 By Pepper Parr
April 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is sometimes difficult for media to establish a working relationship with senior people in any organization. Some executives understand what media is and the role it plays – others work at spinning media, trying to make it work for them while others find a way to work with media and use it to amplify what they want to communicate. There are, unfortunately, those who don’t fully understand the need to communicate.
The Gazette has worked with three different city managers. Roman Martiuk was the first – he had not worked with the kind of media the Gazette was setting out to be. We report but we put what we are writing about in context and analyze at the same time.
Media has changed from just the 5 W’s – who, what, where, when and why.
Martiuk was replaced by Jeff Fielding who turned out to be far more city manager than city council was ready for – and this Council turned out to be less than what Fielding needed to do things his way.
Fielding left London, Ontario partly because things there were getting toxic and he had a Mayor that just might be going to jail – not for city related misdemeanors – but it was not a healthy environment.
Fielding was wide open with media – he had no problems whatsoever answering questions and was consistently available for background.
 Will Burlington see substantial change in the way staff serves taxpayers; will there be real transparency and accountability? Fielding then got the opportunity of a life time to work with perhaps the most progressive Mayor in the country – he was on a plane to Calgary with less than half of his contract fulfilled.
Pat Moyle was parachuted in as city manager from his retirement from the Regional government to oversee the work that then General manager Scott Stewart was doing running the city.
Many thought Stewart should have gotten the job of replacing Fielding but for reasons that are never going to be fully understood Stewart wasn’t what the majority of Council wanted.
 Does one say No – to this man? They instead hired James Ridge, who had never run a city before, but had a strong pedigree and was seen to be the person who could bring some order and discipline to a city staff that had seen three different city managers over a four year time frame. There was also a morale problem and staff retention was becoming an issue.
Stewart stayed on to get Ridge through the best part of a year and found a place in Guelph where his growth potential might be recognised.
Ridge has a quiet style – it has taken some time to get a sense as to how he operates. He thinks things through – manages an organization that once had three general managers and now has none.
Ridge has chosen to have the nine Directors report directly to him – he meets with all of them as a team once a week.
The weak link in this approach is that there is no fall back senior manager for the city. Each of the Directors has their individual and unique strengths, abilities and weaknesses – but none that is an obvious future general manager.
Ridge does say that he isn’t locked into the current administrative structure – it is what he is going to go with for the immediate future.
He has parted ways with one Director and word has it that while his style is to be friendly and outgoing in his own at times shy way – he can be very strong and tough when he has to be.
His focus has been on getting a sense as to what he has in the way of a city council and how he directs himself to fulfill the tasks they direct him to deliver on and at the same time meet the requirements of the Municipal Act and other provincial legislation he must comply with.
 James Ridge – walking around hi part o the city. Ridge doesn’t do the both guns blazing that Fielding had as an operating style (it was exciting and for many staff members exhausting); his tends to be a single, well-placed single shot kind of guy.
He isn’t one of those pat you on the back chamber of commerce boosters; this man thinks it through.
The downside for James Ridge is that he doesn’t have all that much Ontario experience and basically no Burlington experience. It is a complex city; wealthy by any measure and yet insular in many ways – almost as if it doesn’t’ quite know what I wants to be when it grows up. Its very talented population lives in the city but applies its talents elsewhere and wants a city that is safe, clean that provides the services they need.
He may not act as quickly as Fielding did – but there will be fewer mistakes.
He has managed to run afoul of one or two people when he has failed to deliver.
 City manager Ridge, centre, at the last session of the Strategic Plan Committee of the whole meeting. His focus has been on putting together a significantly different Strategic Plan and then developing work plans for himself and coaching his Directors as they develop their work plans to ensure that the many promises in the Strategic Plan are met – and the plan is loaded with promises.
He has to maintain whatever he has in the way of juggling skills as the city bumps into its debt load capacity policy. In the almost immediate future the city’s borrowing capacity is going to have to be increased and council will look to the city manager for recommendations on the numerous unfunded projects that are being worked up by staff.
Ridge is going to have to find a way to deal with the way this Council chose to fund its portion of the Joseph Brant hospital upgrade/rebuild. The $60 million the taxpayers have to pony up has stressed the city’s borrowing capacity.
On the upside for Ridge is the more than a handful of managers who show great promise – mostly female by the way, – he appears to spend a considerable amount of time nurturing these people and giving them the room they need to experiment and do things differently.
One has to listen carefully to get a true sense as to where Ridge is going – when he speaks it is usually in measured tones but he seldom fails to make his point.
He is fully aware of the weak spots in his administration; he hasn’t yet shown us if he is really prepared to go outside the existing staff compliment for new blood – he has made at least one major appointment without advertising the position.
There are hints as to the kind of city hall Ridge intends to create. Delivering on the service side and being truly accountable appear to be part of his philosophy.
Bfast, Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit, recently held a citizens Forum on transit issues. The Forum held last year didn’t manage to seem important enough for the Director of Transit to make an appearance. There was apparently a “conversation” between the City Manager and the Director of Transit.
 Director of Transit Mike Spicer and City Manager James Ridge. The Forum was held at the Central Library which is on New Street. Transit service had been re-routed while the Region was putting in new water mains – making it impossible to use a bus to get to the Forum. Ridge apparently brought this situation to the attention of the transit department and a shuttle service was put in place.
Burlington hasn’t seen that kind of quick response to a problem situation in the past.
The Strategic Plan is more than a year late and probably way over budget as well. Is Ridge able to meet the time lines he puts in place?
Ridge gets out into the community and we are not aware of any outrageous promises he has made to any of the stakeholders or community groups. The city is not likely to see the kind of giveaway Fielding did for the seniors when they ran into some accounting problems. He isn’t likely to go along with the significant property enrichment that Fielding allowed with the property swap at Walkers Line and the North Service Road.
 City Manager James Ridge at his first city council meeting. When can some conclusions be made as to the operating style this city manager will use. His next budget will be telling and when he is a full year into executing on his Strategic Plan we will see how big the space is between his talk and his walk.
Now to get him to talk a little bit more; loquacious he ain’t.
Has he got a true sense of what he has in the way of a city council; it couldn’t have taken him all that long to see the dysfunction. City managers have to live with the council the public elects.
Former Mayor Rob MacIsaac had a sterling relationship with Tim Dobbie his city manager – between the two of them they ran city hall – they also gave us that pier didn’t they.
Ridge does not have and isn’t likely to have that kind of a tight working relationship with the current Mayor and you won’t see any wild eyed dreams from this very buttoned down former military officer. He is a man of principle and will stick to his guns
 By Staff
April 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance identifying a male that robbed a Burlington retail money exchange location.
On Monday afternoon at approximately 4:30pm, a lone male went to the Continental Currency Exchange located in the Mapleview Mall.
The suspect climbed over a protective glass partition and confronted two employees.
The suspect was able to access the cash area and stole an undisclosed amount of currency before fleeing the store on foot. The employees were not injured during the incident.
