Guide to the Candidates
Recent Updates
October 17, 2004: responses added for Malcolm Parker
October 13, 2004: responses added for Bob Lewis
October 12, 2004: responses added for Lynda Moffat and Richard Plain
October 10, 2004: responses added for Christine Brown and Michael Cooper
October 5, 2004: website added for Randy Duguay
October 4, 2004: responses added for Paul Chalifoux and John Smith
October 1, 2004: responses added for Lorie Garritty and Curtis Krenbrenk
Below is a summary of all candidates seeking office in the 2004 St. Albert Municipal Election. While we strive to be as complete as possible, there are doubtless ommissions on this page. Thus, if you are aware of a website, e-mail address, or phone number for a candidate that's not included on here (I will only publish e-mail addresses or phone numbers that the candidate has deliberately made public) please contact me at sarcasticidealist@gmail.com. Additionally, if you are aware of any errors on this page, please contact me.
Mayoral Candidates
Dave Burkhart
Paul Chalifoux
Lynda Moffat
Richard Plain
John Smith
Councillor Candidates
Frances Badrock
Matt Boiko
Len Bracko
Christine Brown
James Burrows
Michael Cooper
Nolan Crouse
Randy Duguay
Neil Feser
Lorie Garritty
Stanley Haroun
Al Henry
Brian Kendrick
Kerry Kineshanko
Neil Korotash
Curtis Krenbrenk
Bob Lewis
Malcolm Parker
Bob Russell
Ben Van De Walle
Mayoral Candidates
Dave Burkhart
Website: http://www.daveburkhart.ca
E-mail Address: dave@daveburkhart.ca
Phone Number: 459-7794
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is quite simply to represent the people who elect them. As the only full-time council member, I see the primary role of the mayor as being a conduit between citizens and administration at city hall.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Absolutely not. This road alignment is a boondoggle of huge proportions. My prediction should the road go ahead? Citizens will be appalled at the escalating costs and what little they have received for the expenditure. The preliminary design has come in more than 100% over budget. We can expect much more of the same down the road.
If elected the West Regional Road will be my top priority. I realize I am only one voice on council but I will focus all my efforts towards putting construction and contracts on hold, demanding a full and complete accounting as to costs and schedule (for the entire road, not just the first phase) from administration, communicating the resultant information to the people of St. Albert and getting the issue placed on a ballot in a referendum.
Those who will foot the bill deserve nothing less.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I would not amend the bylaw at this time. Because I believe strongly in the right to freedom of choice, this is an issue with which I have struggled. But I think I have managed to rationalize my decision. Why not read how I did that and see if you agree?
http://www.daveburkhart.ca/choice.html
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We must put more effort into providing affordable housing. The biggest problem I see right now is the shortage of affordable land. We need to provide more support to organizations like Habitat for Humanity in their efforts to fill the need for affordable housing.
My position on this is at http://www.daveburkhart.ca/affordable.html
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Increase funding. Implement more-enlightened policies to get people out of their cars and into buses. More busses running more often. Cleaner more-comfortable busses. Free fares during rush hour. Dedicated bus lanes on commuter routes. Provide a leadership role in working towards an integrated regional transit system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I seriously question the need to grow and therefore the need to annex. However, if a specific justifiable requirement exists for St. Albert to aquire more land, we need to sit down with our neighbors, discuss our requirements in a rational convivial manner and come to a mutually agreeable decision on how to proceed. A bellicose attack policy using the courts and senior levels of government to mediate is absolutely the most non-productive way to approach such an issue.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Hmmm. Looks a lot like more urban sprawl to me. No. Although, I'm not sure what we can do about it short of working out our concerns with our neighbors.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
No question. When the people speak, council and administration must act. A clear majority in favour of the leisure centre means we have no option but to proceed. Less than a clear majority means we must not proceeed.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Sorry, I've got to spend more time scratching around for an answer to that one.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I recall the current council as being elected, during a one-issue campaign, on a promise to hold a referendum on the road. They failed to carry out that promise. They betrayed the electorate.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Glad you asked. Yes. I am a firm believer in communication and active democracy. I would like to see more citizens in the gallery during council meetings. In fact, I would like to pack the place. Free coffee and donuts.
I would like to see more frequent reporting to citizens from administration on the major issues that affect the community. Regular mailouts to your door would be a start.
I would like both local newspapers to devote space towards a "mayor's column". If they would, I would write a weekly column to let residents know what's going on down at city hall.
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Paul Chalifoux
Website: http://www.paulchalifoux.com
Phone Number: 418-2574
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council should listen to and understand what residents want, use that input to create a vision, and then create a plan to make that vision happen. When I was Mayor, Council developed a vision and a corporate strategic plan to move St. Albert forward into the long-range future as an autonomous city featuring quality of life for the citizens.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Many people are disappointed the Council did not take the road to a plebiscite. That said, it’s time to move on.
I support the compromise alignment. As we build the road, I’m confident we can take the environmental measures we need to take to protect the Big Lake area. The leachate problem must be fixed.
But we can’t stop there. We must continue to find transportation solutions that will unclog congested streets. Our next steps have to include planning the connection of this road to the regional transportation network, and completing the Anthony Henday Ring Road project by 2011.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I support the smoking bylaw. I know it has been a difficult issue for many people, especially businesses, and I understand their concerns. But now that the bylaw is in place, let’s give it some time to see how it works for our citizens.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We need to find effective affordable housing issues that will help our city’s youth and seniors.
St. Albert should have targeted projects for young families, young adults, seniors with limited or fixed incomes, and single-parent families with limited incomes. Much of the work to identify these needs has been done through City Plan (undertaken by the previous council), and the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee .. We need to start implementing solutions for the identified needs.
I will re-invigorate and support the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to produce “made-in St. Albert” solutions, and put a high priority to reviewing our Land Use By-law as an open and public process.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Transit service has never been a service that has recovered the costs it takes to provide it, but it is an important service for our youth and many seniors, and commuters
I will continue to support the transit service and ensure it meets our needs. My Council introduced Sunday transit service.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The current Council’s hostile annexation bid will move too slowly to meet our needs. The province hasn’t approved a hostile annexation bid in years. We can only expect more delays and more inaction, and our needs are great. The best way to meet St. Albert interests is to use the Inter-municipal Plan to annex lands more quickly.
St. Albert needs to be able to work with our neighbours – we shouldn’t leave it to the province and the courts to solve all our problems. We may not like the solutions.
Let’s get back to the principles and processes we’ve already worked out under the Inter-municipal Development Plan and get the land we need to support development on our north end.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. Under the principles of the IDP, Hunter Ridge should be a City of St. Albert development.
The current Council antagonized Sturgeon County over the IDP and then expected their cooperation in other matters. Now we face a serious issue that negatively impacts the city’s interests. The next council will have to clean up this mess.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I firmly support the development of a recreation centre that serves all members of the community, young and old. I am voting YES, and I am urging all supporters of a recreation centre for St. Albert to vote YES.
With a YES vote, I will ask Council to seek a better option ; on our north end. If I’m elected, I want up to90-days to work with our regional neighbours and bring them and their pledge to contribute 30 per cent of the costs back on the table. With the right leadership, we can do this quickly and without delaying the construction timetable.
If we can’t work out a deal quickly that will not delay construction of the centre as planned by 2006, I support the continuation of the development of the Campbell Business Park site. We deserve a major Centre like Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Fort Saskatchewan.
If the vote is NO, I will take up to 150 days to work with our neighbours to re-establish a northern regional site.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The work they did on the re-construction of the Grandin Club House. They had to face a lot of criticism to get them to consult with the residents, but they did eventually do it, and there were lots of satisfied people with the results.
They continued the work that the previous Council initiated---e.g strengthening the city's reserves. During my term in office as Mayor, we increased our reserves from $13.5 million to over $20 million;now they are over $36 million. As well they continued the business planning process that the previous Council started.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Their antagonistic leadership style has caused several problems.
They ignored the IDP and the Walmart site agreementand started a war with Sturgeon County – delaying development on our north side, scaring away new business growth, and leading to the Hunter Ridge development.
They flip-flopped their way through the smoking bylaw, and antagonized some members of the business community
And they trumpeted a need to raise taxes 63% by 2010, threatening the city’s economic development efforts.
They lost the regional partnership on the recreation centre – bringing forward a proposal that will cost us more and be put in a poor location.
They have failed to keep a line on taxes. Residential property taxes have grown by 20% over the last four years. When Dick Plain was mayor in the 1970s, they were raise by 50% in three years.
They have hampered business growth and new commercial development.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I will make economic development a priority again. While the rest of the province is booming, St. Albert is now lagging behind without much business growth.---during the first 7 months of 2004 the over-all value of our building permits is down 4% compared to the same period last year, and commercial/industrial building permits are down 375% for the same period.
I will make this a priority again, so we can shift the tax burden away from residential homeowners; but it takes a lot of work in a business-friendly atmosphere.
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Lynda Moffat
Website: http://www.lyndamoffat.com
E-mail Address: info@lyndamoffat.com
Phone Number: 458-1655
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to set policy and provide the direction to Administration on how to translate the policy into action. I attended many courses and seminars offered to elected officials over the past three years that taught many of the new governance models that have evolved over the past ten or twelve years in Canada. In my view, this continual updating of elected officials is essential to good governance. Not only do you learn the theory, you also learn so much from other communities in areas of service delivery, intergovernmental relations, planning and budget, communications with the public, and so much more. As Mayor, I will strongly encourage members of City Council to take advantage of every opportunity to improve their knowledge and strengthen their insight into good governance.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Of course, I am a member of the current Council. I absolutely believe the best decisions were made relative to the West Regional Road. The next steps should be to continue to bring this project to completion. We must also work together with the Province to ensure that the funding for the road is a Provincial responsibility as the new Highway 2, and that it does not become a tax burden on the citizens of St.Albert. I strongly believe that this will be the final outcome, and that we will see this road become a reality. It is also important that we, as a City, can move forward to deal with other important issues that face our community, and not be continually rehashing the improvements so badly needed to our transportation infrastructure.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Once again, why would we want to go back to revisit a decision that has already been made? We have an excellent No-Smoking Bylaw that was completed after an extensive process of public input and debate. Our bylaw is overwhelmingly supported by the great majority of St. Albert citizens, and is also in keeping with the Capital Region, the majority of other communities throughout Alberta, and indeed throughout the world. It is the responsibility of City Council to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens, and this smoking bylaw does this well.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We have an excellent consultants' report that was just recently completed and presented to this City Council. I was disappointed and somewhat surprised that four of my colleagues voted to send it back to the committee for review (which it had already done), rather than move it forward for action. I believe that this report sets out some excellent recommendations for moving forward the issue of affordable housing in St. Albert, and that it should be approved by the new Council as soon as possible. We need a diversity of housing urgently to accommodate our young adults, young families, people wishing to downsize, and our seniors on fixed incomes. We are, I believe, a community whose values include being inclusive.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
St. Albert Transit just completed a huge study that included a great deal of analysis and review of our transit system into the future, and resulted in the department's long-term plan which will guide the budget. The next Council should undertake a thorough review of the report, and hold discussions as a group on our City's philosophy of providing transit service to our citizens. I am an advocate for public transit. We have a responsibility to our people to provide a transit service that allows our residents to get to post-secondary educational locations, downtown Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall, and other locations within Edmonton that large numbers of people go to regularly. We also need a service that allows St. Albert residents to take transit to other locations within our city. Since public transit is a significant cost to the taxpayer, we must always be alert to ways of saving money and of increasing ridership. Innovation and new ways of thinking may provide a great boost in these areas.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Under my leadership, we will seek a negotiated agreement with the County of Sturgeon and proceed with the annexation of the lands so badly needed by St. Albert. In no way does this mean that the interests of St. Albert will be abandoned. It does mean that we will meet with the intention of arriving at a win/win solution rather than a winner/loser scenario. It most assuredly is in our best interests to get moving on this annexation so we can get our city progressing again.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. The Intermunicipal Development Plan entered into by both the City of St. Albert and the County of Sturgeon clearly states that the County is not in the business of residential development. It also sets out guidelines that protect St.Albert from ad hoc development such as this in the annexation areas. It would be a disaster for a development such as this to move forward. We would see these residents using St. Albert's services without paying any share of the property tax. When the area would eventually become part of St. Albert, it would likely not be built to the standards that St. Albert has set for its residential developments, yet would have to be integrated into our overall system in some way. It is a far better option to successfully negotiate an annexation agreement with our neighbours, and see the orderly development of these lands as part of the City of St. Albert.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the Multipurpose Leisure Centre plebiscite receives a "Yes" vote, I will see that the project starts immediately. We have already prepared the borrowing bylaw to become effective with an affirmative vote, and we have the guaranteed price of construction which is only good until November 4, 2004. The rezoning of the lands in Campbell Park has also been approved, pending a "Yes" vote. There is nothing to stand in the way of starting the project immediately once the results of the plebiscite are known. If there is a "No" vote on the plebiscite, I would recommend an immediate polling of our citizens to find out why it was turned down. Because I am firm in my resolve to have new recreation and sports facilities to meet the needs of our residents, we must find out why the "No" vote occurred, so we can plan to proceed in a different direction with all possible speed to get the facilities this community needs so badly - and has needed so badly for many years.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
There were several major accomplishments: reaching the point we have in nearing construction of the West Regional Road; having our City Administration working from complete, long-term business plans which now drive the budget process; putting together an excellent proposal for a Multipurpose Leisure Centre for our residents to vote on in the plebiscite; putting our financial house in order (reserves, utilities, activity-based costing, etc); passing an excellent no-smoking bylaw; creating an Environment Committee resulting in a State of the Environment Report and an Environmental Management System pilot project in our transit department; and more. I am proud to have been a part of these excellent results.
