2015 - Year in review - top story first quarter - city sells waterfront property staff advised it to keep.

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

December 28, 2015

BURLINGTON,ON

Does the past give any hint on what the future will bring? What happened in 2015 – a review of 2015 quarter by quarter.

January 2015 – Not necessarily in chronological order.

Taxes, taxes, taxes – how much and what are they going to spend it on. The city has in the past worked to engage the public by holding workshops that are usually quite well attended – that didn’t prove to be the case in 2015 – a pathetic turnout for public meeting on the budget at the Mainway Recreation centre – drew less than three people. The weather wasn’t good but the weather couldn’t be blamed – hockey games being played at the rink next door drew hundreds of people. There was a message in there somewhere.

Bridgewater from lake on the east

Bridgewater stalls.

The construction of a “legacy” project approved in 1995 on Lakeshore Road took a bit of a hit when the company brought in to build the three towers declared bankruptcy. It slowed down what eventually gets built on the southern side of Lakeshore Road

Property values rise 8.6% in Millcroft and the Orchard year over year; sales down 4%

Public got to hear that the city wanted to set the tax rate at – something upwards of 3.5% more than last year.

City provides an update on city manager recruitment. Burlington had just the one General manager, Scott Stewart and he is one of the people applying for the job of city manager.  Pat Moyle was serving as interim city manager and Scott Stewart has been carrying the ball as the sole general manager.  Council had not interviewed all the candidates.

Stewart Scott blue sweater - more face

Scott Stewart

Pat Moyle resigned to move into full retirement someone had to hold the job of city manager. City council appointed the city solicitor Nancy Shea Nicol as the interim city manager. Normally she reports to the General manager – Scott Stewart.  Nancy Shea Nicol reports to Scott Stewart but because Stewart is one of the finalists for the job of city manager Shea Nicol has been made the boss of the man who she reports to.

Scott Stewart was not appointed city manager – he quit and moved to Guelph

Mayor thinks a pilot private property tree bylaw restricted to Roseland community might work – but that idea didn’t get any traction either.

Flooding BSBVC effects in water

Flood damage.

First of the flood victims got to see some financial support. Of the 310 claims made for short term immediate help just three were turned down.

Call has gone out for possible mural locations around the city. Drop in a sample of the results.

City wanted to use photographs to animate the new website which raised hackles in the arts community – they wanted the city to pay for the pictures they used or at least give the photographer a photo credit. City decided to use stock pictures it could pick up free. Look for reader comments
Jan 20th

ADI project - rendering from LAkeshore

ADI project

The ADI development for lower Martha at Lakeshore Road was shown to the public for the first time. Public was close to outraged. It was pretty clear that Burlington wasn’t going for the ADI development proposal to put a 28 storey tower on the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road.

Council gets a pay raise: Recommendation was to: Maintain the compensation for Councillors at $53,095 per year and the Mayor at $121,676 per year (in 2014) and adjust annually on April 1 by a percentage equal to the average annual change in the all Ontario consumer price index (CPI) for the twelve month period October to September with the provision that the increase is to have the following banding:

Report on the office space needs for the city  never gets made public.

Beachway 1011 sold for $600k

Beachway house sold.

First of the Beachway homes sold for $600,000

The ADI group argues at a city council meeting that the design of their 28 storey tower will serve as an excellent gateway on the eastern side of the city into the downtown core. Residents argue it will loom over the neighbourhood. The 22 storey Bridgewater project a couple of hundred yards away will reach 22 storeys into the air.

Flood relief cheques will begin to go out next week; just 50% of approved claims being paid now – balance to follow.

City council voted 6-1 to sell off pieces of city owned waterfront property. Public did not get to see a confidential report from the city solicitor.

Hospital main emtrance which will face the lake

Hospital redevelopment

February 2015
Hospital foundation raised $2 million in four months – 40 of the 60 million needed is in the bank.

Council committee “miraculously” approves a budget in 3.5 hrs – now it goes to council for the rubber stamp

Flood relief money making its way to victims; partial payments averaging $9000 +

Mayor delivers his fifth State of the City address – promises to never mention the Pier again.

Municipal bureaucrat from west coast, former armed services officer and currently an academic administrator appointed Burlington city manager.

Waterfront Hotel to be demolished at some future date – three structures will go on the site – planners excited about the potential.

Target logo

Low liquidation discounts.

Target liquidation sale discounts seldom top 10%.

March 2015
The ADI development groups gets to the OMB before the city even gets to vote.

Premier meets with Mayors – Mayor Goldring has yet to tell us what they talked about.

Giving back - loaded bins

Giving back

Mayor gives certificates of appreciation to boys and girls who raised a record 281,878 pounds of food in the Giving Back project.

Pop up Patios to appear on Brant Street May 1st.

Public got its first look at what Beachway Park could look like – it was a noisy meeting.

City planner Bruce Krushelnicki retires joins the Ontario Municipal Board.

Market-Lakeshore-foot-of-St-Paul-looking-west3-1024x682

City council voted 6 – 1 to sell a stretch of waterfront property between |Market and st Paul street south of Lakeshore Road – staff had recommended the property be leased.

Top story: Selling of waterfront property:

 

Each of these stories can be read in full – all you have to do is plug the words into the search engine at the top of the home page.

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