The suspect is described as a male, white, between 25 to 35 years of age, standing approximately 5’8″, with a thin build. He has a brown goatee and wore dark clothing and dark sunglasses.
Upon exiting the mall, the suspect was last seen running in an easterly direction.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2316 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
April 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario will introduce changes to the Municipal Elections Act that would, if passed, modernize municipal elections and provide the option of using ranked ballots in future municipal elections.
Ontario consulted on potential changes to the Municipal Elections Act and received more than 3,400 submissions. Most submissions were from members of the public and supported giving municipalities the option of using ranked ballots in future elections, which would allow a voter to rank candidates in order of preference. The option to use ranked ballots would begin for the 2018 municipal elections.
Other proposed changes to the act would, if passed, increase transparency and accountability and make election rules clear and modern, by:
Shortening the campaign calendar by opening nominations for candidates on May
1 instead of January 1
Creating a framework to regulate third party advertising, including contribution and spending limits
Making campaign finance rules clearer and easier to follow for voters, candidates and contributors, including giving all municipalities the option to ban corporate and union donations
Removing barriers that could affect electors and candidates with disabilities
Making it easier to add or change information on the voters’ list
 Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said: “These proposals clarify the rules for voters and allow for more choice in how to run elections, including the option of using ranked ballots.
No Canadian jurisdiction currently uses ranked ballots. In Ontario there are 444 municipalities that will have to decide what they want to do.
Anyone interested in running for city council will want to see the regulations that will accompany the legislation.
Had there been ranked ballots in the last municipal election – only Blair Lancaster in ward 6 would have been at risk – she would probably have won.
The legislation will make significant changes to the way municipal elections are run – the shorter time frame will favour the incumbents.
 By Staff
April 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The following sport fields are closed from Monday, April 4 to Sunday, April 10, 2016.
List of Parks and Facilities affected:
City View F1
City View F2
City View F3
Norton F1, F2
Orchard F2
Sherwood Forest F2
Nelson Stadium
By Staff
April 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
At a time of year when we have begun to think about what will get done with the garden, we are reading snow reports and happy that we didn’t put away the winter clothing.
How long is this kind of weather going to last?
City advises that:
Primary and secondary road plowing is being completed. Plowing of primary and secondary sidewalks is ongoing. Road and weather conditions continue to be monitored.
 By Staff
April 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
April may turn out to be a very good month for the city of Burlington.
 Will a Judge order the Air Park corporation to remove the tonnes of illegal land fill from the land and file a site plan with the city – before the end of the month? We are advised that the Justices that hear court cases are close to releasing a decision on the application the city made for a Judge to compel the Burlington Air Park to comply with the city bylaw requiring the submission of a site plan for the air park property and also remove the tonnes of illegal land fill on the 200 acre piece of property.
The court case was held last November, in one of the smallest t court rooms in the Milton court house where some 20 people crammed into space that might have held 10 comfortably.
The Gazette is advised that a member of the city’s legal staff advised council that a Judge at the Court House advised the city that Justice Gibson anticipates he will be in a position to release his decision by April 30th.
This will be a ground breaking decision which, given the way the Air Park corporation has handled precious decision that went against them in the past, will file an appeal.
Because of the significance of this case to the municipal community across Canada – this case could make it all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
 By Pepper Parr
April 3, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A year later, a crowd of about 65 – maybe 75 people gathered at the Central library on Satuday morning to review what, if any changes, there had been in the transit service.
 Some – but not enough – and the biggest concern – the funding of the transit service – isn’t going to change within the foreseeable future. The best transit users are going to get is platitudes – the budget for 2016 has been set and unless the federal government decides to send some coin to the municipalities with a transit string attached to it – the money is going to go into that “infrastructure deficit” council seems to rely upon to keep money from working its way into transit.
 Bfast, Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit, prepared a report card on a number of metrics they selected. Here they are along with the grade each metric was given.
 Helpfulness of Drivers: At the 2015 forum, participants broke into applause when the helpfulness of our BT drivers was mentioned. Everyone praised the friendliness and thoughtfulness of the bus drivers, who often help passengers in unusual circumstances. Even visitors to Burlington praise our drivers as evidence by this recent article in the Hamilton Spectator1.
 Installation of ITS System: Although not an issue at the 2015 Transit Users Forum, over the past few months most buses have been automatically announcing audibly, and visually, stop announcements. This is a big help to all passengers, but is particularly needed by passengers with a visual or hearing impairment.
F – Lack of Convenience: Long headways (up to one hour), poor or no holiday evening or service, long distances to nearest bus stop, lack of service to many areas, – came up over and over again.
 Fares: Recent fare increases have made Burlington fares among the highest in the GTA. Even higher than Toronto! This combined with the extensive route and schedule changes of November 2013 have resulted in a 15% loss of ridership.
 Signage and Route and Schedule Information: The new bus stop signs now list the bus route numbers that serve each stop. We understand that BT is going to discontinue the Ride Guide and put in its place internet access to schedules and separate individual route maps. We think such a move will make it even harder for users without hand-held devices to access route and schedule information and urge Burlington Transit to have consultations with its users before any changes are made.
 Handi-Vans provide an essential service for people with disabilities unable to use the regular bus service. Unfortunately, as BT’s nine Handi-Vans cannot handle the current demand, users must book at least a week in advance. To deal with requests at short notice, such as necessary medical appointments, taxis should be used to supplement the Handi-Van fleet when required, as is the case in Oakville. (This provision would be better than the discontinued Taxi Scrip program, which many would like to see reinstated.) It should be added that several people questioned why blind people are excluded from using the Handi-Van service.
 Unrealistically Tight Schedules: Many riders pointed out that the bus schedules are too “tight”, making it very difficult for the drivers to stay on schedule. When a driver attempts to catch up after falling behind schedule, there may be a loss of safety – or drivers may be reluctant to help passengers enter and exit by lowering the bus and lowering the ramp.
 What does Burlington spend on transit compared to other municipalities. All the shortcomings of Burlington transit system mentioned above result from a common cause: serious underfunding of transit by the City Council. It seems that the guiding principle when making decisions about transit is to save money, not to provide a good service.
There is more to it than that; the decision makers in this city just do not see a significant place for transit – this is a car city, everything about the way Burlington streets and neighbourhoods are laid out calls for the use of a car.
 Bfast has argued for some time that the city does not spend what it should be spending on transit. While speaking to the Youth table at the Forum Mayor Goldring said that while Oakville spends more than Burlington their ridership numbers are not that much higher based on what they are spending.
Burlington is a city that has thousands of homes with garages – that are used as workshops or storage. The cars, as many as three for some families, sit on the drive way or on the street.
Much mention is made of walking – fine when you are out for a stroll – another thing when your arm are laden with those plastic shopping bags.
Cycling is the answer – try balancing all those plastic bags on the handle bars of a bike. It is only the exceptionally fit that will be on their bikes in the winter weather.