I think another significant accomplishment was the development of lots in Campbell North Business Park to respond to our serious lack of serviced business and light-industrial lots. Phase one is getting excellent results, and phase two is scheduled to begin when half the lots in phase one have been sold. The focus of this particular business park, is to attract clean business, especially targeting technology businesses or post-secondary institutions.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
There were several: the inability of our current leadership to successfully negotiate an annexation agreement with the County of Sturgeon; the failure to complete the Land Use Bylaw review which occupied a significant number of months for both our administration and the Municipal Planning Commission but did not move forward to Council for completion; the decision made by four of my colleagues to vote against moving forward on the Affordable Housing Strategies presented to City Council by our consultants who had worked in collaboration with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; our inability to successfully partner with neighbouring municipalities to the North to build the Multipurpose Leisure Centre in the North - which became impossible due to hostilities in our annexation talks. These have been disappointments for me.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
The best way to learn about my commitments if elected is to visit my website at www.lyndamoffat.com, or I can be reached by phone at my campaign office at 458-1655 or my home at 460-0885.
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Richard Plain
Website: http://www.plainformayor.ca
E-mail Address: info@plainformayor.ca
Phone Number: 460-0359
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council's role is to govern the municipality not administer it. The Mayor is the chief elected officer (CEO) while the chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the city Manager. The Mayor has the responsibility for trying to ensure ensure that council does not stray and attempt to manage and administer various City Departments. The City Manager is accountable to the Mayor and Council for the city's administration.
The current Council has given citizens the freedom to address Council on any issue they wish prior to the commencement of each televised bi-monthly Council meeting. This is very different from most councils in Alberta and it is very different from the Council headed by Paul challifoux that tried to muzzle public debate in the council chamber.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes. A new alignment was picked for the West Regional Road that is approximately 1/5 of a mile downstream from Big Lake. All federal and provincial environmental approvals have been received and construction is commencing this fall. Paul Chalifoux has stated that he would withdraw the LRT alignment added to the West Road as well as eliminate the land needed for the intersections that would allow the West Road to function as a Highway #2 by-pass. If this should ever come to pass St. Albert taxpayers would have to pay most of the $42.5M for a 4 lane arterial. If the land is left for the intersections St. Albert has a very good chance of having all of the road funded by the province.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No. This is a major public health issue.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The focus should be on affordable living which would ensure that Franchise fees (special taxes) are not be applied to electricity, water and sewerage. Challifoux attempted to put in such fees in 2001. He was defeated and the new council repealed thefranchise fees which ensured schools, churches, health care facilites and non-profit charitable groups were not forced to pay the special franchise taxes. It also meant that individuals on modest incomes were not taxed for essential services which they simply could not do without. The affordable housing issue should await the report from the affordable housing advisory board and the deliberations on the new land-use by-law. Residents should note we are currently spending over $400,000 worth of taxpayers' funds to subsidize housing for seniors located in the lodges run by the Sturgeon Foundation. This subsidy has been rising rapidly.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Finish the new transit business plan, try to encourage more ridership within St. Albert and try to keep the operating deficit at 50 percent. The feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit should be explored with the city of Edmonton.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
All of the steps needed to resolve the land annexation with Sturgeon county have been taken. A year and a half of negotiations have been carried out, followed by 12 days of mediated proceedings. No agreement could be reached. Sturgeon county wanted 25 percent of the gross taxes (approximately $20M) obtained from the development of land within the commercial corridor along Highway #2. Sturgeon does not own this land and they are not entitled to this money. Never before in the history of St. Albert have we ever had to pay Sturgeon county for land we have annexed. No one else in the region is paying counties for raw farmland. Unfortunately, when Paul Chalifoux was Mayor in 2001 he signed an agreement which will give approximately $2,5M of st . Albert taxes away between 2002 and 2013 for 19 Hectares of raw undeveloped farmland. This set the stage for Sturgeon's unreasonable demands.
Both Lynda Moffat and Chalifoux are talking about re-opening negotiations with Sturgeon. Neither has said how many million they are willing to give up or how they are going to fill the gap when they give our tax dollars away. If St. Albert money goes to Sturgeon then this money is not available to be spent at home. Either we have to raise taxes in order to fill the gap or cut back on our services or do a combination of both.
As matters stand, our application will be heard by the Municipal Government Board. A recommendation will be made to Municipal Affairs and then an order will be issued by Cabinet. This is the normal practice. There is no requirement for St. Albert to agree to pay Sturgeon for a boundary adjustment. It is the provincial government, not Sturgeon, that changes boundaries.
I don't believe you will ever have the provincial government order St. Albert to divert its tax money to its neighbours. Sturgeon will get the normal compensation for some of its lost farm taxes; however, I do not believe it will ever get a cent for sharing in taxes St. Albert raises from the commercial properties that are developed on the raw land brought into the city of St. Albert.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Absolutely not! Sturgeon County has acted illegally by breaking the Intermunicipal Development Plan Agreement with St. Albert by approving an Area Structure Plan (ASP) to develop the equivalent of a small city of 16500 people on St. Albert's borders. This totally unheard of action by a rural County and a land devloper has forced the City to defend itself. Sturgeon County has been taken to Court to have all of its by-laws creating Hunter Ridge quashed. If this occurs the Hunter Ridge ASP will disappear and Sturgeon county would have to work with its neighbours in properly planning and developing the area.
The city has also filed an application with the Municipal Government Board (MGB) which freezes the Hunter Ridge development until a hearing has been held and the major detrimental affects of building a city on another municipality's borders has been examined. If Hunter Ridge was allowed to proceed, thousands of residents would use St. Albert taxpayers' facilities and services without paying their proper share of the municipal costs. In addition, the planning standards would vary markedly from St. Albert's. Sturgeon county would scoop all the taxes resulting from Hunter Ridge developments along Highway #2 development.
It should be noted that the extremely aggressive action launched by Landrex Corporation to force the City of St. Albert to provide public utility services (water, sewerage, etc.) to the Hunter Ridge development was defeated in court on October 8.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
A plan is in place if there is an affirmative vote. At the first business meeting of the new Council on November 1, the go ahead would be given to Pool Construction Limited (PCL) to start construction. It is important to note that St. Albert has a guaranteed price from PCL which only holds until November 4. After that, St. Albert would end up paying a higher price than the one approved by the voters. Given the current cost inflation, it would not be unreasonable to expect that the price would be hiked by a million or more dollars. It is useful to note that Paul Chalifoux's ninety day proposal to look for another site in Sturgeon and re-start negotations with the county would cause us to lose our price and experience this loss. It would also require a re-design since the two ice arenas contained in Campbell would not be available in any other location. People would have voted on a minor hockey and trade fair and small convention centre which would not exist in another location. In addition, any site outside of St. Albert has no services. Campbell is the only fully serviced site (water, sewerage, storm sewers, transit, etc).
If a negative vote occurs, then one has to respect the decision of the electorate and try to find out why the proposal was not supported. It would be up to the next council to decide what if anything further should be done.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The greatest accomplishment was to make decisions and get on with the job. The indecision and failure of the past Council to deal with special interest groups prevented anything significant from occurring. The current council got the West Regional Road project approved and underway; put a multi-purpose leisure centre to the vote on October 18; filed an annexation plan with the provincial government which will secure a 20 year land supply for St. Albert; passed a smoking by-law which improves the health of the people in the city and put St. Albert on a sound business and financial footing. The list goes on and on. Please go to my website.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The present council has accomplished more than any council in recent memory. It would have been nice to have finished the land-use by-law and received the final report of the affordable housing committee; however, the council's mandate expired before these projects were finished.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
There are a large number. Please refer to my website. I am the only candidate that has set out a clear-cut program indicating where the city should be going.
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John Smith
No contact information yet
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to set short and long term goals and policies, to ensure it has sufficient information to undertake a reasoned analysis of the wisdom of any decision it may consider having regard to the best interests of the citizens and municipality, and to be truthful, honest, respectful and listen carefully to the people they represent.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
No. This council was elected on a promise to hold a plebiscite on the question of the road, a promise which proved to be neither truthful, honest, or respectful. Trust was broken for whatever reason. I have no problem with this or any other road, but it is unreasonable to ask the taxpayers or anyone else to fund a project without knowing the true cost. My position is still the same: I need to know the true and final cost, both in dollars and damage to the environment. Without that information, I would need to revisit these parts for the aforementioned analysis.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The council should be using various regulatory initiatives associated with their development approval powers to encourage, enable, or require for-profit developers and builders to provide affordable housing (i.e. exaction programs) as a condition of certain kinds of development to contribute fees to a trust fund dedicated to affordable housing and are used in combination with grants and loans from provincial or federal governments. Inclusionary zoning and density bonusing are only some of the many other ways to make affordable happen now.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Needs review and comparison with other transit systems - value for money. The budget for the present system cannot be sustained.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Everybody back to the table, shake hands, and work together with our neighbors for the mutual benefit of all.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
In St. Albert, yes. Again, let's start over and move on (before the lawyers become too rich) and they to will move on.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
Positive vote: build it.
Negative vote: try again with our neighbors, explore a public/private venture, try a less expensive version, Dow centre version, etc.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Paul Chalifoux and his council made the fatal mistake of not making a reasoned analysis of the Walmart deal. If he had, we would not be in the mess we are in today. The rec center may have been built, Hunter Ridge may also have been on the go, and we would have saved a great deal of time, money, and grief.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
No response received.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
There are so many initiatives I would like to undertake.
First of all, I would be transparent, open, truthful, and I would listen with honest concern.
Fiscal responsibility in ensuring procedures are in place to curb the ever-increasing tax burden which some citizens will not be able to bear.
Some tax relief for seniors on fixed income to help them stay in the city.
Tax relief for young families with children under six to try and have them settle in the city.
A fairer tax system for condo owners.
Seniors ride the transit system in peak periods free by just showing their normal seniors card (no administration needed).
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Councillor Candidates
Frances Badrock
E-mail Address: callchin@compusmart.ab.ca
Phone Number: 418-5730
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council represents the citizens and should be making decisions in the best interests of the citizens, therefore Council must listen to citizens and act appropriately.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The West Road needs to be re-examined because we do not have the land to put it on – it will only go into Mission. Further, the cost of this road is unknown. Will the provincial government fund it as a main highway when it will only be a two lane road that does not carry truck traffic? Do we need a road that goes nowhere?
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
If the citizens of St. Albert ask for this issue to be revisited, then Council must revisit it. At that time, should I be elected to Council, I would be pleased to look at the concerns of citizens.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council has in its possession a commissioned report that clearly provides ideas about housing needs in this city. Before it gathers dust, Council needs to use this report. We clearly need affordable housing!
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Again, there are difficulties with the transit system. They have been expressed by citizens over the last three years. It is time to talk to those who regularly use transit to investigate difficulties and then examine how effectively these issues can be addressed.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council needs to mend the relationship that has been damaged by the actions of Council during the last three years. Then, collaboratively, we can address annexation issues.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
This development is in Sturgeon County – it is their response to affordable housing. The initiative is to be applauded.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the citizens vote for this version of a recreation centre, it should be examined carefully as it is a costly project which will clearly have a great impact on taxes for our citizens. It also means that an Eastern access route needs to be developed. Before building starts, our neighbours to the North and South need to be approached to collaborate with us on access. In the long run, this could alleviate some of the tax problems.
If there is a negative vote, then the previous Highway 2 located project needs to be revisited again with collaboration with our neighbours.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Council did begin to look at putting in place administrative policy guidelines and plans – developmental planning in this city is essential.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Council did not continue to acknowledge that out neighbours to the north need to be partners with us in the planning process – for development of our region, we cannot sustain all of the developments required for the growth of our tax base, unless we inflict massive tax increases on citizens. This is the reason we are now embroiled in lawsuits. Further, Council has been less than honest in explaining how the western road is to be developed – it will not alleviate traffic on the trail, and it cannot go anywhere – maybe for years. Infrastructure has been neglected and will cost us a great deal of money to improve its condition.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Look at ways to lessen the tax burden on seniors and citizens who live in condo type dwellings.
