​When looking for a picture of the Genosha Hotel what popped up was an article written only 4 years ago by journalist Joel Wittnebel describing in detail the building's history and restoration and that "SHE STANDS TALL on the corner of King and Mary Street in downtown Oshawa. Well it seems the next article may be "HONEY, WHO SHRUNK THE GENOSHA?" when the 21 storey 114 apartment building towers over the 6 storey heritage building.

I feel I should be more clear. This post is to draw attention to the Planning Act public meeting April 11, @ 6:30 p.m. which should provide more details and answers to many questions. I am not against an expansion of 70 King St. E. Yes I am surprised at the height, and the problematic parking...adding 2 floors to the Mary St. Parkade and a skywalk raises many questions. But remember the owners did a remarkable job repairing and repurposing a landmark heritage building, when no one else had the vision to move forward on it. If they have a strong plan for further redevelopment, why wouldn't anyone want to keep an open mind for what's next.

I recall in 2015, long before I was on Council how many people were saying tear it down. I didn't agree with tearing it down and appreciate it was preserved. It a marker of a earlier era in downtown Oshawa. Recall how negative people were about it ever being completed. Reka Szekely wrote back then that "Downtown Oshawa’s biggest eyesore is on the brink of a much-needed facelift after City councillors approved a package of incentives for the redevelopment on the former Genosha Hotel." https://www.durhamregion.com/.../5766243-oshawa-approves.../

Although in 2022 the 21 storey building plan may strike some as perilously high over the corner landmark building, it sure has an incredibly small foot print...measuring approximately 80 feet by 70 feet.

​Above the main and 2nd level, the building becomes wider…by about 20 feet. The other 19 floors will overhang about 10’ over top the laneway and another 5’ over the back 2 storey section of 70 King St. E. So the 114 apartments will be distributed among floors that would seem to measure 80’ x 115’, result: a tall and ‘skinny’ new building.

Although this proposed new apartment building has zero parking...no underground or street parking, there is a note for a future pedestrian bridge above Mary St to the City parking garage.
​
In the NOTICE FOR THE MONDAY APRIL 11TH, 6:30 p.m. Planning Act public meeting (where the public is invited to speak in person in the City Council Chamber or electronically on-line) it states that "The applicant proposes to construct TWO ADDITIONAL FLOORS on the existing City-owned parking garage located directly east of the subject lands, at the northeast corner of King Street East and Mary Street North, to provide appropriate off-site parking."

The high rise trend in Oshawa continues ...indicating there should be no shortage of apartments in the downtown. Not counting the coming 2,145 apartments Medallion is to begin soon on their 24 acre site at Bruce and Charles St behind the Tribute Community Centre 2 blocks away from from King and Mary. ...

together the proposed new Genosha II and the original Genosha total around 200 units.... then on the corner of Mary and Bond Streets - the new high rise at 100 Bond and soon to be completed 21 storey 80 Bond together total around 500 units, and on another Phase at 55 Mary St N, another new building is planned for 335 apartments for students...then at Richmond and Bond two more 21 story towers with over 600 apartment units, well that totals over 1,600 apartments, 5 high rises within steps of each other. A veritable Marytown in the Downtown.  And not-to-forget, the large Medallion project two blocks to the south! Over 2,000 more apartments!

There were a couple motions passed at the two Monday March 7, 2022 Standing Committee meetings, which will be going to the full Council meeting the end of this month. They may not be major issues, but imo are still of note.

At the morning Corporate Services Committee meeting on the Agenda was report CORP-22-12 Proposed Amendments to Responsible Pet Owners By-law  containing data on the sale of rabbits in Oshawa pet stores.  

The statistics collected are a surprise, that an average of 60 rabbits are given up EACH YEAR to the Oshawa Animal Services (33) and the Human Society of Durham Region (27). They are then put up for adoption

"Staff reached out to eleven (11) pet stores in Oshawa for their input on limiting of the sale of rabbits:
• Six (6) stores only sell pet food and/or supplies
• Five (5) stores sell animals
• Two (2) stores sell rabbits  Both source their rabbits from Quebec 
One (1) store sells approximately five (5) rabbits per month, while the other did not respond to the inquiry of how many they sell
• Three (3) provided input about limiting the sale of rabbits:  One indicated  yes, One no and One neutral",

The Committee passed that the sale of domestic rabbits be limited to selling rescue rabbits "sourced exclusively from a municipal shelter, the Humane Society of Durham Region and/or approved rescue groups".

                               *                                                                            *                                                                              *
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At the long afternoon/evening (1:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.) Development Services Committee meeting a Committee member made a motion late in the day concerning a matter not on the Agenda —to name the new City Park in the Treasure Hill development at Townline Rd, north of Shankel Rd, and south of Adelaide Ave after the General Motors SILVERADO truck, which is currently being assembled in Oshawa.

Sounds fine at first blush right?  It's a nice name, a nice truck, and speaks positively to the automotive industry in the City, however

1) just two weeks before the March 7, 2022 Committee meeting, Dr. LeRoy Clarke made a presentation for Black History month. One of the points Dr. Clarke made made was that to follow up on the goals of inclusion and diversity the City should be including Black and Indigenous names in its facilities naming process.  I said to Dr. Clarke that although the City had a Veteran's street naming policy, Council had no other naming policy. In fact Council had directed staff to prepare a report on investigating a new City Street naming policy and that I was hoping it could be expanded it to include the naming of city facilities. (Investigating a new street naming policy was a recommendation I made back in 2019, my first year on Council.)