 Robert Lovell, on the left, represented the Burlington Seniors’ Advisory committee at a city council meeting. James Young, on the right tried to explain to council that the object of their endeavors was not the cost but the services that were being delivered. There is something unreal about the talk of ordinary people using bicycles. Sure students can and should be riding their bikes to school when they can. But for Dad to ride the bike to Hamilton or Oakville is unrealistic.
Moderately priced, well managed transit that designs routes and schedules that meet real needs has been proven to work in city’s that see transit as a public service and not a cost.
Swimming pools and hockey arenas are seen as services the public is prepared to pay for – so Burlington gets ice pads.
The city is not yet at the point where is can see transit as a public service – all they can see are busses that are close to empty at times.
 Route design and frequency of service, which aren’t rocket science are the solutions the city needs to look for – not there yet.
Director of Transit Mike Spicer chats with City Manager James Ridge during the Bfast Forum on transit. The report cards make that quite clear. What isn’t clear is how the city is going to tackle this problem. There was an additional positive at the Bfast Forum – the room full of people were very clear in not just what they wanted – but what they needed.
By Staff
April 2, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the second annual Transit Forum and was as well attended as the first last year.
Of significance was that the Director of Transit, Mike Spicer was on hand as was city manager James Ridge. Were they in real listening mode? Hard to tell – the voices setting out the needs and the problems were pretty clear.
 Bfast, Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit, chose not to issue an overall grade for the city’s transit service. It isn’t a pretty picture. Bfast, the organization that put on the event, issued a report card – it wasn’t all bad – the parts that mattered however were still terrible.
 What is the problem with transit in Burlington – Bfast argues that it is funding – thy might be right. The Gazette will report in more detail in the next few days. The Gazette is the only media in the room – Cogeco had a camera in the room and the Mayor got his couple of minutes. There was a photographer from Metroland in the room as well.
By Staff
April 1, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
If the laws of supply and demand have any impact on the drug trade – expect to pay a little more to your preferred dealer – things have tightened up on the supply side.
On March 30th 2016, members of the Halton Regional Police, Oakville Street Crime Unit and Integrated Drug Gun and Gang Unit concluded an ongoing drug investigation
with the arrests of two Burlington residents. Investigators also executed search warrants at two addresses in North Burlington which resulted in the seizure of a
large quantity of drugs, and approximately $8000.00 in cash. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is as follows (photo attached)
Marihuana – $11,640.00,
Cocaine – $6,500.00,
Hash – $23,000.00,
Hash Oil – $180.00
 Police took possession of a decent amount o cash and a load of drugs. The following individuals were charged with various drug related offences and held
for bail hearings, they will appear in Milton Court on March 31st.
Douglas BROWNE, 43 years of Burlington.
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cannabis Resin)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2 (Cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2 (Hash)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2 (Marihuana over 30 gms)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (Proceeds)
Francisco ROSA, 45 years of Burlington.
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marihuana under 30 gms)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking ( Hash)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Marihuana over 30 gms)
Police remind members of the public to report any illegal drug activity and utilize Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at
www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes)
 By Staff
April 1, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s a great idea but the take up within the community hasn’t been as strong as the Parks and Recreation people would like it to have been.
Perhaps people don’t fully understand the process? Maybe it’s too bureaucratic? Whatever – the city is going to put some of their troops into the community and help people complete their applications before the April 29th deadline.
What is your idea for the community? The city wants to help groups that have a great idea for the community get up to $5,000 in funding to make those ideas happen.
The city is hosting five workshops to help groups complete their Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund applications before the April 29, 2016, deadline.
The fund will provide up to $5,000 to support projects led by neighbourhood and community groups. Approved projects will get up to 50 per cent of the funding for
the project from the city. The neighbourhood or community group will match this funding with an equal value through any combination of volunteer hours, donated
services, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised.
Workshops to offer both information and hands-on help will take place:
 Mountainside Recreation Centre Monday, April 4, 7 to 9 p.m.
Mountainside Recreation Centre, 2205 Mount Forest Dr.
Community Room 2
Wednesday, April 6, 7 to 9 p.m.
Appleby Ice Centre, 1201 Appleby Line
Multipurpose Room
Tuesday, April 12, 7 to 9 p.m.
Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way
Holland Room
 Burlington Seniors’ Centre Wednesday, April 13, 7 to 9 p.m.
Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St.
Boutique and Multipurpose Room
Thursday, April 14, 7 to 9 p.m.
Aldershot Arena, 494 Townsend Ave.
Community Room
Participants are asked to RSVP to
matchingfund@burlington.ca the day before the workshop they wish to attend.
Those who can’t attend can visit
https://www.burlington.ca/matchingfund for more information.
Next week the Gazette will be running a series of articles on the Love my Hood program the city is also offering. One way or another – the parks and recreation people are going to get you to do something to make this city a nicer, better place to live in.
By Pepper Parr
March 31, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They decided to call it a party rather than a meeting and made a good effort to give the Parks and Recreation Event Strategy workshop a different tone and feel.
 It worked – sort of. There was half an hour at the front end of the meeting (oops, party) for socializing that included an open cash bar (two bottles of beer and one soft drink were sold) and then into the Workshop.
The purpose was to get ideas and feed back on what the city’s event Strategy should be – what worked and what doesn’t work asked the facilitator and what would you like to see, what would your vision be even if the idea was not feasible or practical. This was an occasion for some blue sky thinking – they didn’t quite rise up to the challenge.
 Manager of Community Development Services, Denise Beard A year and a half or so ago Manager of Community Development Services, Denise Beard got to listen to James Dier at a conference – she was mesmerized. Within months Beard got Diers to an event in Burlington where he blew the socks off a lot of people and showed an approach to building community that had a lot of people excited and wanting more.
Those who worked closely with communities understood immediately what Diers was saying – it took others a little longer to “get it”.
When Diers made a presentation to a Committee of the Whole at Geraldo’s it was priceless to see the expressions on the faces of the buttoned down consultants. Diers is a very “in your face” advocate for what he calls “Neighbourhood Power”. He changed the way Seattle involved its neighbourhoods in figuring out what was needed at the street level.
Much of what we now see coming out of the Parks and Recreation department now is the result of the Dier’s approach.
 Staff tried to create a sense of a play party with gimmicks that could be used illustrate some of the creative ideas. He isn’t for everyone. He is loud, forthright and gets excited. He once threw a live chicken into the office of the Mayor of Seattle to make a point. Watching the look on Councillor Craven’s face as Diers got himself wound up while explaining a point set out the stark contract between the two men – and contrasted the difference between the way the ward 1 Councillor works with his constituents and how others involve their citizens.
It’s pretty clear that the Parks and Recreation people are going to follow as much of the Diers philosophy as they can. The Gazette will report in more detail the approaches Diers created and what Burlington can expect to see in the months ahead.
The Tuesday evening “party” was the first time Parks and Recreation staff had an opportunity to field test some of their ideas.
A Workbook was given to all the participants who gathered in groups of six to eight around tables that had all kinds of play toys – plasticine, coloured paper and markers and large sheets of butcher paper to draw plans on.