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Matt Boiko
Website: http://www.mattboiko.com
E-mail Address: matt@mattboiko.com
Phone Number: 458-5046
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to determine and set public policy direction for the City of St. Albert. It is the role of administration to ensure that policy is implemented.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
No. Council completely ignored the recommendations of of St. Albert's Municipal Development Plan, an exhaustive 18-month public participation process, overseen by a group of St. Albert volunteers from all walks of life, known as the CityPlan Committee. I just happened to be the chair of that committee and what the public told us is that they wanted an arterial road that proceeded along Riel Drive and crossed the river much further east of the current proposed alignment, thereby not damaging an environmentally sensitive area and keeping costs to a minimum.
However, it appears that administration is bent on moving ahead with the present road alignment. They have received approval from the Department of fisheries and oceans and I believe that it is time to move on. My only proviso would be that if new evidence came forward, due to this Council's unwillingness to share information with the citizen's of St. Albert, which showed extreme environmental damage to the surrounding area or if costs were somehow extremely higher than reported, any reasonable person would have to take this into consideration before proceeding too far along with the construction of the road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Yes. While I support a ban on smoking in all public places, restaurants and places that minors frequent, any place frequented solely by adult patrons should be free to chose a smoking environment if they want. Before our current council got involved, St. Albert had such a smoking bylaw. Businesses have told us they want less government in their lives, not more and I don't believe it's the job of council to be moral police.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council must make a commitment to work with business and provide policy direction to administration to remove some of the city's legislated business barriers to enable us to provide a range of housing in St. Albert for many of our younger adults and seniors who have grown up and lived most of their lives here and are now being forced to either live at home with their parents or move elsewhere because they can't afford to live in St. Albert any longer. The short answer is, some of the current rules governing development in St. Albert have to be changed.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
There needs to be a complete and comprehensive review of our public transit system right from the Manager down.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The hostile annexation bid initiated by St. Albert with respect to Sturgeon County lands should be withdrawn immediately and the new council should sit down at the table with our good neighbours in Sturgeon Council once again and negotiate an agreement to ensure St. Albert's land needs are satisfied well into the future. Paul Chalifoux's council negotiated an excellent Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with Sturgeon County that would have benefited both parties, only to have it quashed by the current council who filed a hostile annexation bid with the Municipal Government Board. The only parties who have benefited from this are the lawyers for both sides (with our tax dollars).
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Yes, but only if it eventually is annexed by the City of St. Albert. It will do two things - broaden St. Albert's tax base as well as ensure that development in Hunter Ridge is consistent with that in St. Albert. (Common look, touch, feel, etc). Besides, I really don't believe that Sturgeon County wants to be in the residential development business.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the vote is affirmative, which I don't think it will be, the recreation centre will be built as outlined because the people will have spoken via a plebiscite. If the vote is negative, I believe the new council should once again open up talks with our neighbours to the north to see if they are interested in becoming full, active partners in such an undertaking. One of the problems with the current proposal is that the taxpayers of St. Albert simply can't afford to build it on our own. Others are that it contains many amenities that are not needed, the site is difficult to get in and out of and there is not ample parking. Remember Akinsdale Arena? Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past by continuing to cram our recreation facilities into our industrial parks. They don't belong there and this also creates a shortage of industrial and commercial land.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
This council has done nothing positive or productive for the City of St. Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Pick one. Incompetence, firing the City Manager after only two weeks on the job, micromanaging the job of administration, mismanagement of every issue they tried to deal with, ruining our relationship with Sturgeon County, ignoring the Municipal Development Plan and Intermunicipal Development Plan, not to mention the Municipal Government Act in many cases, pursuing a hostile annexation bid for Sturgeon County lands, proposing an ill-conceived multi-purpose recreation centre in Campbell Industrial Park, internal and external squabbling with everybody, legal battles, inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, broken election promises (the promised plebiscite on the west road being the major one) and, most importantly, creating the very real threat of St. Albert being annexed by Edmonton through their actions.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Determine and implement solutions to all of St. Albert's transportation challenges, including 170th and 184th streets and the construction of an eastern expressway.
Carry out the duties of the office of Alderman with dignity and integrity.
Establish a long-term vision for where I want to see St. Albert going in the future and act on that vision.
Provide decisive, competent leadership.
Repair our fractured relationship with our municipal partners in Sturgeon County.
Use common sense and logic in dealing with every issue.
Be fiscally responsible. Set priorities and ensure the prudent, common sense expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
Commit to getting back to the negotiating table with our municipal partners to the north and agree upon a multi-purpose recreation complex that contains the right amenities, has a commercial component connected to it, is affordable for the taxpayers of St. Albert, has easy access and egress, ample parking and is located in the proper place - preferably north of St. Albert on the east side of highway 2.
Promote St. Albert as a good place to do business by working with my colleagues and administration in aggressively pursuing our collective goals in economic expansion in order to take some of the tax burden off the backs of the residential taxpayers.
Work to persuade my colleagues to implement some of the major recommendations of the St. Albert Economic Development Advisory Committee (SAEDAC).
Work to update antiquated and/or unenforceable bylaws such as the noise and nuisance bylaws.
Push for the formation of a task force to look at ways of dramatically curbing vandalism in St. Albert.
Look at all ways of improving our quality of life in St. Albert.
Always be accessible, to listen and respond to your needs and concerns with respect and to expect no less from city administration.
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Len Bracko
E-mail Address: len@bracko.ca
Phone Number: 458-6478
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to develop policy and complete long range plans for the City of St. Albert. St. Albert should be planning 40 years ahead. With a 40 year time frame, Council can develop sound business plans so that tax dollars will be used wisely and a high quality of life will be maintained for residents. Secondly, Council needs to work with the Provincial and Federal Governments to eliminate municipal debt and provide sustainable revenue to meet the needs of local government.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The decision on the West Road has been made and it is time to move on.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I do not support revising or amending the smoking bylaw. The smoking bylaw went through vigorous debate with ample opportunity for input. After all input was carefully considered the smoking bylaw was passed. I support the present bylaw.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Affordable housing is a must for St. Albert. The affordable housing study, currently in progress, needs to be completed and recommendations brought forward to City Council. Working with Provincial and Federal Governments, Council must implement affordable housing strategies. A variety of housing such as secondary suites, apartments, condos, duplexes, small homes and larger homes are needed to meet the needs of our residents. To facilitate affordable housing, we must increase the number of smaller lots.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The transit business plan must be completed and brought forward to the next Council for consideration and implementation. Council also needs to work with Edmonton to pursue a rapid transit system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The main area of disagreement between St. Albert and Sturgeon is revenue sharing on the land that St. Albert would like to annex. All members of both new Councils must meet shortly after the election to examine the issues and identify possible win/win solutions so that we can move ahead with annexation.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I would support the development of Hunter Ridge if the land was annexed into St. Albert. The development would have to follow St. Albert's land use bylaw. St. Albert's land use bylaw may need to be amended to increase the number of smaller lots.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I believe the Councils of both St. Albert and Sturgeon should meet shortly after the election to discuss the results of the plebiscite. If the vote is affirmative, both Councils must re-examine our opportunity for working jointly in the construction of a multipurpose leisure center. The guaranteed price of the leisure centre is only valid until November 4th; therefore, the next Council will have to quickly take action. If the vote is negative, a new planning process will have to be initiated to meet residents' needs for recreation facilities in the years to come.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Some of the accomplishments of the current Council include:
a. the development of solid business plans;
b. improved transportation system (eg. expanded capacity on 170th St.); and,
c. progress made in environmental protection including the environment management system and sediment control program to protect the Sturgeon River.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I would like to see the new Council work more effectively and cooperatively with Sturgeon County.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would continue to work toward eliminating St. Albert's infrastructure debt by 2015 and continue working with the Provincial and Federal Governments to achieve sustainable funding for municipalities.
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Christine Brown
Website: http://www.christinebrown.ca
E-mail Address: csmithbrown@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 717-2706
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to represent citizens of St. Albert in setting policy and, with the expertise of City Administration, determine the future direction of the City of St. Albert. City Administration can then implement those policies that are developed by Council.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe that Council did make the correct decision. The West Road has been an ongoing issue since the 1970s. Given the growth of St. Albert, the road is necessary to alleviate traffic congestion in residential areas in St. Albert, to relieve some of the traffic on St. Albert Trail, and to provide a regional transportation link between Anthony Henday Drive which is Edmonton's outer ring road, and the north. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment was completed in September 2003 to meet the environmental examination requirements of both the provincial and the federal governments' environment departments. Results of that assessment indicated that the West Road met or exceeded all of the required standards.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No, the smoking bylaw should not be amended. An economic impact study was prepared for the BC Government which examined the impacts of smoking restrictions on commercial facilities in British Columbia. Results of the study (and of other similar studies done in other jurisdictions) concluded that there was a very short term (1 - 2 months) negative impact where sales declined, but that there were no longer term negative impacts. In fact, in some areas, business actually increased due to increased numbers of non-smokers. (The Economic Impacts of the Proposed Amendment to the ETS Regulation, prepared for the Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia, February 2001).
The benefits to business of having a non-smoking establishment were also presented in this study. They included reductions in costs due to reduced employee absenteeism, and reductions in operating costs associated with cleaning, repair of burned materials, and lower fire insurance.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The draft consultant's report on Affordable Housing Strategies was completed and presented to Council in May of this year. The Report, which examined housing in St. Albert, made a number of recommendations and strategies that could be implemented in order to provide more affordable housing. Some of the recommendations included cooperative housing, higher density housing, and partnerships with other levels of government. Council needs to implement some of the strategies from the report.
I believe St. Albert has done a fairly good job in planning housing developments that contain single family dwellings, higher density (including apartments, condos and row housing), and parks in single neighbourhoods. I do not think putting high density housing in one location, for example, represents good planning.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I believe very strongly in public transit, and would like to make sure that the current system we have is performing efficiently. I would like to examine the capacity of the transit system, and how much capacity is actually being used. In other words, what is the current ridership or use of the system? I would also like to look at offering reduced fare busing for seniors during off-peak hours.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council currently has an application to the Municipal Development Board to annex land from Sturgeon County. Depending on the results of that application, Council needs to proceed with orderly development of that land.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I do not support high density housing in one single location. It would appear that the Hunter Ridge development has much higher density that St. Albert currently recommends - I believe this does not represent good planning. In addition, Hunter Ridge is located in Sturgeon County, which would not be providing the services for Hunter Ridge. If St. Albert is to provide the services (water, sewer, etc.) I believe we should have a greater say in its development.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
In the event of a YES vote on the Multi-Purpose Leisure Centre, Council should immediately begin construction of the Centre. The guaranteed cost is only in effect until November 4. We want to make sure that the cost does not escalate further because of further delays in construction.
In the event of a NO vote, I believe Council first needs to know why. Was it because of the location, the tax impact, or do residents believe we don't need it? Once that is determined, I believe Council has an obligation to quickly address that issue, keeping in mind that the cost for the leisure centre is only guaranteed until November 4.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Council undertook a number of budgetary reforms that will prove to be beneficial to future budget preparations.
Many of those elected to the current Council were elected based on their support of a West Bypass Road. They followed through on their promise to have construction on the West Bypass started.
Finally, after many years and a number of different Councils, a plebiscite for the construction of a leisure centre for the City of St. Albert has been put to the people of St. Albert, so that they can make the final decision on its construction.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Although I believe there are two sides to every story, I believe that Council needs to work collaboratively with Sturgeon County in future annexation bids, and future developments.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would like to aggressively pursue business development to see if we can reduce the tax burden on residents of St. Albert. Building the West Road will likely increase development of Riel Park. The MPCL will encourage business development, particularly commercial, in Campbell Park. We need to try to reduce the 88/12 ratio of residential/business taxes.
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James Burrows
Website: http://www.jamesburrows.ca
E-mail Address: burrowsj@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 458-4958
Bio:
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Michael Cooper
E-mail Address: michaelcooper@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 721-7163
Bio:
Michael Cooper declined to answer my questions, claiming "I can sufficiently reach all 20,000 households in St. Albert on my own."
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Nolan Crouse
Website: http://www.nolancrouse.com
E-mail Address: electme@nolancrouse.com
Phone Number: 459-6899
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To set and change policy. The laws of Canada make clear that this is the case.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe the correct decision was made, though the public expected a plebiscite. It should not be revisited. Council should now clear up the financing and get the province to commit to the schedule for the Anthony Henday portion of the road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Not at all. It should be left as is.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
I would like to see a subdivision of starter homes - smaller lots and smaller homes for young people to buy their first one. I would also like to see more senior citizen complexes.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
It should re-examine the cost and the service, as it appears to be more money than what taxpayers can afford.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
It should sit with the county quickly and iron out the full plan in a win-win situation. The tax issue is so important that it needs to dominate a lot of discussions.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Not in its current state because I do not see a plan to service the development - who provides services, how it fits into a long-term plan. . . these are all unanswered questions.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If more than fifty-five percent of voters support it, it should be built. If fewer than forty-five percent of voters support it, it shouldn't be built. If the figure is somewhere in between, there needs to be more debate.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Creating awareness of annexation challenges.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Its public image was not well-managed.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Crime has been one of the top five items discussed in my door-knocking.