2) then less than 2 hours before the surprise Silverado Park naming motion I had pulled from the Agenda Report DS-22-60, which is  the current list of work items the Department has still outstanding. My reason to pull it was to ask staff about Item 9 on the list -concerning the 2019 direction for a staff Report on investigating a new Street Naming policy and why it had not come forward. There was no date in the Report, just To Be Determined.  I said I was hopeful it could come to Committee and Council before this year's summer break. I added I would like to see the investigation for a new Street Naming policy also expanded to include  the naming of all city owned assets

3)  when the Silverado Park motion was made later in the meeting I made a motion that it be referred to the City's Diversity and Inclusion department for review. The motion failed 5-1.

The Silverado park motion passed 5-1 and will proceed to the March 28 Council meeting for full Council to comment and vote.

There are many the pros and cons to e-scooters in Oshawa:
On the plus side, they can be fun, get people outdoors more, do not pollute and save on gas;
On the negative side: accidents happen and people abandoning them can impede boulevards, parks and sidewalks. Oshawans concerned about aggressive driving in their neighbourhoods and accessibility advocates raise legitimate objections.

Quick Notes:
the scooter speed cannot exceed 24KM/HR
operator must be 16 YRS or older
16-18 must wear a helmet
must not carry cargo

I plan to attend the e-scooter DEMO and spoke with staff this morning to see if they could schedule an additional DEMO day  because there seems to be keen public interest to learn more about the program.

Here is the 11 minute video presentation  https://connectoshawa.ca/escoo.../widgets/116552/videos/8957 

Send your PRO or CON comments to the city here https://connectoshawa.ca/.../sur.../e-scooters-feedback-form

In OTTAWA where e-scooter companies have been operating for two years, there is still much controversy. In fact, this March 2, 2022 article states the Ottawa Transportation Committee put the e-scooter vendors on notice…and their 2022 contracts still need to be approved at an Ottawa City Council meeting March 23rd.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/transportation-committee-gives-e-scooters-the-go-ahead-for-another-year?fbclid=IwAR1V0myKVmazenT8ynNx778lWzMVb685h9GOe-SnmH_4nblMZn2oiTB8Ex0
“on notice with tighter rules to address complaints about riding on sidewalks and illegal parking of the two-wheeled devices.
The vote came at the end of a marathon nine-hour meeting and followed a number of delegations who complained that scooters were a menace for those with disabilities. They complained about poorly parked scooters cluttering the sidewalks and bad riders posing a danger to others.”
​

March 10th, 2022 was a Red Banner day for Downtown Oshawa with two inspiring events!.

1. Official Opening OF DURHAM OUTLOOK FOR THE NEEDY new building -originally founded in 1990 as St. Vincent Pallotti’s Kitchen, the core program continues in the new and totally accessible premises at 227 Simcoe St. S. https://durhamoutlook.com/
Its seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year kitchen will be serving sit-down meals to individuals and families experiencing poverty and food insecurity -made possible with tremendous assistance from many volunteers and partnerships with other non-profit organizations and local churches, meal free to access.  

Its seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year kitchen will soon be in full swing to serve sit-down meals to individuals and families experiencing poverty and food insecurity -made possible with tremendous assistance from many volunteers and partnerships with other non-profit organizations and local churches, meal free to access.

Below is a link to more information shared by Valerie Moreton Director of Operations and Fundraising as posted in the Durham Radio News article https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/152036

"To start off in their new building they will only be serving meals weekdays between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Moreton says as they get more volunteers, they will serve meals every day of the week again.

For information on volunteering with Durham Outlook, click here. https://durhamoutlook.com/volunteer/volunteer-application

There are also items they need right now. Moreton says it’s been tough to find salt and pepper packets lately. She adds they’re also asking for donations of towels, can openers and more. To see the full list or to make a monetary donation, click here.

For now, only their kitchen is open. Moreton says they will be bringing back their food bank program on Saturdays between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. beginning in April and they’re also working on getting their secondhand store up and running again."

On its OPENING DAY in its new premises, the volunteer group wearing the yellow shirts were from Rotary. Board member Blair Buchanan is in one picture, and in another is Jeff from J.J. McGuire who the City and Durham Outlook for the Needy owe a great deal of thanks for advancing the construction when the site remediation created many setbacks and challenges.
​
2. The Open Invitation *Meet 'n Greet* for members of the the newly organized DOWNTOWN OSHAWA BUSINESS ALLIANCE (DOBA) with the GREATER OSHAWA CHAMBER and any Oshawans interested in the downtown, held at the fabulous renovated heritage landmark BILTMORE at 39 King St. E.

Oshawa Council must ensure site plans include NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY.

With your help writing a simple one line email, you can help make it known Oshawans have a voice, especially when it comes to development plans impacting future safety of drivers and pedestrians in our neighbourhoods.

Any who have visited the Chartwell Retirement and Long Term Care facility Ritson Rd. N. at Woodmount and Ormond would be familiar with the traffic and parking issues there.


