. Having our first responders onsite
in an adequate time frame should not be considered a luxury in this city, instead it should
be a mandate supported by council.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on
Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Absolutely we need to extend the hours and run the busses on Sundays. What is the point of
the service if we aren’t meeting the needs of those that use it? Our biggest issue is that we are
running full size busses in areas that don’t require them. I realize there are times and specific
areas that require full size busses but for the most part smaller and more fuel efficient busses
would be a great and more economical solution for our fleet.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an
eyesight?
First of all, we need to make downtown a safe place where people will WANT to go. The
University of Ottawa is a great opportunity, but we also need to fill the void that Zeller’s left
with a new business that will attract people to our downtown on a daily basis.
There should be a city bylaw with basic expectations of what the buildings appearance should
be at all times. Regardless if a building owner lives locally or out of town, there needs to be
more dialogue with owners/landlords instead of waiting for buildings fall into complete
disrepair before the city gets involved.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London
and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside
Park?
I love the idea of a Winterfest in Woodstock! Our city needs to encourage or support any
opportunity for our residents to get outside and enjoy our beautiful city! Having a large outdoor
rink would be fantastic and we could arrange our own version of the NHL’s outdoor classic with
our Navy Vets against other local organizations.
Jonnathan Brownlee is running for City Council
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Hi Paul/Woodstock Newsgroup,
Thanks again for these questions. I want to apologize in advance to readers as this is a long-winded response, but I feel it is important. So here it goes:
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
My family has had the pleasure of using the Lion’s Pool over the years and I know for many Woodstonians it has been a hotspot for beating the summer heat. It will be a very sad day when we need to close it’s doors. That being said the day will come soon, and we will maintain it until the expenses can no longer be justified. I personally would like to see a recreational facility that has the capacity and features that families will be drawn to and will limit the need to travel to bordering cities. Whether this is funded privately or by the City remains the topic for discussion as Council is responsible for ensuring the best use of municipal funds.
The Woodall Project has the potential to facilitate this need, and I would like to continue to explore this opportunity. I really don’t think that it has to be 15 years down the road before we see this project come to fruition. Extending the life of our current facilities while earnestly preparing for future growth will remain a priority in the next 4 years. Engagement of local businesses and commited citizens will help make this a reality sooner than later and I intend on working hard to contribute to this initiative.
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2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
It is undeniable that traffic is significantly impacted when an accident happens on the 401/403. I agree that a truck route would be beneficial, but it may be something that needs to tackled by the County as the solution may lie on the south side of the 401 outside city borders.
Without an accurate consultation with our City Engineer, my opinion is that Parkinson Rd and Juliana Dr do not appear to be a solution to this issue as they tend to be congested areas already during peak hours. Regardless of whether a truck route is created, enforcing this could continue to be a problem as there are always exceptions to every rule, and there are some that will still continue to look for ‘shortcuts’.
I tend to question whether this is something that we should spend a large amount of money on as it is a significant undertaking for seemingly temporary relief during an accident. I believe working with City Engineer to develop a strategy would help Council accurately address this issue.
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3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
I am so glad this question has been asked as I have been thoroughly researching and investigating this issue. I had the opportunity to have a tour of both Fire Halls last week. During that time, I had some very insightful conversations in regards to concerns and needs that the Fire Department is facing. While they are limited in what they can disclose as they are prohibited to discuss details per Union standards, I was able to see the conditions and pressures they face on a daily basis. The biggest concern I walked away with was the lack of dialog between City Council and the Fire Association.
Through my research, I found that a consultant was hired in November 2013 to give a detailed account and recommendations of Fire Dept operations. In this report, it was identified that $3.9 million was included in the Capital Budget for 2015 for a 3rd Firehall. The 3rd Firehall was proposed as a way of reducing response times throughout the city to under 4 minutes as recommended by NFPA 1710. In speaking with our Fire Dept, currently that guideline cannot always be met and I saw a visual heat map representation of current response times and it was shocking to say the least. Despite the acknowledgement that the Fire Department is under-staffed to perform all critical tasks effectively, Council opted to reduce 4 positions through attrition and shelf the idea of a 3rd centralized Fire Hall.
As it stands, there are times where the Fire Dept can respond to a fire but cannot enter the building until backup arrives. Flash-fire has increased from 8 to 4 minutes on average with new construction which makes this even more alarming. This has the potential to place citizens at risk and magnify the extent of a fire (fires double in size each minute) causing more damage. With current trends of city growth, and under-staffing, we are en route to growing safety concerns and potentially significant house insurance increases. How can we continue to spend $90k in consultation fees and disregard the very present needs acknowledged in those reports?
Considering that City Council is responsible for governing the Bylaws which regulate how the Fire Dept operates, it is unacceptable to not have an effective means of active communication between Council and the Fire Association. I was shocked to discover that in the past 10-15 years, not one member from City Council has bothered to go to the Firehall and get a complete understanding of operations and department needs. Now I must be clear, as a City Councillor, I am not a spokesperson for the Fire Dept, but rather a representative of citizen’s best interests. That being said, with the Fire and Police Department compromising ~50% of Municipal expenditures, I firmly believe that the relationship between all of our essential services and City Council should be paramount as it is key to fiscal accountability and ensuring the most efficient and effective use of Municipal funds.
While this may place me under scrutiny, I would like to propose re-examination from the next Council of a multi-functional facility incorporating both Police and Fire Dept services as it would reduce duplicity of operation costs and increases communication and collaborative efficiencies between the departments. I would like the opportunity to speak on this issue further but I there is too much to communicate and I have already spoken in depth in this response. Bottom line, the Fire Department has genuine needs and excellent ideas of how to effectively make use of City resources and simply wants to create a dialog that has been missing with previous Councils.
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4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Our city is growing and the relevance of a transit system is becoming more essential. I believe that the routes need to be re-examined and expanded. I think it would be a great investment to the city to have a trial week where all buses are free and run from early in the morning to late at night. The only requirement would be that each person fills out a survey that gives us a better understanding of their needs. It could be promoted as a City-wide Environmental Week (that could also be held annually) and would give us a much more accurate representation of who WOULD use the bus and the best hours of operation.
The biggest challenge is finding ways to monetize the transit service more effectively. Increasing fares is an option, but I would like to explore incentive programs for those who use transit on a regular basis. This is just an idea, but what if for every 10 rides, you get a free ride or a garbage bag tag. Obviously this would not appeal to everyone, but bag tags are local currency and incentive ideas like this might promote ridership.
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5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
Our downtown has been an issue for several years as the commercial sector has progressively moved towards the Wal-Mart plaza. I think it is important to note that the downtown will most likely not see many big-box stores as we really don’t have the infrastructure for that downtown. As I mentioned in my last response, we don’t need to re-invent the wheel to come up with ideas for revitalization. Looking at cities who have successfully done this such as Waterloo/Kitchener/Brantford, there was a thrust on Arts, Social Scene & niche local businesses.
I think the quickest way to change the downtown would be to find those who are looking to start businesses and facilitate opportunities to mentor new business owners through resources such as the Woodstock Small Business Centre as well as networking with businesses that have already been successful downtown. I also believe there is the opportunity to create some new bi-laws enforcing appropriate maintenance of downtown properties. But I don’t think its fair to simply impose new rules without creating an opportunity for business owners to have the means to do so. I know there is a current program in place to improve the facade of storefronts downtown, but should we investigate the possibility of small business loans for those looking to improve the inside of stores and apartments above?
In regards to the apartments above, I would like to encourage more business owners to renovate and live above the storefronts when possible. I’ve seen some really great success stories and where either the living space above is owner-occupied or rented out after renovations, and the difference is night and day.
Speaking to the Arts & Social Scene concept, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Reid, our new Curator at the Art Gallery yesterday, and I was extremely impressed by her desire to engage the community with fresh perspective. She has some really great ideas for appealing to all demographics and really changing the Arts culture in Woodstock. I strongly recommend you take the opportunity to meet her when possible as I am confident that with her recent arrival, the Art Gallery will be used to its fullest potential. She has proposed initiatives to engage all ages through opportunities such as a Bike Rack Legacy Project with the final result being unique designs spread throughout the downtown. This would in turn would promote active living and a fresh look in the downtown. I LOVE to connect with people like Mary as they are actively contributing to the solution of our great City’s needs.
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6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Why not, let’s do it! I would love a festival similar to Bonhomme-Carnaval. Now we will never be on the scale of the long-lasting Quebec tradition, but Im a huge advocate for observing success and replicating it. The biggest key to making this successful would be actively engaging community and putting together a committee dedicated to planning and executing this. My passion for Project Management jumps out at opportunities like this, but let’s examine this as a possibility and give the City of Woodstock and surrounding area something unique to do during the Winter time locally.
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I want to end off by stating that I do not claim to know all of the answers, but I am determined to work harder than everyone to get an accurate understanding from both sides of an issue so that I can make an informed decision with the public’s best interests in mind. I strongly believe in community engagement and open dialog as a lot of ideas are born out of discussion. This group is the perfect example of engagement through relevant means.
I cannot stress the importance of this election, as it truly will shape the future of our bright city. I encourage you to follow my campaign page on Facebook (fb.com/JonnathanforCouncil) as well as I will be posting some relevant content in regards to this discussion. I want people to understand that not only do I bring fresh vision and a good representation of young families, but I also feel strongly about the importance of investigating issues that have become stagnant, as that which is ignored has the potential to limit and restrict progress.
Thanks for your time!
Jonnathan Brownlee
Steven Gilbert Answers to our questions from September 21 Steven is running for City Council.
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1. I believe, we need to look at upgrades to the pool and turn it into something similar to Lake Lisgar in Tillsonburg. That facility is fun for little kids, all the way up to teens and families, with swimming, a slide, water spray features like the mushrooms, a picnic area, and a playground. I take my family there 3 to 5 times a year and everytime we go I see 5 or 6 other families from Woodstock. Some people may say we have the Spray Pad at Southside Pool but the Lake Lisgar facility offers more of an all-day family fun environment, with the use of a large outdoor pool which all family members can use and enjoy, not just for the small children.
2. A truck route would be beneficial, but with little industry west of the city it may prove more beneficial to do upgrades to county roads like Clark Side Rd, or build an emergency exit off Pattullo or Ridgeway similar to what Drumbo has done.
3.There is a concern for a firehall in the north end of the city, because of all the new housing and it is something we would have to discuss at length to make sure we keep with the provincial standards.
4. I think we should look at all our transit options to make sure our buses run where and when we need them, especially if we add students to the city, the need would become greater.
5. My main focus will be on the rejuvenation of the downtown core. With the possibility of the University of Ottawa coming to town, I truly believe we need serious upgrades down there to bring in new businesses, new business partners and jobs.
Needs -
A. University of Ottawa
B. Entertainment - downtown arena, restaurants,live theatre, bars, clothing shops, book stores, furniture store, etc.
C. Transportation - more bus use, cabs, bike lanes and walking traffic
D. Landlords- building owners will want student renters and small businesses and they will want nicer looking buildings and apartments near the campus.
E. City Facilities - more use of our downtown facilities such as the library, art gallery, & museum
F. Bring back a downtown Farmers Market on a weekend day
6. I am all for bringing a Winter festival to the city, opening up our parks to skating, tobogganing, ice sculpture competitions, live entertainment, and vendors. We live in a climate that has winter lets give the people of our city reasons to get outside and enjoy it.
Jim Northcott Answers to our questions Jim is running for City Council
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Paul
Attached are my answers to your questions for Sept 29
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
Answer
Councillors are elected to make decisions on the running of a city. They have a duty to investigate what is important to the taxpayers. They do not have to go to the citizens with a referendum every time a tough decision has to be made. City Council notified the public on October 11th. 2013 through a press release in the newspaper and on the radio that Woodstock City Council was negotiating with Hydro One for the potential sale of Woodstock Hydro. It was not a secret. In my article in the May, 2013 issue of WOW (What's On Woodstock) magazine, I stated that we were looking at selling Woodstock Hydro, and if you had concerns or questions to contact Councillors and let us know what your concerns were. The Mayor had interviews on radio about the potential sale. As a taxpayer you would have been welcome to come to City Council and let us know your concerns. Did you? No! We had more protests and delegations to City Council on the Skate Park than we had on the Sale of Woodstock Hydro. It is now, when a few candidates want to make it an election issue, that we they are speaking up. Where were they on October 12th. 2013?
The potential sale was not a secret. City Council was open and transparent in what it was discussing.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility?
ANSWER
I was not a believer that we needed a bigger police station. In the past I mentioned that the police could be housed in two locations. At present we have vacant buildings - why not use them?
Police and fire in the same building would depend on the need for new facilities and the location. In the past it was discussed having a joint location on the north east side of Woodstock.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emerency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock ?
ANSWER
Is there a more transparent method of been fair than tendering? Unfortunately, no one way is perfect. Both could lead to abuse and poor service but city departments have to be open and fair in awarding contracts.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
ANSWER
They shouldn’t! There should be one standard for all! The rules should be followed - not different rules for different people.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
ANSWER
If Municipal Government is abusing its powers, then I believe that there should be a mechanism in place to investigate. Should their powers be increased? I don’t know, but at present they are there, and citizens should use them if they think municipal politicians are abusing their powers.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats. Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
ANSWER
Is the question to support the young or seniors or both? Woodstock has wonderful facilities and activates for both young people and seniors. Seniors are becoming a growing demographic in Woodstock. Seniors are moving into Woodstock to take advantage of such services as pools, hospital and cultural activities.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
ANSWER
Promoting Woodstock is like living - there is no one way to stay healthy. As City Councillors, we cannot stay stagnant and go with the status quo. Everything is changing faster than the speed of light around us. We have to be open and always looking for ways to promote our city. For years Woodstock tried to keep its nice quite city feel but things changed around us and we did not keep up so now we are a little behind, but moving forward. All things compared we have a beautiful city in its historic buildings, downtown, parks and cultural facilities. We should be proud of our city and it isn’t just up to me to promote Woodstock, but every citizen to be proud of who we are and what we have and tell the world.
Laurie Fraser.Answers to our questions Laurie is running for city Council
I feel many people have mistaken my motivation for running for council. While the Woodall Project is important to me it is not one of the four motivating factors. Here are the four and I am fully aware that they are going to upset some people.
upset some people.
1) The firing of Bob McFarland which I feel was more a punishment for his support of the art gallery than a statement of his performance with the rec department. Although I did not support the art gallery I did support Bob's work with this city.
2) While sitting on two committees I got to here first hand comments from councilors and again decided very early that those comments were not representative of my feelings.
3) Sending a private enterprise to the grants committee when our first rule of support is for non profit organizations. The Medieval group is worthy of support but not through grants especially when we turned down or cut back many non profit groups.
4) Lastly I was watching council and there was a long discussion and eventually the issue was sent for study. The issue was allowing one of the units at the potential old Zellers site to change size. I thought how foolish welcome new jobs and how can having people at Zellers be bad for the BIA;
So folks please forward your concerns to me. My email address is out there if you want to be responded to in private
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions Todd is running for City Council
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Questions for the week of September 29
Thanks again Paul for this weeks questions. 1. In regards to the selling of Woodstock Hydro, yes, I believe a referendum was a very viable alternative in this case. When selling an asset of the city of this magnitude that affects nearly 100% of the voters, I believe letting the voters decide would have been a fair and democratic way to go. I understand that Council is elected to make decisions on our behalf but very few of their decisions involves this much of our money and a decision that will affect all of us, sooner or later. 2. I believe that all expansions and relocations of any of our emergency services needs to be looked at as a long range item but with short term solutions. Let me explain. If any of our emergency services needs immediate changes in order to provide the necessary coverage or proper response times to protect our citizens safety then we need to act immediately. But we need to look at the long range needs of these emergency services so our immediate actions will not be a bandaid fix but will coincide with any future need, such as acquiring enough land and not getting boxed in for potential expansion. I also believe that given the proper location and building configuration that any or all of the emergency services can be housed in the same buildings with tremendous cost savings to the taxpayer. 3. In regards to the tendering process, obviously this should be the best way to get a service done at the lowest price, but unfortunately that is not always true. In the tree service example that you gave, it is my opinion that the old contract holder ( Tabors Tree Service ) did a far better job than the bid winner and because of all the extra work that Tabors did for no compensation ( Xmas lights for example ) the tendering process probably cost the city more money. I believe that job history, performance, reputation, etc. should all be taken in to consideration during the tendering process, not just the lowest bid. 4. Although I have never been involved in a zoning change, I am sure it is a very complicated process. In regards to one business being allowed a zoning change and another business not allowed, I would hope it was due to proper reasons such as the impact to the surrounding area or the history of other zone changes, etc. Obviously I was not on Council when these decisions were made but I will assure the voters that if elected I will do the leg work required and fully investigate any zone changes that come before Council. 5. In regards to the Ontario Ombudsman being given more investigative authority with Municipal levels of government, I say, "BRING IT ON". If elected I will have absolutely nothing to hide. 6. I think the best thing that Woodstock can do to help support young families is to make sure our city is well rounded in every way, such as good schools, recreation, low crime rate, culture, etc. In the 47 years I have lived in Woodstock it has always been a great place to raise a family. My wife and I raised our two children here and they are now raising our grandkids here. Even though our city is growing I think we still have that small town charm and I think that's what makes a city a good place to raise a family. Now if we could just get those damn taxes lowered it would really help those young families ( and the older ones too). 7. If elected I would promote Woodstock by making sure that our city employees have all the necessary resources that they need to showcase our great city. Presently the city has fantastic people like Brad Janssen who do a wonderful job of promoting Woodstock through all the special events, parades, Canada day festivities, Cowapolooza (no spell check for that one) etc. I would do my best to make sure they had Council's support in all their endeavours to promote Woodstock. Once again Paul thanks for the opportunity to answer your viewers questions. Todd Poetter
https://www.facebook.com/woodstock.newsgroup
Steven Gilbert Answers to our questions Steven is running for city Council.