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Randy Duguay
http://www3.telus.net/randy-duguay
E-mail Address: randy.duguay@telus.net
Phone Number: 460-8095
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Councillors work to consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole. The role of the councillor then is to bring to attention and address issues that impact the municipality; to participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality; to participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the council; and, to provide guidance and direction to City Admin and operations in regard to general planning and strategic direction for the community.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I have been involved in some capacity with the matters surrounding the West Boundary Road since 1996 when I was a member of the West Boundary Road Study Advisory group, and then later with the Spirit of St. Albert group which provided general information on the development prior to the 2001 Election campaign. I have no hesitation in stating that, based on all the materials and public consultation that has been conducted on this existing alignment, that it is clearly the best solution to the City, and far superior to the previously proposed Ray Gibbon Drive, which would have had significant negative near and long-term impacts on the Riel Business Park, and on the Riel Recreational area. The previously outlined Ray Gibbon Drive proposal had in my opinion equivalent environmental issues as compared to the current alignment, and it had other negative implications in the City's overall transportation plans. Therefore, Council's next steps are to move forward with the construction of the West Boundary Road development as currently tabled, and to take key measures in protecting and mitigating environmental impacts, and additionally moving forward on addressing the Red Willow Park Master Plan as the City moves forward.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I have been clear in my support of the existing Smoking Bylaw as a health issue. The bylaw should remain as is.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Without the proper supply and diversity of homes in St. Albert, we are at risk of not having a healthy churn in homes that is important for addressing people's changing needs. I believe that home values are better maintained, and that St. Albert will appeal and sustain that healthy diversity for all ages in our community, by paying attention to these key points. Affordability, to me, is more about truly understanding the values in our community that serves the interests of attracting the young, supporting those who are older and on fixed incomes, and making our community a place where healthy lifestyle and diversity can be supported. Therefore, I would propose that we work to establish zones where we are providing for some more affordable homes, or condominium developments. That isn't to say that we want poorly constructed homes, or small homes on an equally small base of plot to work with - but rather homes that can grow as we grow or that more suitably address our changing needs as we go through life changes. And, we need to look more closely at our tax mill rate for different types of homes and challenge whether we can in fact reasonably adjust some rates downwards to reflect reasonableness relative to the service costs for these different types of residences.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I would support a review of all Edmonton bound or return peak-hour bus trips, to ensure that we are properly addressing capacity requirements as a key transportation issue. I would further recommend undertaking a review of current St. Albert based ridership and the overall capacity and demand for transit within the City, and beyond the City. Based on the current growth patterns for the City and the continued pressures that our city is facing with respect to commuting to Edmonton, we need to clarify whether we need to take additional steps to increase ridership and routes to Edmonton as one possible solution, and additionally plan for a longer term potential for special bus lanes, and additional routes in peak hour.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
St. Albert is continuing to grow, and we are very near exhaustion of our commercial/industrial lands, and need to look to having a 20 year supply of land to provide for proper long-term planning and development within St. Albert. By providing for at least a 20 year supply of land for potential development of the City, we can better address the issues of improving our residential / non-residential tax-split to help reach objectives of a 80/20% split. Additionally, we will be better able to provide for longer-term management of residential and commercial developments that are being planned for the region; rather than having developers creating non-contiguous developments outside the confines of the City of St. Albert, and causing possible negative service cost implications to the City. We need to be able to better manage the development of our community in a holistic context. Therefore, I support the annexation of lands outside St. Albert to address needs for proper long-term planning, rather than an incremental approach that does not best serve St. Albert's or the regional interests.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
At this point I do not have significant amount of details relative to the Hunter Ridge development specifically. However, I would take a similar stance to this proposed development as per the outline in my response to the question on affordable housing. I think that we all need to have a very clear understanding of the near and long-term implications to the City of St. Albert, what service costs would be needed to serve the area, whether St. Albert would be expected to account for these needs, how the development fits into the overall regional context and good land use and planning guidelines, and whether the initative was reasonably achievable and sustainable.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
An affirmative vote is what I am supporting for my campaign. The primary reason that I am supporting an affirmative vote is that construction costs are forecast to rise by up to 10% or more if we do not take steps on the MPLC. The MPLC is something that would benefit the people of St. Albert greatly, and keep people closer to home, and in support of local facilities. In the event of an affirmative vote, then St. Albert can move forward in detailing a sustainability plan, beginning efforts to exercise on the construction, and to secure the development before costs escalate any further.
In the event of a negative vote we would need to work with the primary recreational and sports stakeholders in the community, and additionally with the public at large, in seeking new input on whether a different type of facility is needed, and how we can address the existing pressures on our existing facilities. Another consideration is that separated independent developments that address different community organizations would ultimately cost more, so ultimately an integrated facility that reduces overall operations costs should be a key consideration.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
I have a very good understanding of the issues that this current Council faced in working through to the ultimate approval of the planned West Boundary Road. Many hurdles and roadblocks were faced by this Council through the concerted efforts of a very small group of people. Those hurdles have cost taxpayers a tremendous amount of money, and wasted energy - and so, there is no question in my view that the existing Council ultimately was successful in securing the West Boundary Road development and passing the various environmental reviews that were necessary to move forward. As a second key point, I believe that this Council also needs to be recognized for putting solid financial planning systems and processes in place and taking a stand to replenish fiscal reserves that were getting depleted by previous Councils.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
This Council worked hard in my view to try and resolve some core issues with respect to working with our neighbors in Sturgeon County, but I think must be dissappointed in the current state. Working out matters with Sturgeon County and matters of annexation will be a challenge too for the next Council.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Firstly, I think that it will be very important to continue on the path of proper fiscal management and budget process that the past Council and administration has established in better managing City affairs. Secondly, I think that we need to provide further attention at the state of our Heritage assets and cultural facilities, and continue to find ways at making them even better than they are today. Thirdly, we do need to understand the implications of the Federal government program to share fuel taxes with municipalities and make sure that St. Albert receives benefits from that. And finally, I think that we need to explore further what types of operational or shared services initiatives that we could undertake with our neighbors or the AUMA in taking advantage of special programs, or finding new efficiencies.
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Neil Feser
E-mail Address: nfeser@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 419-7433
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to set policy based on the desires of the community so that administration can act upon it.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe that the current council acted on the wishes of the majority of the community and it is time to move forward and finish the West Regional Road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
While this has been a controversial and divisive issue in our community, I feel that the current council made its decision based on the facts which were available to them. These facts were presented from both sides, with the health and wellness of our citizens in mind. Based on this, I do not see any reason to reopen the debate . We need to look forward in our planning and move onward.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
It is my understanding that there is a study already underway into this issue. I would like to see the next council take the information contained in this study and act on it accordingly.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The transit system seems to have pros and cons, one of which is the fact that the downtown and University routes at peak hours are over-capacity while the residential routes are slow except at peak hours. I think this is an area that we could easily get more input from the public as to what they want to see happen and then act on it as soon as possible.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
We need to finalize the annexation negotiations so that we can move forward and plan, both in our residential and commercial developments.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No, I am not in favour of the Hunter Ridge development. I think we need to finalize the annexation first, and then look at developing this area when this has been completed.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I think that in the case of an affirmative vote the next council needs to act immediately to begin construction so as to get this project moving. In the case of a negative vote, I think the next council needs to get back to the drawing board as soon as possible to find a solution to this issue that is acceptable to the community.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
I think the greatest accomplishment of the current council was their ability to get as much done as they have, in spite of the fact that they face constant scrutiny from interest groups.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I think that the current council has had some problems during its conflict with Sturgeon County that may have been avoided, but I do not feel that these problems were exclusively the failing of St. Albert's council.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would like to see more opportunities for our community's youth and I would encourage more initiatives in this area.
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Lorie Garritty
Website: http://www.loriegarritty.com
E-mail Address: lgarritty@telus.net
Phone Number: 458-1348
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Serving on St. Albert’s City Council is an honour. It’s an opportunity to listen to people’s views, examine all the options, and make the best possible decisions for St. Albert’s future. City Council’s role is to lead, not to manage the details. You hire a City Manager and capable staff to take direction from City Council and manage effectively. And you hold them accountable for the results they achieve. Sound fiscal management is critical. People are willing to pay taxes for city services, but tax increases have to be reasonable and fully justified. It’s up to Council members to provide budget leadership. They should be held accountable for how they manage taxpayers’ dollars. Finally, City Council is responsible for setting the vision – for listening to people and saying “this is the kind of community we want for the future”, then getting to work and getting things done.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Let’s get on with it. We’ve discussed and debated the west road issue for decades. A decision has been made. Let’s move on and get the road built. That doesn’t mean all our transportation problems are solved. We need to take the next steps to link the road to the Anthony Henday and the highway to Villeneuve. And we need to take a longer term look at transportation needs in the city, including the option of rapid transit connections to Edmonton.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I support the smoking bylaw and would not support re-opening the debate. This is a serious health issue. We need to make good health a priority in our community. The smoking bylaw was established through a democratic process and a decision was made. We can’t revisit and second-guess every difficult decision our Council makes. If big cities across Canada and around the world can go smoke-free for the health of their citizens, so can we.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
It makes no sense that young people who have grown up in St. Albert have to leave because they can’t afford to buy a home here. And seniors who have lived here all their lives shouldn’t have to leave because housing costs too much. St. Albert is a family community, yet for many families, living in our community is simply not an option. I wish that City Council had agreed to release the consultants’ report on affordable housing before the election instead of keeping it under wraps until the election is over. There is an affordable housing committee, but their views also have not been made public. We need open, public discussions about a variety of options for affordable housing. St. Albert needs a mix of housing options – and with good planning, I believe that’s possible without compromising the quality of our neighbourhoods.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
We need to take a longer term look at all our transportation issues. Do the solutions lie just in building more roads so we can send more cars into Edmonton every day? I don’t think so. I support exploring options for more public transit, including links to Edmonton’s LRT system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I don’t pretend to understand all the details behind the agreement reached between the previous City Council and Sturgeon County. I’ve heard good things and bad; it depends on who you ask. The reality is that, if St. Albert is going to grow, the only place it can grow is to the north. The current approach seems to be to ignore the terms of the agreement, launch an annexation bid, fight the battle in court, then ask the provincial government to step in and make a decision for us. As a strategy, that doesn’t seem to be working very well. I’d rather see us sit down with Sturgeon County and come up with a reasonable plan that serves both our communities. That has to be better than spending thousands of dollars on legal fees and, in the end, having no direct say on what happens. There has to be a better way of resolving these issues.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
From what I’ve read and heard, the Hunter Ridge development is huge, and there’s little question that it would have an impact on St. Albert. I’m not sure I know enough about the pros and cons of the development to give a well-informed answer. There certainly are a lot of strong views on both sides. I’d like to get the facts from an unbiased source – and I don’t think I have that now. I do believe that, if we could get back to the negotiating table with Sturgeon County, we could find better solutions than fighting in court over developments like Hunter Ridge.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the vote is yes, then the answer is clear. Let’s get on with it. The reason for having a plebiscite is to seek the views of the electorate. City Council has an obligation to listen and to act. If the vote is no, we’re back to the drawing board. Unfortunately, we won’t necessarily know why people voted no. Some people I’ve talked to say it’s in the wrong location. Some say the costs are too high. Others say they’re not going to use it so they don’t want to pay higher taxes. If the majority of people say no, my vote would be to reopen discussions with our neighbours to see if we can get a deal on another location at a better price.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The smoking bylaw is the first thing that comes to mind. It was and continues to be a very contentious issue. But it’s a health issue first and foremost. The decision was made, it was made through a democratic process, and it was the right one for our city. The reason I decided to run for City Council is because I want to see things get done. The smoking bylaw is one example where City Council actually made a decision and stuck to it.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Two come immediately to mind. The first was losing the St. Albert Saints. Do I blame them for the Saints leaving town? Yes, I do. Of course it was a business decision by the owners of the team, but if we had taken action sooner on a recreation complex, if the Council had worked more positively with the Saints, I believe they would have stayed. And it bothers me that the rest of us were all left in the dark until it was too late. The second is the deterioration of relationships with our neighbours. Rarely a week went by without more name calling, acrimonious debates, and posturing on both sides. I understand standing up for our City. But we can disagree without being disagreeable.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
It’s not what I’d call an “initiative” but one of the biggest challenges City Council will face is paying the bills – specifically, providing the services people want, meeting their expectations, and doing that at a price people are willing to pay. Right now, we have some big cost items on the horizon. The multi-purpose leisure centre. The west bypass and future transportation extensions. Increasing costs of utilities. Not to mention paying the bills for maintaining current services, parks, and facilities. Added to that problem is the fact that close to 90% of St. Albert’s tax burden falls on residential taxpayers. In spite of years of promises from consecutive City Councils, in fact, the balance of residential to non-residential property tax has gotten worse, not better. My approach will be to take a proactive approach to attract business to St. Albert including securing the land for new commercial developments, making sure we get the best value out of every dollar City Council spends, and keeping tax increases to an affordable level.