Please email both Clerks@Oshawa.ca and Council@Oshawa.ca concerning Report DS-22-65 and request Council to follow through on its 2020 vote to include a RIGHT-IN-ACCESS FROM RITSON RD. TO THE CHARTWELL SENIORS CAMPUS.

Jan 27, 2020 Council made the right decision when it required a right-in access from RITSON RD. for the Chartwell Phase 3 site plan.

This intersection point is an UNSAFE CHOKEPOINT along a sidewalk used by children attending the park & Kedron School and by area residents, including many CHARTWELL seniors with mobility issues, as it is the only sidewalk around the complex.
​
Only recently in 2022 did members of Council and neighbourhood residents find out that the site plan left out the Ritson Rd. right-in access! Before the SITE PLAN AGREEMENT IS SIGNED BY SENIOR STAFF this must be corrected by City Council. EMAIL CLERKS@OSHAWA.CA and COUNCIL@OSHAWA.CA and request the RIGHT-IN ACCESS from RITSON RD. N. be ADDED TO THE SITE PLAN.

Today's Special Meeting was EXASPERATING (notice I've ramped it up from last week's 'FRUSTRATING' Council meeting.

Hat trick of THREE defeated motions. First there was a NO to my motion to go into Committee of the Whole - Unfortunate really why Special Report FIN-22-22 was not on the regular Corporate Services Committee meeting next Monday.

Ironic too that we heard just the opposite story from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor than what Council was told last month when Region and DRPS made a detailed presentation that all was improving in the downtown.

Why was there a rush to push FIN-22-22 through with little public awareness, when just after the 2022 Budget the City is now adding close to $1 million on security without any real plan other than throw more money at the problem, and let the Region, the level of government that has carriage of social services in the City off the hook.

Then about adding lighting to the Harmony Creek trail from the subdivisions east of the creek west to the Delpark Homes Centre...even adding 'bollard' lighting...another NO from 9 members of the 11 member City Council...how do you hear every reason why something can't be done, when it can, and in a more timely way. The only votes in favour of adding lighting were Councillor Neal and me.

And then I tried to get a time sensitive motion passed about DURHAM REGION's PURCHASE last month of the RITSON RD. SCHOOL (300 Ritson Rd. South ...why is it still a secret...All members of Oshawa Council voted against even hearing my motion, except Councillor Neal, so again the vote was 9 to 2.

It is getting EXASPERATING...I asked a friend, what is the next level above exasperating. She said 'Irate'. Imo that is too much negative emotion and I don't want to go there. I want to be upbeat and forward thinking and not fake when I smile. On ward and upward right? Oh yeah and my other friend, he says, watch Hallmark movies they always have happy endings!

Amazing Ontario Superior Court decision published this week. The direct questions Justice Pazaratz wrote may hit a nerve with some, but I appreciate that he shines a light on the troubling intolerance, distain and finger pointing that is now used so prevalently for CONTROL TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE.

I should also add:
— AND SEIZING CANADIAN'S BANK ACCOUNTS THAT WERE FOR DONATING TO FELLOW CANADIANS

before the words "for CONTROL TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE".

To me Freezing access to credit cards and bank accounts showed how far the abuse of power to CONTROL and curtail civil liberties has gone. It was a shock that the Party of Tommy Douglas went along with this last week.

The rampant judging by those so convinced they are right, towards others for how they process information and carry certain beliefs and values has become like a mutated and exploitative MCCARTHYISM...a COVID variant of the RED Scare era

The complete decision can be read here:
 https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2022/2022onsc1198/2022onsc1198.html?autocompleteStr=2022%20ONSC1198&autocompletePos=1
and below I'm adding some more choice paragraphs:

20
b. Have we reached the stage where parental rights are going to be decided based on what political party you belong to?
c. Is being seen with Maxime Bernier – or anyone, for that matter – the kiss of death, as far as your court case is concerned?
d. Can you simply utter the words “conspiracy theorist” and do a mic drop?
e. If you allege that someone is “openly promoting very dangerous beliefs”, shouldn’t you provide a few details. A bit of proof, maybe?
f. And if you presume that a parent believes things they shouldn’t believe – can you go one step further and also presume that the parent must be poisoning their children’s minds with these horrible unspecified ideas?

22. But there’s a bigger problem here. An uglier problem.
23. We’re seeing more and more of this type of intolerance, vilification and dismissive character assassination in family court. Presumably we’re seeing it inside the courtroom because it’s rampant outside the courtroom. It now appears to be socially acceptable to denounce, punish and banish anyone who doesn’t agree with you.
24. A chilling example: I recently had a case where a mother tried to cut off an equal-time father’s contact with his children, primarily because he was “promoting anti government beliefs.” And in Communist China, that request would likely have been granted
25.But this is Canada and our judicial system has an obligation to keep it Canada.
26. I won’t belabor the point, because I still have to get to my real job: determining what’s in the best interests of these two children. But the word needs to get out that while the court system won’t punish intolerance, it certainly won’t reward it either.

Chalk up another frustrating City Council meeting yesterday!

On the plus side, the amendment I made for the Greenhill Ave Community Safety Zone, from Wilson Rd. to Harmony, seconded by Councillor Neal, was passed (although not unanimously).

Yes, it it was one step forward but there were two HUGELY Disappointing Missed Opportunities to Advance Road and Vehicle Safety in the City at Council yesterday.

