By Pepper Parr
September 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Anne and Dave Marsden delegated at city council this morning on the outdoor patio program.
Anne spoke, David took notes.
Anne is running for the office of Mayor and she came out, almost swinging for the little guy – the people who runs the restaurants that took a financial beating during the lock-downs.
The hospitality sector has yet to fully recover.
The patios kept many of the restaurants alive
Less traffic and fewer employees – both bad news for the sector.
The public loved them. The restaurateur was happy.
The people who worked long hours, on their feet for lousy pay found or perhaps learned during the lockdowns that there was more to life than carrying food and drinks to people who often, but not always, really didn’t treat them all that well.
Anne, who can be quite bureaucratic is strong on procedure. Date, times and the name of a report matter to her. She started out this morning telling council that Report PL 67 22 tells us that “on November the 23rd 2021, Staff directions were issued by council regarding the future of the city of Burlington outdoor patio program.
“The directions required staff report to council outlining a plan and process for moving forward with a permanent citywide outdoor patio program, amongst other matters. Those directions were issued on November 23 2021, which we expected would see a permanent city wide outdoor patio program in place for June 2022 at the latest.
“Instead on July 29 2022, staff participated in a walking study that has led to this report before council for q2 2023 that will set out draft city wide patio guidelines.
“The outdoor patio business since COVID was we believe the saving grace for our restaurant and pubs. Why does this council not kind of about our business especially those located in downtown which exist in the middle of construction like never before?
“To have a shoe ensure this was all done and in place by June 2022. It seems you make a decision and regardless of the impact on our small businesses or safety of our families, example coyote report, in terms of not moving forward the issue is left to stagnate or peace to do so.
“The laissez faire attitudes towards our businesses and families must stop. These are real people who own the businesses who have faced multiple hardships and must have their needs met in terms of what must be looked after.
“As best as we can as a city council needs to give serious consideration to the preparation of city wide patio guidelines being before council for review, change and approval by March 2023. To ensure another year is not going to go by without a permanent plan for city wide outdoor patios.
Those closer to the lake were usually always busy.
“We are not suggesting the details that must be addressed to ensure the patios are safe and do not in fit interfere with access to the community by those who have mobility issues which has occurred in the past are not getting the attention they need.
“What we are stating however, is we need to hear from council decision making that will see city wide patios available that meet all the safety and access issues by June 2023. We owe it to our businesses and those who wish to utilize them in a safe and pleasant environment to ensure this happens.
After all, the legislated role of this council is to represent the public and to consider their well-being and best interests of the municipality.
With the delegation at an end – the Chair asked if there were any questions ? None, not a word, nada, zip.
Every member of Council has advocated for the welfare and well being of the downtown business community.
Not this time.
Anne Marsden is right – just what is Council doing and why the delays?
Governance Refresher
Who has power. The Voters, if they choose to exercise it.
Who makes decisions. Council?
How stakeholders make their voices heard. Not by delegating.
How account is rendered. During an election.
How are decisions made? Not with walking studies.
Who has a voice in making these decisions? Apparently, not the citizens.
Ultimately, who is accountable? Council
Hate to be picky BUT.. there are some grammatical errors in the article that need correcting if we are to really understand it Solely relying on spell check doesn’t cut it.
Editor’s note: Do we correct any grammatical errors in what a person said?
Bearing in mind as reported by the Gazette each and every councilor has at one time or another advocated on behalf of downtown small businesses and small businesses in genera, what questions does one (maybe the Gazette) think might have been asked of Marsden by council members?
I note, as a Mayoral Candidate Marsden did what non-incumbent candidates generally do. They criticize but offer no solutions or recommendations.
I agree with Anne Marsden that the restaurant sector has suffered greatly as a result of Covid and does deserve any and all help that can be given.
What I see in the area that I live in is congested traffic as lanes of traffic are closed off with the ugliest of orange cones to accommodate some of these patios, in addition to closed lanes for construction. For those condominium owners that live above restaurants they have to deal with the noise, the smell of food and loud music that is now allowed on these patios.
When the City in its wisdom decided that the ground floor of many of the condominiums being built were required to have a restaurant they failed to take into consideration how this would impact the residents living above.
I have heard – “you knew what you were buying and you are living downtown”. Well, no, we didn’t. Until one lives above a patio one does not realize just what they have to deal with. I have long said that the building standards need to be greater for condominiums being built in the core (especially in the Spencer Smith Park area). It is for this very reason that I sold my condominium and moved away from Spencer Smith Park.
In this case the City needs to take the time to do this properly. Much improvement is needed to what is presently in place in the downtown area.
It will be interesting to see how the POPS ( Privately Owned Public Spaces) that have become the darling of the City and Developers are received by the condominium owners that will be responsible not only for their upkeep and liability but also the fact that the public can be on their property 24/7.
Maybe sell your downtown condo because it is going to become even more patio friendly.
Maybe buy adjacent to a golf course so you can complain about errant golf balls, or adjacent to an airport and complain about the noise of the planes.
LOL
Seriously though if you moved from Spencer Smith Park area to core downtown, you already knew that condo living is seriously impacted by other residents and businesses in the building. If you did nit do your due diligence to find out what commercial businesses would be leasing space, that’s on you.
I’m not sure what you agree with here. You think the restaurants need help, just not the ones close to you? You advocate for the patios but are against them in your area?
Anne Marsden “The outdoor patio business since COVID was we believe the saving grace for our restaurant and pubs. Why does this council not kind of about our business especially those located in downtown which exist in the middle of construction like never before?“
Penny Hersh “ What I see in the area that I live in is congested traffic as lanes of traffic are closed off with the ugliest of orange cones to accommodate some of these patios, in addition to closed lanes for construction.”
Which patio in the core is being hampered by a construction zone?
The poacher was earlier in the year for a city run project for the Centennial Trail improvements
The Nautique project on Martha St. Doesn’t affect any patios and the lane closure is a moot point as Lakeshore is 2 lanes up until,Martha and again a few Blocks later just past Brant
Good for you, Anne!