The questions put to the groups were focused on the current experience people had had on an event that took place:
 What did they think about the current experience ? What is your experience with events held on City property now?
What do you love?
Why?
What’s working well?
What bugs/concerns you? Why?
What keeps you from attending? What draws you to these events?
Each group of people beavered away at the questions and then reported back.
 This is what the facilitator gathered from the participants – the future of festivals and events as they saw them. Next up was Future Experiences:
Given the trends and increasing demand for festivals and events in Burlington, the Workbook outlined, what would you like the experience of attending Future events to feel like? Look like? Who would be attending?
• What should we continue to do?
• What should we stop doing?
• What should we start doing?
Again the different groups worked through their ideas and reported back and the results were put up on a huge banner.
The last session was Advice to the city:
The workbook set out criteria the City could use to help them select appropriate festivals and events to host on City property.
Those taking part, there were about 75 people taking part – they were asked to:
1. Take a look at the criteria and choose the ones that you feel the City should use. Why should they choose these ones?
2. Have a discussion at your table.
3. As a table, look at the criteria again and together choose the top five criteria
 This is what the facilitator heard the 75 + participant say – it wasn’t as imaginative as some had expected. What advice do you have on criteria for the downtown festivals/events? What advice do you have on criteria for the neighborhood festivals/events? What did you clearly agree on at your table?
What did you have difficulty agreeing on?
The criteria put before the participants for selecting events:
Type of Sports Events
One time event attracting out of town athletes
On-going community/local activity (e.g. house league)
Fee to Attend Event
Paid Admission
Supporting our Community
Healthy and greener City by ensuring healthy food and activity options, environmentally friendly practices, encourages modal split
Focus on local talent, food, businesses and organizations
Diverse types of events
Celebrates diversity in our community
Family friendly for all ages
Who and what type of events should we give preference to when we’re deciding on applications for festivals and events on City property? Choose your preference to the following:
Type of Host
For Profit
Non-profit
Charity
Preference for Hosts of Events
from Burlington
from outside Burlington
Purpose of events
Community Development – build sense of community
Economic Development – bring dollars into community.
The community level work being done was part of a larger exercise. The people at city hall had begun to rethink the city and it brand. The two biggest festival events the city holds – Sound of Music and Rib Fest have both taken place in the city for more than 20 years.
Are they getting stale?
Did they really portray what Burlington is in the minds of its citizens?
Have times changed and is it perhaps time to look at what the city permits on the waterfront space?
 The sand castle competition is no longer a summer event in Burlington. While there hasn’t been a big announcement – the sandcastle competition held in the Beachway part of the waterfront will not take place in 2016.
The debate over what should be done with the 25+ homes in the Beachway clouded the discussion over the several different parks that are going to be created on that stretch of land from the Joseph Brant Museum and the canal.
 Discussion at all of the tables was wide open and wide ranging – there were some that felt there should be stronger security and that the festivals intruded on life for those who lived downtown. Unfortunately the public is not all that involved in the design of that park – planners at the Regional level are putting together the ideas. It will be a couple of decades before anything significant appears.
The intellectual guru behind the thinking taking place within the Parks and recreation department – and make no mistake about this – the city has swallowed the Kool Aid – they are all in at this point on the Diers philosophy.
The challenge now is to get the citizens to the point where they begin to understand that Neighbourhood Power is the direction staff is going – the biggest part of their job is to get citizens to buy in and begin thinking aloud what they want their city to look like; what kind of events do they want to see in the public places?
The facilitator, who brought a different visual approach to the documenting of the data and the comments made, asked the audience to do some ”blue sky” thinking – to talk about their vision which may not be feasible, probably no very practical either – she just wanted them think bigger than they normally do
 Chris Glenn,Director of Parks and Recreation. There wasn’t all that much in the way of responses. One table thought more use should be made of the water – and hold water based events.
 They decided to go for the big photo op – just the one city Councillor attended – the Mayor popped in to make the opening remarks. Another comment was to have more focus on the city’s history and tell more about the veterans.
The biggest concern was traffic – getting out of an event when everyone was heading for the same exists at the same time. There were suggestions about using shuttle buses and holding alternative events that would be part of the larger festivals.
No mention was made of the hydro towers and the thought that is being given to burying them.
There was a member of Rotary in attendance and the Sound of Music had several of their big guns at several tables. They, along with Brian Dean, General manager of the Burlington Downtown Business Association chose to be in a listening mode for the most part.
The task now for the parks and recreation people is to pull together all the data and comments they have collected from the various stakeholders and community groups and prepare a recommendations report for city council.
Festivals and events are one part of the mix that get reflected in the Strategic Plan – document the city will make official later this month.
Then what?
 By Ray Rivers
April 1st, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The question no one seems to be asking is whether Burlington really needs another waterfront pier. Sources distant from both the PM’s people and those of the Premier have indicated some kind of an announcement is forthcoming in the near future.
 Upon completion of pier number two will reach well into the lake The potential cost of this project could total close to four billion big ones and would be funded through a new infrastructure fund. “What better way to use our federal and provincial deficit money than to create new jobs, right here in Burlington,” one source was overheard mumbling.
The mayor has been very closed-lipped about this initiative. That may be because a former Burlington mayor had been thought to be working hard between the sheets to create this baby. And some baby it will be. A mega-motel, to be named after former city and regional counsellor Robert Bates, will anchor the attractions on this artificial piece of land reaching out into the middle of Lake Ontario.
 The ferris wheel on pier number 2 will be visible from Toronto. The project will also feature the largest ferris wheel in North America named in honour of the former Toronto mayor, whose brother Doug, had been promoting a similar icon to dot the Toronto skyline. Doug Ford, who always wanted to be known for, and as, a big wheel himself, couldn’t be reached for comment.
However, somebody on somebody’s staff noted that the Fords had always supported using somebody else’s money to move people around, so long as it didn’t get in the way of Toronto’s grid lock. In fact the former Toronto Councillor had hoped that the ferris-wheel could be directly connected to Toronto’s expanding subway system.
Stretching out two and a half kilometres into Lake Ontario the centrepiece of the structure will be a huge ferry docking station with access to planned ferry ports as distant as Oakville and Hamilton and the existing Burlington pier. There will be a 30-hectare amusement park on the water, which will include the ferris wheel and thirty-seven Tim Horton outlets. In addition plans may include a waterfront zoo featuring elephants, lions, penguins and other native Canadian wildlife.
Already, ribbon cutting is being projected to coincide with the 2018 Sound of Music festival which would see a switch in content to such classical pieces as Handel’s Water Music, rather than the heavy rock known to incite wave action. However, given the size of this project, the grand opening may have to be postponed once or twice – or several times.
 Land fill at the Burlington air park being trucked to the pier number two construction site. Land-fill for this massive project is expected to come from the levelling of Halton Conservation Area’s Rattle Snake Point. Rock climbing activity has severely eroded the rock face and Milton has been reported petitioning the provincial government and Green Belt commission to make way for even more residential housing in Canada’s fastest growing city. And besides the rattle snakes are all gone, the last one seen on March 17th.