First, concerns the fact that the Mayor chose not allow my Time Sensitive Motion to be presented to Council.

What made it most troubling was that I went and spoke with the Mayor in person the day before with Councillor Neal, to explain what and why we believe it important that Council support making RAGLAN RD. WEST a Community Safety Zone.

With Raglan residents understandably increasingly alarmed by the growing number of vehicles clocking wildly excessive speeds through their community —with the traffic volume and aggressive speeding on Raglan Rd. West between Simcoe St. N and Stevenson St. N. making driveway access and egress to the many residents’ homes very dangerous, the process to calm traffic on this busy REGIONAL Road is LONG OVERDUE.

I vividly recall the first Community Safety Zone this term of Oshawa Council passed at it's first Council meeting December 3, 2018. It was with a Time Sensitive Motion at the start of the meeting.

"That the Region of Durham be requested to pass a bylaw to establish a community safety zone along Simcoe Street North generally between the intersection at Niagara Drive/Selleck Lane on the south and the Campus Ice Centre driveway on the north applicable to all times throughout the year and to install appropriate signage and Speed Boards along Simcoe Street North in appropriate locations." That was 3 weeks after a student pedestrian was killed.

THEN, LAST YEAR the Region of Durham initiated its Automated Speed Enforcement Program which involved rotating 4 radar speed cameras on Regional Road 'Community Safety Zones' around the Region.

Region staff will be updating Region Council about its speed camera program sometime late spring, and the Region is soon approving its 2022 Budget. Oshawa Council supporting the time sensitive motion could have expedited getting the plan for a Raglan Rd. West Community Safety Zone before the Region, so that Raglan Rd W could also be added to the Region's Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras list.

The delay means back to square one, and another month or two to accomplish what should have been proceeded this month...at both the Region and City.

The Second missed opportunity had to do with the Notice of Motion CS-22-08 on the Agenda, which was about Staff investigating the opportunity for Oshawa to have Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras on its LOCAL Community Safety Zones.

Last year Ajax Council approved 3 radar speed cameras to be located on a rotation basis among its 14 Community Safety Zones; and likewise Pickering Council last spring approved 2 radar speed cameras to be rotated among its 13 Community Safety Zones.

Oshawa is behind on this technology. Only the Region's cameras are on a rotation basis among the school zones on Simcoe, Rossland, Stevenson, Adelaide and Ritson. But there are none on any local road School or Community Safety Zones!

Imo the City of Oshawa is behind the time in getting the information out to Council members and the public about the ASE program. Some wrongly think these cameras are a money grab and will be on any or all streets. The Traffic Act changes made in 2017 only allow them in Community Safety Zones, and no demerit points can be issued with the tickets.

The data is substantial indicating how effective they are, Edmonton, for example, reports collisions have decreased 18% and the number of tickets for speeding tickets have decreased.

The problem yesterday was that a majority of Council yesterday were content to wait, and the CS-22-08 motion was 'received for information', which means a pass, NO ACTION taken.

This article about Hamilton TWO YEARS AGO approving the radar cameras instead of delaying a decision shows what real leadership entails. If you read it to the end you will see the data has been out for some time "There is evidence from many other jurisdictions that photo radar works."   www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/15/editorial-hamilton-council-gets-it-right-on-photo-radar.html?fbclid=IwAR2ILjxrQhot9tTgOvsaMXqCO4nazhus_PWtMZ3do5QK0x-qigmfRo3GbhE

Details on the Town of Ajax speed camera program can be found here: https://www.ajax.ca/en/business-and-growth/automated-speed-enforcement.aspx Ajax is deploying cameras in its 14 community safety zones on Town owned and maintained roads. The first three cameras were deployed last month. This all came to be as a result of a motion of Ajax Council.

The City of Pickering was the 11th municipality in Ontario to sign on for automated speed enforcement cameras. It signed agreements last year in the amount of $385,000.00 for the operation of two cameras, on a six week rotation in its 13 community safety zones. See Report ENG-05-21 corporate.pickering.ca/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=239723&dbid=0
"Excessive speed continues to be a concern raised by residents and Members of Council and negatively impacts our community and its safety. While Durham Regional Police Services (DRPS) has been able to provide traditional speed enforcement both proactively and reactively, resources are limited. DRPS presence will result in an increase in speed compliance, but this compliance is only temporary. Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is a relatively new technology, and is rapidly becoming a proven and effective way to enforce speed limits and provide safer roads for our pedestrians, other motorists and cyclists."  

It is time Oshawa Council initiate a similar speed radar camera program as Ajax and Pickering!

BACKSTORY: In 2017 the Province passed the Safer School Zone Act to allow the Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in School Zones and Community Safety Zones. Durham Region’s Vision Zero program began in 2020. In 2021 the Region installed twelve red light cameras and four automated speed enforcement cameras on Regional roads.