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Stanley Haroun
E-mail Address: sharoun@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 459-1095
Bio:
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Al Henry
E-mail Address: alanhenry@interbaun.com
Phone Number: 717-0305
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The Council is to set the Direction of St Albert.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I have entered this election with only one mandate and that is to force a Plebicite on the West Road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
They should adopt the same exception formula as Edmonton. There are more pressing issues than revisiting this one.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Work with Sturgeon and Hunter Ridge to provide Affordable Housing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Suggestion: Use the ill gotten gains from the Red Light Cameras and the Vans to support Public Transit. With the cost of gas going through the roof we're going to need it.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
If Paul Chalifoux is not elected Mayor, hire him as a consultant to help with this mess.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Absolutely. It will provide the affordable housing St Albert needs.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?There will be a positive vote. Recreation Centres are Revenue Neutral that is they don't need to be subsidized. Our current facilities are subsidized to the tune of 60%. It will bring tourist dollars with tournaments and trade shows. It will bring business' to support the facility ie additionnal hotels and Sports Physicians. If it doesn't go, St Albert becomes less desirable for young families who are will to pay extra for the facilities and like the Saints they will go elsewhere. What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?Support of NABI Northern Alberta Business Incubator in Campbell Industrial Park. This is a major step in Economic Development in St Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The West Road without the support of the Province or the County and the underhanded Borrowing Bylaw.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Work with the Recreation Centre to raise funds from the Public and Privite Sector to reduce the initial cost.
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Brian Kendrick
No contact information yet
Bio:
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Kerry Kineshanko
Website: http://www.votekineshanko.8k.com
E-mail Address shank@telusplanet.net
Phone Number 993-7013
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To act in a way that reflects the mindset of a majority of St. Albertans.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes, the west road makes sense. No, the issue should not be revisited. Council's next step should be to secure as much funding as soon as possible for the road to be built on time.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No, the smoking bylaw should NOT be amended in any way. Those in favour of amending the bylaw are against democracy and the health of St. Albertans and in favour of special interest groups.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Rezone land to secure lot sizes that enable 1200 square foot or less single detached homes to be built on them instead of 2500 square foot. homes. My family and I bought our first house in Calgary in 1998 in a new neighbourhood and we loved it and it was affordable.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Ensure that all buses are as small as possible. We do not need large buses on nearly any of St. Albert routes. I would freeze bus pass costs for seniors at today's rates.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The first approach should be working in cooperation. Eventually Greater Edmonton and Region will become one Mega-Zone much like Greater Vancouver Regional District. St. Albert Council needs a long range plan with various scenarios (Shared Transit, Complementary Bylaws etc) played out.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Yes. The benefits to St. Albert will outweigh the negatives.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I have reviewed the materials for the Rec Centre and while the current location isn't the best and it would have been nice if the last council hadn't blown it with our neighbours I believe we need to get the Rec Centre started. I support a yes vote although I would argue for higher fees for non-residents of St. Albert to use the facility. Since St. Albertans would be paying for the whole cost of the facility we should pay less for Facility Passes than non-residents. Fair is Fair.
In the event of a no vote, Council should get into talks with surrounding towns immediately and actually cooperate with them to get the Rec Centre built in a location that St. Albertans want as well as our neighbours.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Finally implementing a smoking bylaw.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Taking the entire term just to come up with a location - and not even a popular location - for the Rec Centre.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Change the mill rate for Condominiums in St. Albert to match Sherwood Park's and Spruce Grove's. Condo owners (many of whom are seniors) are paying way above their fair share for services in St. Albert.
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Neil Korotash
E-mail Address: neil_k@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 418-2971
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to make policy decisions for the city of St. Albert and to assist residents with any issue or concern that may arise. Policy decisions include setting the budget / tax rate, determining the level of municipal services, and how such services will be paid for. As policy makers, city council is not supposed to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the city which can be frustrating. Residents often call expecting members of city council to "fix their sidewalk" or "issue somebody a ticket" but that's not quite how it works. As members of council, it is our responsibility to direct these residents to the right department within the city and possibly even get them some answers if they have been unable to get them themselves. Also, if council gets many calls with regards to one particular area of the city's operations, it may be time to look at a new policy for that particular aspect of the corporation. This I believe is a somewhat simplistic, though accurate, view of the role of council.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I would have preferred that we had a plebiscite on the West Regional Road because it was such a controversial and divisive issue in the community. We also had two very clear alignments to choose from. That being said, those of us in favour of a plebiscite were defeated 4-3 in a vote early in our term and after that vote, I believe we made the right decision by moving forward. I have always supported the current alignment as I believe it is able to accommodate both regional traffic as well as local traffic. I also believe that there is little environmental impact and this has been confirmed through our extensive independent review process. The issue of the West Regional Road should not be revisited and council should get on as quickly as possible to get the entire length of the road done from the Anthony Henday through to Villeneuve Rd.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
As indicated in my response in the paper, I do not support re-visiting the smoking bylaw unless we are given a mandate to do so through this election. Even then I would only support amending the part of the bylaw that comes into effect July 1st 2005 which affects Bars, Bingos, Casinos, and Private clubs. The following is my position statement that I forwarded to "Smoke Free St. Albert": I fully support a smoking bylaw that prohibits smoking anywhere where minors are permitted. I also support a smoking bylaw that prohibits smoking anywhere the public must go without a reasonable non-smoking alternative. This would include for example bus stops, public buildings, common areas in residential and commercial buildings etc. I do not support a bylaw which prohibits smoking in establishments such as bingos, casinos, lounges, private clubs, or any other facility which is only accessible to those of legal age. I believe that adults are responsible enough to make decisions for themselves including whether or not they want to frequent or work for a smoking establishment. That being said, St. Albert City Council has already adopted a smoking bylaw. One skill that is required if we are to have a functional and competent council is the ability to move on and support a council decision once it is made no matter how much you may dislike it. While I can not support this bylaw, it is not a high priority of mine in the upcoming election to have it repealed. My
priorities include making progress on issues such as affordable living, environmental protection, community safety, and the multipurpose leisure facility. If a majority of council is elected that share my view with respect to smoking then it would be worthwhile to re-visit the issue. However if that does not occur it would only be detrimental to the city to continue to pursue amendments to the current bylaw.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council should work with the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to implement some of the strategies in the recently completed Affordable Housing Study. Some specific strategies that could be implemented almost immediately include amending the Land Use Bylaw to allow for smaller lots and increased densities within the city. Such modest changes would allow for an increased variety in housing types at less cost. When we look at affordable housing however, we must also look at affordable living. The affordability of St. Albert goes beyond the cost of accommodation, but also includes taxes, user fees, and utilities. We need to control taxes through continued efforts with economic development, but also sound financial planning. We need to keep user fees for recreation and transit services low and keep our utilities free of franchise fees and additional taxes.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I believe transit is an extremely important service provided by the city. It not only offers a benefit to the user, but also a benefit to the community at large as it reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. Studies show that transit also leads to increased economic development, worker mobility, and higher property values. That being said, our current projections for transit are not sustainable and we need to start to look at how the service operates. We have already made the move towards smaller more cost effective buses and perhaps it is time to look at alternative fuel sources as the price of diesel has been one of the most significant increases in transit over the past few years. We are also getting to the point where contracting out drivers isn't as cost effective as it used to be so I believe it may be time to re-evaluate whether or not we should have our own city drivers. Nevertheless, there will be changes required in transit to make it more sustainable but I don't think the answers are to drastically increase fares or to decrease significantly the level of service that we provide.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council must be able to have civil and respectful conversations with our neighbors but must also protect the interest of St. Albert taxpayers. The key to the annexation and the principal cause of the breakdown in negotiations is due to the cost / revenue sharing arrangement. Sturgeon County has asked for 50% of the commercial taxes along the highway corridor in exchange for annexation for a period of ten years from the start of any new development. We have calculated that this could be in excess of 80 million dollars and we simply can not afford that type of expense especially when it is unprecedented in the province. We require that commercial revenue to offset the residential land we would also be annexing, but Sturgeon council is unwilling to consider a cost / revenue sharing arrangement on both the residential and commercial land because they know there is no "net" profit. We need to continue to pursue a settlement similar to what has happened in every other annexation in this province and if it means going to the Municipal Government Board so be it. It may cost us a lot of money to go through mediation and arbitration, but is far far cheaper than what Sturgeon County has been asking for in terms of revenue sharing.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I absolutely do not support the hunter ridge development. They are proposing a city of 16,000 people at double the densities of St. Albert right on our border. Not only would it significantly increase the taxes of Sturgeon County residents, but it would also be very expensive for St. Albert residents. Currently, the developer is attempting to force St. Albert to provide our municipal services outside of our boundaries to service that development. This would mean huge costs to the city of St. Albert and thus St. Albert taxpayers. It also would significantly hamper the growth of our city.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
With an affirmative vote on the plebiscite council should move as quickly as possible to get the facility done. In fact the first reading of the borrowing bylaws have already been done so that if we get a yes vote, the contractor can begin construction November 4th. This is critical for construction company as they have submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price which they are responsible for. If they start construction any later, the prices may rise and then they are on the hook. With a yes vote, we anticipate the centre will be complete by the end of 2005. With a no vote, council must endeavor to find out why people voted no. Was it the location? The cost? The facilities? Once we know the reasons, we'll be able to make a decision on where to go. For example, if it was primarily the location, maybe we build the same facility but in another location a couple of years down the road when we have more room. If it is facilities, maybe we need to make some adjustments to the components of the facility. If it is cost, I have no idea what we will do as we need recreation facilities and there is no way of building them cheaper than this type of facility. This is the most cost effective way of delivering recreation services and building individual stand alone facilities is far far more expensive.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The first accomplishment that comes to mind is the West Regional Road however council really didn't have to do anything with respect to that priority. We gave direction a couple of weeks after the election to make it happen and it did - unfortunately it was tied up for a year and a half in the environmental approval process. Probably our biggest accomplishment that required the most work on the part of council members was the significant financial reforms we put in place. We re-wrote all of our reserve policies, our debt management policy, put in place a new self-sustaining utility model. We have become a leader in municipal finance and the envy of many other communities and this will pay significant dividends to the city in the future. We have really set this city up for success financially in the long
run.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Finally a question I feel I can use bullet form on!
- Not completing the Land Use Bylaw
- Not addressing the Traffic Bylaw (a concern for many residents)
- Failure to create a Tree Bylaw / Natural Areas Bylaw
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
You've pretty much covered most of the major issues except perhaps environmental issues and issues pertaining to our green spaces in St. Albert. We have had significant success with some of our environmental initiatives over the past few years - in fact the list is to numerous to list here. For example we have created and implemented a sediment control program to reduce the sediment going into the river, we have launched a comprehensive energy audit and retrofit program of all our city buildings, incorporated an Environmental Management System into our Transit Department, and the list goes on. We have also increased the budget for parks maintenance and tree maintenance quite substantially. That being said, there are still some environmental initiatives I would like to accomplish. We need a tree bylaw or a natural areas bylaw to prevent significant natural areas from being demolished particularly in newly developed areas. We also need to expand the scope of the environmental management system so it is front of mind for all city employees when making decisions.
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Curtis Krenbrenk
No contact information yet
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council’s role is to facilitate the social and economic infrastructure of the city to that all citizens’ lives are maintained and enhanced in the future.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Council should replace the West Regional Road with the Ray Gibbon Drive alignment, because it is cheaper and because it runs along Riel Park and will protect the parklands area at the mouth of Big Lake for the future.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
The smoking bylaw needs to protect smokers’ right to smoke as much as non-smokers’ right to a smoke free environment. The compromise is separate rooms with ventilation and air quality standards.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council needs to facilitate the creation of high density housing, affordable homes for new families, and more rental apartments. Without all three approaches, Council will not solve our affordable housing problem.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Council needs to communicate with citizens. By finding out what transit users needs are, Council can remodel routes to be more effective for the community.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The Intermunicipal Development Plan sets out St. Albert’s annexation needs over the next 60 years. It is a step by step approach that should be followed, rather than a sweeping approach that would creat continued friction with Sturgeon County.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No, Hunter Ridge is an encroachment on the City of St. Albert and must be stopped. If St. Albert had not taken up an adversarial position against Sturgeon County, we would not have this problem with the Hunter Ridge subdivision today. The new Council must regain a working partner relationship with Sturgeon County.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
It would be my duty if elected to oversee the building of the Recreation Centre if the public votes yes. A no vote would mean looking at alternatives such as smaller separate facilities for the 1700 seat ice arena and the Twin Soccer Fields.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The current Council’s greatest accomplishment is its involvement with the Northern Alberta Business Incubator which will help attract industry to St. Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Council’s greatest failing is its continued reliance on two income professionals as the only type of people St. Albert develops infrastructure and new homes for. This focus has meant that twenty-somethings have nowhere in St. Albert to live, seniors on fixed incomes are likely to be forced out, and taxes are out of control with no end in sight.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would implement a property tax freeze for seniors on fixed incomes, as the cost of the upcoming tax hikes will likely force many from the community.