Lawyers from around the problem are looking for a way to legally move the land fill on the air park property to the lakefront.
Not everyone will be pleased with this new development and you can be sure that the Burlington Gazette will be sued and have to shut down at least five or six times in the course of this project.
But the proponents are keen to see the pier built and even keener to give its ferris wheel a spin. They have been heard to say that they personally anticipate this to be a very rewarding venture.
Rumours abound about the siting of multi-unit condos as well, adding as many as fifty thousand new residents to the man-made peninsula.
And as is always the case with innovative ventures, even at this early stage, there are the critics.
 Steel for pier number two was imported from Mexico – the city took this retaliatory action when Hamilton refused to sell the Lasalle Park water lots at a reasonable price. Some folks can’t help but compare this initiative to what they saw as wasteful spending by the federal Conservatives in the wake of the 2009/10 recession and in preparation for the G20 summit. They cite the expensive network of sidewalks Tony Clement built in his rural northern riding which no one actually uses. And then there is the massive effort that went into constructing Canada’s sixth great lake – right there on the shores of Lake Ontario.
In the words of Burlington Gazette publisher, Pepper Parr, who is believed to be a strong proponent himself, despite his denials, “they pissed away all that money back then and got re-elected, so why not this, now? Besides how better to employ all our adopted Syrian refugees looking for work, and where better to offer them a place to live?”
 Rumours abound that the Gazette has been approached about locating its new international headquarters adjacent to the Bate’s motel complex. When asked to confirm that story, Parr responded that he couldn’t confirm or deny his involvement. “It would be like stabbing the mayor in the back,” he was heard to mutter before turning his head away to suppress a giggle.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Something special happens to Rivers on the first day of April each year.
Our apologies for his excesses.
Tweet @rayzrivers
Existing Pier
By Staff
March 31, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
How does that phrase go? In like a lion out like a lamb?
We seem to have a pretty wet lamb this last day of the month of March which produced a warning form Conservation Halton advising that natural watercourses are at or near bankfull conditions.
An additional 25 mm of rain is forecast and there is potential for greater rainfall depths associated with thunderstorms this evening.
 Saturated ground and consistent rain the past few days has Burlington’s 17 creeks running close to their high point – not the safest place for the kids to play This precipitation, in conjunction with saturated ground conditions will result in higher than normal water levels and flows in local streams. Widespread flooding is not currently anticipated however flooding of low lying areas and natural floodplains may be expected.
Keep the children away from watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream flow and weather conditions and will issue further messages as necessary.
This Watershed Conditions Statement will be in effect through Friday April 1, 2016.
 By Pepper Parr
March 31, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
How do you build community? Doesn’t it just happen naturally? Apparently not – the city has adopted a policy that is intended to help people organize events that will pull people together for a common cause.
A house fire will always get everyone out on the street to watch the fire fighters – figuring out how to come up with something less extreme has resulted in what Burlington is calling a Community Investment Policy that provides funding for the holding of events.
In language that only a bureaucrat could write – here is that policy.
Purpose
Establish the principles and practices around how the City of Burlington will invest in our community.
Statement
The City of Burlington, (“City,”) believes that residents want to contribute to the quality of life in Burlington.
Residents have great ideas about how to create both vibrant neighbourhoods and/or communities and may require support from the City for implementation of initiatives.
The City provides support for these initiatives with one-time funding for events, programs or projects that build community capacity:
• To a registered not-for-profit corporation or a group of neighbours
• For areas within the geographic boundaries of the City of Burlington
• For projects, events and activities that occurs on City of Burlington property
• Program and services that benefit the residents of the City of Burlington and
• Organizations that do not receive any other financial support from the City of Burlington
 Scope:
This policy applies to not-for-profit groups or a group of neighbours that use City owned and managed property for the benefit of residents of the City and happens within the geographic boundaries of the City.
This policy does not include boards and agencies of the City, school board property, Halton Conversation lands or lands of the Region of Halton or organizations that currently receive funding from the City of Burlington.
Definitions
Corporation Refers to the Corporation of the City of Burlington.
Community Capacity Building A process that strengthens the relevance, responsiveness, effectiveness and resilience of organizations. For example, an event, a training session, a promotion campaign.
Community A group of people bound by common beliefs, values or interests, ethnicity or place of origin, geography or other self- identified commonality.
Events A one-off single activity, occurrence or celebration typically taking place over a concentrated period of time, such as a few hours.
Not-for-Profit Is a corporation that has articles of incorporation establishing the organization as a not-for-profit corporation
One-time funding Lump sum funding or funding that is phased out over a period no longer than three years.
The community can only apply every five years for Community Investment Funding.
Programs Refers to regularly scheduled activities (minimum once per week and 4 repetitions) of a recreational, sport, leadership development, art and cultural nature as defined by the departments Leisure Services Policy (e.g. structured programs, community leagues, camps).
Principles
The following principles are taken into consideration when investing in the community:
1. Community members want to contribute to their quality of life.
2. Community members have great ideas on how to enhance their quality of life in the public realm.
3. Community groups can be informal or organized (e.g. a group of neighbours on a street or a legally incorporated not-for-profit organization).
4. Community groups sometimes need financial assistance to launch a program, project or event and the City agrees to support with one-time funding, provided that the group is not receiving any other financial assistance from the City.
5. A community group can only receive funds once every five years.
6. The funding program (approvals, amounts) will be at the discretion of the Manager of Community Development Services as identified in the policy.
 EXCLUSIONS
• Properties governed under another body, agency or business (e.g. school board, board or agency)
• Private Property
• Individuals
• On-going financial support such as operating grants
• Organizations whose purpose is related to political or religious activity
• For-profit organizations
• Foundations
• Schools, hospitals and public agencies
• An activity or project that conflicts with existing City policy
Annual fundraising events/projects
• Organizations or groups of individuals organizing an event, program, project or activity that is in furtherance of a position either for or against an issue over which the City is a regulator or may have a legal interest
• An event, program, project or activity that conflicts with City policies, Council decisions or directions
Policy Guidelines
There are two streams for funding
Community Capacity Building Projects*
Application Period Accepted at any time Accepted once a year
Review Team Community Development Section with subject matter experts as required Cross department team to review feasibility of the proposal. May evolve to include community members as neighbourhood committees are developed
Review Period Once per month Three months
Criteria for Review
• Completeness of the application including organization/event budget
• Meets the eligibility criteria requirements
• Demonstrates need
• Linkage with the City’s strategic plan • Completeness of the application
• Meets the eligibility criteria requirements
• Linkage with the City’s strategic plan
• Will provide a public benefit
• Demonstrated community interest
• Feasibility
• Demonstrates on-going maintenance and upkeep
• Ability of the community match the financial contribution from the City
• Realistic budget
Implementation Project must be completed within one year. Project must be completed within one year of the contract
In the setting of the 2016 budget city council did approve funding for the project. There have been about 15 – maybe 20 projects.