FYI, here are the locations for the 12 Regional Road intersections where the Region  installed red-light cameras : www.durham.ca/en/living-here/red-light-cameras.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3VDHquhMn1cA6_M17a0TrqrVK6JsCDj9FKfgG6l7tY44AZqY5IemC_Fj8#Locations

ALSO, here are the locations where the Region installed  4 Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras on a rotation basis through school community safety zones on Regional Roads: https://www.durham.ca/en/living-here/automated-speed-enforcement.aspx#communitysafetyzones

CALL FOR ACTION IN OSHAWA:
I submitted my Notice of Motion Potential to initiate Radar Cameras Agreement to the January 24, 2022 Council meeting. It was sent to the Monday Feb 14, 2022  Community Services (CS) Committee meeting Agenda as CS-22-08. It is relatively short,  only three lines:

• Whereas the Region of Durham initiated Vision Zero and the radar cameras in certain locations around the Region
• Whereas the Town of Ajax and the Town of Whitby are investigating entering into similar agreements with radar camera providers;
• Now therefore staff investigate the costs for the City of Oshawa to enter into an agreement with radar camera providers and survey Oshawa residents interest in having them installed in hot spots in the City for where speeding is most prevalent

Here is the link where you can hear the Mayor and Councillors' comments and vote at the Feb 14 Committee meeting: https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=42f8d124-7d80-4cde-9479-5b32ecab701d&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English 
At Committee, the elected who spoke against the motion claimed it was premature!  But, last year wasn't premature for Ajax or Pickering!  Why would any elected maintain Oshawa should put off investigating radar speed cameras in known City hot spots for speeders  because they want to wait for the Region??

Unfortunately, 4 of the  6 member CS Committee 4 voted the Radar Camera Motion be ‘received for information’, which means no action, and 2 Councillors voted against just receiving it for information. 

At the upcoming City Council Meeting  Tuesday Feb 22  hopefully at least 6  members of Council's 11 voting members will vote to pass the Radar Cameras motion CS-22-08 and see the action advanced: that staff investigate a local  radar speed camera program and survey Oshawa residents interest in having them installed in speeding hot spots.

YOU CAN HELP BY SENDING EMAILS:

The Town of Ajax managed to get its own program up and running quickly, independent of the Region! It now has 3 cameras on a rotation basis at a cost less than the cost of 3 traffic lights, which will have recovery costs, not just monetary, but safety. Pickering now has an agreement in place for 2 rotating cameras.

If you believe road/pedestrian/cyclist safety should be a priority of Oshawa Council, please email Clerks@oshawa.ca and Council@Oshawa.ca in support of CS-22-08 before Monday night. Make it known time should not be lost.  A 'receive for information motion' or a tabling motion are unacceptable. Oshawa should not be dragging its feet on this but ensure this tool is made available on local Oshawa roads to help make Oshawa communities safer.

Are you curious how many cannabis retail stores are in Oshawa? City Councillors receive information from staff on the number of applications to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). As of this week Oshawa has THIRTY-TW0 (32) with 21 stores open, 3 approved but not yet open, and 8 in process with the AGCO.

The first cannabis retail store in Oshawa officially opened late July 2019 - rapid growth to reach approximately 30 stores in 30 months.

Of the 444 municipalities in Ontario about 60 have opted-out of having a cannabis store in their community. Some of the larger municipalities that opted-out are: Mississauga, Oakville, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Whitby.

According to the AGCO website: "Municipalities had until January 22, 2019 to inform the AGCO if they wished to opt out. Municipalities that chose to opt-out can opt-in at any time—but once they are in, they may no longer opt out."

Oshawa does seem to be tracking high when looking at the stats on stores per capita. It would be interesting to know if the fact Whitby opted-out has any bearing on Oshawa's large number of cannabis retailers.
 
mjbizdaily.com/canadas-biggest-cannabis-market-ontario-reaches-1000-legal-stores/

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/number-of-cannabis-stores-in-guelph-could-soon-hit-25-4318282

Notice to Raglan Community Area residents: A resident in the Raglan Rd. W/Stevenson Rd. N area had an incident Sunday February 13, 2022 with a wolf charging at his dog.

He has lived in the area for almost three decades and assured me he knows the difference between coyotes, coywolves and wolves.
He indicated he has had at least 10 encounters with coyotes, over 60 coyote sightings and hundreds of times had heard coyotes making noise at night.

But he is 'extremely stressed' by this incident. The wolf appeared at the back of on his property around 1 p.m. last Sunday. He started shouting at the wolf when it was about 50 feet away to protect his dog. He continued his loud shouting as the wolf approached as if to attack his dog. It came as close as 10 feet away until fortunately it reversed.
​
Hopefully no one else encounters this animal behaving in this way. If they do, please call 911 and notify the City's municipal by-law officers 905-436-3311.

​​https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001631/ontario-government-removing-tolls-on-highways-412-and-418

"Province restoring fairness and addressing gridlock in Durham Region"
“We have heard the people of Durham loud and clear and we agree that the tolls imposed on Highways 412 and 418 by the previous government are wrong and unfair,” said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. “That’s why we are removing the tolls on these Highways so that people and businesses have more travel options and hard-earned money in their pockets.”

Highways 412 and 418 are currently the only tolled north-south highways in Ontario. Removing tolls will provide more travel options for local residents, relieve gridlock on local roads across Durham Region, and help improve economic competitiveness for local businesses.

“The previous government unfairly targeted drivers and businesses in Durham Region by imposing tolls on Highway 412 and 418, leaving them underutilized while local streets became increasingly gridlocked,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “As we move forward with new highways, our government has been clear that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past and impose these types of cost burdens on Ontarians.”