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Subject: Re: Questions for the week of September 29
1. In my opinion if I am elected to council the fear of backdoor deals, and the selling off of city owned assets without public input would be a thing of the past. I would share the information with the public, opening the floor to all involved to have their say. Elected officials often forget they are elected into office by the public to do whats best for the public interest, and how do you do that behind a closed door.
2. I have a couple of different ideas about this issue. One being moving the facility with the possibility of a fire hall, and police station. Second being why does it have to be a completely new, full service police station? Why not a smaller station housing several different groups like detectives and investigators and leave uniform officers at the main site on Dundas St.
3. As I do not deal with tenders at all, I decided to go talk to people that deal with tenders on a daily basis and this is what I have concluded. In the case of an emergency situation as mentioned, an out of town company could easily call a local contractor to do the job. Subcontracting is common place. Every tender states that they have the right to accept or reject tenders "should it be deemed in the interest of the Owner to do so." With the Engineers carefully drawing up tender documents, we entrust that they take these "emergency situations" into consideration when accepting the lowest bid. Each tenderer must state any subcontractors that they plan to use at the jobsite. All tenders also state "The Corporation of the City of Woodstock reserves the right to reject any or all tenders or to accept any tender should it be deemed in the interest of the City of Woodstock to do so." They are not obligated to accept the lowest tender.
4. Change it. If a new business wants to come to our city and their request is reasonable then change the zoning, plain and simple. And if the request is not reasonable show them different possibilities. My first instinct is to make every effort to put them where they want to be.
5. I believe the Ombudsman should have the power to investigate all levels of government, but what we really need is a municipal government that wouldn't need investigating.
6. I would support them by offering services, facilities, sports and festivals, at low or no cost to attend, I would utilize city owned places like the art gallery, library, and museum to offer services, family entertainment and education. And I would clean up the downtown making attractive to new and young families.
7. I keep saying our number 1 asset is your geographic spot off the 401-403 corridor. We are 1.5hrs to 3 border crossings, 30 mins to 3 major cities, 2hrs to Toronto, 30mins to 3 major airports, 2 railway stations within the city, close to casinos, Stratford Festival, OHL hockey teams, we are dead centre to anything and everything from a logistics perspective. Now we just have to clean up the downtown, offer great amenities, and open our doors to Universities and businesses.
Candidates running for city Council and County Council here are the Questions and Answers
Paul Plants answers to our questions Paul is running for City and County Council
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I do think that our frequency of communication on this should have been increased. Having said that, I do not believe that there could have been a whole lot more in terms of specific details that could have been released. First of all there were not fixed answers until near the end of the negotiations. Secondly, for obvious reasons, Hydro One did not want their business plans exposed to their competitors prematurely. We could have identified the major areas/topics that were under discussion such as employment guarantees, rate protection, community advisory committee, community grant levels; service guarantees etc. – but not the details of same. I do not know what more we could have done in terms of communications mediums other than registered mail and robocalling. There might have been the opportunity to hold some form of public forum but once again what could be talked about was limited.
In regards to a Referendum, I believe the “slippery slope” description has already been used in this group. Referendums could be held at little or no cost as part of the municipal election process every four years and that is part of the problem - four years. During negotiations with Toyota there were no public discussions for obvious reasons. But let’s say they didn’t care about their business plans being made public. While I believe it has, and will continue to be, a good thing for the region, there are some who do not want to see this community change. Do you think Toyota, or Sysco or Vuteq and so on would be here if we had to wait for a referendum? There are many issues and projects that cause controversy so how do we decide which one’s should be subject to a referendum? Have a referendum? When the Hydro issue first came up there was no great public surge of support for a referendum. Unfortunately there was a municipal election coming up, just like in the last election with the Art Gallery. They both became easy lightning rods to create political controversy over and become major campaign components for some candidates. Finally, and not least of all, City/County Councillors are elected to make decisions. Qualified decisions are made after reviewing and debating what is sometimes a huge amount of data and information over several months – the ability to do which is not typically practical to the general population.
2. The current police station was designed and built to accommodate a second floor. In my mind there is enough need to build this space given the satellite facilities the Service now needs to lease. The current sites foreseeable limitations in my mind relate only to parking and that is relatively easy to solve. London’s central station had the same problem and it has been satisfactorily addressed. Combining police and fire is another story. This present site was looked at for a combined operation but it never materialized for a number of reasons, some of which were petty in my mind.
3. Tendering, Request for Proposals, all of these are necessary for the fair, open and fiscally responsible approach to purchasing goods and services. It is a level playing field for all qualified parties and guarantees the best prices being put forward. Years ago, Woodstock like a number of other Cities, had a 10% “Local Preference Policy”. Upon revue two major problems with this were identified – paying 10% more than we had to in many cases and outside firms were not submitting bids/quotes reducing the competition which again resulted in higher costs.
4. This is difficult to answer because a lot of zoning applications are based on entirely different circumstances. The parameters for zoning are set by the County’s Official plan. If someone is asking for a use (industrial) in an area that is OP’d as residential we have a big [problem that more than likely will not be resolved in the applicant’s favour. When a zoning application for a high rise is made for a single family area then I believe it would be safe to assume that there would be significant neighbourhood resistance. In a lot of cases zone changes are requested just to increase the value (“upzoning”) and no actual construction work is done, the property is put on the market unimproved for a higher price than it was worth before the rezoning. Rest assured, if a requested zoning is in the benefit of the neighbourhood or community at large, it will be addressed in as helpful manner as possible or alternatives will be offered.
5. I do not believe that the powers of the Ombudsman should be increased to include municipalities. There is a multitude of legislation and regulations that direct how Cities are run. The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing has very strong and widespread powers to enforce the correction of problems, including taking over the management of a municipality if it is warranted. Cities, towns, township – these are all “creatures of the Province” – they were created by legislation and can be changed or eliminated the same way – I would say that is pretty powerful stuff.
6. Social Services, Housing and Health are part of the County mandate, there are no such services provided by Woodstock. Having said that, I am also running for County Council and if elected will be responsible for policy and budget decisions related to these services. It would be my confirm the concerns of this demographic sector, identify what we ae doing now and look for additional ways we can assist this group to overcome the issues facing them – but at the same time remain committed to fiscal responsibility.
7. I think we’re already doing an excellent job promoting the City, and have been for a considerable time. The majority of professionals, agencies and government divisions that can have an impact, positive or negative, know we exist. Certainly in terms of economic development there are ongoing programs to keep the City’s name out there around most of the world. The only real way to improve on this is more resources, both human and financial. Then we are back to the whole fiscal responsibility and sustainability thing again – money!
Deb Tait
Hi Paul,
Please see my answers below.
I just have one for you...WHY did you not run??? Woodstock needs people like you!
Thanks.
Deb
> Please respond to this email by Sunday, September 21.
> We wish all the candidates great success in their campaigns. Thank
> you in advance for participating and answering the questions.
> Thank you, Paul Roberts
> Your email addresses will not be given out to the general public.
> Here are this week's questions.
> 1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
City will still be growing with residential and commercial. We will need to manage that growth and work on keeping the taxes down while maintaining the infrastructure we have now..ex roads and city owned facilities.
> 2. How do you feel about the Woodall
> Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
I believe that fund raiser should be included just as it was with the Community Complex. I will be interested to sign the numbers and the info as to when this complex will be needed.
3. Taxes are high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
We need to keep spending down on the non essential services.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock?
What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
As in all cities there is a complete change in downtowns and Woodstock needs to recognize that. I believe the University of Ottawa will create a huge boom to the businesses that are there. It can only be a benefit to everyone in this city.
>
> 5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
Right now the city has banked enough land for recreational and industrial land for future use for the future years.
>
> 6. Woodstock has a large number of
> 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
This is one area where I think the city should be more involved. If you look at the benefits it gives back to the community it should be high on the priority list. The seniors contribute hundreds of volunteer hours to the city. Look at the hospital for example of the number of seniors there doing volunteer work. Also, a very important factor to remember is that if the seniors keep fit and healthy they have less health issues which puts less stress on the health system which all taxpayers are paying for.
>
> 7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support
> tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor.
In Canada we have very strick laws about enticing business unlike our counterparts in the States. As council what we can do is give staff the tools to go ahead and get the business. The reason we got Sysco is we ok'd Brad and Len to go after them and bring back the offer regardless how low it was. The most important part was staff was able to pull everyone in the room from Union Gas, engineering department, Woodstock Hydro..etc so when they had a question there was someone there to answer. We have the location to attract business so it helps that council lets staff know they have their complete confidence.
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> 8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
I think we need to work on bringing The university of Ottawa here. The entire dynamics of the downtown would change. It would a great boom to the economy of Woodstock.
>
> 9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000
> home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
It is the level of service we provide compared to Stratford. Also, Stratford has not increased their taxes to meet their needs and as a result the city has a much higher debt load than Woodstock does. Woodstock is in very good fiscal shape compared to most municipalities.
Paul Plant Answers to our questions.
NOTE: As questions 1 & 8 as well as 3 & 9 are basically the same there will be only one response per pair
1. - I believe that we will continue to see a moderate but steady rate of growth in the City over the next four years. A significant part of this will come from new residents, with a large portion of these being semi-retired or retired. I feel that there will also be continued growth in our commercial and industrial areas, similar to what we have seen over the last four years. However, the pace and extent of this non-residential growth is somewhat dependent upon the City being able to make adjustments to its boundaries, at a fair and reasonable cost. If current plans for the University of Ottawa, and its associated College, come to fruition, the downtown core will go through a significant metamorphosis in terms of types of stores/offices, restaurants and housing, both refurbished and new. If this type of core growth occurs it will probably be necessary for public parking to go up for the first time, as opposed to all at grade. While there will be changes, cosmetic and volume, it will not be as drastic as to change the nature and culture of this community.
2. - I believe the Woodall Development is a long term project (10 to 15 year build out) that the City and citizens of Woodstock should undertake at this time. As the majority of new growth is in the City’s north end, coupled with the fact some municipal facilities being near the end of their useful life, this would be an excellent area to develop a second community multi use facility. I believe that in addition to sports facilities there is an opportunity to locate other services such as a satellite of the Library and Southgate Center when they are needed. The history on large scale developments proceeding is that some form of senior government program kick starts projects like these. These initiatives typically have a one third share of capital costs covered by each of the feds, province and municipality. The municipal share is often made up from additional grants, reserves, major contributors, user groups and City taxes. The degree of support from individual contributors and user groups is often the key to the timing of these types of initiatives
3. - I am pretty sure that there isn’t a community out there where people think that their taxes are low, including Stratford and St. Thomas (both comparable to Woodstock). It is also very difficult to compare a property in Woodstock with a “comparable” one in any other municipality in Ontario. As most of your members must be aware, their taxes are determined by applying the local/appropriate category mill rate to the property’s Assessed Value. The Assessment system itself causes confusion even within a municipality as older and larger homes are sometimes valued less (Assessment wise) than newer smaller ones. That being said, there is a major difference between Woodstock and the two comparators mentioned; they are Separated Municipalities whereas Woodstock is not. What this means is that they pay taxes only to the municipality they live within. In Woodstock’s case, while the cheque may be written to the City, a significant portion of that money goes to the County of Oxford (in both cases a percentage of the taxes go to education as well). In theory with all things being relatively equal, services supplied through one municipal government are supplied here through two. This results in the duplication of some services and local money going to support projects in neighbouring municipalities. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t always room to improve how the City does its business, but it does point out that the City Council does not have direct control over a significant amount (46%) of your tax bill.
Woodstock’s payment to the County make up about 24% of the total City Levy but this transfer equates to 37% of the total County Levy. Therefore, for 2014 the total Woodstock Levy is made up of 54% city, 24% county and 21% education.
This is a key point in my election campaign platform, “Putting Woodstock First”, as I believe that the City must be more assertive with the “upper tier” in regards to what it is costing to be part of the County system. The current formula is roughly 39 years old and needs to be re-examined for its relevancy today
4. - Traditionally the downtown, like most at the middle of last century, was a mixed use area, with a heavy emphasis on comparison shopping, financial institutions and restaurants. Times have changed and with the advent of “big box” developments and national chains going into smaller markets this has dramatically altered most small to medium sized downtowns. It had always been hoped that more residential would develop in or near the core but this has been slow to materialize. The downtown I see for Woodstock will still have retail, but nowhere near the number of outlets that there were in its heyday. Instead, we will have a continued presence of financial institutions, increases in office and government facilities, additional lifestyle/cultural amenities and restaurants – maybe even some speciality food outlets. The key to making this a reality is to continue to work at getting more residential units in the area so that there is more pedestrian traffic all during the week. The addition of a post-secondary institution in the downtown, such as Fanshawe College or the University of Ottawa, would be the type of catalyst that this type of revitalization requires, and support from both the City and the County is critical to making this happen.
5. - The “need to expand” is dependent upon four things; population growth & demographic change, popularity shifts in the types facilities, recreation& culture activities, the expressed need for a facility or service and the current state of existing facilities and programs. This last point is thrown in because I do not believe that “expansion” is not the only alternative here. The age of some of our municipal properties is such that decisions will have to be made shortly whether or not to replace them. The City is currently doing a Recreational Facility Needs Study that will identify and set priorities for what is needed for the next five to ten years. The retail we are most likely to get is primarily dependent upon regional demographics and private developers. Most of this will be occurring along Norwich Avenue for the foreseeable future as national chains keep expanding into smaller markets. Industrial, and commercial, development is important to any community because that is what pays the biggest chunk of taxes for the least amount of service requirements. While the City has done quite well in this regard over the last decade we still have to be attentive to economic changes and retain our existing base. We do need to continually replenish our industrial land supply and this is becoming more and more difficult due to the demands of the adjoining municipalities.
6. - The City has been involved in both the development and operation of facilities to accommodate programming and services related to the older members of our community, such as Southgate, Lawn Bowling and trail systems Given the important role these citizens play in our community, and the fact that we are now seeing the “Baby Boomers” entering this demographic, there is a need to develop more facilities and services in this regard. That being said I would suggest that the City will have an ever
increasing role in the development and operations of the appropriate facilities and some programing, but the County will need to step up its Social Services mandate in this regard.
7. - First of all I think we need to do a little economic development 101. The ability of any municipality within the Province of Ontario to give tax relief, offer “incentives” or do anything financially that it does not do for everyone in the same assessment/tax category is deemed to be illegal under the Ontario Municipal Act and is called Bonusing. The practice of tax relief, moving assistance and other financial incentives is extremely common in the United States but very limited in most of Canada. The exceptions are “mega projects” such as Toyota’ assembly plant – and other investments that are deemed to be have “provincial significance”. What must be continued is the City’s goal of having a ready supply of fully serviced land for a competitive price/acre and that municipal charges related to development are no more, or less if possible, than competing communities. It must market itself, and the region (SOMA), to decision makers and consultants outside of the Province and Canada. WE must continue to offer a “one stop” environment for potential investors so that their questions and concerns can be addressed quickly and directly. City Council must do its best to ensure that there is a good inventory of all types of housing and recreation/cultural/leisure facilities. The availability and affordability of hard services and utilities must be constantly monitored and efforts made to enhance these with our “partners” whenever possible. Believe it or not but local taxes, coupled with provincial and federal, must be deemed to be competitive and to the best of my knowledge this has never been an issue related to not being selected as a site for a new industrial/commercial development.
