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