Update The Tolls will be Axed April 5, 2022!
https://www.thestar.com/local-oshawa/news/2022/02/18/breaking-news-premier-doug-ford-axes-tolls-on-hwy-412-and-418-starting-in-april.html

​As per the Province's announcement yesterday, the Tribute Communities Centre -are permitted to host up to 50% capacity or 3,109 to be exact! Tickets are back on sale now for Friday's game Gens against Niagara Ice Dogs and games moving forward so get them now!
Ticket office (905-438-8811)

At the morning Community Services Committee meeting two of my Notice of Motions from January 24 were on the Agenda.

• The first one concerning windrows -the piles of snow the ploughs leave blocking driveways and corner curb cuts; and
• The second one concerning the potential for Oshawa to installed Radar Speed Cameras.

(Any Council member can submit a Notice of Motion in writing the week before a Council meeting which is then directed to the next Standing Committee or the next Council meeting.)

As I am not a member of the Community Services Committee, I could not move any amendments or vote. Therefore I emailed the Committee members in an attempt to see the words underlined below added to my motion:

Whereas the City frequently receives complaints from residents about windrows caused by the snow ploughs, especially AT CUTOUTS ON MAJOR COMMERCIAL INTERSECTIONS, BOTH DOWNTOWN AND UPTOWN on elbow streets, corner lots, courts and cul-de-sacs; and,

Whereas improvements may be found with staff reviewing the City’s snow removal process to consider snow clearing efficiencies and ways to minimize the windrows caused by snow ploughs at the end of residential driveways; and,

Whereas other GTA municipalities, such as Richmond Hill and Vaughan have windrow clearing programs not exclusive to seniors, but for windrows on all residential driveways on local roads city-wide; and,

Therefore staff investigate a city-wide in-house Oshawa windrow clearing program for residential driveways on local roads, and prepare a report that includes:

1. results of a public survey that gauges Oshawa residents’ level of interest in a city-wide windrow clearing program on local streets; and

2.gives consideration to a phased in approach for possible implementation starting with AT CUTOUTS ON MAJOR COMMERCIAL INTERSECTIONS, BOTH DOWNTOWN AND UPTOWN, City courts, elbow streets and cul-de-sacs windrows.

When it came time for the Committee to vote on staff investigating and preparing a Report on the level of public interest  for a phased in windrow clearing  5 VOTED NO: Kerr, Giberson, Gray, Marks, Mayor Carter; and 1 VOTED YES Councillor Neal

Next the Radar Speed Cameras Notice Motion and then the Centennial Committee Report also prompted controversial discussion :

Whereas the Region of Durham initiated Vision Zero and the radar cameras in certain locations around the Region;
Whereas the Town of Ajax and the Town of Whitby are investigating entering into similar agreements with radar camera providers;
Now therefore staff investigate the costs for the City of Oshawa to enter into an agreement with radar camera providers and survey Oshawa residents interest in having them installed in hot spots in the City for where speeding is most prevalent. 

After a failed motion to refer to staff, 4 VOTED simply to receive for information Giberson, Gray, Marks  & Mayor Carter; and 2 VOTED against the receive for information: Neal and Kerr.


The discussion revolving around Centennial Committee Report showed Councillors divided on how much more, or less, they expect the celebration in 2024. When  I and another Councillor spoke about the centennial being a significant opportunity to bring heightened interest to Oshawa, on the other side were Councillors saying it could be a 'calm' celebration, building on programs that exist. The Mayor spoke of what the City has recently and is currently completing, the  Mayor Splash Pad at Lakeview Park, the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, and the redevelopment of Rotary Park with a new outdoor pool. These projects are all good for Oshawa residents, but hardly a drawing card for those outside Oshawa, and none of them were planned specifically for the City's Centennial.  The worry was expressed that time is narrowing for gathering sponsorship funds and donations and planning large events, whereas other said there is still lots of time. 


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At the afternoon Finance Services Committee meeting some Oshawa Council members seem to have missed the Valentine's Day memo to be sweet.

Last month I sent in a motion to refer correspondence concerning the Canadian Automotive Museum for staff to "report on new multi-year financial support options that Council could approve to ensure the continued success of the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa"; and Councillor Jane Hurst approached me about adding "that City staff meet with the Canadian Automotive Museum Board Chair and its Executive Director to discuss their situation and their plans".

Note, our motion was not about waiving the CAM taxes. I have said a few times since being elected three years and three months ago, property taxes cannot be waived. Some have phoned or written me that their garbage was missed again, or street not plowed so they want a tax reduction. I say sorry, but that can't happen. Municipalities have a statutory responsibility to collect taxes levied. Not only are residential and business taxpayers compelled to pay their property taxes, but when they are in arrears the municipality has priority lien status.

Note the above-noted motion on the Feb14th  Finance Committee meeting Agenda was from the only two female members of Council. It was to seek a collaborative solution to a long-standing problem, the financial viability of the downtown Canadian Automotive Museum at 99 Simcoe St. S. moving forward.
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But unfortunately, some elected not aligned with our effort to be transparent and responsive seemed intent on — ripping out the ♥ and substance of the motion. It ended up being scoped down simply to 'refer to staff'. Story continues...next month...or perhaps April when the staff report comes back.

Do you find the 'warning message' on the City's main phone message okay? Imo it strikes a very negative and unwelcoming chord. I would like it erased from the recording.