Note - #8 see #1 & #9 see #3
Dave Nadalin Answers to our questions for September 22 Dave is running for City and County Council
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Hi Paul;
Thanks for the opportunity to answer some questions posed to Candidates for this Falls Municipal Election.
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
This question has been raised for years since the first boiler burst its pipes quite some time ago. The Lions Pool has served this City well. The replacement of the structure is inevitable and should be taken into consideration when designing the structure of the Woodall Park Complex. As City owned property it could come into the discussion in future years if the Van Ave Firehall next door needs to be expanded in future years to service the Downtown and North East end of the City.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Surprisingly there is a Woodstock Truck By-Pass that took years to fund and build through County Road 6. Anyone that remembers the pre-by-pass days remembers well the trucks regularly on Dundas Street. As far as 401 and 403 closures causing diversions. There is an Emergency Route System all along the 400 series highway that in essence has to be enforced to make it work. If heaven forbid the Walker Landfill site goes through at Beachville, the truck traffic will be enormous. Another reason to fight it tooth and nail.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
This question in itself may very well be one of the biggest decisions facing the next Council budget wise. It will take some serious progressive thinking as the plan is now to add a 5 million dollar renovation to the Police Station Downtown in a land-locked spot. Very short term thinking. I would support a Fire/Police headquarters in the North East End with ample land for future expansion as well as a mutual Training Center as well as a shared hybrid of Administration and Dispatch.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
If there was a simple answer to the transit system I wish it would come forward. No I wouldn't run Transit on Sundays. I would however engage in discussion on smaller buses because technology has changed and there are products out there now smaller in size that are used by Municipalities and not hurting your maintenance budget.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
Another million dollar question.
I would however do 2 things. Promote Councilors and staff to attend Conferences that deal directly with this issue that faces all Cities. It is important. Learning and staying away from the fate of others is more important now than ever because at the end of the day buildings have a life-span too and unless you find someone with deep pockets, the City will own an near empty core in the years to come.
As well pay special attention to the blight from Van Ave to Brock. If the plan is to sell the old Capitol property for a dollar, make sure it is someone committed to building new. I would partner with Fanshawe, the University of Ottawa or any private builder that would bring new housing Downtown in a New York minute... And don't rule out P-3's, Our Hospital did OK.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Interesting. We were very close to building an outdoor rink in Southside Park when making it a Destination Point years ago. Depending what happens with the Woodall design, the small East and West diamonds may free up area to do just that and other projects that could be partnered with the private sector. When affording new Recreation Projects, people cannot look at the private sector as the Boogey Man anymore. Again, look at our new Hospital.
Dave Nadalin
Paul Plant answers to this week's questions September 22
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The useful life of the Lion’s Pool is rapidly coming to a close after nearly 60 years of serving the community. I for one believe that an outdoor “seasonal water recreational facility” is part of life in communities such as ours. Accordingly, I support the replacement of the existing facility, but it has to be designed as a much more relaxed environment, capable of having swim meets but also just a fun place to go and cool off. Since we have the Southside Aquatic Center in the south end and most of the new residential growth will be in the north, the potential Woodall Complex would be an ideal site.
There are times when the heavy truck traffic through the City is somewhat troublesome without a formal and properly planned by-pass. Part of the problem has always been that the drive down Dundas Street breaks the monotony of the highway and doesn’t impact on a trucker’s mileage. The County of Oxford did construct a truck route that was supposed to reduce traffic going north from the 401. This particular concept, County Road 6, did not help the truck situation to any great extent, but making the proposed Walker Environmental Landfill readily accessible. The City is going to have to persuade Oxford County that a bypass is worth examining again.
I do not believe that we need a third fire hall at this time. When the need does develop it will more than likely be driven by growth in the north east and northwest areas of the City. However, only two roads access these areas and one has the main CP Rail line running across it so in my mind the logical location of any new facility should be north of the Thames River. There was some minimal advantage moving the Parkinson Road hall up closer to Dundas but the cost to do so relative to the improvement in service did not justify such a move.
As most people are probably aware, the public transit system in Woodstock is heavily subsidized. Staff are continually reviewing the routes and ridership to make improvement to increase ridership and make routes faster and cover more of the City. Current usage and demand figures suggest that there would not be enough ridership to warrant running buses on Sunday. As newer areas of the City develop and more people realize the advantages of taking the bus I can see the extension of hours on existing service days potentially being increased at some point in the not too distant future.
Having had a long history of involvement with the downtown, my attitude and thoughts have changed over the years. While the core will always have some non-discount comparison retail businesses, this will not be its primary lifeblood. Continued growth in the office sector, private and public, as well as financial and legal services, is where the majority of rejuvenation and growth will occur. This Council has also identified the potential for the development of significant square footage related to post-secondary institutions and is working at making this a reality. Continued encouragement of landlords to upgrade their properties is also a priority, and there have been significant advances in this regard, most involving direct participation by the City. The issue of landlords allowing their properties to get into disrepair is a difficult one, and the municipality can only step in for safety reasons or if taxes have not been paid.
Admittedly there are few winter outdoor public activities here and for obvious reasons. There was an attempt to do a winter festival with chili contests, dog sled races, etc. a number of years ago. Unfortunately it was weather dependant and the snow was not cooperative. The City does not normally develop public events unless they are tied to a holiday or other special occasion such as the Stanley Cup coming to Woodstock. There is the odd exception to this like Cowapalooza but other events such as the Santa Clause Parade, Woodstock Wood Show and Renaissance Festival are produced by independent public or private groups. In many of these cases the City has played a sponsorship role and provided some services related to site cleanliness and pedestrian safety. It is probably too late for this winter season but if anyone has a good idea/concept they should approach Brad Jansen and if it merits support it can be added to the 2015 budget considerations.
Paul Plant
Dave Nadalin Answers to our questions for this week Dave is running for City and County Council
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Hi Paul;
Answers to your questions for Candidates.
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue
in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
This issue was well known in the public realm for some time and what made it significant is the taxpayer in Woodstock owned Woodstock Hydro and were their customer as well. It was well known that Hydro One had questionable Leadership with 2 of 3 major political parties in Ontario calling for the resignation of the CEO and the complaints of their billing and customer service with the Ontario Ombudsman were unprecedented. That in itself would raise enough red flags for any responsible Council not to call a hasty Special Meeting with no Public input but Woodstock City Council did just that. Totally irresponsible. I had proposed when I announced my candidacy in January I would have had a public meeting AFTER the election but that was redundant when they made their decision to sell with ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A RUSH.
A public meeting of the Citizens who were and are customers and shareholders of Woodstock Hydro Inc. AFTER the election was and will be the only prudent thing to do before the sale is consummated.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility.
Simply put,
Investing 5 million dollars in a renovation for the Police Station in their land locked present location is short term thinking stupidity. Yes they need to expand. But smart thinking and money will have a Capital investment steered towards a new building in the North East end of the City that includes the Fire Department and potential for Ambulance as well. That gives room for training grounds and a hybrid combination of Administration for all departments and Dispatch.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock?
There are negotiated contracts in place for everyday maintenance of the City and quite frankly in Emergencies its "All Hands on Deck" Woodstock has been known to help out in other Municipalities as well and its a given throughout North America. For irregular maintenance like tree planting, I don't consider that regular day to day and it must have been negotiated. It is a Union atmosphere at Board of Works and a contract is in place.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
Zoning changes and amendments are never a cookie cutter approach. At the end of the day an applicant can appeal to the OMB but I have to admit that some of Councils zoning decisions in the past couple terms have had me scratching my head.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
I believe in a mechanism to keep Municipal Governance in check but with the wide range of responsibility for our present Ombudsman, including investigating Hydro One, I think the office is ran a bit thin and the consequences, ie. the London Fontana 8 private meeting, are not a deterrent.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
Rather than spend 12 pages describing what could be done, simply put just thrive to build an all=around great Community covering all facets of importance.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Continue to do what I did sitting on the City and County Councils for 4 terms previously. Most importantly thinking outside the box and adapt to change.
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Hi Paul,
Based on the engaement I have been having with business and citizens I will be posting future updates to relevant issues and concerns on my sites in the near future.
For the short answers to your questions please see below.
Thank you, Trevor Birtch
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
The future has never been brighter for this City! With good leadership, vision, teamwork and community participation, we can be the envy of other cities.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
Potential families looking to call Woodstock home will look for recreational options that provide diverse activities. Participation by way of community involvement and donations by various groups is always a sign of success.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
Review current costs of all services and expenditures based on performance indicators prior to service expansions.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
Any activity or growth is welcome in the downtown.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
We can not focus on just one area of expansion, the City will welcome all.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
Expansion and growth in this area would be welcoming. Respect for the senior citizens in this City would be one of my goals.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
Yes we will encourage new business to the City. I believe the City will sell itself because of its location.
The short answer to the tax relief question would be no. We need to be fair to all current rate payers.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
Growth, Comfort and Security lends itself to steady expansion. Having a City with all the current services etc, Police, Full-time Firemen. Having a strong community environment will attract growth.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
Municipal involvement that includes citizen participation translates to efficency of local government.
Michael Harding's answers to our questions, running for Mayor.
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“…looking for transparency, accountability and honesty…” is often requested on this site along with “substance”. One has only look at how the Woodstock Hydro sale to Hydro One was handled to know what those words should mean. Before we break out into song like that depression era tune “happy days are here again…”. I’d be laughing if it wasn’t so sad.
Politicians are by nature gun shy. They try (unsuccessfully) to not piss people (read voters) off. And they don’t like being attacked where they can’t fight back. This site has gone to great lengths to encourage honesty and responsible criticism. I too have tried to explain and justify and talk about real action, something that gets me into trouble for being arrogant. So I’ll just have to try harder.
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
I’m sure everyone commenting on this question paints a rosy picture but I know that it will take considerable effort to make wise choices. Any growth must be sustainable and by that I mean we either have or can afford the infrastructure that’s required. By sustainable I mean no more than 6% growth in any year. That figure, based on the past, appears to be something we can afford. One can easily see what rapid growth did to Milton, for example. Home prices soared as did infrastructure costs. We need to increase housing density because it costs less on the tax base. And we need the second and third floor housing on Dundas to be improved. Many are in slum condition. The conversion that started happening has stalled. Incentives are clearly part of the answer.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
Let’s do what we did for the Soccer facility, use federal/provincial monies when available to help fund it and let the groups using it commit to fundraising a portion. What isn’t being asked however, is should the city put the money out to get it built or should you wait until the money shows up? More thought to the price tag before everyone concludes that it’s a go.
My questions are not being addressed. For instance what is the exact nature of the need, who will be using it in the decades to come as the majority of our residents “age”, and can we afford to charge 25 years of taxpayers for it. The latter is the most important. I’m not impressed with the argument that we’ll be able to stage regional and national competitions ‘cause those very things don’t pay the capital cost nor am I going to engage in the “these are minorities” making the requests since every recreational venue caters to one minority or another. That’s the nature of our recreational assets.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
Nobody likes cutting that cheque every quarter, me included. I think we need to do a better job at the value for money equation, something I say council should do something about.
Study after study has shown that we’re somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to taxation. And please remember that we are paying three taxes when one cuts that tax cheque: city, county, education.
During my last term, by concentrating on raising new income (industrial increases) not from existing sources, we all gained on tax reduction. The four year city average was 0.4%, basically flat. Compare that with the last four years and the rate climbed to 8.9% with increases year over year.
Some are commenting on our relationship with the County, saying that we should be “more assertive” with the county. Tax policy is created by the County politicians. My experience is that they have been ready to consider our needs like the elimination of the large industrial tax rate. One must remember that there are seven of “them” and only three of “us” and that we’re not getting out of the relationship. BTW, we get a dollars service for about 25 cents of county tax.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
These questions are two very different things that require different responses. Some have lost sight of the fact that the central core of this city is for retail and their success contributes tax money into the city. This council has tried to dump inherited (defaulted) properties on anyone with the remotest chance of occupancy. And of course there is the fiasco of the Dundas property used to entice Fanshawe into downtown without first asking the provincial government if it was possible to use cultural dollars for education. It failed because it was ill advised and it bruised our relationship with Fanshawe.
It’s nice to be considered for something like a University albeit a French language one, but whatever happened to the expansion of the Fanshawe College site where there was room, parking etc. At the end of my last term, we were committed and yet this council has failed to proceed.
There’s an old saying “if you want a different outcome, do something different”. While one should never bank on the future, one can plan for it. We need people living in the core and we need families with children close to it. Otherwise we’ll lose both our downtown elementary and high school.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
It depends what you’re looking for as a council. I always wanted large industrial because it paid the most in taxation although I also led the charge to remove the large industrial tax bracket which helped keep businesses in town that were growing. Not every industry stayed open and some left town for the U.S. but the vast majority stayed here and prospered. During my last term, we had a 200% increase in new revenue that greatly lowed residential taxation.
The box mall came at the right time to reduce retail dollars from leaving town for malls, like White Oaks. And there are still some who like the whole idea of an indoor mall but these are not being built anymore, the result of trying to shrink retail overheads. Still others want greater selection.
Virtually every community along the 401 corridor hangs a sign “open for business”, it is the customer that determines commercial growth, not the politicians. They come when it’s right for them.
As for recreational assets, as one ages and as the number of youth living here declines, we should be concerned with low impact recreation with things like trails, for example. And I’m still waiting for an excuse to wax my cross county skies for a nice trail through our parks this winter! And I need to walk more and cycle more (my tires are flat) and take more responsibility for my health.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
Some sources have data that says we are a wealthy community but if we are, why are an increasing number of those retiring living hand to mouth. Just take a moment to see if you can live on Canada Pension and Old Age security income. A huge number of us don’t have private pensions to survive on.
So the issue that will be critical in the next four years is housing. It will not get cheaper to live in the home where one raised one’s family. We need to move on to something smaller and more affordable. My work with the Harvey Woods Lofts project on Vansittart Ave has taught me that public private partnerships are possible. Private financing helped retrofit this historic building to a standard that the community will be proud of. Working with and supporting Oxford County efforts will be necessary. What’s coming is a slow motion tsunami of need that the private sector alone cannot meet. It’s already started.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
Tax relief is not permitted in general but certain benefits are available where a community development plan (like the business core) are passed by council. Remember that the politicians don’t really influence whether commercial comes or not, but does say where it can locate. The politicians, however, have to be vigilant against retail “creep” that is simply poor land use. I could spend a great deal of time on just this subject but suffice it to say that there will be greater pressure to expand the boundaries of the box mall site. We must avoid things like the failure of the TD Bank site there, something I warned them against putting there is the first place. People just don’t bank when they go to Walmart or Canadian Tire. Lesson learned.
Some will say that Toyota didn’t put us on the map. Hogwash. The 401/403 has been here for decades and didn’t bring that plant here. If anything, it was rail. Our first try some 25 years ago failed and the Toyota plant went to Cambridge. Some have said that the plant fell into our laps and even that the provincial government put it here. Nothing could be further from the truth. We out performed 4 other Canadian communities and a number of American sites. We were better planned, had negotiated the land transfer into the city, had the county on side and the Ontario government on side with oua dedicated city team. It all came together for success. That’s what put us on the map and the rain shadow affect meant thousands of new jobs and investment across a number of sectors that followed.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
We need to use our existing assets better. And we need to address questions that just won’t go away. Like sidewalks in winter, later hours for our bus service and weekend service. The paratransit service issues will have to be addressed (and not just the cost); an assertive economic strategy must continue; the municipality has a role to play in the downtown including investment, not just by default where we all pay.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
I’m behind on the investigation as to the reasons. I will respond to this next week because I think you cannot compare taxes by square footage or by the number of rooms or even frontage. Comparison is by current assessed value and in order to make a proper comparison, one must equate the difference between the average home in these communities. Our average home here in 2014 is $221,000. In Stratford the average residential assessment is about $250,000 with taxes of about $3,400. The source is MPAC.
I think the bag tag issue was poorly handled from the get-go. The public was left with the impression that it was just another tax grab. I have always supported the fee for service model behind bag tags to get it off the tax levy. Why would anyone want their garbage charges to be based on the assessed value of their home? I know there are lots of other questions about garbage that could be answered if anyone wishes. But it does speak to the need for greater communication with taxpayers doesn’t it?
Thanks for the opportunity to write about matters that affect us all.
Michael Harding's answers to this week's questions and Michael is running as Mayor
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1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
I’m reluctant to spend significant money keeping Lion’s Pool working. It’s a summer only facility and there are other options. Anyone who’s seen how much the children enjoy the splash pad at Vansittart and Ingersoll Ave knows how accessible it is for parents.