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Bob Lewis
E-mail Address: boblewis17@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 458-7765
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To provide for the needs of the city in the best possible way within the framework of the budget.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes. If council members that support the west road are elected, then the issue should not be revisited. If part 2 is the case, proceed as soon as the outstanding hurdles can be solved.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
They should include a density quota in each new subdivision. A %age of the land in the subdivision must be allotted to higher density, therefore, affordable housing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The bus schedule and routes for transit needs to be overhauled. It has been "tweeked" to function for much too long. The next Council needs to work in conjunction with Edmonton to facilitate the next stage of the LRT to the northwest.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
We need to go back to the bargaining table and work with the county implementing the agreement that currently exists.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. Can you imagine, first of all, a complete development of high density housing?
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
Proceed with the building of the centre in agreement with the contractor. If a no vote, we must find out why it was a no vote and respond to the wishes of the electorate.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The accounting and budget procedures.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
To work amicably with our neighbours.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
St. Albert is where Alberta's history began for the settling peoples. We need to showcase this (the Father Albert Lacombe story, the interaction with the indiginous people, our historical buildings, the Metis village, the growth of our province from this beginning) to Canadians and to the world and include an interpretive centre. This would have tremendous benefits for our business community, our arts groups and would stimulate a local economy that would take some of the burden off our dependence on residential taxes. Everyone thinks we need to attract new businesses. I believe we should start from within and develop our own around a central focus.
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Malcolm Parker
E-mail Address: mjparker@telus.net
Phone Number: 458-4727
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to establish policy related to budget, municipal services, taxation and administrative management of the city’s interests. This does not mean getting involved in day-to-day operations. That needs to be left to city managers responding to the wishes of council. The role of council is also to provide leadership, clear direction and long-term vision so that business plans can be in place to manage the city’s operations.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe this project is necessary to ensure the safe and efficient flow of passenger and transport traffic through the region which will assist in relieving traffic congestion on the St. Albert Trail and Highway 2. I think the current Council has accomplished what most St. Albertans wanted and the issue should not be revisited. Council’s next steps include strict adherence to sound fiscal and environmental management during construction as well as solicitation of provincial funding to ensure the costs to taxpayers are reasonable.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I do not support re-visiting the smoking bylaw. The majority of our citizens are non-smokers. With a greater awareness of health hazards associated with smoking and an increased focus on health care, this trend will continue.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Housing is a fundamental need for everyone. I believe our community has a responsibility to work cooperatively with developers and other levels of government to ensure that housing remains both available and affordable.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Public transit is an important service provided by the city. Seniors, University students and NAIT students from St. Albert represent large and significant groups that value our public transit system. It is also part of the answer, long term, to the ever-increasing traffic problems we will face in St. Albert as the city and region continues to grow. Therefore, public transit must continuously be reviewed and re-evaluated to keep it affordable, efficient and a viable alternative for the citizens of St. Albert, especially those that choose not to own and run a vehicle of their own.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council must facilitate future growth. Council must ensure that additional land for residential and commercial development is available. A win-win outcome for Sturgeon County and St. Albert is a high priority for me but any outcome must past my test regarding my role, which is to represent the best interests of St. Albert. I am convinced that a win-win outcome for the region is possible. The City has initiated an annexation application to the Municipal Government Board who will make the final ruling on this complex issue. There will be an opportunity with new faces on both the City and County Councils to meet in a spirit of cooperation and develop a positive proposal that could assist the MGB with its decision.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I am extremely concerned about the Hunter Ridge development and quite frankly cannot see it as a viable development on the edge of St. Albert. How services are to be provided has been vague and recent court judgements in favour of St. Albert have upheld the fact that St. Albert is not obliged to service Hunter Ridge as a County development. If the original IDP agreement framework is to work, the County of Sturgeon will withdraw from the business of residential, city-like development which Hunter Ridge clearly is. When annexation of the lands occurs, including the Hunter Ridge area, major changes would likely be required related to housing density standards in order to conform to the rules and practices established in St. Albert.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
With a yes vote, the Recreation Centre will go ahead based on the terms of the plebiscite. My greatest concerns relate to cost and the next Council will have to engage in cost sharing opportunities with provincial and private funding sources and closely steward actual costs to the budgeted costs. With a no vote, negotiations with Sturgeon County should resume, presumably after annexation problems are put to rest, to identify alternative locations and cost sharing. A survey of St. Albert citizens may be necessary to identify the reason(s) behind a no vote in order to develop an optimum plan for a much needed multi–rec facility.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
One of the most significant (and uncontroversial) accomplishments of the last council relates to the financial controls and budget management processes required of the city administrative departments. Various other financial reforms have been put in place which reflect good corporate management.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The greatest failing or disappointment felt by myself and a lot of St. Albert’s citizenry stems from the confrontational stance that seems to have plagued this last council, whether by its own doing or by others. How much of this can be blamed on history is hard to say but one would hope that the future is less so under a new Council. In some areas, a fresh start won’t hurt and may be welcomed even by incumbents.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
My skill sets relate to leadership, teamwork, planning, communication, and sound management. I don’t see myself focussing too narrowly on specific initiatives early in my tenure on Council, although I’m sure there will be a number of causes and concerns to champion and give leadership to when the time arises. My first objectives will be to advance quickly on an accelerated learning curve to embrace the most immediate priorities. I will most assuredly work with other members of council to establish annual business plans that focus on fewer rather than many priorites so the chances of success are achievable. Accountability will be measured over the three year period to determine how well these priorities have been realized.
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Bob Russell
Website: http://www.electbob.ca
E-mail Address: robertr@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 459-8274
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To set policy for administration to carry out.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The decision on the road was a bad one. There was a plebiscite covered but never carried out. No one in City Hall has any idea what this will cost. Every voter should walk down to the Big Lake viewing platform and ask themselves if it is a good place to build a major roadway. The latest screwup, as detailed in the September 24 edition of the Saint City News, is the Borrowing Bylaw.
The issue should be revisited in terms of location and cost.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I am a non smoker and my home is non smoking, but I don't think some do-gooders on council should decide that our veterans cannot smoke at the Royal Canadian Legion - there is already a non-smoking area there.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
I served on the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association's provincial task force on affordable housing and have written briefs on the question. We need to review our land use by law and take steps to provide affordable housing (I could fill several pages on this) The important factor is this current council has had three years to do something and has done nothing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I usually avoid studies but, our transit problems cry out for a study. We have too many double buses traveling interior roadways with two or three people on board. We need to ask one basic question: are we providing a good service for the majority of citizens at a reasonable cost?
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I served as a co-chairman during negotiations with Sturgeon County. Mayor Plain's massive annexation move is a violation of our Intermunicipal Development Plan. We need to withdraw that annexation application, sit down with the County, and review the original IDP.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Hunter Ridge is a knee-jerk reaction by a developer to the bullheaded attitude of Mayor Plain. We need to review this plan with the County.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If our citizens vote against the rec plebiscite then we need to sit down with the County and look again at the joint venture we discussed and negotiated before the last election.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Easy question, easy answer: this current council has only achieved one accomplishment, a traffic line down 170 street - a matter negotiated by the
former council of which I was a member.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
They have managed to screw up everything. They fired the City Manager, fired the City engineer, and fired the Superintendent of Public Works. They got into a fight with the County. They raised taxes three years in a row. They moved the recreation site three times in four months. Frankly, these bozos couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
We need to meet with the County and resolve our issues (the Wal-Mart site tax issue, annexation, and future growth and servicing issues (i.e. water/sewer/transportation). We need to review busing and affordable housing. We need to give support to a good civil service - set policy and let them do their job.
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Ben Van De Walle
Website: http://www.benvdw.ca
Phone Number: 951-9753
Bio:
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October 17, 2004: responses added for Malcolm Parker
October 13, 2004: responses added for Bob Lewis
October 12, 2004: responses added for Lynda Moffat and Richard Plain
October 10, 2004: responses added for Christine Brown and Michael Cooper
October 5, 2004: website added for Randy Duguay
October 4, 2004: responses added for Paul Chalifoux and John Smith
October 1, 2004: responses added for Lorie Garritty and Curtis Krenbrenk
Below is a summary of all candidates seeking office in the 2004 St. Albert Municipal Election. While we strive to be as complete as possible, there are doubtless ommissions on this page. Thus, if you are aware of a website, e-mail address, or phone number for a candidate that's not included on here (I will only publish e-mail addresses or phone numbers that the candidate has deliberately made public) please contact me at sarcasticidealist@gmail.com. Additionally, if you are aware of any errors on this page, please contact me.
Mayoral Candidates
Dave Burkhart
Paul Chalifoux
Lynda Moffat
Richard Plain
John Smith
Councillor Candidates
Frances Badrock
Matt Boiko
Len Bracko
Christine Brown
James Burrows
Michael Cooper
Nolan Crouse
Randy Duguay
Neil Feser
Lorie Garritty
Stanley Haroun
Al Henry
Brian Kendrick
Kerry Kineshanko
Neil Korotash
Curtis Krenbrenk
Bob Lewis
Malcolm Parker
Bob Russell
Ben Van De Walle
Mayoral Candidates
Dave Burkhart
Website: http://www.daveburkhart.ca
E-mail Address: dave@daveburkhart.ca
Phone Number: 459-7794
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is quite simply to represent the people who elect them. As the only full-time council member, I see the primary role of the mayor as being a conduit between citizens and administration at city hall.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Absolutely not. This road alignment is a boondoggle of huge proportions. My prediction should the road go ahead? Citizens will be appalled at the escalating costs and what little they have received for the expenditure. The preliminary design has come in more than 100% over budget. We can expect much more of the same down the road.
If elected the West Regional Road will be my top priority. I realize I am only one voice on council but I will focus all my efforts towards putting construction and contracts on hold, demanding a full and complete accounting as to costs and schedule (for the entire road, not just the first phase) from administration, communicating the resultant information to the people of St. Albert and getting the issue placed on a ballot in a referendum.
Those who will foot the bill deserve nothing less.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I would not amend the bylaw at this time. Because I believe strongly in the right to freedom of choice, this is an issue with which I have struggled. But I think I have managed to rationalize my decision. Why not read how I did that and see if you agree?
http://www.daveburkhart.ca/choice.html
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We must put more effort into providing affordable housing. The biggest problem I see right now is the shortage of affordable land. We need to provide more support to organizations like Habitat for Humanity in their efforts to fill the need for affordable housing.
My position on this is at http://www.daveburkhart.ca/affordable.html
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Increase funding. Implement more-enlightened policies to get people out of their cars and into buses. More busses running more often. Cleaner more-comfortable busses. Free fares during rush hour. Dedicated bus lanes on commuter routes. Provide a leadership role in working towards an integrated regional transit system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I seriously question the need to grow and therefore the need to annex. However, if a specific justifiable requirement exists for St. Albert to aquire more land, we need to sit down with our neighbors, discuss our requirements in a rational convivial manner and come to a mutually agreeable decision on how to proceed. A bellicose attack policy using the courts and senior levels of government to mediate is absolutely the most non-productive way to approach such an issue.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Hmmm. Looks a lot like more urban sprawl to me. No. Although, I'm not sure what we can do about it short of working out our concerns with our neighbors.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
No question. When the people speak, council and administration must act. A clear majority in favour of the leisure centre means we have no option but to proceed. Less than a clear majority means we must not proceeed.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Sorry, I've got to spend more time scratching around for an answer to that one.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I recall the current council as being elected, during a one-issue campaign, on a promise to hold a referendum on the road. They failed to carry out that promise. They betrayed the electorate.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Glad you asked. Yes. I am a firm believer in communication and active democracy. I would like to see more citizens in the gallery during council meetings. In fact, I would like to pack the place. Free coffee and donuts.
I would like to see more frequent reporting to citizens from administration on the major issues that affect the community. Regular mailouts to your door would be a start.
I would like both local newspapers to devote space towards a "mayor's column". If they would, I would write a weekly column to let residents know what's going on down at city hall.
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Paul Chalifoux
Website: http://www.paulchalifoux.com
Phone Number: 418-2574
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council should listen to and understand what residents want, use that input to create a vision, and then create a plan to make that vision happen. When I was Mayor, Council developed a vision and a corporate strategic plan to move St. Albert forward into the long-range future as an autonomous city featuring quality of life for the citizens.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Many people are disappointed the Council did not take the road to a plebiscite. That said, it’s time to move on.
I support the compromise alignment. As we build the road, I’m confident we can take the environmental measures we need to take to protect the Big Lake area. The leachate problem must be fixed.
But we can’t stop there. We must continue to find transportation solutions that will unclog congested streets. Our next steps have to include planning the connection of this road to the regional transportation network, and completing the Anthony Henday Ring Road project by 2011.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I support the smoking bylaw. I know it has been a difficult issue for many people, especially businesses, and I understand their concerns. But now that the bylaw is in place, let’s give it some time to see how it works for our citizens.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We need to find effective affordable housing issues that will help our city’s youth and seniors.
St. Albert should have targeted projects for young families, young adults, seniors with limited or fixed incomes, and single-parent families with limited incomes. Much of the work to identify these needs has been done through City Plan (undertaken by the previous council), and the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee .. We need to start implementing solutions for the identified needs.