Next week we will write about several of those projects and get some sense of what works and what doesn’t work from a citizen’s point of view. The funding allocation for neighbourhood projects is set at $300 which some people feel isn’t quite enough.
Denise Beard, Manager, Community Development Services, has a target of having 150 projects on the go in the city during 2017 – the year that Canada celebrates its sesquicentennial – this country came into being 150 years ago.
It is a brave target – let’s see how it works!
By Bob Wood
March 31, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This article isn’t for everyone – it gives you a look at the way city council and its citizens used to go at each other. When writer Bob Wood completes the telling of this tale we will pass it along to you.
Citizens, developers and many municipalities have called for it to be dismantled. The Ontario government has given a big “No” to that notion.
Ted McMeekin, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, told CBC last week that “we need a body like the OMB because sometimes people break the rules.”
So, McMeekin’s Ministry is going to review the OMB with an eye to reform it by foiling those rule breakers. McMeekin is looking for ideas.
He’ll get no help from me. I ought to have an opinion but my views are a bit muddled. That’s likely because I’ve become far too familiar with a long ago OMB hearing. That hearing dealt with an attempt by a developer to put a McDonald’s restaurant in Parkwood Plaza at the corner of Kenwood and Lakeshore in south east Burlington. There were three OMB hearings for that event.
 Would the community fight the location of a fast food outlet today? The residents spent more than $350,000 in legal fees and those were 1980 dollars At the end of the third hearing a resident’s group was successful in blocking this inappropriate use of a small plaza. Their success came thirty-six years ago this Friday (April 1, 1980).
Burlingtonians are patiently awaiting a decision on the Councillor Dennison appeal of a Burlington Committee of Adjustment decision to not allow a property severance he was seeking. The hearing took place more than nine months ago.
There is a second OMB appeal that has many in Burlington interested – that being the appeal the ADI Development Group took to what they called a refusal on the part of the city to make a decision on their development application to put up a 26 storey tower on the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road.
After giving the city a bit of a bum’s rush on their original application – Adi then asks the OMB officer hearing their appeal to postpone the actual hearing while they talk to the city about how an additional piece of property they recently purchased is going to fit into their development.
This stuff does get complex.
The seven year battle details some of the barriers residents faced in trying to cover the costs of an OMB appeal.
Some of the Cast of Characters
Jim Ryan – east end resident and frequent spokesperson for residents. Later elected as City Alderman for Ward 8.
The Committee Against The Establishment of a Restaurant in Parkwood Plaza (CAERPP) – residents’ group.
Herman Turkstra – well known lawyer and former Member of the City of Hamilton Board of Control.
Doug Brown – Solicitor for the City of Burlington.
Joan Allingham – Chair of Council’s Development. Perhaps better known now as Joan Little, columnist for the Hamilton Spectator.
Dalewest Construction – Owner of Parkwood Plaza.
For many years the City of Burlington’s Community Services Committee had convened a January meeting to consider funding requests. Typically, the requests came from recreational, sports or cultural groups.
Three sessions of the committee would be held in 1979 to look at 35 requests totalling $386,164.
The January’s meeting of that committee was to consider a request from a resident’s group. The Committee Against The Establishment of a Restaurant in Parkwood Plaza (CAERPP): they wanted help to foot a portion of their legal bills.
After an in camera meeting the Committee determined in a 3-2 vote that CAERPP should receive $7,500 for their legal costs.
This was a first – a request from a citizen’s group fighting a development proposal.
Mayor Roly Bird, who had been recently elected, defended the decision to fund the citizen’s group saying: “We have been given to understand that the city’s case will be greatly enhanced by their continued participation.”
Bird proposed a $7,500 grant as a compromise after an earlier motion for more money by Alderman Linda Pugsley had failed, receiving support of only one other member of the committee, Walter Mulkewich of Ward One.
Mayor Bird was known as a man of strong opinions. So there must have been many surprised citizens when six days later he had a different one.
Bird told Council that “a number of advisers” he had in the in the city told him they did not support paying the residents’ lawyer.
“I don’t feel the city’s case and the residents’ case will be that much jeopardized by the non-participation of their legal person.”
A strange statement indeed. Bird continued: “We have to ask is this the City’s fight.”
With that Council rejected the position of its Administration Committee.
Ward 8 City Alderman Bill O’Connell called Council’s position “pitiful.”
Other Council members claimed that if the City joined with CAERPP they could expose the city to legal action.
“The City could have been liable for many thousands of dollars for last revenues by Dalewest and McDonald’s,” Jim Grieve claimed.
Others, like Joan Allingham and Rob Forbes disagreed that such an opinion had been offered.
On becoming aware of the City’s rejection of financial support for his group, Jim Ryan had sharp words.
“The mayor indicated that the city is well qualified to handle the situation. Maybe we’ll just let them handle it.”
 City Council chamber decor hasn’t changed all that much. The picture of the Queen has been replaced by the city crest. And there are a lot more council members at that table Ryan went on: “I wish I had as much confidence in them. They blew it last time and they’ll blow it again. They don’t have the specialized expertise McDonald’s and Dalewest have.”
What now? Alderman O’Connell thought that the residents would end their fight.
The residents convened the night after Council’s decision. “It was a hell of a blow,” Ryan told the Spectator.
The committee had already accumulated $13,000 in legal bills and the meter was still running. What fundraising opportunities were still open to them? More garage sales, dances?
“That’s a hell of a lot of dancing and garage sales,” said Ryan to the idea of raising $8,000 more.
The group decided that a lottery could bring in money and be an indication of broader community support. CAERPP members began to sell tickets for a Valentine’s Day draw. First prize would be $500.
The Committee knows they need lawyer Herman Turkstra, who they had engaged a year earlier.
While the City’s position was similar to the residents, the city’s lawyer can’t really represent the residents’ interests.
“We need our own solicitor. To be successful, the city needs our lawyer,” Ryan asserted. It wasn’t just Ryan who felt this way.
Alderman O’Connell talked to city solicitor Doug Brown and came away feeling the City has little hope. “If the residents pull out we might as well forget it.”
As lottery tickets were being sold speculation continued as to what the City should do. The Burlington Post editorialized that if sufficient funds were not raised in the lottery the city had to make a choice. Would they mount an effective opposition to McDonald’s/Dalewest and could it present the necessary arguments “without leaving itself open to future confrontation?”
he Post seemed to think that this was about property values. In their view, the city would put itself in a bad spot if it argued that putting a McDonald’s in the plaza would lower property values. The Post misunderstood the issue as did many citizens then and now. While residents are concerned about such things as property values, the OMB and municipal planning in general are not.
But the residents had no intention of giving up. Perhaps other Burlington observers thought as much. “There was no intimation we’d drop out, even if we had to go without our solicitor,” said Ryan.