The money spent on Lion’s might be better spent installing splash pads in parks where there are significant numbers of children. Installation could be a multi-year process.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident, traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Definitely. Attempts to enforce the EDR (Emergency Detour Route) have proven to be impossible to reliably enforce. It’s time for the County to move on a proper truck route around Woodstock for traffic moving from and to the 401, heading north. There is a possibility of a route using county road 59 above county road 33 east to the 16th line, south to county road 4 to the 401, completely missing Innerkip. It’s been talked about on and off for years. The roads will have to be upgraded but it can be done.
One must realize that it will take the agreement of a majority of county councillors to agree to such a project.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Lansdowne. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
I’ve made it through the report and I’m still not convinced either way. There was a plan to build a joint facility with EMS and police that showed promise but it disappeared. I can’t determine if the obstacle is increased staffing or capital cost or response times. I think we have to a broader consultation with the parties before taking any step. And the public needs to be better informed about the risks.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
We forget that a bus service is a user pay system, the more passengers, the less it costs the taxpayer in support. I haven’t checked the current figures just yet but I recall that it costs us all about $4 for every $2 fare. We need greater ridership to make it work but it will never break even. I don’t think there is a single transit system that doesn’t require public financial support. We replaced an aging fleet with accessible Canadian built buses and built a proper transit hub. So ridership remains the important issue. And yes, we should be ready to find a solution to later service hours and Sunday service. I’m ready to try it but ridership needs to be there and we need to remember those that depend on it.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesore?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and yes there are properties that are ugly. We have plenty of municipal tools to demand that owners meet property standards. We’ve had at least one property collapse, the result of improper maintenance. The lesson is obvious: strict enforcement of safety standards is required. Keep in mind that the city doesn’t have an automatic right to enter private property.
In terms of revitalization, our residents vote with their wallets. If they don’t come downtown and spend money at the shops that are there, then it will wither and die. But there’s something else happening. A number of new eateries have opened and a couple more in the last few months. We need people living in the core and in a small way, this is happening. For me, the municipality must be a player in any solution.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Winter use of the park is a good idea. Manicured cross country ski trail(s) would be a good start. What would be the result if we could have an outdoor skating rink? I guess we’d have to have cold weather to make it work. How about a dog sled race? Council could ask Brad J to investigate as many opportunities as can be dreamed. After all, Cowapoluza took time to mature. All it takes is to start.
And while we’re thinking about it, what can be done that would involve downtown. Maybe we close of that section of Dundas, cover the street with snow and have dog sled races there. Just sayin’.
Thanks for reading.
Michael Harding's answers to this week's questions Michael is running for mayor.
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1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
While I agree that council is there to make difficult decisions and that not everything can be resolved by a referendum, this is one question that should have been on the ballot. If you’re asking why not, I don’t have an answer. And why have a “public meeting” AFTER the decision was made. I cannot recall a single issue that affected every man, woman, and child here, and affected every resident, business and industry. If you are asking why there was no consultation, well, that’s a good question you should ask those that voted for it.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility?
Something has to be done for this overcrowded building. The city purchased the Swiss Chalet site and set aside half of it for a building addition. The other half went to the bus terminal. We had a plan to house police, fire and ambulance in an additional location but time and circumstances ruled that out for the moment. There has been no action for the last four years even though the need is still there. In the coming term, we will have to make a decision.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock?
If it were something like sewer pipes and street paving that we have been tendering for years, and where the abilities of those submitting is known, there may not be a problem. I prefer in other circumstances to use the RFP (request for proposals) where the requirements, maybe even the law, are less strict. In the example you site, there is more than simple price at issue, that you pointed out. Strictly speaking this is not “outsourcing” as we can’t do or want to do a tree service. Issues like timeliness of the service, how they clean up the site after they work should be an RFP issue. I should also say that no one service provider, local or otherwise, can be guaranteed a contract. But the question that remains is, how will this work over time.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
This is a complicated issue as that particular use was not in the zoning, requiring a change. Council voted no. I’m left with the opinion that it might have been an overreaction since in other areas, you wouldn’t even know it was there.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
No problem with this. I’ve supported a code of conduct which became and remains “toothless” and during my last term, hired a meeting investigator to review closed meetings upon complaint. A recent review I initiated with the meeting investigator led to a recent change in the procedural bylaw and “suggestions” that the content of that meeting be made public. Council has still chosen not to make it public. The investigator needs to “compel” release. The Ontario Ombudsman needs to have that ability as well.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
Will it remain so? We are aging in this community faster than the Ontario average. This age group is under the most stress often living paycheque to paycheque according to recent surveys. So how we tax, and what services we provide need to be reflected in our expenditures. Recreation comes to mind but we need to keep in mind what the future will bring – a changed demographic. I would recommend that all multi-year expenditures also include assessments of how and what the community will look like in the 10 to 25 year horizon.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Is there any question about my abilities to promote this city? All the mechanisms I put in place have been abandoned in the last four years. I would restore them.
Pat Sobeski Answers to our questions for the week of September 29 that is running for Mayor.
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1 – Woodstock Hydro: It is hard to think of your municipality owning a private-for-profit business
, but that is exactly what we have here with Woodstock Hydro. A potential sale is a commercial transaction and the parties entered into a confidentiality agreement at the beginning which is what every municipal owner and every potential buyer does. These kind of commercial discussions and negotiations are done in confidence.
Since restructuring in 1999 of electrical distribution companies, some 225 municipal councils have sold their interest in their local hydro company. Many larger communities such as Aurora, Barrie, Brampton, Brockville, Owen Sound and Richmond Hill no longer have an ownership share in their local utility. Not a single sale of a local hydro distribution utility has being tied to a referendum vote.
2 – Police Station: The current location is in a central location and the current proposed addition will eliminate the need to continue renting the building on Metcalfe Street and bring all the staff together under one roof. Another factor in maintaining the downtown location is that the firing range located in the basement would be very expensive to duplicate in a new facility.
In 2006, City Council approved $25,000 to review a possible police/fire joint venture. Artist drawings were completed on a site located at Devonshire and County Road 4 that also included fire training facilities and eventually a possible hotel. However, I discovered at the start of this term, those plans were never shared by that Administration with the other members of city council.
3 – The tendering process is an open, fair and provides a service at the best price to ratepayers. If each municipality restricted competitive bidding to local firms only, Woodstock based companies would be shut out from opportunities in London (375,000), Waterloo Region (500,000) and Brantford (125,000). The industry accepts this method of procurement.
4 – Zoning allows for sustainable planning. It regulates where residential, commercial and industrial can be located to make greater use of existing roads, transit service and water/wastewater infrastructure. Zoning can be employed on a municipal-wide basis or on a site-specific site which allows for some subjective flexibility. Each application must stand on its own merits.
5 – Agree. As Andre Marin has indicated “he is about as welcome as a skunk is to a garden party”. However the Ombudsman’s office can play an important role in monitoring all municipal activities.
6 – The municipality can create the environment that will encourage companies and families to locate in Woodstock. This means continuing to improve our overall taxes relative to neighbouring communities and during this term, progress has been made with the average home in Woodstock valued at 221,000 having a 0.3% increase or less than $10.00. Young parents that are well educated will find excellent opportunities in the area to pursue a career and know that they can raise a family in a safe community.
7 – The best way a Mayor can promote Woodstock is to bring a culture of success where every staff member and stakeholder understands their role and responsibility. Our city has benefitted greatly from other municipalities where the level of service is poor. I know of neighbouring communities where development applications often can sit for six months before a response is received. Cornerstone Builders of Belleville, the company that constructed SYSCO, was so pleased with the way they were treated by City staff, Cornerstone is telling investors and other builders to take a serious look at doing business in Woodstock.
In the Mayor’s role, I can accomplish anything if I am willing to let someone else take the credit. When I hear comments that City staff has executed as promised, I know we are headed in the right direction.
Candidates running for City Council here are the Questions and Answers
Shawn Shapton Answers to our questions Shawn is running for City Council.
WEEK 3 QUESTIONS
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
When it comes to selling city owned assets of this size, no precedence has even been set. There is NO question more public information sessions should have taken place BEFORE the sale went through. At bare minimum this should have gone through the tendering process the same way the procurement department would when purchasing goods or services. Going into “private negotiations” right away with just one potential buyer is ludicrous and a HUGE business mistake. If selling Woodstock Hydro is the decision that council felt was right for our city, we certainly didn’t give ourselves the greatest opportunity to receive a premium price. Especially when Hydro One knows there are no other competitors.
I am disappointed when talking to existing council members that voted in favor of this decision. Is it too much to ask council to be clear on why this is the best choice for Woodstock prior to closing the deal? With it being an election year why not slow the process down until the city has a clear indication of what the residents want. Simply by adding the question “Would you support the sale of Woodstock Hydro” YES or NO to the bottom of the ballot would have solved many of the issues with no extra cost to tax payers. The actual sale of Woodstock Hydro is just the topic, it’s the failure to communicate that is the real issue. I agree elected officials are there to make decisions on behalf of their constituents. However, there will be circumstances when it is necessary to go beyond council chambers. Including the share holders of the city in a decision that affects everyone should be mandatory in decisions like selling Woodstock Hydro.
Its decisions like this that creates a negative reflection between council and residents. Woodstock has a great opportunity to pick a new team that will put more focus on accountability and transparency. We definitely need to find new ways to close the communication gap between residents and council in order to change the culture at city hall.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility? I think we should start by looking at the needs both short term and long term for the Police Dept. With the current Police station already land locked, there is limited opportunity to expand at that location in the future. We must consider the needs of our growing city before we spend millions on a facility that isn’t in the proper location, and won’t meet the needs for our future.
I believe that to meet our short term needs creating a satellite office on the north side of town would be a great start and a much more affordable solution. This would allow the city more time to effectively budget for a large expansion including the Police and Fire dept. Joining the police and fire departments in the same facility makes sense for our growing city. The synergies between the two will result in cost savings and the ability to communicate much more effectively. These two services represent a large portion of the annual budget so we need to focus on cost saving where we can.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock ? The tendering process helps to ensure we receive the best price for the goods or services that are required and that there is no favoritism shown to one supplier or the other. This is NOT a perfect system by any means. There are certainly times that the best price doesn’t mean the proper service level, or quality of goods. If all we want is the best price, just imagine what people are cutting to achieve the “lowest bid.” It becomes a very slippery slope. Of course being a business owner in Woodstock I would love to see local businesses supported more often, but I also understand the importance of being transparent and ensuring competitive pricing.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed? I think the city has created a good level of order for businesses but they fell short on this decision. The crematorium would have been a good way to add a diversified business to our city. It would have created new jobs and is a true recession proof business. The other one that comes to mind is Personal Service Coffee that was forced out of their location on Ridgeway Circle. There was a large amount of time and money spent to move a franchise coffee supplier that just wanted to make a living. There was very little risk to the city by allowing him to stay in that facility and instead it was dragged out over several months. I’m sure the cost associated with that decision far exceeded the reward of him moving to a new location. There should be a better policy and procedure to ensure fairness across the board.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government? I would completely support the increase of power to the Ontario Ombudsman. This would give the residents a safety net at the municipal level on decisions deemed unfair or non transparent.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats. Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
I have been out talking to so many young families and the fact is a large percentage of families are struggling. Getting into the real estate market, finding good paying jobs or just finding a way to stay current with their bills seems impossible. Like I have said in my response to many other questions, affordable housing needs to become a priority. It has been neglected for far too long and is now at a critical impasse. Creating a job growth strategy, attracting more investors to build affordable housing that can be purchased or rented on an entry level income are a few ways to support young families. Making changes to the operation hours of our transit system would also help people get to and from a job, pick up supplies, and have the ability to get to areas of interest in our city.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Woodstock has so many hidden gems that should be promoted more often like our trail system, our parks and our recreation facilities. We have so many great retail stores, restaurants and planned events that will draw people to our city. Woodstock has the friendly small town feel with big city amenities that sets us apart. Our historical buildings and recent economic growth, along with our geographic location gives us an advantage in attracting new visitors to this great city
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions For City Council
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Thanks Paul for the opportunity to address the questions from the readers of the Woodstock Newsgroup. As many of the questions are interconnected I have not address each question individually but I have tried to address all the different topics.
My vision and outlook for the city is to pursue new business and industry for the next four years. Presently we are experiencing tremendous growth in residential housing and I believe that must be matched with good paying jobs from new business and industry. I do not want Woodstock to become a bedroom community for the London and Kitchener areas. Council needs to do all it can to encourage business and industry to locate here in order to take the tax burden away from the property owners who are already heavily taxed as compared to similar areas. We must remain competitive with other cities when it comes to attracting industries that are relocating or starting up. Past councils have had some success in this area but we must be even more aggressive in the future as our location at the crossroads of the 401 and 403 gives us a tremendous advantage. The Woodall Complex will certainly be an issue in the next four years and it would be exciting to be a part of those decisions. A properly built complex would generate tremendous revenue for Woodstock by bringing tournaments and events to our city which brings players, parents and spectators with their tourism dollars as well as fulfilling the cities recreational needs. But we must be mindful of the taxpayers dollars and look to private sponsorship and corporate donations to offset the costs. I think the discussions that have started with the University of Ottawa is fantastic news for the downtown core with a lot of potential. Downtown development has been an issue, forever, and never seems to go away. We have some fantastic businesses downtown and I think if shoppers felt more safe and secure while walking the downtown streets that these businesses would thrive and new businesses would want to open up. I know it is a difficult subject to address but many shoppers have expressed to me that they are not comfortable in certain areas of the downtown core and I believe this needs to be thoroughly examined by council. Our senior population is our fastest growing section of our city and Woodstock must do all it can to ensure their quality of life. We have a tremendous senior population who spend countless hours volunteering and helping make our community what it is today. A society is measured by how it treats the elderly and the city must help the private sector in anyway it can to help provide affordable housing for seniors as well including the senior voice in all recreation decisions that are made in the future. Once again Paul, thanks for the opportunity to address your readers and I look forward to any future communication. Todd Poetter
Owen Farrell Answers to our questions
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Thanks for the questions, I look forward to the coming weeks.
1. I would like to see more private investment of both commercial and income residential properties. If the University of Ottawa locates in downtown Woodstock there will be a need for more private affordable housing units for both our current and future residents.
2. If the Woodall recreational development is needed then fundraising should be the major source of income for the project. The City of Woodstock will be responsible for maintaining the site and this will be a never ending cost to tax payers once the fundraising campaign is complete.
3. The taxes in Woodstock are high and with an increased density among the new residential subdivisions and infill housing we can also decrease the per household tax requirement on a street by street basis. We will have to keep a tight control on all City Departments at budget time.
4. The downtown needs the University of Ottawa as the City of Woodstock alone cannot increase the traffic and pedestrian flow without having Institutional partners, including the County of Oxford building.
5. The City of Woodstock currently has large serviced industrial developments, with vacant land ready to be sold. If required we have the Woodall development for future recreational expansion.
6. The City of Woodstock has an obligation to ensure all of the residents are represented, but with the increasing number of active seniors this portion of our population will require more attention and resources.
7. The Woodstock Development Department has done a good job of marketing our vacant and ready to sell Industrial and Commercial properties within the City and both large and small companies know the benefit of the 401 and 403 corridor. The Toyota manufacturing plant did not put Woodstock on the Map, it reminded people that we have a prime location and the ability to accommodate all sizes of companies.
8. We need to maintain our current level of services and concentrate on keeping the taxes at a moderate increase. Attracting the University of Ottawa could be the catalyst to further increasing the exposure and investment in Woodstock.
9. I do not know why Stratford residents pay less but the City of Woodstock maintains a High Level of Service and I feel that Woodstock residents and future employers would not want it any other way.
Shawn Shapton, Answers to our questions Shawn is running for City Council
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1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
Over the next four years I see our community continuing to grow in both the commercial and residential sectors. I
see a fresh and vibrant downtown core bustling with students, new retail businesses and offering new affordable
housing opportunities. I also see a new Woodstock City Council that is committed to working together with its
residents, businesses and city staff. Communication and transparency needs to become a main priority.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay
for part of it?
I believe Woodstock is ready for another sports complex. There will need to be a large amount of input from
residents prior to building so we can ensure the new facility meets many needs. After seeing the popularity of the
skate park in Southside Park it’s clear “if you build it they will come”! We need more locations that encourage a
healthy and active life style for ALL of our residents. Having a facility that will draw new events and more people
into Woodstock will have a positive effect on our local economy.
At a projected cost of over $30 million dollars community fundraising, corporate sponsorship and government
grants will all play a vital role in this development. Having a dedicated and diversified committee representing a
variety of interests will also be imperative to the success of this project.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
High taxation rates are a common complaint with most municipalities. But the truth is Woodstock seems to be on
the higher end of that spectrum. I believe with the success and growth of Woodstock in the last decade, it’s time
we made tax reduction a priority.