I will re-invigorate and support the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to produce “made-in St. Albert” solutions, and put a high priority to reviewing our Land Use By-law as an open and public process.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Transit service has never been a service that has recovered the costs it takes to provide it, but it is an important service for our youth and many seniors, and commuters
I will continue to support the transit service and ensure it meets our needs. My Council introduced Sunday transit service.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The current Council’s hostile annexation bid will move too slowly to meet our needs. The province hasn’t approved a hostile annexation bid in years. We can only expect more delays and more inaction, and our needs are great. The best way to meet St. Albert interests is to use the Inter-municipal Plan to annex lands more quickly.
St. Albert needs to be able to work with our neighbours – we shouldn’t leave it to the province and the courts to solve all our problems. We may not like the solutions.
Let’s get back to the principles and processes we’ve already worked out under the Inter-municipal Development Plan and get the land we need to support development on our north end.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. Under the principles of the IDP, Hunter Ridge should be a City of St. Albert development.
The current Council antagonized Sturgeon County over the IDP and then expected their cooperation in other matters. Now we face a serious issue that negatively impacts the city’s interests. The next council will have to clean up this mess.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I firmly support the development of a recreation centre that serves all members of the community, young and old. I am voting YES, and I am urging all supporters of a recreation centre for St. Albert to vote YES.
With a YES vote, I will ask Council to seek a better option ; on our north end. If I’m elected, I want up to90-days to work with our regional neighbours and bring them and their pledge to contribute 30 per cent of the costs back on the table. With the right leadership, we can do this quickly and without delaying the construction timetable.
If we can’t work out a deal quickly that will not delay construction of the centre as planned by 2006, I support the continuation of the development of the Campbell Business Park site. We deserve a major Centre like Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Fort Saskatchewan.
If the vote is NO, I will take up to 150 days to work with our neighbours to re-establish a northern regional site.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The work they did on the re-construction of the Grandin Club House. They had to face a lot of criticism to get them to consult with the residents, but they did eventually do it, and there were lots of satisfied people with the results.
They continued the work that the previous Council initiated---e.g strengthening the city's reserves. During my term in office as Mayor, we increased our reserves from $13.5 million to over $20 million;now they are over $36 million. As well they continued the business planning process that the previous Council started.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Their antagonistic leadership style has caused several problems.
They ignored the IDP and the Walmart site agreementand started a war with Sturgeon County – delaying development on our north side, scaring away new business growth, and leading to the Hunter Ridge development.
They flip-flopped their way through the smoking bylaw, and antagonized some members of the business community
And they trumpeted a need to raise taxes 63% by 2010, threatening the city’s economic development efforts.
They lost the regional partnership on the recreation centre – bringing forward a proposal that will cost us more and be put in a poor location.
They have failed to keep a line on taxes. Residential property taxes have grown by 20% over the last four years. When Dick Plain was mayor in the 1970s, they were raise by 50% in three years.
They have hampered business growth and new commercial development.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I will make economic development a priority again. While the rest of the province is booming, St. Albert is now lagging behind without much business growth.---during the first 7 months of 2004 the over-all value of our building permits is down 4% compared to the same period last year, and commercial/industrial building permits are down 375% for the same period.
I will make this a priority again, so we can shift the tax burden away from residential homeowners; but it takes a lot of work in a business-friendly atmosphere.
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Lynda Moffat
Website: http://www.lyndamoffat.com
E-mail Address: info@lyndamoffat.com
Phone Number: 458-1655
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to set policy and provide the direction to Administration on how to translate the policy into action. I attended many courses and seminars offered to elected officials over the past three years that taught many of the new governance models that have evolved over the past ten or twelve years in Canada. In my view, this continual updating of elected officials is essential to good governance. Not only do you learn the theory, you also learn so much from other communities in areas of service delivery, intergovernmental relations, planning and budget, communications with the public, and so much more. As Mayor, I will strongly encourage members of City Council to take advantage of every opportunity to improve their knowledge and strengthen their insight into good governance.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Of course, I am a member of the current Council. I absolutely believe the best decisions were made relative to the West Regional Road. The next steps should be to continue to bring this project to completion. We must also work together with the Province to ensure that the funding for the road is a Provincial responsibility as the new Highway 2, and that it does not become a tax burden on the citizens of St.Albert. I strongly believe that this will be the final outcome, and that we will see this road become a reality. It is also important that we, as a City, can move forward to deal with other important issues that face our community, and not be continually rehashing the improvements so badly needed to our transportation infrastructure.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Once again, why would we want to go back to revisit a decision that has already been made? We have an excellent No-Smoking Bylaw that was completed after an extensive process of public input and debate. Our bylaw is overwhelmingly supported by the great majority of St. Albert citizens, and is also in keeping with the Capital Region, the majority of other communities throughout Alberta, and indeed throughout the world. It is the responsibility of City Council to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens, and this smoking bylaw does this well.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
We have an excellent consultants' report that was just recently completed and presented to this City Council. I was disappointed and somewhat surprised that four of my colleagues voted to send it back to the committee for review (which it had already done), rather than move it forward for action. I believe that this report sets out some excellent recommendations for moving forward the issue of affordable housing in St. Albert, and that it should be approved by the new Council as soon as possible. We need a diversity of housing urgently to accommodate our young adults, young families, people wishing to downsize, and our seniors on fixed incomes. We are, I believe, a community whose values include being inclusive.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
St. Albert Transit just completed a huge study that included a great deal of analysis and review of our transit system into the future, and resulted in the department's long-term plan which will guide the budget. The next Council should undertake a thorough review of the report, and hold discussions as a group on our City's philosophy of providing transit service to our citizens. I am an advocate for public transit. We have a responsibility to our people to provide a transit service that allows our residents to get to post-secondary educational locations, downtown Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall, and other locations within Edmonton that large numbers of people go to regularly. We also need a service that allows St. Albert residents to take transit to other locations within our city. Since public transit is a significant cost to the taxpayer, we must always be alert to ways of saving money and of increasing ridership. Innovation and new ways of thinking may provide a great boost in these areas.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Under my leadership, we will seek a negotiated agreement with the County of Sturgeon and proceed with the annexation of the lands so badly needed by St. Albert. In no way does this mean that the interests of St. Albert will be abandoned. It does mean that we will meet with the intention of arriving at a win/win solution rather than a winner/loser scenario. It most assuredly is in our best interests to get moving on this annexation so we can get our city progressing again.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. The Intermunicipal Development Plan entered into by both the City of St. Albert and the County of Sturgeon clearly states that the County is not in the business of residential development. It also sets out guidelines that protect St.Albert from ad hoc development such as this in the annexation areas. It would be a disaster for a development such as this to move forward. We would see these residents using St. Albert's services without paying any share of the property tax. When the area would eventually become part of St. Albert, it would likely not be built to the standards that St. Albert has set for its residential developments, yet would have to be integrated into our overall system in some way. It is a far better option to successfully negotiate an annexation agreement with our neighbours, and see the orderly development of these lands as part of the City of St. Albert.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the Multipurpose Leisure Centre plebiscite receives a "Yes" vote, I will see that the project starts immediately. We have already prepared the borrowing bylaw to become effective with an affirmative vote, and we have the guaranteed price of construction which is only good until November 4, 2004. The rezoning of the lands in Campbell Park has also been approved, pending a "Yes" vote. There is nothing to stand in the way of starting the project immediately once the results of the plebiscite are known. If there is a "No" vote on the plebiscite, I would recommend an immediate polling of our citizens to find out why it was turned down. Because I am firm in my resolve to have new recreation and sports facilities to meet the needs of our residents, we must find out why the "No" vote occurred, so we can plan to proceed in a different direction with all possible speed to get the facilities this community needs so badly - and has needed so badly for many years.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
There were several major accomplishments: reaching the point we have in nearing construction of the West Regional Road; having our City Administration working from complete, long-term business plans which now drive the budget process; putting together an excellent proposal for a Multipurpose Leisure Centre for our residents to vote on in the plebiscite; putting our financial house in order (reserves, utilities, activity-based costing, etc); passing an excellent no-smoking bylaw; creating an Environment Committee resulting in a State of the Environment Report and an Environmental Management System pilot project in our transit department; and more. I am proud to have been a part of these excellent results.
I think another significant accomplishment was the development of lots in Campbell North Business Park to respond to our serious lack of serviced business and light-industrial lots. Phase one is getting excellent results, and phase two is scheduled to begin when half the lots in phase one have been sold. The focus of this particular business park, is to attract clean business, especially targeting technology businesses or post-secondary institutions.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
There were several: the inability of our current leadership to successfully negotiate an annexation agreement with the County of Sturgeon; the failure to complete the Land Use Bylaw review which occupied a significant number of months for both our administration and the Municipal Planning Commission but did not move forward to Council for completion; the decision made by four of my colleagues to vote against moving forward on the Affordable Housing Strategies presented to City Council by our consultants who had worked in collaboration with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; our inability to successfully partner with neighbouring municipalities to the North to build the Multipurpose Leisure Centre in the North - which became impossible due to hostilities in our annexation talks. These have been disappointments for me.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
The best way to learn about my commitments if elected is to visit my website at www.lyndamoffat.com, or I can be reached by phone at my campaign office at 458-1655 or my home at 460-0885.
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Richard Plain
Website: http://www.plainformayor.ca
E-mail Address: info@plainformayor.ca
Phone Number: 460-0359
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council's role is to govern the municipality not administer it. The Mayor is the chief elected officer (CEO) while the chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the city Manager. The Mayor has the responsibility for trying to ensure ensure that council does not stray and attempt to manage and administer various City Departments. The City Manager is accountable to the Mayor and Council for the city's administration.
The current Council has given citizens the freedom to address Council on any issue they wish prior to the commencement of each televised bi-monthly Council meeting. This is very different from most councils in Alberta and it is very different from the Council headed by Paul challifoux that tried to muzzle public debate in the council chamber.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes. A new alignment was picked for the West Regional Road that is approximately 1/5 of a mile downstream from Big Lake. All federal and provincial environmental approvals have been received and construction is commencing this fall. Paul Chalifoux has stated that he would withdraw the LRT alignment added to the West Road as well as eliminate the land needed for the intersections that would allow the West Road to function as a Highway #2 by-pass. If this should ever come to pass St. Albert taxpayers would have to pay most of the $42.5M for a 4 lane arterial. If the land is left for the intersections St. Albert has a very good chance of having all of the road funded by the province.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No. This is a major public health issue.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The focus should be on affordable living which would ensure that Franchise fees (special taxes) are not be applied to electricity, water and sewerage. Challifoux attempted to put in such fees in 2001. He was defeated and the new council repealed thefranchise fees which ensured schools, churches, health care facilites and non-profit charitable groups were not forced to pay the special franchise taxes. It also meant that individuals on modest incomes were not taxed for essential services which they simply could not do without. The affordable housing issue should await the report from the affordable housing advisory board and the deliberations on the new land-use by-law. Residents should note we are currently spending over $400,000 worth of taxpayers' funds to subsidize housing for seniors located in the lodges run by the Sturgeon Foundation. This subsidy has been rising rapidly.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Finish the new transit business plan, try to encourage more ridership within St. Albert and try to keep the operating deficit at 50 percent. The feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit should be explored with the city of Edmonton.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
All of the steps needed to resolve the land annexation with Sturgeon county have been taken. A year and a half of negotiations have been carried out, followed by 12 days of mediated proceedings. No agreement could be reached. Sturgeon county wanted 25 percent of the gross taxes (approximately $20M) obtained from the development of land within the commercial corridor along Highway #2. Sturgeon does not own this land and they are not entitled to this money. Never before in the history of St. Albert have we ever had to pay Sturgeon county for land we have annexed. No one else in the region is paying counties for raw farmland. Unfortunately, when Paul Chalifoux was Mayor in 2001 he signed an agreement which will give approximately $2,5M of st . Albert taxes away between 2002 and 2013 for 19 Hectares of raw undeveloped farmland. This set the stage for Sturgeon's unreasonable demands.
Both Lynda Moffat and Chalifoux are talking about re-opening negotiations with Sturgeon. Neither has said how many million they are willing to give up or how they are going to fill the gap when they give our tax dollars away. If St. Albert money goes to Sturgeon then this money is not available to be spent at home. Either we have to raise taxes in order to fill the gap or cut back on our services or do a combination of both.
As matters stand, our application will be heard by the Municipal Government Board. A recommendation will be made to Municipal Affairs and then an order will be issued by Cabinet. This is the normal practice. There is no requirement for St. Albert to agree to pay Sturgeon for a boundary adjustment. It is the provincial government, not Sturgeon, that changes boundaries.
I don't believe you will ever have the provincial government order St. Albert to divert its tax money to its neighbours. Sturgeon will get the normal compensation for some of its lost farm taxes; however, I do not believe it will ever get a cent for sharing in taxes St. Albert raises from the commercial properties that are developed on the raw land brought into the city of St. Albert.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Absolutely not! Sturgeon County has acted illegally by breaking the Intermunicipal Development Plan Agreement with St. Albert by approving an Area Structure Plan (ASP) to develop the equivalent of a small city of 16500 people on St. Albert's borders. This totally unheard of action by a rural County and a land devloper has forced the City to defend itself. Sturgeon County has been taken to Court to have all of its by-laws creating Hunter Ridge quashed. If this occurs the Hunter Ridge ASP will disappear and Sturgeon county would have to work with its neighbours in properly planning and developing the area.