Advertisements for the continuation of the hearing ran in the Post on the same day that another story broke. Now the province was going to review the legality of CAERPP’s lottery. Lawyers for Dalewest Construction had written the Ontario Lottery Corporation (OLC) claiming that the lottery had contravened Ontario’s regulations.
Don Speight, assistant to the director of the OLC, said that a lottery must be for charitable purposes. It must go for relief of the poor, the advancement of education or religion or “any purpose that is of benefit to the community.”
While the OLC’s investigation was going on, lottery organizers were told not to spend any of the lottery’s proceeds. CAERPP had put down $14 for the licence in November although there were some questions about it at the time.
 Doug Brown was the city solicitor during the seven year citizen’s battle to prevent a McDonalds from being located in the east end plaza. “When they first came to me I was not prepared to issue a licence,” claimed City Clerk Don Briault. But City Solicitor Doug Brown said it was legal.
Three thousand, two hundred and thirty-two (3,232) one dollar tickets had been sold to people who, Ryan said, bought the tickets to help with the legal bills. From Ryan’s perspective the draw was legal because the city had licensed it, Dalewest’s complaint could result in the money being handed over to a charity. People would be angry.
“They did not donate to a charity or a religious organization, they donated to cover our legal expenses,” said Ryan.
With the OLC studying the matter one might have expected silence from government officials. Not so. A spokesman for the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Relations told the Burlington Post that the lottery was probably illegal.
“Let’s face it. I’ve never heard of a lottery licence being issued to a group espousing a political viewpoint,” said Ed Ciemigap whose department was apparently exploring legal precedents.
Turkstra was incredulous that none of the parties involved in the determination of the lottery issue had contacted the residents.
“The Ministry seem to have the idea the (citizens) group is engaged in a political process. What they are doing is supporting the position of the City.”
Soon (March 21st) the Attorney General’s office told the Post that the chances of CAERPP being charged were fairly remote.
“Presumably Turkstra and his clients have nothing to worry about,” Julian Polika ventured.
And that is as far as Bob Wood, who grew up not far from the Parkwood Plaza. He hopes to have the whole story complete later in the spring.
Editor’s note: Bob Wood is working on the completion of this story. Things don’t change all that much in local politics – do they? Developers still do whatever they think they can do to get their projects completed.
And where is city council when it comes to supporting the citizens; there are a few in North Burlington that would like to see the city being proactive on their side over the dumping of land fill on the air park property.
By Staff
March 30th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
City of Burlington building staff will be at local home improvement stores for three Saturdays in April to answer questions and provide information about building permits.
 City building permit staff will set up shop at different building supply stores during the month of April to help out with the paper work. “With the mild weather we’ve had the last few weeks, many residents will be getting a start on spring renovation projects around the house,” said Mary Lou Tanner, the city’s director of planning and building. “We hope that by having staff where people shop, available to answer any permit questions, people will get the information they need to know about permits and home projects.”
City staff will be available between 8 a.m. and noon on the following dates at these locations:
- Saturday, April 9 – Rona Lansing (1830 Ironstone Dr., Burlington)
- Saturday, April 16- Home Depot (3050 Davidson Court, Burlington)
- Saturday, April 30 – Lowe’s (3270 Harrison Court, Burlington)
By Staff
March 30, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Bfast – (Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit) will be holding its second annual Forum on the state of transit in the city – and issuing report cards on the quality of the service. We are told that while overall the service hasn’t improved enough – they will be issuing at least one A in that report card.
 Doug Brown, chair of Bfast, wants to see a bus schedule with routes that work for people and not the current bus route set up in place. It doesn’t work claims Brown. The biggest problem, according the Doug Brown, is the transit service is very under-funded – and until the service is given the resources it needs it will always be sub-standard.
Brown who knows more about the history of service in Burlington than anyone alive seldom gets the hearing he deserves from the transit people.
The 2015 Forum attracted about 90 people with much to say about their experiences using the Burlington’s buses. There in the role of listeners were four of the seven members of Burlington City Council, including Mayor Rick Goldring, as well as Burlington’s MPP, Eleanor McMahon. Not present, unfortunately, was anyone responsible for designing and operating the transit system—Burlington Transit.
Positive messages from the participants can be quickly told: everyone praised the friendliness and thoughtfulness of the bus drivers, who often help passengers in unusual circumstances.
Because of cuts to service and frequent route changes during the last three years, Burlington Transit’s system is no longer convenient, resulting in a considerable drop in ridership. And two fare increases during that time have made it unaffordable for many potential users.
The Presto card service is not as simple as saying “Hey, presto!” One attendee last year said that Presto ought to be as convenient as cash in order for it to replace cash fares.
 Short term notices work well – its the signage throughout the transit system that is less than satisfactory. Signage at bus stops throughout Burlington presents a problem for many, especially occasional transit users. Ideally, every bus stop should display the route numbers of the buses stopping there and the scheduled times of arrival. The reality is rather different: bus route numbers and arrival times are nonexistent.
Burlington Transit has been touting a new electronic system that will do everything but place your coffee order hasn’t seen the light of day yet. Maybe there will be an announcement at the Forum this Saturday at the Central Library – where there is a complimentary breakfast for those who arrive early.
Burlington Transit’s Handi-Vans provide an essential service for people with disabilities unable to use the regular bus service. Unfortunately, as BT’s nine Handi-Vans cannot handle the current demand, users must book at least a week in advance. To deal with requests at short notice, such as necessary medical appointments, taxis should be used to supplement the Handi-Van fleet when required.
All the shortcomings of Burlington transit system that came out of the 2015 Forum are the result of a common cause: serious underfunding of transit by the City Council. It seems that the guiding principle when making decisions about transit is to save money, not to provide a good service.
The key message from the Forum last year was:
“People don’t use the system because it’s cheap, they use it because it’s convenient. So, when it’s not convenient to navigate, they won’t use it.”
Links to previous transit news stories:
Details on the April 2nd Forum
Seniors advocate for Free Monday bus service
By Staff
March 30, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Drinking Water Systems Flow Summary Report for 2015 that Regional Council was given earlier this month said that all 11 of Halton’s water systems achieved scores of 100 per cent on inspections conducted by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change in 2015.
 The water from your tap is just as safe as bottled water. “Regular monitoring of our drinking water protects public health and ensures public
confidence in our water supply,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Keeping our
drinking water safe is a shared responsibility and our ReThink Water program
encourages residents to enjoy our high-quality water and be aware of how to protect
our source water resources.”
This summary report on Halton’s municipal drinking water systems is prepared and
provided to Council annually to address regulatory requirements as set out by the
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. Halton operates 11 drinking water systems governed by
four municipal drinking water licenses, all of which achieved scores of 100 per cent on inspections conducted by the Ministry in 2015. Inspectors did not note any
regulatory compliance issues related to water quality over the past year.
Halton’s highly-qualified and licensed employees perform regular testing to make sure the Region’s water supply consistently meets or exceeds provincial
water-quality standards. From time to time, we are aware that residents are approached by sales people claiming that Halton’s water in unsafe to drink and that
they should purchase water filtration equipment.
