Among the many items on the Dec 13, 2021 Council Agenda (see tracking sheet below) there are 3 I feel very strongly about:
ONE is a Notice of Motion towards the end of the meeting about the Columbus Public Information Centre #4
"Whereas the Columbus PIC #4 of October 28, 2021, was electronically inaccessible and/or intermittently accessible to the public, despite the best efforts of all to accommodate; and,
Whereas the Columbus residents and others were unable to participate in a fulsome public meeting;
Be it resolved that a replacement PIC #4 be rescheduled and provide a hybrid model of electronic and in-person participation for public engagement in an accountable and transparent manner."
I hope that Council is responsive and does the right thing.
There were several Oshawa residents letters submitted (CNCL-21-116) in support and I would like to quote from one that describes the problem very well:
"This is a large, complex, and far-reaching Plan that will have many significant impacts on the lives of the residents of Columbus. To rush through this “consultation process” in this way is both disrespectful and denies many community stakeholders an opportunity
to understand the proposals and to have their questions and responses heard."
TWO is DS-21-226 -This is the Staff Response to a motion I made first in 2019 and then in June this year that Parks and Trails be completed in a timely fashion, as too often children in the new developments miss out for YEARS having a completed playground. However the Staff Recommendation was that the City maintain its current policies that relate to the timing of development of new neighbourhood parks and trails in new subdivisions. At the December 6, 2021 Development Services Committee meeting the vote to refer this back to staff for public consultation failed with tie 3 - 3 vote. Councillors Hurst and Kerr voting with me, Councillors Chapman, Marimpietri and the Mayor siding with the staff and developers who had input.
Again, I hope that Council is responsive and does the right thing.
THIRD is DS-21-135 the recommendation about the Future Site of a New Hospital in Durham Region.
Council members have had little to no say how this matter progressed in the past six months and much has been suppressed from the public view. The Mayor and staff took carriage of this, unlike Whitby and Pickering who made their submissions much more public.
I disagreed with keeping the Ottawa Consultant's Report confidential at the time. Now, thank goodness more will be made public.
ONE is a Notice of Motion towards the end of the meeting about the Columbus Public Information Centre #4
"Whereas the Columbus PIC #4 of October 28, 2021, was electronically inaccessible and/or intermittently accessible to the public, despite the best efforts of all to accommodate; and,
Whereas the Columbus residents and others were unable to participate in a fulsome public meeting;
Be it resolved that a replacement PIC #4 be rescheduled and provide a hybrid model of electronic and in-person participation for public engagement in an accountable and transparent manner."
I hope that Council is responsive and does the right thing.
There were several Oshawa residents letters submitted (CNCL-21-116) in support and I would like to quote from one that describes the problem very well:
"This is a large, complex, and far-reaching Plan that will have many significant impacts on the lives of the residents of Columbus. To rush through this “consultation process” in this way is both disrespectful and denies many community stakeholders an opportunity
to understand the proposals and to have their questions and responses heard."
TWO is DS-21-226 -This is the Staff Response to a motion I made first in 2019 and then in June this year that Parks and Trails be completed in a timely fashion, as too often children in the new developments miss out for YEARS having a completed playground. However the Staff Recommendation was that the City maintain its current policies that relate to the timing of development of new neighbourhood parks and trails in new subdivisions. At the December 6, 2021 Development Services Committee meeting the vote to refer this back to staff for public consultation failed with tie 3 - 3 vote. Councillors Hurst and Kerr voting with me, Councillors Chapman, Marimpietri and the Mayor siding with the staff and developers who had input.
Again, I hope that Council is responsive and does the right thing.
THIRD is DS-21-135 the recommendation about the Future Site of a New Hospital in Durham Region.
Council members have had little to no say how this matter progressed in the past six months and much has been suppressed from the public view. The Mayor and staff took carriage of this, unlike Whitby and Pickering who made their submissions much more public.
I disagreed with keeping the Ottawa Consultant's Report confidential at the time. Now, thank goodness more will be made public.