The city has also filed an application with the Municipal Government Board (MGB) which freezes the Hunter Ridge development until a hearing has been held and the major detrimental affects of building a city on another municipality's borders has been examined. If Hunter Ridge was allowed to proceed, thousands of residents would use St. Albert taxpayers' facilities and services without paying their proper share of the municipal costs. In addition, the planning standards would vary markedly from St. Albert's. Sturgeon county would scoop all the taxes resulting from Hunter Ridge developments along Highway #2 development.
It should be noted that the extremely aggressive action launched by Landrex Corporation to force the City of St. Albert to provide public utility services (water, sewerage, etc.) to the Hunter Ridge development was defeated in court on October 8.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
A plan is in place if there is an affirmative vote. At the first business meeting of the new Council on November 1, the go ahead would be given to Pool Construction Limited (PCL) to start construction. It is important to note that St. Albert has a guaranteed price from PCL which only holds until November 4. After that, St. Albert would end up paying a higher price than the one approved by the voters. Given the current cost inflation, it would not be unreasonable to expect that the price would be hiked by a million or more dollars. It is useful to note that Paul Chalifoux's ninety day proposal to look for another site in Sturgeon and re-start negotations with the county would cause us to lose our price and experience this loss. It would also require a re-design since the two ice arenas contained in Campbell would not be available in any other location. People would have voted on a minor hockey and trade fair and small convention centre which would not exist in another location. In addition, any site outside of St. Albert has no services. Campbell is the only fully serviced site (water, sewerage, storm sewers, transit, etc).
If a negative vote occurs, then one has to respect the decision of the electorate and try to find out why the proposal was not supported. It would be up to the next council to decide what if anything further should be done.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The greatest accomplishment was to make decisions and get on with the job. The indecision and failure of the past Council to deal with special interest groups prevented anything significant from occurring. The current council got the West Regional Road project approved and underway; put a multi-purpose leisure centre to the vote on October 18; filed an annexation plan with the provincial government which will secure a 20 year land supply for St. Albert; passed a smoking by-law which improves the health of the people in the city and put St. Albert on a sound business and financial footing. The list goes on and on. Please go to my website.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The present council has accomplished more than any council in recent memory. It would have been nice to have finished the land-use by-law and received the final report of the affordable housing committee; however, the council's mandate expired before these projects were finished.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
There are a large number. Please refer to my website. I am the only candidate that has set out a clear-cut program indicating where the city should be going.
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John Smith
No contact information yet
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to set short and long term goals and policies, to ensure it has sufficient information to undertake a reasoned analysis of the wisdom of any decision it may consider having regard to the best interests of the citizens and municipality, and to be truthful, honest, respectful and listen carefully to the people they represent.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
No. This council was elected on a promise to hold a plebiscite on the question of the road, a promise which proved to be neither truthful, honest, or respectful. Trust was broken for whatever reason. I have no problem with this or any other road, but it is unreasonable to ask the taxpayers or anyone else to fund a project without knowing the true cost. My position is still the same: I need to know the true and final cost, both in dollars and damage to the environment. Without that information, I would need to revisit these parts for the aforementioned analysis.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The council should be using various regulatory initiatives associated with their development approval powers to encourage, enable, or require for-profit developers and builders to provide affordable housing (i.e. exaction programs) as a condition of certain kinds of development to contribute fees to a trust fund dedicated to affordable housing and are used in combination with grants and loans from provincial or federal governments. Inclusionary zoning and density bonusing are only some of the many other ways to make affordable happen now.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Needs review and comparison with other transit systems - value for money. The budget for the present system cannot be sustained.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Everybody back to the table, shake hands, and work together with our neighbors for the mutual benefit of all.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
In St. Albert, yes. Again, let's start over and move on (before the lawyers become too rich) and they to will move on.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
Positive vote: build it.
Negative vote: try again with our neighbors, explore a public/private venture, try a less expensive version, Dow centre version, etc.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Paul Chalifoux and his council made the fatal mistake of not making a reasoned analysis of the Walmart deal. If he had, we would not be in the mess we are in today. The rec center may have been built, Hunter Ridge may also have been on the go, and we would have saved a great deal of time, money, and grief.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
No response received.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
There are so many initiatives I would like to undertake.
First of all, I would be transparent, open, truthful, and I would listen with honest concern.
Fiscal responsibility in ensuring procedures are in place to curb the ever-increasing tax burden which some citizens will not be able to bear.
Some tax relief for seniors on fixed income to help them stay in the city.
Tax relief for young families with children under six to try and have them settle in the city.
A fairer tax system for condo owners.
Seniors ride the transit system in peak periods free by just showing their normal seniors card (no administration needed).
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Councillor Candidates
Frances Badrock
E-mail Address: callchin@compusmart.ab.ca
Phone Number: 418-5730
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council represents the citizens and should be making decisions in the best interests of the citizens, therefore Council must listen to citizens and act appropriately.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The West Road needs to be re-examined because we do not have the land to put it on – it will only go into Mission. Further, the cost of this road is unknown. Will the provincial government fund it as a main highway when it will only be a two lane road that does not carry truck traffic? Do we need a road that goes nowhere?
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
If the citizens of St. Albert ask for this issue to be revisited, then Council must revisit it. At that time, should I be elected to Council, I would be pleased to look at the concerns of citizens.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council has in its possession a commissioned report that clearly provides ideas about housing needs in this city. Before it gathers dust, Council needs to use this report. We clearly need affordable housing!
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Again, there are difficulties with the transit system. They have been expressed by citizens over the last three years. It is time to talk to those who regularly use transit to investigate difficulties and then examine how effectively these issues can be addressed.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council needs to mend the relationship that has been damaged by the actions of Council during the last three years. Then, collaboratively, we can address annexation issues.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
This development is in Sturgeon County – it is their response to affordable housing. The initiative is to be applauded.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the citizens vote for this version of a recreation centre, it should be examined carefully as it is a costly project which will clearly have a great impact on taxes for our citizens. It also means that an Eastern access route needs to be developed. Before building starts, our neighbours to the North and South need to be approached to collaborate with us on access. In the long run, this could alleviate some of the tax problems.
If there is a negative vote, then the previous Highway 2 located project needs to be revisited again with collaboration with our neighbours.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Council did begin to look at putting in place administrative policy guidelines and plans – developmental planning in this city is essential.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Council did not continue to acknowledge that out neighbours to the north need to be partners with us in the planning process – for development of our region, we cannot sustain all of the developments required for the growth of our tax base, unless we inflict massive tax increases on citizens. This is the reason we are now embroiled in lawsuits. Further, Council has been less than honest in explaining how the western road is to be developed – it will not alleviate traffic on the trail, and it cannot go anywhere – maybe for years. Infrastructure has been neglected and will cost us a great deal of money to improve its condition.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Look at ways to lessen the tax burden on seniors and citizens who live in condo type dwellings.
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Matt Boiko
Website: http://www.mattboiko.com
E-mail Address: matt@mattboiko.com
Phone Number: 458-5046
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to determine and set public policy direction for the City of St. Albert. It is the role of administration to ensure that policy is implemented.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
No. Council completely ignored the recommendations of of St. Albert's Municipal Development Plan, an exhaustive 18-month public participation process, overseen by a group of St. Albert volunteers from all walks of life, known as the CityPlan Committee. I just happened to be the chair of that committee and what the public told us is that they wanted an arterial road that proceeded along Riel Drive and crossed the river much further east of the current proposed alignment, thereby not damaging an environmentally sensitive area and keeping costs to a minimum.
However, it appears that administration is bent on moving ahead with the present road alignment. They have received approval from the Department of fisheries and oceans and I believe that it is time to move on. My only proviso would be that if new evidence came forward, due to this Council's unwillingness to share information with the citizen's of St. Albert, which showed extreme environmental damage to the surrounding area or if costs were somehow extremely higher than reported, any reasonable person would have to take this into consideration before proceeding too far along with the construction of the road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Yes. While I support a ban on smoking in all public places, restaurants and places that minors frequent, any place frequented solely by adult patrons should be free to chose a smoking environment if they want. Before our current council got involved, St. Albert had such a smoking bylaw. Businesses have told us they want less government in their lives, not more and I don't believe it's the job of council to be moral police.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council must make a commitment to work with business and provide policy direction to administration to remove some of the city's legislated business barriers to enable us to provide a range of housing in St. Albert for many of our younger adults and seniors who have grown up and lived most of their lives here and are now being forced to either live at home with their parents or move elsewhere because they can't afford to live in St. Albert any longer. The short answer is, some of the current rules governing development in St. Albert have to be changed.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
There needs to be a complete and comprehensive review of our public transit system right from the Manager down.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The hostile annexation bid initiated by St. Albert with respect to Sturgeon County lands should be withdrawn immediately and the new council should sit down at the table with our good neighbours in Sturgeon Council once again and negotiate an agreement to ensure St. Albert's land needs are satisfied well into the future. Paul Chalifoux's council negotiated an excellent Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with Sturgeon County that would have benefited both parties, only to have it quashed by the current council who filed a hostile annexation bid with the Municipal Government Board. The only parties who have benefited from this are the lawyers for both sides (with our tax dollars).
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Yes, but only if it eventually is annexed by the City of St. Albert. It will do two things - broaden St. Albert's tax base as well as ensure that development in Hunter Ridge is consistent with that in St. Albert. (Common look, touch, feel, etc). Besides, I really don't believe that Sturgeon County wants to be in the residential development business.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the vote is affirmative, which I don't think it will be, the recreation centre will be built as outlined because the people will have spoken via a plebiscite. If the vote is negative, I believe the new council should once again open up talks with our neighbours to the north to see if they are interested in becoming full, active partners in such an undertaking. One of the problems with the current proposal is that the taxpayers of St. Albert simply can't afford to build it on our own. Others are that it contains many amenities that are not needed, the site is difficult to get in and out of and there is not ample parking. Remember Akinsdale Arena? Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past by continuing to cram our recreation facilities into our industrial parks. They don't belong there and this also creates a shortage of industrial and commercial land.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
This council has done nothing positive or productive for the City of St. Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Pick one. Incompetence, firing the City Manager after only two weeks on the job, micromanaging the job of administration, mismanagement of every issue they tried to deal with, ruining our relationship with Sturgeon County, ignoring the Municipal Development Plan and Intermunicipal Development Plan, not to mention the Municipal Government Act in many cases, pursuing a hostile annexation bid for Sturgeon County lands, proposing an ill-conceived multi-purpose recreation centre in Campbell Industrial Park, internal and external squabbling with everybody, legal battles, inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, broken election promises (the promised plebiscite on the west road being the major one) and, most importantly, creating the very real threat of St. Albert being annexed by Edmonton through their actions.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Determine and implement solutions to all of St. Albert's transportation challenges, including 170th and 184th streets and the construction of an eastern expressway.
Carry out the duties of the office of Alderman with dignity and integrity.
Establish a long-term vision for where I want to see St. Albert going in the future and act on that vision.
Provide decisive, competent leadership.
Repair our fractured relationship with our municipal partners in Sturgeon County.
Use common sense and logic in dealing with every issue.
Be fiscally responsible. Set priorities and ensure the prudent, common sense expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
Commit to getting back to the negotiating table with our municipal partners to the north and agree upon a multi-purpose recreation complex that contains the right amenities, has a commercial component connected to it, is affordable for the taxpayers of St. Albert, has easy access and egress, ample parking and is located in the proper place - preferably north of St. Albert on the east side of highway 2.
Promote St. Albert as a good place to do business by working with my colleagues and administration in aggressively pursuing our collective goals in economic expansion in order to take some of the tax burden off the backs of the residential taxpayers.
Work to persuade my colleagues to implement some of the major recommendations of the St. Albert Economic Development Advisory Committee (SAEDAC).
Work to update antiquated and/or unenforceable bylaws such as the noise and nuisance bylaws.
Push for the formation of a task force to look at ways of dramatically curbing vandalism in St. Albert.
Look at all ways of improving our quality of life in St. Albert.
Always be accessible, to listen and respond to your needs and concerns with respect and to expect no less from city administration.
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Len Bracko
E-mail Address: len@bracko.ca
Phone Number: 458-6478
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to develop policy and complete long range plans for the City of St. Albert. St. Albert should be planning 40 years ahead. With a 40 year time frame, Council can develop sound business plans so that tax dollars will be used wisely and a high quality of life will be maintained for residents. Secondly, Council needs to work with the Provincial and Federal Governments to eliminate municipal debt and provide sustainable revenue to meet the needs of local government.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The decision on the West Road has been made and it is time to move on.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I do not support revising or amending the smoking bylaw. The smoking bylaw went through vigorous debate with ample opportunity for input. After all input was carefully considered the smoking bylaw was passed. I support the present bylaw.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Affordable housing is a must for St. