27 May 2007
a day in the life of...
.. a City of Kitchener Councillor: Monday 28 June will require attendance at four scheduled meetings: a special Council meeting, and three regular standing (working) committee meetings: Community Services, Finance and Corporate Services, and Development & Technical Services. Agendas for each and all related reports to be found at City website using the calendar link. Ordinary folks like you and me can skip the mundane housekeeping reports and focus on these reports as a sneak preview into future developments around town. Herewith, Rambling Rose provides a sampling summary:
1. Air Quality Best Bet #4: to enhance green space management
a. protect and preserve natural features (hedgerows, wetlands, woodlots) prior to approval
of development projects:
b. incentives to plant trees particularly native species;
c. require minimum of one tree (native species) at front of lot in new residential
developments;
d. Incentives to naturalize front yards; (1)
2. Budget 2008 process
a. Staff to identify priority areas for service level or program reductions over the next three years;
b. Increase fees and charges revenue by 6.00% cf. “Staff propose to identify the public
appetite and areas of focus for service level or program reduction through the assembly
of focus groups over the coming months.”
c. “Substantial pressure will be placed on the budget over the next several years as the City realizes significant capital expansion as well as the impact of EDIF and other initiatives.
For 2008, the current projections shows a levy increase of 5.47% before EDIF ** and
6.72% including EDIF. This is the highest increase projected over the next ten years.”
d. KPL new main library operating budget impact at $1,659,000 in year 2010 & new south
end library @ 990,000 in 2015
3. Council size and ward review (2) as required after three elections===> public consultation in
Aug/Sept 07
a. Per Supreme Court of Canada, “effective representation” not representation by
population is the common law standard for electoral boundaries in Canada; however,
population of wards should be as equitable as possible and ensure that each voter is
being fairly and equitably represented
b. Per 2005 OMB decision, “communities of interest” ...should not be fragmented or divided
c. One councillor per ward will determine the number of wards
cf. Per 2004 Council minutes, Councillor Gazzola had requested return to 10 ward system in
place prior to 2000 municipal elections in order to ensure greater debate and that varying
opinion* are heard on the issues. He was supported by one Councillor (Weylie) but his
motion to increase size of council was defeated.
4. Development 07-post 08 (5)
a. 8 subdivision plans approved for 07 for maximum total of 1,255 additional (residential)
units;
b. Constraints on future greenfield developments:
i. “Countryside Line” per Regional Official Planning Policy
ii. Reurbanization (re-development/infill/intensification) as increasing priority per
Provincial Planning guidelines
c. Hence, “balanced approach to greenfield and infill development; “City of Kitchener will
give high priority to the processing of any subdivision deemed “infill.”
d. Current lot supply of 10,178 lots/units is 2,000 units lower than last staging report 1.5
years ago = “a fairly significant decrease over last two years”. Building permit activity
for new residential in 2006 was lower than in 2005. A significant increase in apartments
permits +300 units from 05.
5. Doon Valley Golf Course expansion to seek Audubon International Sanctuary classification which
recognizes environmental stewards to the highest standards of golf course maintenance
practices. The natural and cultural assets of the Grand River Valley location (85 ha/210 acres
flood plain and approx 3.5 km of river edge) include :
a. wintering habitat of endangered Bald Eagle; hence, course will be closed from November
to March
b. Regionally rare bird and plant species
c. Important wildlife corridors and linkages
d. two historic railway rights-of-way
e. significant archaeological resources.
6. Queen Street South reconstruction (Courtland to Highland Rd W)
a. Region public information meeting on 19 June 07 to review four reconstruction options;
b. Kitchener request for pedestrian scale lighting @ cost of $800,000*** to City of
Kitchener; rationale: consistent historical streetscape and
c. Insufficient width to accommodate dedicated bike lanes along Queen Street; however,
Queen Street does provide major downtown connection to the Iron Horse Trail, the most
used trail in City.
7. Notes: * playing with words i.e. Gazzola wanted to ensure a diversity of opinions on issues;
Councillor Vrabanovic put different meaning on the same word cf. “ ”if diversity is an issue, it
should not simply mean an increase in the size of Council but rather an increase in cultural
representation.” (3) ** EDIF @ 1.25% of levy is on top of that increase; ***”excluding cost of
any metal-halide fixture costs” (6)
8. Sources: (1) CRPS -07-072 Environmental Committee/Air Quality Five Best Bets; (2) CRPS-07-
067 Council Composition and ward Review: (3) Council Minutes p. 108, 30 Sept. 05; (4) FIN-07-
058: Budget Process and 3-year Financial Plan; (5) City of Kitchener Staging of Development
Report et al. (6) DTS-07-082 Design Option for Pedestrian-Scale Lighting Queen Street South
Reconstruction Project.
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2006 L to R: City of Waterloo crest and motto "stability" to recognize our sister city's 150th anniversary and selection as most intelligent city this past month; City of Kitchener and motto "industry" to recognize the role its various manufacturing industries have played in its growth and development. In spite of significant factory shutdowns, manufacturing accounts for 25% of all Kitchener employment.
Labels: land use
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