Last month I reached out to Oshawa senior staff to find out who made the decision to add a computer-generated voice 'warning message' to the City's main phone number greeting. You can hear the first version below (btw, that copy of the recording has an image the City's 'Our Plan For Success' Strategic Plan, which I added so I could post it here as a video because I was uncertain how to add just audio to my Blog and Facebook post). "Please treat our staff with respect and dignity at all times. Aggressive and and abusive language and behaviour will not be tolerated." 

Staff wrote back that they deemed it necessary, but said they reviewed the recording and revised it to be more like the City of Toronto's. If you call during business hours now you will hear a computer generated voice say: The City of Oshawa is committed to providing the best service possible to all customers. We remind callers that aggressive behaviour, harassment or coarse language will not be tolerated and may lead to ending the call interaction, if necessary.”  "

In my view the City of Oshawa copying the City of Toronto's message does not make this okay.

A municipality must ensure staff have a safe, non-toxic work environment.

But dealing with difficult phone calls can be handled individually. It is not necessary to admonish every caller.

Any staff member can tell a caller their conversation will be recorded and that if the language is abusive they are authorized and able to terminate the call.

Check out TWO FULL-ON BIG Development Plan applications in both SOUTH & NORTH OSHAWA being discussed this week.

Starting Monday Feb 7th @ 6:30 pm at the virtual Planning Act Public Meeting is the 80 Harbour Rd. (north side east of Simcoe St SOUTH) application by Nahid Corp to amend the Official Plan for 2 two mixed-use towers, varying in height from 18 to 35 storeys, together with 1,410 apartments + 11,178 sq.ft. main floor commercial space; and

On Wednesday Feb 9th @6:00 pm at the Committee of Adjustment (C of A) Meeting is the 2425 Simcoe St. NORTH. which is Tribute's Phase 2 site plan application for 606 tower + 18 townhouses, plus a separate 4 level high parking garage (426 spaces), and 2 level underground parking (407 spaces) and surface parking (291 spaces) for a total of 1,124 parking spaces. NOTE this application is on the east side of Simcoe St N directly opposite the 25 storey Tribute 505 unit apartment building now nearing completion) For this Phase 2 development Tribute is requesting a C of A variance because the building siting requires increased setback and additional parallel parking spaces which decreases the landscaped buffer to the south. They want to designate the lot frontage as being Simcoe St. instead of Steeplechase, and increase the buffer 1.4M to reduce the side yard setback 2M.

For more details on each see slide decks and report links below.

Re 80 Harbour Rd application here is the 14 page Staff Report: 
pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=2036
and here are the emails on the Agenda for the meeting tomorrow night  from area residents that the City has received so far
pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=2035

Below are the slides the Nahid Corp representative will be presenting

2425 SIMCOE  ST NORTH --TRIBUTE'S APPLICATION TO COMMITTEEOF ADJUSTMENT 
— Tribute says: THE BUILDING SITING REQUIRES INCREASED SETBACK AND ADDITIONAL PARALLEL PARKING SPACES WHICH DECREASES THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER TO THE SOUTH

THE FRONT YARD SETBACK RANGES FROM 4.25M - 5.35M. AND IT WANTS TO INCREASE MAX. SETBACK TO 5.4M.

SINCE THEY PLAN 10 PARALLEL ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPOSED ROAD RUNNING EAST-WEST, TRIBUTE NEEDS  TO REDUCE THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER FROM 5.0m TO 3.0m ON THE SOUTH SIDE

Note: the first submission of the Tribute  Site Plan Application showed 2 towers and townhouses with 993 units, but for the 2nd submission they will only be advancing 1 tower with 588 units and the 18 townhouses

By the way, the latest Tribute development at Windfields is in partnership with RIO CAN  https://renx.ca/riocan-living-verge-condos-first-solo-development/

see slideshow below:

There is an opportunity to improve accessibility in downtown Oshawa!!

Exactly 2 years ago this month, members of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee OAAC surveyed the businesses on King St and on Simcoe St and found several stores in need of ramps, as well as some that, although they don’t need ramps because they have level ground entrances, still need power door openers for accessibility.

Below is a picture of Gino, the Vice Chair of the OAAC when we were in the downtown January 2020 raising awareness among building and business owners and managers of our accessibility concerns.

Last week the Province announced some new funding for accessibility Deadline for applications is March 3.

For details open this link: news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001481/ontario-investing-in-inclusive-and-accessible-communities

Now is the time for the City to secure RAMPS and POWER DOOR OPENERS for DOWNTOWN OSHAWA!

Oshawans can help by sending an email to both Council@Oshawa.ca and Clerks@Oshawa.ca in support of applying for some of this funding for the DOWNTOWN OSHAWA Community.
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RAMPS & POWER DOORS ARE NEEDED, especially now, when the City's many diverse restaurants and businesses are reopening. Both the patrons with mobility issues and the business owners will appreciate increasing accessibility!.

Information about Oshawa's submission for the New Durham Hospital site was kept confidential until this morning's Special Oshawa Council meeting.