In order to keep an increase at a minimum we will need look at all programs and funding to see what’s working
and what’s not. Specifically I would like to see less use of EXPENSIVE consultants and instead utilize the knowledge
of Woodstock City staff and residents to help improve efficiencies and reduce costs. I would like to see a strategic
plan put in place with its main focus on reducing taxes.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our
downtown?
I would like to fill the void that Zeller’s left with a new business that will attract people to our downtown on a daily
basis. I would also like to see more affordable multifamily housing solutions, utilizing some of the older buildings
and empty lot’s to create a vibrant and fresh city centre.
After touring cities with comparable downtown issues, specifically Brantford, it’s amazing to see how adding
university and college campuses can completely revitalize a downtown core. Locations that once sat empty are
now full of excited students and prosperous new businesses.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
Education - Woodstock would definitely benefit from expanding in the education sector. Fanshawe College has set
a great example for us and now with the opportunity of bringing the University of Ottawa here - that’s a fantastic
start.
Recreational - The Woodall development would enhance our recreational facilities and fill a void on the north side
of Woodstock.
Industrial - Adding to our thriving industrial and manufacturing sector will continue to promote new jobs and
enhance our economy.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for
'seniors'?
The City of Woodstock seniors are an extremely important part of our community! As our demographic changes
and a larger portion become “young at heart” the creation of new programs and facilities will become a necessity.
The value of their opinion is immeasurable.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new
businesses on the 401 corridor?
Location, location, location! Because Woodstock is centrally located in southwestern Ontario with easy access to
the 401 and 403 that alone is a strong influence for most companies. Promoting Woodstock globally as a prime
business location would help attract and diversify our current economy. Len Magyar and Brad Hammond do a
great job of attracting new businesses to our city with the resources available to them.
Tax relief for “NEW” business is a tough one for me because it would seem like we have forgotten about our
existing businesses. We need to look at a plan that will work for all businesses. Perhaps creating an open dialogue
between businesses and City Council could help lay the ground work for a strategic tax relief program.
Real estate along the 401 corridor needs to be marketed properly, so prospective companies realize they will
receive maximum exposure every day from both 401 & 403 traffic.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
My vision for the city includes a rejuvenated downtown core, continued growth in the education, industrial and
recreational sectors. We need to start listening to our residents and businesses and create a plan specific to their
needs. We are very fortunate to live in a successful community but we can’t become complacent, the City of
Woodstock needs to focus on a plan that is self sustaining.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where
garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
Without being fully aware of the services that are offered in those municipalities it’s hard to give an accurate
answer. As I mentioned in question # 3 I do feel there needs to be a strong effort put forth by City Council to
examine the current tax rates.
Laurie Fraser
Paul: thanks for the opportunity. I have already learned something from this. Not responding first is going to make some of your answers look like copying and nobody will remember who responded next. Nonetheless here goes
1. Without anything note worthy happening I see Woodstock maintaining slow constant growth
2. I strongly favour the Woodall project. I don't think anyone expects the city to fund the whole project. I am aware of some fund raising that has already been done and at one time there were those that wanted to take funding of the project to industry and business. Council cautioned against this until approval for the project. Hopefully momentum can be found again.
3. Examine every issue at budget time. I think we can save money with fewer consultants and trips to the OMB just to make a point.
4. I would like to see fewer vacant lots and buildings. I would suggest changing, deferring or eliminating the BIA levy in order to attract more services and institutions to the core. The University of Ottawa would be an exciting addition to downtown.
5. I believe in our current resources. What we need is to attract people/business to Woodstock.
6. I believe that the city should take a leadership role in supporting senior programs. I think the programs run best when ran internally
7. I would support our Business Development Department in whatever legal manner asked for if it will drive results.
8. Without anything exceptional happening I see us growing slowly. Keeping roads,pipes parks etc working is a must
9. The quality of service is not the same. I don't mind paying $1.12 per day for full time fire vs volunteer. Neither do I mind paying .72 per day for four firefighters per shift vs three.
Jerry Acchione
1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
My goal would be to keep industry coming to Woodstock so that we continue to have job growth, therefore bringing City population growth.
2. How do you feel about the Woodall Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
There should be fund raising involved similar to our Community Complex. Woodstock deserves first class sports fields and I believe it would ultimately benefit Woodstock as a City by bringing more physical activity to its citizens and the spin off economic spending at our restaurants, hotels, shopping areas etc. Once given the opportunity to see the expected costs and truly learn the status of our City financially, I would like to answer this further.
3. Taxes are incredibly high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
I have to imagine this is every Cities concern and I look forward to the challenge of finding ways to limit any future increases and ways to cut costs without affecting our daily living.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock? What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
University of Ottawa (or similar ideas) coming to Woodstock has to become a priority if we want to help revitalize our downtown. As a City Council we will need to look at different ways to keep people shopping and spending time in our City core and attracting a wide variety of businesses.
5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
To stay a well rounded, healthy City we need to expand in every way proportionally.
6. Woodstock has a large number of 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
This is another area that I would think many Cities are facing. As our population is "aging" I do believe we need to take care of those that brought us to the point we are at now. We need more "active" places (like the Southgate Center) to keep our "seniors" staying healthy and enjoying themselves. City Council should be involved in finding ways to make this happen where ever possible.
7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor?
To help bring more businesses to Woodstock we need to look at what each prospective business will need to have the City of Woodstock on its future sights and plans. Offering Tax relief isn't always ideal as it's our citizens that need to pick up that slack. Our location has to be one of our strongest assets. From there we need to assess what else is needed to complete "selling our great City" in order for them to move to within our borders. We also need to continue to be willing to work with our City staff (Len Magyar & Brad Hammond to name a couple) and provide them the tools they need.
8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
As a City we are headed in the right direction. I certainly have not agreed with some of our current Councils decisions and its blatant lack of Transparency and its Accountability has certainly come into question for not just my liking, but for many of our citizens. The direction forward for me is to bring INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY back to Woodstock City Council and to start listening to our Citizens BEFORE big decisions are being made.
9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000 home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
This is a hard one to answer without knowing all the facts. I do not, nor have I ever, lived in either City and cannot attest to their "way of City life". As a City we may have higher City Taxes than some, but I do know that other Cities pay much more for certain things like "garbage bag tags" etc.
If Elected I will investigate this even further and bring ACCOUNTABILTY back to Woodstock City Council!
Thank you,
Jonnathan Brownlee
Hi Paul,
I wanted to start off by thanking you for this opportunity. I understand the power of open dialogue and this is a shining example of community engagement at its finest. Please continue to send questions as this is the perfect opportunity to understand the concerns our community has. Here it goes:
1. With the potential of the U of Ottawa campus coming to Woodstock, I feel the next 4 years have the potential for growth of population, young talent, and local businesses downtown. There will need to be many considerations made such as parking, traffic congestion, affordable housing, etc, but I am confident that Council will be able to handle this when the time comes.
2. The Woodall proposal offers a solution to many concerns that we had this past year with the numerous baseball teams/leagues we have running in our city. On top of the sports already considered for this proposal, I believe there are additional needs for other sports that should also be considered. This development would be an added plus to the community, but I do not believe that the City should be responsible to fund this project solely. I believe community support through fundraising and City assistance at certain stages will help make this a reality.
3. The City of Woodstock has done a lot of ‘investing’ over the past few years. With the growth we have experienced and the foundation that has already been laid, moving forward City Council must review current expenses on a granular level and investigate creative ways to reduce/avoid unnecessary expenses while capitalizing on our current assets. I could not in good conscience support an endeavour that would result in a significant tax increase unless it was an essential need.
4. The rebirth of the Downtown core has always been a topic for discussion within the community. I believe that the larger retail stores are shying away from downtown as most retail is located near the Walmart plaza and there is more access in that area. We do have a strong presence of local businesses in the downtown core and I think that should be encouraged further. If you look at cities that have successfully brought the downtown to life again (Waterloo, Brantford), there was an emphasis on arts and social life. Supporting new local businesses through the already established grants for improving the downtown and looking at creative ways to further encourage existing business growth should be a priority for the next council. The U of Ottawa campus really would fit into that vision as it would naturally add life, vibrancy and business to the downtown area.
5. The city has laid a good foundation for future growth. Nurturing this growth will be key in the next 4 years. We will need to start looking at leveraging the commercial and residential land we have plotted for expansion.
6. The Senior population is at an all time high and there is definitely a need for affordable housing. I’ve heard many stories of pension cuts/old age security reductions that have made it impossible for those who have retired to afford the cost of living. The City will need to look at solutions for this need, whether it be partnerships or federal funding, as affordable housing is a growing concern.
7. Historically Woodstock has done a great job at attracting new businesses as we are a natural choice due to our strategic location off the 401. There is a need for local businesses that are hiring young professionals just out of college/university or just starting families. Being a commuting hub to bigger tech/financial companies in nearby cities is a great start. Retaining young talent and employing locally will promote further growth longterm.
8. I believe Woodstock is ripe for growth and development. I intend on bringing creativity and critical thinking to the table to really examine how we can best facilitate the must needed changes our city will encounter. Community engagement through relevant means will be essential in a successful 4 year term of City Council.
9. I agree that taxes are high, and it will need to be something that is examined by council. I think that bringing in new blood with fresh eyes will help in responsibly handling expenditures. However we must ensure that we are not arbitrarily cutting costs without weighing how it will impact us longterm. Maintaining healthy relationships with essential services such as Fire/Police is key in the upcoming term.
Thanks again Paul! I look forward to speaking with you further.
Laurie Fraser Answers to our questions September 21 who is running for City Council.
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The people I have talked to regarding Lions Pool were more concerned about irregular hours than the location. I really do not know if moving it to Woodall would end up with a net gain of users or not. Could provide better parking but long way out for some.
What a nightmare question the truck route is. I think the truckers already try to avoid Dundas Street but depending where the accident is have no choice. None of our east west streets have any ability to handle truck traffic without crating bottlenecks trying to go north or south.
When we need a new fire hall it goes without saying that it needs to be north of Dundas and east of Springbank.
I lived here since 1961 and never understood why we need such large buses. Surely smaller would fit our city better and accommodate those riding nicely. I don't see Sunday service as necessary.
Relax the BIA levies and make it cheaper to locate downtown. We should keep a better eye on absent landlords do avoid a repeat of the Capital. As long as the building is safe I think the appearance is up to the tenant/owner. "Eyesore" will not be the same for everyone.
I have been involved in some Winterfests previously and they are very dependent on the weather. I would approach cautiously when organizing. Approached the city on behalf of someone looking to run a Snow Pitch Tournament and the city was not excited about winter use on the facilities. I did not pursue as to whether it was a liability or potential damage issue. I will bring up at WRAC.
Jerry Acchione Answers our questions from September 21 Jerry is running for City Council
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The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
As a proud member of the Woodstock Lions Club I feel it would be tough to see it moved to another location though I think it likely needs to be. Once given the opportunity to see the financials of the current location and what it would cost to build at a more suitable location (with better parking and accessibility etc) I would likely think it would be in the best interest of the City if it was moved. My family would likely use it more if it also had more features with it than just a pool.
Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
This absolutely needs to be considered. We sit here at the dealership and we know right away anytime the 401 is closed due to accidents etc as they are lined up often in front of us here on Dundas Street. With proper signage and minor reworking of our current “industrial” roads I do believe we can achieve this without needing to spend a fortune. With this accomplished we can make a safer downtown and save a lot of “Wear and Tear” on those roads.
5. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
6. Not sure on this one presently. Without seeing all the information this is difficult to answer knowledgably. If there was an immediate need and a budget that could afford it then I would agree to it as I do believe all our First Responders need the proper tools to ensure the safety of our City.
In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Once again, if there was a demanding need and a budget that could afford this then absolutely yes. I do find it odd what the current system hours are. City Council should look at making our Transit system available later and on Sundays if we want to make it a more relied on transportation system within our City. I believe if people could rely on it ALL DAY, EVERYDAY then they would use it more.
9. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
10. Isn’t this one of the biggest questions facing all Cities? Having a University presence downtown would be a great start but I’m not convinced the complete answer. We need to make people living here want to go downtown and be proud of it and care what it looks like. Landlords would need to be dealt with any way possible to ensure their buildings represent what we as a Community represent.
11. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
12. Absolutely! Many families (including my own) would benefit from having more year round activities within the City. Southside Park is an obvious location for anything BUT we do not need to limit ourselves to just there. This should be addressed by our next City Council for sure and ideas welcomed from the public.
Questions? Email me [email protected] or call my office at Anderson’s GM 519-537-2326.
Connie Lauder Answers to our questions for September 22nd Connie is running for city Council
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1. I think the life of the Lions Pool is coming to an end. With the talk of the Woodall Complex I assume that a pool will be proposed for that location. I think what would be more bang for the buck in addition to a pool at Woodall if warranted, would be for some splash pads in various parks throughout the City. Splash pads would have very little maintenance cost, outdoor pools are wonderful but with such a short season I do not believe they are an economical way to go.
2. Yes I do believe that Woodstock needs a truck route in order to get the traffic off of Dundas Street. We now have restaurants and coffee shops with outdoor patios it is most disturbing trying to talk over the noise of the traffic if people wish to enjoy the patios. When the 401 is closed for any reason Dundas Street can become terribly congested. I understand there has been different thoughts about establishing a truck route but that is as far as it gets.
3. I think a 3rd fire hall will be required in the future to service all of the new building happening to the north and east of the City. I think that in preparing the 5 year Capital budget a 3rd fire hall should be included, in order to prepare for the future expense as we grow.
4. I know that people are asking for the buses to run additional hours, if the need is proven to
be there it is something that certainly should be looked at. Possibly there is a way to have a skeleton service to accommodate additional hours not the full fleet running the additional time. These issues will require future Council discussion.
5. I would like to see a seniors or adult apartment building downtown. I would picture the first
2 or three stories front graduating to 4 stories then 5 or something such as that so that it would not be just a tall building standing out above all of the other buildings downtown. I do think with the announcement of the possibility of the University of Ottawa campus coming to Woodstock the downtown will change immensely, I look forward to that.
With the out of town landlords, I think the least they could do is have regulated window coverings (curtains) on their windows, they should be encouraged to keep their building fronts maintained. With the Downtown Community Improvement plan in place there certainly is monies available for owners to fix up their buildings through grants or the 10 year interest free loans which are available.
6. A Winterfest would be a great idea either in the park or in Museum square. Museum square
might be a great place for an outdoor skating rink in the winter such as Victoria Park in
London.
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions for September 21 Todd is running for City Council
Thanks Paul for the opportunity to respond to the questions again. 1. In regards to the life of the Lions pool let me start by saying that I am extremely biased. I spent many days at that pool watching my kids learning to swim, achieving their badges and racing against other cities, and now I am doing the same with my grandkids. I think the Lions pool is a perfect example of small town life in Woodstock but unfortunately I know its days are numbered. There will come the time when the costs of repairs make it financially unacceptable to keep it running, but it will be a sad day. The Woodall complex would be the obvious choice for a new location with the population growth in the north end of the city and Southside Pool being in the south end. But hang in there LION'S POOL for as long as you can!! 2. Yes, I believe Woodstock needs a truck route but it must be logical and one that is enforced. Truck drivers know their business and will take the fastest detour when faced with delays in their route. Supposedly County road 6 was designated a truck route in the past but if there are no consequences ( as in fines ) to the drivers they will take the shortest and fastest route. 3. Woodstock continues to grow and with that comes the challenge of keeping our emergency services at the level that is required to keep our community safe. The question of a third fire hall is probably better answered by looking at all phases of emergency services in Woodstock and seeing if the combining of these services into the same building would be a more economical way to go. I am sure I am like you, for the taxes we pay, if I have to call 911 for any emergency I expect to get highly trained and skilled emergency responders at my door as quickly as possible. I can assure you that having worked with our emergency services in the past, we are getting the " highly trained and skilled emergency responders " part, but I am not sure about the " quickly as possible " part. I am under the belief that some of the areas in Woodstock are under serviced and as the city grows it will only get worse. Council needs to address this issue and make sure our community is fully covered when it comes to emergency response. 4. In regards to our transit system I am confident that our city staff is continually monitoring demand and usage. I am sure that as our city grows the routes and times will change as well. I have heard the complaint that our buses do not start early enough to get workers to their jobs on time in the morning and are forced to take a cab. I have not heard any requests for Sunday coverage. 5. The revitalization of the downtown is certainly not being helped by landlords who allow their buildings to become eyesores. I am aware of grants and loans that have been made available to these owners for downtown beautification but if the buildings are not a safety concern I am not aware of any action the city can take. The issue goes back to having a downtown where landlords want to look after their buildings as it benefits their bottom line to have a well kept building to rent. 6. Most of the Winterfests that I am aware of seem to be run by private groups and charities. Yes, I think the city should encourage these events as a way to promote the city but of course we must be mindful of the costs associated with it. If you are looking for something to do during the winter months may I suggest joining the Woodstock Curling Club, a great winter sport for all ages and athletic ability. ( How is that for free advertising fellow curlers ). Thanks again for the questions Paul.
Jim Northcott's answers to our questions for this week's round September 21 Jim is running for city Council.
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1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced
in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
ANSWER
I believe that Woodstock should have an outdoor pool. Yes a different location is needed for better accessibility
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
ANSWER
Yes it would most definitely be beneficial to have an alternate truck route around Woodstock and the issue is been looked into but in the meantime, unfortunately, Dundas St is a Provincial highway.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
ANSWER
I did agreed with moving the Parkinson Fire Hall to Springbank but the report done for the City does not support a third hall at this time.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
ANSWER.
Yes Woodstock is changing and I support our Transit system and I believe that the hours of operation have to be changed to accommodate its users but at what cost to the taxpayer. That is the question Council has to deal with.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
ANSWER
City Council has to be open and motived to new ideas and to direct change. Things are always changing.
City Council has a wonderful program to help support property owners downtown to revitalize their properties with grants and loans.
City Council has let it been known that we are open to revitalize our downtown and we are ready to work with partners to make this happen. At the start of this term we received interest from Fanshawe College and now we are working with the University of Ottawa. The City of Woodstock is not big enough or rich enough to take on a major revitalization by itself but we have to be ready to partner with people who are.
I wish there was an easy solution to force absentee landlords to clean up their properties. There are bylaws but it takes time to go through the process.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
ANSWER
Sounds like a wonderful suggestion. Let’s pass it onto Brad Janssen to check out the cost and see if we have to take away one of our summer activities or if the taxpayer or some corporate sponsor would pick up the tab
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions for this week Todd is running for City Council
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Thanks again Paul for this weeks questions. 1. Having read through many of our bylaws that are on the books, yes, it seems that a few of them need to be updated or revised. One interesting part under enforcement makes it very clear that the enforcement officer investigates potential violations based on citizen complaints, and then only if the complainer has identified themselves and given contact information. No anonymous complaints will be investigated. The " Open Air Burn " bylaw ( fire pit ) is very indepth and seems to cover all the safety aspects that are required to have the fire. It also covers the " Open Air Burning Medical Relief Form " that can be filed to stop an open air burn in your area if you have a legitimate health problem ( Doctor supported ) that would be aggravated by the burn. 2. I think the best thing that Council can do in the next 4 years to use technology better and more efficiently is to investigate and initiate a fair and much less costly form of electronic voting. Many areas are trying different ways to reduce election costs and I think by the time 4 years comes around we should be able to identify the method that best suits our needs. I believe our voter participation will rise and our election costs will fall. 3. Yes, I believe the city should converse with Fanshawe again regarding a satellite campus downtown. We should talk to anyone and everyone who might be interested in locating downtown, but we must do our part and clean up the sections of the downtown that may be hindering that growth. 4. I would think it would be in the best interest of the city if we continue to expand the list of items that can be dropped off at the James Street Yard, providing we have the space. It would reduce the number of items that have to be picked up and it would also reduce the eyesores in our neighbourhoods of these items awaiting pick up. 5. As a Health and Safety Representative who has worked with all of our emergency services in the past, I can assure our citizens that the level of service we receive is top notch. Obviously we need to keep costs down as much as possible but it is my understanding that the percentage of cost to the taxpayer is in line with other communities of similar size. The bigger question to me is " are we fully utilizing our resources and do we have the proper response times and coverage for the safety of our citizens ". 6. No, I do not believe we should tender out our garbage/recycling. We should be in the best position to do the job in the most economical and efficient manner and I believe that we do. Our city workers do a tremendous job and I do not want the city to lose control over our garbage/recycling by tendering it out. 7. I am not aware of the city's need for a larger community hall. What we have seems to be sufficient for now, but if we found ourselves needing a bigger hall in the future than the Woodall Complex would be a viable alternative. Thanks again Paul for this weeks batch of questions, Todd
Shawn Shapton Answers Shawn is running for city Council.
Woodstock News Group – Week 2
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is
or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be
able to use?
I sadly believe the life of the Lions Pool is coming to an end. For many, this facility represents a
family tradition going back several decades, and is a landmark in our community. The proposed
Woodall complex would make sense to balance out the north side. Personally I would love to
see another outdoor swimming pool with the addition of a splash pad or similar features. But I
would strongly suggest the city use this opportunity to engage our youth and hear their
opinions. Adults/Politicians can discuss this and think they know what the younger generation
would like, but it’s time we start including the future of our city.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways.
When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas
Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Yes Woodstock requires a truck route. Based on the industrial growth we have experienced in
Ontario in the past decade the truck traffic certainly won’t be reduced in the future. With our
city being centrally located to the 401 and 403 I believe we will see more transport traffic
headed this way to cross dock facilities similar to Sysco. I’m sure all truckers would appreciate
an alternate route other than going through our downtown with several stop lights as much as
we would. With the significant amount of money put into our roads this past summer the more
we can reduce the wear and tear the better!
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of
Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
Our city has grown immensely in a short time period and our boundaries are now stretched
farther than ever before. I don’t believe it’s a matter of “if” but more a question of “when” will
we need a third fire hall? The fact is our firefighters can’t get to our far reaching boundaries in
an adequate amount of time to protect our residents. With the amount of residential growth
and large industry coming to the city, our risk for more emergencies is higher than ever before.
To build a new multi use emergency response facility would be years away but I don’t think we
need to recreate the wheel with a solution to the current problem. Creating a staffed satellite
station (basically a house with a large garage) with one truck and 2-3 staff on the north side,
would allow first responders to arrive within 4 minutes of the initial call and staff from the
Parkinson Rd fire hall can assist within 6-12 minutes of the call. Having our first responders onsite
in an adequate time frame should not be considered a luxury in this city, instead it should
be a mandate supported by council.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on
Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Absolutely we need to extend the hours and run the busses on Sundays. What is the point of
the service if we aren’t meeting the needs of those that use it? Our biggest issue is that we are
running full size busses in areas that don’t require them. I realize there are times and specific
areas that require full size busses but for the most part smaller and more fuel efficient busses
would be a great and more economical solution for our fleet.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an
eyesight?
First of all, we need to make downtown a safe place where people will WANT to go. The
University of Ottawa is a great opportunity, but we also need to fill the void that Zeller’s left
with a new business that will attract people to our downtown on a daily basis.
There should be a city bylaw with basic expectations of what the buildings appearance should
be at all times. Regardless if a building owner lives locally or out of town, there needs to be
more dialogue with owners/landlords instead of waiting for buildings fall into complete
disrepair before the city gets involved.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London
and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside
Park?
I love the idea of a Winterfest in Woodstock! Our city needs to encourage or support any
opportunity for our residents to get outside and enjoy our beautiful city! Having a large outdoor
rink would be fantastic and we could arrange our own version of the NHL’s outdoor classic with
our Navy Vets against other local organizations.
Jonnathan Brownlee is running for City Council
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Hi Paul/Woodstock Newsgroup,
Thanks again for these questions. I want to apologize in advance to readers as this is a long-winded response, but I feel it is important. So here it goes:
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
My family has had the pleasure of using the Lion’s Pool over the years and I know for many Woodstonians it has been a hotspot for beating the summer heat. It will be a very sad day when we need to close it’s doors. That being said the day will come soon, and we will maintain it until the expenses can no longer be justified. I personally would like to see a recreational facility that has the capacity and features that families will be drawn to and will limit the need to travel to bordering cities. Whether this is funded privately or by the City remains the topic for discussion as Council is responsible for ensuring the best use of municipal funds.
The Woodall Project has the potential to facilitate this need, and I would like to continue to explore this opportunity. I really don’t think that it has to be 15 years down the road before we see this project come to fruition. Extending the life of our current facilities while earnestly preparing for future growth will remain a priority in the next 4 years. Engagement of local businesses and commited citizens will help make this a reality sooner than later and I intend on working hard to contribute to this initiative.
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2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
It is undeniable that traffic is significantly impacted when an accident happens on the 401/403. I agree that a truck route would be beneficial, but it may be something that needs to tackled by the County as the solution may lie on the south side of the 401 outside city borders.
Without an accurate consultation with our City Engineer, my opinion is that Parkinson Rd and Juliana Dr do not appear to be a solution to this issue as they tend to be congested areas already during peak hours. Regardless of whether a truck route is created, enforcing this could continue to be a problem as there are always exceptions to every rule, and there are some that will still continue to look for ‘shortcuts’.
I tend to question whether this is something that we should spend a large amount of money on as it is a significant undertaking for seemingly temporary relief during an accident. I believe working with City Engineer to develop a strategy would help Council accurately address this issue.
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3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
I am so glad this question has been asked as I have been thoroughly researching and investigating this issue. I had the opportunity to have a tour of both Fire Halls last week. During that time, I had some very insightful conversations in regards to concerns and needs that the Fire Department is facing. While they are limited in what they can disclose as they are prohibited to discuss details per Union standards, I was able to see the conditions and pressures they face on a daily basis. The biggest concern I walked away with was the lack of dialog between City Council and the Fire Association.
Through my research, I found that a consultant was hired in November 2013 to give a detailed account and recommendations of Fire Dept operations. In this report, it was identified that $3.9 million was included in the Capital Budget for 2015 for a 3rd Firehall. The 3rd Firehall was proposed as a way of reducing response times throughout the city to under 4 minutes as recommended by NFPA 1710. In speaking with our Fire Dept, currently that guideline cannot always be met and I saw a visual heat map representation of current response times and it was shocking to say the least. Despite the acknowledgement that the Fire Department is under-staffed to perform all critical tasks effectively, Council opted to reduce 4 positions through attrition and shelf the idea of a 3rd centralized Fire Hall.
As it stands, there are times where the Fire Dept can respond to a fire but cannot enter the building until backup arrives. Flash-fire has increased from 8 to 4 minutes on average with new construction which makes this even more alarming. This has the potential to place citizens at risk and magnify the extent of a fire (fires double in size each minute) causing more damage. With current trends of city growth, and under-staffing, we are en route to growing safety concerns and potentially significant house insurance increases. How can we continue to spend $90k in consultation fees and disregard the very present needs acknowledged in those reports?
Considering that City Council is responsible for governing the Bylaws which regulate how the Fire Dept operates, it is unacceptable to not have an effective means of active communication between Council and the Fire Association. I was shocked to discover that in the past 10-15 years, not one member from City Council has bothered to go to the Firehall and get a complete understanding of operations and department needs. Now I must be clear, as a City Councillor, I am not a spokesperson for the Fire Dept, but rather a representative of citizen’s best interests. That being said, with the Fire and Police Department compromising ~50% of Municipal expenditures, I firmly believe that the relationship between all of our essential services and City Council should be paramount as it is key to fiscal accountability and ensuring the most efficient and effective use of Municipal funds.
While this may place me under scrutiny, I would like to propose re-examination from the next Council of a multi-functional facility incorporating both Police and Fire Dept services as it would reduce duplicity of operation costs and increases communication and collaborative efficiencies between the departments. I would like the opportunity to speak on this issue further but I there is too much to communicate and I have already spoken in depth in this response. Bottom line, the Fire Department has genuine needs and excellent ideas of how to effectively make use of City resources and simply wants to create a dialog that has been missing with previous Councils.
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4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
Our city is growing and the relevance of a transit system is becoming more essential. I believe that the routes need to be re-examined and expanded. I think it would be a great investment to the city to have a trial week where all buses are free and run from early in the morning to late at night. The only requirement would be that each person fills out a survey that gives us a better understanding of their needs. It could be promoted as a City-wide Environmental Week (that could also be held annually) and would give us a much more accurate representation of who WOULD use the bus and the best hours of operation.
The biggest challenge is finding ways to monetize the transit service more effectively. Increasing fares is an option, but I would like to explore incentive programs for those who use transit on a regular basis. This is just an idea, but what if for every 10 rides, you get a free ride or a garbage bag tag. Obviously this would not appeal to everyone, but bag tags are local currency and incentive ideas like this might promote ridership.
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5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
Our downtown has been an issue for several years as the commercial sector has progressively moved towards the Wal-Mart plaza. I think it is important to note that the downtown will most likely not see many big-box stores as we really don’t have the infrastructure for that downtown. As I mentioned in my last response, we don’t need to re-invent the wheel to come up with ideas for revitalization. Looking at cities who have successfully done this such as Waterloo/Kitchener/Brantford, there was a thrust on Arts, Social Scene & niche local businesses.
I think the quickest way to change the downtown would be to find those who are looking to start businesses and facilitate opportunities to mentor new business owners through resources such as the Woodstock Small Business Centre as well as networking with businesses that have already been successful downtown. I also believe there is the opportunity to create some new bi-laws enforcing appropriate maintenance of downtown properties. But I don’t think its fair to simply impose new rules without creating an opportunity for business owners to have the means to do so. I know there is a current program in place to improve the facade of storefronts downtown, but should we investigate the possibility of small business loans for those looking to improve the inside of stores and apartments above?
In regards to the apartments above, I would like to encourage more business owners to renovate and live above the storefronts when possible. I’ve seen some really great success stories and where either the living space above is owner-occupied or rented out after renovations, and the difference is night and day.
Speaking to the Arts & Social Scene concept, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Reid, our new Curator at the Art Gallery yesterday, and I was extremely impressed by her desire to engage the community with fresh perspective. She has some really great ideas for appealing to all demographics and really changing the Arts culture in Woodstock. I strongly recommend you take the opportunity to meet her when possible as I am confident that with her recent arrival, the Art Gallery will be used to its fullest potential. She has proposed initiatives to engage all ages through opportunities such as a Bike Rack Legacy Project with the final result being unique designs spread throughout the downtown. This would in turn would promote active living and a fresh look in the downtown. I LOVE to connect with people like Mary as they are actively contributing to the solution of our great City’s needs.
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6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Why not, let’s do it! I would love a festival similar to Bonhomme-Carnaval. Now we will never be on the scale of the long-lasting Quebec tradition, but Im a huge advocate for observing success and replicating it. The biggest key to making this successful would be actively engaging community and putting together a committee dedicated to planning and executing this. My passion for Project Management jumps out at opportunities like this, but let’s examine this as a possibility and give the City of Woodstock and surrounding area something unique to do during the Winter time locally.
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I want to end off by stating that I do not claim to know all of the answers, but I am determined to work harder than everyone to get an accurate understanding from both sides of an issue so that I can make an informed decision with the public’s best interests in mind. I strongly believe in community engagement and open dialog as a lot of ideas are born out of discussion. This group is the perfect example of engagement through relevant means.
I cannot stress the importance of this election, as it truly will shape the future of our bright city. I encourage you to follow my campaign page on Facebook (fb.com/JonnathanforCouncil) as well as I will be posting some relevant content in regards to this discussion. I want people to understand that not only do I bring fresh vision and a good representation of young families, but I also feel strongly about the importance of investigating issues that have become stagnant, as that which is ignored has the potential to limit and restrict progress.
Thanks for your time!
Jonnathan Brownlee
Steven Gilbert Answers to our questions from September 21 Steven is running for City Council.
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1. I believe, we need to look at upgrades to the pool and turn it into something similar to Lake Lisgar in Tillsonburg. That facility is fun for little kids, all the way up to teens and families, with swimming, a slide, water spray features like the mushrooms, a picnic area, and a playground. I take my family there 3 to 5 times a year and everytime we go I see 5 or 6 other families from Woodstock. Some people may say we have the Spray Pad at Southside Pool but the Lake Lisgar facility offers more of an all-day family fun environment, with the use of a large outdoor pool which all family members can use and enjoy, not just for the small children.
2. A truck route would be beneficial, but with little industry west of the city it may prove more beneficial to do upgrades to county roads like Clark Side Rd, or build an emergency exit off Pattullo or Ridgeway similar to what Drumbo has done.
3.There is a concern for a firehall in the north end of the city, because of all the new housing and it is something we would have to discuss at length to make sure we keep with the provincial standards.
4. I think we should look at all our transit options to make sure our buses run where and when we need them, especially if we add students to the city, the need would become greater.
5. My main focus will be on the rejuvenation of the downtown core. With the possibility of the University of Ottawa coming to town, I truly believe we need serious upgrades down there to bring in new businesses, new business partners and jobs.