However, residents should be confident that their drinking water is of the highest quality and no additional
filtration systems are needed in their homes.
By Pepper Parr
March 28, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The difference this year is that the transit people will be at the Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit (BFAST) second annual Transit Users’ Forum, which gets underway this Saturday, April 2, from 9:30AM to 12:00 noon at the Central Library.
Last year they were missing in action.
 Seniors discussing what the transit system does for them – has anything changed since this event last year? Eight community organizations have combined efforts to sponsor the Forum that has announced it will be issuing a report card on Burlington Transit’s performance based on areas identified as priorities by last year’s gathering. Nearly 100 people attended in 2015.
Mayor Rick Goldring and Councilor’s Marianne Meed Ward and Paul Sharman have accepted invitations to attend this year’s event. Burlington Transit will also have a representative.
A free continental breakfast will be provided between 9:30 and 10:00 AM.
“The objective of this forum is to provide an opportunity for Burlington Transit users to describe their riding experience and to provide their views on how the system should be improved,” says Doug Brown, chair of Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit. .”It will be an opportunity for transit users and transit advocates to meet and discuss potential strategies for improving transit and special transit.”
 Mayor Goldring, checking the bus schedule on his Smart phone while Joey Edwardh looks on – not certain the Mayor knows what he is doing. Due to construction on New Street, Burlington Transit is providing special shuttle buses between the Central Library and the Downtown Bus Terminal both before and after the meeting. Consult bfastransit.ca or the Burlington Transit website at burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/Burlington-Transit.asp for more details.
The co-sponsoring organizations are as follows:
Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit (BFAST)
Burlington Age-Friendly Seniors Council (BAFSC)
Burlington Green
Canadian Federation of University Women – Burlington
Community Development Halton
Halton Environmental Network (HEN)
Poverty Free Halton
Voices for Change – Burlington (VFCH)
Why is transit always seen as something for poor people? Those with income limitations don’t own a vehicle and they depend on public transit – but ta the same event last year there were a number of people with good jobs in Toronto who depended on transit to get them to the GO station and they talked candidly and appreciatively about the quality of the transit service and how it had been able to make those small changes at work for them.
 A “selfie” the Mayor published on an occasion when he created a photo op by taking the bus to work. Where was his communications adviser when this was released? Modern buses with schedules that meet the needs of as many people as possible and don’t undergo changes all the time will draw a clientele that becomes loyal. We could stop framing transit as something people with limited means need – and position it as something that meets the transportation needs of a bigger cohort.
And if the politicians can stop using the occasions when they do take a bus as more than a photo op and become regular users – we will have come some distance. You weren’t holding your breath were you?
 By Pepper Parr
March 28, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A number of people write to tell us that both Test Kitchen locations have been closed for a number of months: Clearly we don’t get out as much as we’d like. We apologize for the incorrect information – which doesn’t take away from the fact that it was the place to be. Something was seriously wrong with the business model – but the mood and the food were both great. Let’s give them credit for giving it at go,
The Finance Department advised the Community and Corporate Services Committee of the 2016 Proposed Budget and Tax Levy for the Burlington Downtown Business Improvement Area
The levy for 2016 will amount to $728,000.
Are the retail people within the BDBA boundaries getting value for the money?
 Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association was out drumming up business for those of his members that took part in the Red Bag Sale. The BDBA is mandated to improve the downtown core and make it a place where retail and service operations can prosper; to market the downtown core as a place that people will want to go to for hospitality, entertainment and shopping.
How well did it do that job in 2015? Not all that well.
Those who concern themselves with the downtown part of the city give the word vibrant one heck of a workout.
And there are occasions when the downtown core is vibrant – but the event that brings about the vibrancy, the buzz, and the excitement has precious little to do with BDBA events.
 Good crowds – but they aren’t shoppers. How often is Brant Street shut down for events that harm the retailers? Sound of Music, RibFest, the really neat old car rally that took place, the Amazing Bed Race – those were events put on by other organizations and they all had people strolling along Brant street – did the event pull any business into the retail outlets? Don’t think they did.
There was an interesting promotional event put on by the Yellow Pages people – it looked like they got more benefit out of the event than the merchants who took part.
The most significant failure on the part of the BDBA is the way they dress up (or rather fail to dress up) the store fronts during the Christmas season.
 East side of Brant Street 10 days before Christmas 2013. It has been desperately dismal the past two years. A number of the major retailers on Brant Street don’t spend a dime on making their stores look festive.
Oakville does superb job and Milton is pretty good.
There are some retailers who are not on Brant Street who do a very nice job of decorating their windows; some of the retailers on the side street also make a real effort – but there isn’t a collective push – an occasion when the lights come on and the place looks inviting.
To add to the sorry situation – city hall doesn’t look as good as it could.
Where one does see that sense that Christmas has come is when the light go on in Spencer Smith Park – there are almost too many displays.
Talk with the members of the BDBA and you will hear less than complimentary comments from the association leadership. The negative remarks come from the members of the association that make that extra effort.
Retail is a tough business – for those that set up their shops along Brant Street – it is not easy and they need all the help they can get.
 A restaurant that set up a “popup” patio that increased his capacity and brought something interesting and different to Brant Street. will there be another one this summer? Shopping is an experience, dining out can is an experience. And there are places in Burlington that are delightful experiences. Get into the Test Kitchen on Brant and be prepared for an experience. The prices are close to unbelievably decent and the place is usually packed.
The pure retail operations have to rely on the quality and price point of their inventory but most important – the level of service.
There is a dry cleaner in the small mall on Brant Street that bends over backwards for her clients. The family are immigrants and they work hard. One could bet dollars to donuts that they have never heard of the BDBA and that the organization does very little if anything for them.
The budget that was put forward and approved in principle by council had some stress lines that didn’t get much in the way of attention.
The BDBA had to draw down $10,000 from their reserve in 2015 and will draw down an additional $10,000 in 2016. At some point that well goes dry.
 The association boundaries were expanded in 2015 bringing in a large automotive dealer that knows something about marketing – they might have some impact on a lackluster BDBA marketing program. The boundaries for the BDBA were extended in 2015 – that doesn’t seem to have had any impact – perhaps it needs some time to work itself into the way things get done.
And that may be the problem with the BDBA – the way thigs get done.
Council didn’t ask a single question of the BDBA delegation that was on hand to speak to their 2016 budget. It seems that having to dip into a reserve two years in a row is just the way things are done.
Mix that in with the overuse of the word “vibrant” and you just might have a train wreck in the making.
 Well over one third of the budget is for staff and administration – that $155,000 isn’t explained. Is this a healthy budget going forward. The levy of $728,000, is an increase of $14,610 or 2.0% over 2015. Overall, expenses have increased by $24,610 or 3.3%. Key expenditure increases for the BDBA’s 2016 work plan include enhanced investment in marketing, reinvestment in business recruitment services and sponsorship for the Burlington Comedy Festival. Additional revenues of $10,000 from the BIA Reserve Fund to balance the budget.
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