The public was not informed until today that there were actually TWO OSHAWA Simcoe St. N. sites proposed...Site 1 at Britannia W and Site 2 just north of the 407 (see 2 slides below from Consultant, Capital Hill's presentation to Council today --and for full PowerPoint see here https://www.oshawa.ca/business-and-investment/resources/LakeridgeHealthSubmissionReview_Accessible.pdf )

October 7, 2021 OSHAWA submitted TWO SITES to the Lakeridge Health Independent Selection Committee.
October 16, 2021, only one week later, Mayor Carter and Council learned Oshawa's submission would not advance to Stage 2 of the selection process.

January 6, 2022 Lakeridge Health announced that the Whitby site south of Hwy 407, west of Hwy 412 was selected as the preferred choice.

Today Oshawa Mayor and almost all Councillors had lots to say about pressing the Lakeridge Board of Trustees for a reconsideration of the new Durham Hospital site selection process.

There were a few interesting perspectives. One was that the Oshawa Airport is the City's, the City pays for it's upkeep, so how does Whitby use the proximity to it to secure the winning bid. A lot of talk about the lack of fairness, transparency, and too tight timeframe to consider the submissions

It's actually not clear if there will be additional costs with the City of Oshawa now voting to proceed down the grievance road and object to the Lakeridge Selection Committee's decision favoring Whitby's Lakeridge/Hwy 407 site.

There were at least 4 Oshawa Council members promoting SITE 1 at Simcoe St N/Britannia Rd W. 63 acres owned by Ontario Tech U for the synergy of a teaching hospital like Hamilton's McMaster. 

SITE 2 is the one north of Hwy 407. 60 acres owned by the Province (MT0 surplus land) that I made a Declaration of Interest at the start of the meeting about and therefore did not ask questions or vote.

Below is the Mayor's Motion, with the four additional motions added to it.

Below also is a page that I screen captured today from the Town of Whitby website.
Note where I drew in Oshawa's two sites -one with a blue line inside and one with a purple line outside Whitby's map of where Whitby has circled the 10km radius around Lakeridge hospital in Oshawa.

It seems to show how:
1) Whitby is not accurate in drawing the 10km radius; and
2) Whitby is unaware that Oshawa was proposing its SITE 2 on Simcoe St. north of Hwy 407.

The fact Oshawa Mayor and Council members now are claiming that information was not transparent, I find a bit of perplexing considering the public knew well where the Pickering and Whitby proposed sites were. Both municipalities promoted them long before the final submission date in October, 2021. But Oshawa's Mayor for over two years wanted to keep Oshawa's proposed sites secret.

(See video clip from the September 9, 2019 Development Services Committee meeting below  - also, if interested, you can listen here STARTING AT 2:48 to the only public discussion among the Mayor and Councillors about a site for the new hospital prior to today's January 31, 2022 Special Council meeting. 

Now one may wonder if this 'cards close to my chest' strategy of Mayor Carter's not only backfired, but also seems at odds with Oshawa complaining about an unfair process. Were the Mayors and Councils of the two other competing municipalities wrong to share with the public the location they believed the best site for the new Durham hospital? If not, Oshawa might be prudent to reexamine its strategy before calling foul. Note that Oshawa Mayor and Council not sharing with the public where they believe the best site is until after the site was awarded to Whitby might be considered a strategic misstep, like coming late to the party.

There is also the fact that Oshawa, in promoting TWO SITES together, made an odd and confusing submission. Why would the City or the Consultant not see how this made the Oshawa's submission problematic, basically saying here are two sites that are the best site. Why didn't Ontario Tech put in its own bid?

I see political attention grabbing and unfortunate animosity percolating. So let's hope politics doesn't mess with the ultimate goal of getting the best result for future health care in Durham Region.

See presentation slide here https://www.oshawa.ca/business-and-investment/resources/LakeridgeHealthSubmissionReview_Accessible.pdf 

 

One of the Reports on the January 24, 2022 Council meeting Agenda is a circling back of this motion I made last year:

"Whereas the narrower streets in the new developments are causing safety concerns:
Therefore that staff report back on measures for the City to approve wider streets in all new subdivision plans than was approved in the Windfields Part II Plan with the block townhouses.”

Imo the City is remiss in not having public consultation on the design of these streets. Many who live on them complain these streets are too narrow and not child-friendly. Isn't it time to rethink the street design of these residential Block townhouse developments??  

Although they may be 'private' laneways, they are projects the City has a say in  the urban design at the site plan agreement stage.

IMO a policy change needs to happen even if staff and developers find them satisfactory. Ward Council members where this type of new development is happening hear from the public all the time how these streets are too narrow!

When the motion made it to Development Services Committee in September:
Councillor Chapman asked staff to consult with developers, who naturally are against making any changes. The report came back with developer/builder letters and comments, but was missing feedback from the public.

I tried to refer it for public consultation at the Development Services Committee meeting January 10, 2022, because these private lanes or paths are problematic. The motion failed 4-2.

I was on this new development 'Path' (pictured below) on the weekend and it was a hold your breath time driving down from one end to the other when a parent and his small child were walking.

Unfortunately my motion to refer to staff for public consultation failed at Council 6-5.
Voting against was the Mayor, Chapman, Giberson, Kerr, Marimpietri and Marks
Voting in favour of the referral were McConkey, Neal, Nicholson, Hurst and Gray

Then came the vote on receiving it for information: vote was the same 6 to 5, which means sadly there will be no further discussion or action by this Council on making these streets safer by seeing improvements made to the street design of  residential block townhomes.