Needs -
A. University of Ottawa
B. Entertainment - downtown arena, restaurants,live theatre, bars, clothing shops, book stores, furniture store, etc.
C. Transportation - more bus use, cabs, bike lanes and walking traffic
D. Landlords- building owners will want student renters and small businesses and they will want nicer looking buildings and apartments near the campus.
E. City Facilities - more use of our downtown facilities such as the library, art gallery, & museum
F. Bring back a downtown Farmers Market on a weekend day
6. I am all for bringing a Winter festival to the city, opening up our parks to skating, tobogganing, ice sculpture competitions, live entertainment, and vendors. We live in a climate that has winter lets give the people of our city reasons to get outside and enjoy it.
Jim Northcott Answers to our questions Jim is running for City Council
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Paul
Attached are my answers to your questions for Sept 29
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
Answer
Councillors are elected to make decisions on the running of a city. They have a duty to investigate what is important to the taxpayers. They do not have to go to the citizens with a referendum every time a tough decision has to be made. City Council notified the public on October 11th. 2013 through a press release in the newspaper and on the radio that Woodstock City Council was negotiating with Hydro One for the potential sale of Woodstock Hydro. It was not a secret. In my article in the May, 2013 issue of WOW (What's On Woodstock) magazine, I stated that we were looking at selling Woodstock Hydro, and if you had concerns or questions to contact Councillors and let us know what your concerns were. The Mayor had interviews on radio about the potential sale. As a taxpayer you would have been welcome to come to City Council and let us know your concerns. Did you? No! We had more protests and delegations to City Council on the Skate Park than we had on the Sale of Woodstock Hydro. It is now, when a few candidates want to make it an election issue, that we they are speaking up. Where were they on October 12th. 2013?
The potential sale was not a secret. City Council was open and transparent in what it was discussing.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility?
ANSWER
I was not a believer that we needed a bigger police station. In the past I mentioned that the police could be housed in two locations. At present we have vacant buildings - why not use them?
Police and fire in the same building would depend on the need for new facilities and the location. In the past it was discussed having a joint location on the north east side of Woodstock.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emerency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock ?
ANSWER
Is there a more transparent method of been fair than tendering? Unfortunately, no one way is perfect. Both could lead to abuse and poor service but city departments have to be open and fair in awarding contracts.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
ANSWER
They shouldn’t! There should be one standard for all! The rules should be followed - not different rules for different people.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
ANSWER
If Municipal Government is abusing its powers, then I believe that there should be a mechanism in place to investigate. Should their powers be increased? I don’t know, but at present they are there, and citizens should use them if they think municipal politicians are abusing their powers.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats. Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
ANSWER
Is the question to support the young or seniors or both? Woodstock has wonderful facilities and activates for both young people and seniors. Seniors are becoming a growing demographic in Woodstock. Seniors are moving into Woodstock to take advantage of such services as pools, hospital and cultural activities.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
ANSWER
Promoting Woodstock is like living - there is no one way to stay healthy. As City Councillors, we cannot stay stagnant and go with the status quo. Everything is changing faster than the speed of light around us. We have to be open and always looking for ways to promote our city. For years Woodstock tried to keep its nice quite city feel but things changed around us and we did not keep up so now we are a little behind, but moving forward. All things compared we have a beautiful city in its historic buildings, downtown, parks and cultural facilities. We should be proud of our city and it isn’t just up to me to promote Woodstock, but every citizen to be proud of who we are and what we have and tell the world.
Laurie Fraser.Answers to our questions Laurie is running for city Council
I feel many people have mistaken my motivation for running for council. While the Woodall Project is important to me it is not one of the four motivating factors. Here are the four and I am fully aware that they are going to upset some people.
upset some people.
1) The firing of Bob McFarland which I feel was more a punishment for his support of the art gallery than a statement of his performance with the rec department. Although I did not support the art gallery I did support Bob's work with this city.
2) While sitting on two committees I got to here first hand comments from councilors and again decided very early that those comments were not representative of my feelings.
3) Sending a private enterprise to the grants committee when our first rule of support is for non profit organizations. The Medieval group is worthy of support but not through grants especially when we turned down or cut back many non profit groups.
4) Lastly I was watching council and there was a long discussion and eventually the issue was sent for study. The issue was allowing one of the units at the potential old Zellers site to change size. I thought how foolish welcome new jobs and how can having people at Zellers be bad for the BIA;
So folks please forward your concerns to me. My email address is out there if you want to be responded to in private
Todd Poetter Answers to our questions Todd is running for City Council
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Questions for the week of September 29
Thanks again Paul for this weeks questions. 1. In regards to the selling of Woodstock Hydro, yes, I believe a referendum was a very viable alternative in this case. When selling an asset of the city of this magnitude that affects nearly 100% of the voters, I believe letting the voters decide would have been a fair and democratic way to go. I understand that Council is elected to make decisions on our behalf but very few of their decisions involves this much of our money and a decision that will affect all of us, sooner or later. 2. I believe that all expansions and relocations of any of our emergency services needs to be looked at as a long range item but with short term solutions. Let me explain. If any of our emergency services needs immediate changes in order to provide the necessary coverage or proper response times to protect our citizens safety then we need to act immediately. But we need to look at the long range needs of these emergency services so our immediate actions will not be a bandaid fix but will coincide with any future need, such as acquiring enough land and not getting boxed in for potential expansion. I also believe that given the proper location and building configuration that any or all of the emergency services can be housed in the same buildings with tremendous cost savings to the taxpayer. 3. In regards to the tendering process, obviously this should be the best way to get a service done at the lowest price, but unfortunately that is not always true. In the tree service example that you gave, it is my opinion that the old contract holder ( Tabors Tree Service ) did a far better job than the bid winner and because of all the extra work that Tabors did for no compensation ( Xmas lights for example ) the tendering process probably cost the city more money. I believe that job history, performance, reputation, etc. should all be taken in to consideration during the tendering process, not just the lowest bid. 4. Although I have never been involved in a zoning change, I am sure it is a very complicated process. In regards to one business being allowed a zoning change and another business not allowed, I would hope it was due to proper reasons such as the impact to the surrounding area or the history of other zone changes, etc. Obviously I was not on Council when these decisions were made but I will assure the voters that if elected I will do the leg work required and fully investigate any zone changes that come before Council. 5. In regards to the Ontario Ombudsman being given more investigative authority with Municipal levels of government, I say, "BRING IT ON". If elected I will have absolutely nothing to hide. 6. I think the best thing that Woodstock can do to help support young families is to make sure our city is well rounded in every way, such as good schools, recreation, low crime rate, culture, etc. In the 47 years I have lived in Woodstock it has always been a great place to raise a family. My wife and I raised our two children here and they are now raising our grandkids here. Even though our city is growing I think we still have that small town charm and I think that's what makes a city a good place to raise a family. Now if we could just get those damn taxes lowered it would really help those young families ( and the older ones too). 7. If elected I would promote Woodstock by making sure that our city employees have all the necessary resources that they need to showcase our great city. Presently the city has fantastic people like Brad Janssen who do a wonderful job of promoting Woodstock through all the special events, parades, Canada day festivities, Cowapolooza (no spell check for that one) etc. I would do my best to make sure they had Council's support in all their endeavours to promote Woodstock. Once again Paul thanks for the opportunity to answer your viewers questions. Todd Poetter
https://www.facebook.com/woodstock.newsgroup
Steven Gilbert Answers to our questions Steven is running for city Council.
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Subject: Re: Questions for the week of September 29
1. In my opinion if I am elected to council the fear of backdoor deals, and the selling off of city owned assets without public input would be a thing of the past. I would share the information with the public, opening the floor to all involved to have their say. Elected officials often forget they are elected into office by the public to do whats best for the public interest, and how do you do that behind a closed door.
2. I have a couple of different ideas about this issue. One being moving the facility with the possibility of a fire hall, and police station. Second being why does it have to be a completely new, full service police station? Why not a smaller station housing several different groups like detectives and investigators and leave uniform officers at the main site on Dundas St.
3. As I do not deal with tenders at all, I decided to go talk to people that deal with tenders on a daily basis and this is what I have concluded. In the case of an emergency situation as mentioned, an out of town company could easily call a local contractor to do the job. Subcontracting is common place. Every tender states that they have the right to accept or reject tenders "should it be deemed in the interest of the Owner to do so." With the Engineers carefully drawing up tender documents, we entrust that they take these "emergency situations" into consideration when accepting the lowest bid. Each tenderer must state any subcontractors that they plan to use at the jobsite. All tenders also state "The Corporation of the City of Woodstock reserves the right to reject any or all tenders or to accept any tender should it be deemed in the interest of the City of Woodstock to do so." They are not obligated to accept the lowest tender.
4. Change it. If a new business wants to come to our city and their request is reasonable then change the zoning, plain and simple. And if the request is not reasonable show them different possibilities. My first instinct is to make every effort to put them where they want to be.
5. I believe the Ombudsman should have the power to investigate all levels of government, but what we really need is a municipal government that wouldn't need investigating.
6. I would support them by offering services, facilities, sports and festivals, at low or no cost to attend, I would utilize city owned places like the art gallery, library, and museum to offer services, family entertainment and education. And I would clean up the downtown making attractive to new and young families.
7. I keep saying our number 1 asset is your geographic spot off the 401-403 corridor. We are 1.5hrs to 3 border crossings, 30 mins to 3 major cities, 2hrs to Toronto, 30mins to 3 major airports, 2 railway stations within the city, close to casinos, Stratford Festival, OHL hockey teams, we are dead centre to anything and everything from a logistics perspective. Now we just have to clean up the downtown, offer great amenities, and open our doors to Universities and businesses.
Candidates running for city Council and County Council here are the Questions and Answers
Paul Plants answers to our questions Paul is running for City and County Council
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I do think that our frequency of communication on this should have been increased. Having said that, I do not believe that there could have been a whole lot more in terms of specific details that could have been released. First of all there were not fixed answers until near the end of the negotiations. Secondly, for obvious reasons, Hydro One did not want their business plans exposed to their competitors prematurely. We could have identified the major areas/topics that were under discussion such as employment guarantees, rate protection, community advisory committee, community grant levels; service guarantees etc. – but not the details of same. I do not know what more we could have done in terms of communications mediums other than registered mail and robocalling. There might have been the opportunity to hold some form of public forum but once again what could be talked about was limited.
In regards to a Referendum, I believe the “slippery slope” description has already been used in this group. Referendums could be held at little or no cost as part of the municipal election process every four years and that is part of the problem - four years. During negotiations with Toyota there were no public discussions for obvious reasons. But let’s say they didn’t care about their business plans being made public. While I believe it has, and will continue to be, a good thing for the region, there are some who do not want to see this community change. Do you think Toyota, or Sysco or Vuteq and so on would be here if we had to wait for a referendum? There are many issues and projects that cause controversy so how do we decide which one’s should be subject to a referendum? Have a referendum? When the Hydro issue first came up there was no great public surge of support for a referendum. Unfortunately there was a municipal election coming up, just like in the last election with the Art Gallery. They both became easy lightning rods to create political controversy over and become major campaign components for some candidates. Finally, and not least of all, City/County Councillors are elected to make decisions. Qualified decisions are made after reviewing and debating what is sometimes a huge amount of data and information over several months – the ability to do which is not typically practical to the general population.
2. The current police station was designed and built to accommodate a second floor. In my mind there is enough need to build this space given the satellite facilities the Service now needs to lease. The current sites foreseeable limitations in my mind relate only to parking and that is relatively easy to solve. London’s central station had the same problem and it has been satisfactorily addressed. Combining police and fire is another story. This present site was looked at for a combined operation but it never materialized for a number of reasons, some of which were petty in my mind.
3. Tendering, Request for Proposals, all of these are necessary for the fair, open and fiscally responsible approach to purchasing goods and services. It is a level playing field for all qualified parties and guarantees the best prices being put forward. Years ago, Woodstock like a number of other Cities, had a 10% “Local Preference Policy”. Upon revue two major problems with this were identified – paying 10% more than we had to in many cases and outside firms were not submitting bids/quotes reducing the competition which again resulted in higher costs.
4. This is difficult to answer because a lot of zoning applications are based on entirely different circumstances. The parameters for zoning are set by the County’s Official plan. If someone is asking for a use (industrial) in an area that is OP’d as residential we have a big [problem that more than likely will not be resolved in the applicant’s favour. When a zoning application for a high rise is made for a single family area then I believe it would be safe to assume that there would be significant neighbourhood resistance. In a lot of cases zone changes are requested just to increase the value (“upzoning”) and no actual construction work is done, the property is put on the market unimproved for a higher price than it was worth before the rezoning. Rest assured, if a requested zoning is in the benefit of the neighbourhood or community at large, it will be addressed in as helpful manner as possible or alternatives will be offered.
5. I do not believe that the powers of the Ombudsman should be increased to include municipalities. There is a multitude of legislation and regulations that direct how Cities are run. The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing has very strong and widespread powers to enforce the correction of problems, including taking over the management of a municipality if it is warranted. Cities, towns, township – these are all “creatures of the Province” – they were created by legislation and can be changed or eliminated the same way – I would say that is pretty powerful stuff.
6. Social Services, Housing and Health are part of the County mandate, there are no such services provided by Woodstock. Having said that, I am also running for County Council and if elected will be responsible for policy and budget decisions related to these services. It would be my confirm the concerns of this demographic sector, identify what we ae doing now and look for additional ways we can assist this group to overcome the issues facing them – but at the same time remain committed to fiscal responsibility.
7. I think we’re already doing an excellent job promoting the City, and have been for a considerable time. The majority of professionals, agencies and government divisions that can have an impact, positive or negative, know we exist. Certainly in terms of economic development there are ongoing programs to keep the City’s name out there around most of the world. The only real way to improve on this is more resources, both human and financial. Then we are back to the whole fiscal responsibility and sustainability thing again – money!
Deb Tait
Hi Paul,
Please see my answers below.
I just have one for you...WHY did you not run??? Woodstock needs people like you!
Thanks.
Deb
> Please respond to this email by Sunday, September 21.
> We wish all the candidates great success in their campaigns. Thank
> you in advance for participating and answering the questions.
> Thank you, Paul Roberts
> Your email addresses will not be given out to the general public.
> Here are this week's questions.
> 1. In the next 4 years what direction do you see the city going in?
City will still be growing with residential and commercial. We will need to manage that growth and work on keeping the taxes down while maintaining the infrastructure we have now..ex roads and city owned facilities.
> 2. How do you feel about the Woodall
> Development? Do you think the city should pay all of the cost or should money be fund raised to pay for part of it?
I believe that fund raiser should be included just as it was with the Community Complex. I will be interested to sign the numbers and the info as to when this complex will be needed.
3. Taxes are high in Woodstock. What can be done to keep an increase at a minimum?
We need to keep spending down on the non essential services.
4. What is your vision for downtown Woodstock?
What role do you see the University of Ottawa campus playing in the revitalization of our downtown?
As in all cities there is a complete change in downtowns and Woodstock needs to recognize that. I believe the University of Ottawa will create a huge boom to the businesses that are there. It can only be a benefit to everyone in this city.
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> 5. What areas does the city need to expand in for example recreational, retail or industrial just to name a few.
Right now the city has banked enough land for recreational and industrial land for future use for the future years.
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> 6. Woodstock has a large number of
> 'seniors'. Should the city become involved or should they encourage the creation of new facilities for 'seniors'?
This is one area where I think the city should be more involved. If you look at the benefits it gives back to the community it should be high on the priority list. The seniors contribute hundreds of volunteer hours to the city. Look at the hospital for example of the number of seniors there doing volunteer work. Also, a very important factor to remember is that if the seniors keep fit and healthy they have less health issues which puts less stress on the health system which all taxpayers are paying for.
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> 7. How will you go about encouraging new business? Would you support
> tax relief for new businesses? What would you do to entice new businesses on the 401 corridor.
In Canada we have very strick laws about enticing business unlike our counterparts in the States. As council what we can do is give staff the tools to go ahead and get the business. The reason we got Sysco is we ok'd Brad and Len to go after them and bring back the offer regardless how low it was. The most important part was staff was able to pull everyone in the room from Union Gas, engineering department, Woodstock Hydro..etc so when they had a question there was someone there to answer. We have the location to attract business so it helps that council lets staff know they have their complete confidence.
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> 8. What is your vision for the city in the next 4 years? What direction do you think that the city needs to go?
I think we need to work on bringing The university of Ottawa here. The entire dynamics of the downtown would change. It would a great boom to the economy of Woodstock.
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> 9.Why does a person living in Stratford, Ontario living in a $250 000
> home pay $261.34 less in total property taxes, and in Strathroy where garbage is included in the tax bill pay $411.22 less in taxes?
It is the level of service we provide compared to Stratford. Also, Stratford has not increased their taxes to meet their needs and as a result the city has a much higher debt load than Woodstock does. Woodstock is in very good fiscal shape compared to most municipalities.
Paul Plant Answers to our questions.
NOTE: As questions 1 & 8 as well as 3 & 9 are basically the same there will be only one response per pair
1. - I believe that we will continue to see a moderate but steady rate of growth in the City over the next four years. A significant part of this will come from new residents, with a large portion of these being semi-retired or retired. I feel that there will also be continued growth in our commercial and industrial areas, similar to what we have seen over the last four years. However, the pace and extent of this non-residential growth is somewhat dependent upon the City being able to make adjustments to its boundaries, at a fair and reasonable cost. If current plans for the University of Ottawa, and its associated College, come to fruition, the downtown core will go through a significant metamorphosis in terms of types of stores/offices, restaurants and housing, both refurbished and new. If this type of core growth occurs it will probably be necessary for public parking to go up for the first time, as opposed to all at grade. While there will be changes, cosmetic and volume, it will not be as drastic as to change the nature and culture of this community.
2. - I believe the Woodall Development is a long term project (10 to 15 year build out) that the City and citizens of Woodstock should undertake at this time. As the majority of new growth is in the City’s north end, coupled with the fact some municipal facilities being near the end of their useful life, this would be an excellent area to develop a second community multi use facility. I believe that in addition to sports facilities there is an opportunity to locate other services such as a satellite of the Library and Southgate Center when they are needed. The history on large scale developments proceeding is that some form of senior government program kick starts projects like these. These initiatives typically have a one third share of capital costs covered by each of the feds, province and municipality. The municipal share is often made up from additional grants, reserves, major contributors, user groups and City taxes. The degree of support from individual contributors and user groups is often the key to the timing of these types of initiatives
3. - I am pretty sure that there isn’t a community out there where people think that their taxes are low, including Stratford and St. Thomas (both comparable to Woodstock). It is also very difficult to compare a property in Woodstock with a “comparable” one in any other municipality in Ontario. As most of your members must be aware, their taxes are determined by applying the local/appropriate category mill rate to the property’s Assessed Value. The Assessment system itself causes confusion even within a municipality as older and larger homes are sometimes valued less (Assessment wise) than newer smaller ones. That being said, there is a major difference between Woodstock and the two comparators mentioned; they are Separated Municipalities whereas Woodstock is not. What this means is that they pay taxes only to the municipality they live within. In Woodstock’s case, while the cheque may be written to the City, a significant portion of that money goes to the County of Oxford (in both cases a percentage of the taxes go to education as well). In theory with all things being relatively equal, services supplied through one municipal government are supplied here through two. This results in the duplication of some services and local money going to support projects in neighbouring municipalities. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t always room to improve how the City does its business, but it does point out that the City Council does not have direct control over a significant amount (46%) of your tax bill.
Woodstock’s payment to the County make up about 24% of the total City Levy but this transfer equates to 37% of the total County Levy. Therefore, for 2014 the total Woodstock Levy is made up of 54% city, 24% county and 21% education.
This is a key point in my election campaign platform, “Putting Woodstock First”, as I believe that the City must be more assertive with the “upper tier” in regards to what it is costing to be part of the County system. The current formula is roughly 39 years old and needs to be re-examined for its relevancy today
4. - Traditionally the downtown, like most at the middle of last century, was a mixed use area, with a heavy emphasis on comparison shopping, financial institutions and restaurants. Times have changed and with the advent of “big box” developments and national chains going into smaller markets this has dramatically altered most small to medium sized downtowns. It had always been hoped that more residential would develop in or near the core but this has been slow to materialize. The downtown I see for Woodstock will still have retail, but nowhere near the number of outlets that there were in its heyday. Instead, we will have a continued presence of financial institutions, increases in office and government facilities, additional lifestyle/cultural amenities and restaurants – maybe even some speciality food outlets. The key to making this a reality is to continue to work at getting more residential units in the area so that there is more pedestrian traffic all during the week. The addition of a post-secondary institution in the downtown, such as Fanshawe College or the University of Ottawa, would be the type of catalyst that this type of revitalization requires, and support from both the City and the County is critical to making this happen.
5. - The “need to expand” is dependent upon four things; population growth & demographic change, popularity shifts in the types facilities, recreation& culture activities, the expressed need for a facility or service and the current state of existing facilities and programs. This last point is thrown in because I do not believe that “expansion” is not the only alternative here. The age of some of our municipal properties is such that decisions will have to be made shortly whether or not to replace them. The City is currently doing a Recreational Facility Needs Study that will identify and set priorities for what is needed for the next five to ten years. The retail we are most likely to get is primarily dependent upon regional demographics and private developers. Most of this will be occurring along Norwich Avenue for the foreseeable future as national chains keep expanding into smaller markets. Industrial, and commercial, development is important to any community because that is what pays the biggest chunk of taxes for the least amount of service requirements. While the City has done quite well in this regard over the last decade we still have to be attentive to economic changes and retain our existing base. We do need to continually replenish our industrial land supply and this is becoming more and more difficult due to the demands of the adjoining municipalities.
6. - The City has been involved in both the development and operation of facilities to accommodate programming and services related to the older members of our community, such as Southgate, Lawn Bowling and trail systems Given the important role these citizens play in our community, and the fact that we are now seeing the “Baby Boomers” entering this demographic, there is a need to develop more facilities and services in this regard. That being said I would suggest that the City will have an ever
increasing role in the development and operations of the appropriate facilities and some programing, but the County will need to step up its Social Services mandate in this regard.
7. - First of all I think we need to do a little economic development 101. The ability of any municipality within the Province of Ontario to give tax relief, offer “incentives” or do anything financially that it does not do for everyone in the same assessment/tax category is deemed to be illegal under the Ontario Municipal Act and is called Bonusing. The practice of tax relief, moving assistance and other financial incentives is extremely common in the United States but very limited in most of Canada. The exceptions are “mega projects” such as Toyota’ assembly plant – and other investments that are deemed to be have “provincial significance”. What must be continued is the City’s goal of having a ready supply of fully serviced land for a competitive price/acre and that municipal charges related to development are no more, or less if possible, than competing communities. It must market itself, and the region (SOMA), to decision makers and consultants outside of the Province and Canada. WE must continue to offer a “one stop” environment for potential investors so that their questions and concerns can be addressed quickly and directly. City Council must do its best to ensure that there is a good inventory of all types of housing and recreation/cultural/leisure facilities. The availability and affordability of hard services and utilities must be constantly monitored and efforts made to enhance these with our “partners” whenever possible. Believe it or not but local taxes, coupled with provincial and federal, must be deemed to be competitive and to the best of my knowledge this has never been an issue related to not being selected as a site for a new industrial/commercial development.
Note - #8 see #1 & #9 see #3
Dave Nadalin Answers to our questions for September 22 Dave is running for City and County Council
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Hi Paul;
Thanks for the opportunity to answer some questions posed to Candidates for this Falls Municipal Election.
1. The life of the Lion's Pool is coming to an end. It will need to be replaced in the very near future. Should the Lion's Pool remain where it is or should it be moved to another location in the city? Is there something else that could be done instead of a pool that more people would be able to use?
This question has been raised for years since the first boiler burst its pipes quite some time ago. The Lions Pool has served this City well. The replacement of the structure is inevitable and should be taken into consideration when designing the structure of the Woodall Park Complex. As City owned property it could come into the discussion in future years if the Van Ave Firehall next door needs to be expanded in future years to service the Downtown and North East end of the City.
2. Do you think that Woodstock needs a truck route? We are very close to the 401/403 corridor and accidents happen on these highways. When there is an accident traffic is rerouted to Dundas Street. This causes major traffic issues not to mention the wear and tear on Dundas Street with those heavy transports going down Dundas Street.
Surprisingly there is a Woodstock Truck By-Pass that took years to fund and build through County Road 6. Anyone that remembers the pre-by-pass days remembers well the trucks regularly on Dundas Street. As far as 401 and 403 closures causing diversions. There is an Emergency Route System all along the 400 series highway that in essence has to be enforced to make it work. If heaven forbid the Walker Landfill site goes through at Beachville, the truck traffic will be enormous. Another reason to fight it tooth and nail.
3. In the past there was talk of the Fire Hall on Parkinson being moved. There was also talk of a third Fire Hall being built at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Landsdown. Do you think we need another Fire Hall?
This question in itself may very well be one of the biggest decisions facing the next Council budget wise. It will take some serious progressive thinking as the plan is now to add a 5 million dollar renovation to the Police Station Downtown in a land-locked spot. Very short term thinking. I would support a Fire/Police headquarters in the North East End with ample land for future expansion as well as a mutual Training Center as well as a shared hybrid of Administration and Dispatch.
4. In the past there have been many concerns regarding our transit system. As life changes, people work different hours and also work on Sundays now. Do you think we need to change the hours our buses run and also run our buses on Sundays?
If there was a simple answer to the transit system I wish it would come forward. No I wouldn't run Transit on Sundays. I would however engage in discussion on smaller buses because technology has changed and there are products out there now smaller in size that are used by Municipalities and not hurting your maintenance budget.
5. How do you intend to revitalize the downtown? What can you do with the landlords who have allowed their buildings to become an eyesight?
Another million dollar question.
I would however do 2 things. Promote Councilors and staff to attend Conferences that deal directly with this issue that faces all Cities. It is important. Learning and staying away from the fate of others is more important now than ever because at the end of the day buildings have a life-span too and unless you find someone with deep pockets, the City will own an near empty core in the years to come.
As well pay special attention to the blight from Van Ave to Brock. If the plan is to sell the old Capitol property for a dollar, make sure it is someone committed to building new. I would partner with Fanshawe, the University of Ottawa or any private builder that would bring new housing Downtown in a New York minute... And don't rule out P-3's, Our Hospital did OK.
6. There are very few public activities for Woodstonians in the winter. We have a lot of activities in the warmer weather. Cities like London and Stratford have Winterfests that attract people to their cities. Do you think Woodstock should have some kind of Winterfest in Southside Park?
Interesting. We were very close to building an outdoor rink in Southside Park when making it a Destination Point years ago. Depending what happens with the Woodall design, the small East and West diamonds may free up area to do just that and other projects that could be partnered with the private sector. When affording new Recreation Projects, people cannot look at the private sector as the Boogey Man anymore. Again, look at our new Hospital.
Dave Nadalin
Paul Plant answers to this week's questions September 22
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The useful life of the Lion’s Pool is rapidly coming to a close after nearly 60 years of serving the community. I for one believe that an outdoor “seasonal water recreational facility” is part of life in communities such as ours. Accordingly, I support the replacement of the existing facility, but it has to be designed as a much more relaxed environment, capable of having swim meets but also just a fun place to go and cool off. Since we have the Southside Aquatic Center in the south end and most of the new residential growth will be in the north, the potential Woodall Complex would be an ideal site.
There are times when the heavy truck traffic through the City is somewhat troublesome without a formal and properly planned by-pass. Part of the problem has always been that the drive down Dundas Street breaks the monotony of the highway and doesn’t impact on a trucker’s mileage. The County of Oxford did construct a truck route that was supposed to reduce traffic going north from the 401. This particular concept, County Road 6, did not help the truck situation to any great extent, but making the proposed Walker Environmental Landfill readily accessible. The City is going to have to persuade Oxford County that a bypass is worth examining again.
I do not believe that we need a third fire hall at this time. When the need does develop it will more than likely be driven by growth in the north east and northwest areas of the City. However, only two roads access these areas and one has the main CP Rail line running across it so in my mind the logical location of any new facility should be north of the Thames River. There was some minimal advantage moving the Parkinson Road hall up closer to Dundas but the cost to do so relative to the improvement in service did not justify such a move.
As most people are probably aware, the public transit system in Woodstock is heavily subsidized. Staff are continually reviewing the routes and ridership to make improvement to increase ridership and make routes faster and cover more of the City. Current usage and demand figures suggest that there would not be enough ridership to warrant running buses on Sunday. As newer areas of the City develop and more people realize the advantages of taking the bus I can see the extension of hours on existing service days potentially being increased at some point in the not too distant future.
Having had a long history of involvement with the downtown, my attitude and thoughts have changed over the years. While the core will always have some non-discount comparison retail businesses, this will not be its primary lifeblood. Continued growth in the office sector, private and public, as well as financial and legal services, is where the majority of rejuvenation and growth will occur. This Council has also identified the potential for the development of significant square footage related to post-secondary institutions and is working at making this a reality. Continued encouragement of landlords to upgrade their properties is also a priority, and there have been significant advances in this regard, most involving direct participation by the City. The issue of landlords allowing their properties to get into disrepair is a difficult one, and the municipality can only step in for safety reasons or if taxes have not been paid.
Admittedly there are few winter outdoor public activities here and for obvious reasons. There was an attempt to do a winter festival with chili contests, dog sled races, etc. a number of years ago. Unfortunately it was weather dependant and the snow was not cooperative. The City does not normally develop public events unless they are tied to a holiday or other special occasion such as the Stanley Cup coming to Woodstock. There is the odd exception to this like Cowapalooza but other events such as the Santa Clause Parade, Woodstock Wood Show and Renaissance Festival are produced by independent public or private groups. In many of these cases the City has played a sponsorship role and provided some services related to site cleanliness and pedestrian safety. It is probably too late for this winter season but if anyone has a good idea/concept they should approach Brad Jansen and if it merits support it can be added to the 2015 budget considerations.
Paul Plant
Dave Nadalin Answers to our questions for this week Dave is running for City and County Council
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Hi Paul;
Answers to your questions for Candidates.
1. Woodstock Hydro: This topic is a hot issue
in the minds of the citizens of Woodstock. When important issues like the sale of Woodstock Hydro occur should there be a referendum? What other way could council have involved the citizens of Woodstock?
This issue was well known in the public realm for some time and what made it significant is the taxpayer in Woodstock owned Woodstock Hydro and were their customer as well. It was well known that Hydro One had questionable Leadership with 2 of 3 major political parties in Ontario calling for the resignation of the CEO and the complaints of their billing and customer service with the Ontario Ombudsman were unprecedented. That in itself would raise enough red flags for any responsible Council not to call a hasty Special Meeting with no Public input but Woodstock City Council did just that. Totally irresponsible. I had proposed when I announced my candidacy in January I would have had a public meeting AFTER the election but that was redundant when they made their decision to sell with ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A RUSH.
A public meeting of the Citizens who were and are customers and shareholders of Woodstock Hydro Inc. AFTER the election was and will be the only prudent thing to do before the sale is consummated.
2. Police Station: Do you think an expansion of the present location is good? Should there be an additional location? Should police and fire be house in one facility.
Simply put,
Investing 5 million dollars in a renovation for the Police Station in their land locked present location is short term thinking stupidity. Yes they need to expand. But smart thinking and money will have a Capital investment steered towards a new building in the North East end of the City that includes the Fire Department and potential for Ambulance as well. That gives room for training grounds and a hybrid combination of Administration for all departments and Dispatch.
3. Do you support 'tendering' for the outsourcing of jobs for our city? An example is, our present tree service is based in Halton, with 'tendering' you must accept the lowest bid. In the case of an emergency like a snow or ice storm what kind of service would we receive? Is there another method that could be used to 'outsource' for jobs in Woodstock?
There are negotiated contracts in place for everyday maintenance of the City and quite frankly in Emergencies its "All Hands on Deck" Woodstock has been known to help out in other Municipalities as well and its a given throughout North America. For irregular maintenance like tree planting, I don't consider that regular day to day and it must have been negotiated. It is a Union atmosphere at Board of Works and a contract is in place.
4. Changing zoning has brought some businesses to Woodstock. There was a business, a crematorium that was denied a zone change. Why should some businesses be allowed a zone change and others not allowed?
Zoning changes and amendments are never a cookie cutter approach. At the end of the day an applicant can appeal to the OMB but I have to admit that some of Councils zoning decisions in the past couple terms have had me scratching my head.
5. What do you think about increasing the powers of the Ontario Ombudsman so that he has more investigative authority with municipal level of government?
I believe in a mechanism to keep Municipal Governance in check but with the wide range of responsibility for our present Ombudsman, including investigating Hydro One, I think the office is ran a bit thin and the consequences, ie. the London Fontana 8 private meeting, are not a deterrent.
6. What are your plans to help support young families, Stats Canada says the average age in Woodstock is 40.7 years.
Rather than spend 12 pages describing what could be done, simply put just thrive to build an all=around great Community covering all facets of importance.
7. If elected, how would you promote Woodstock?
Continue to do what I did sitting on the City and County Councils for 4 terms previously. Most importantly thinking outside the box and adapt to change.
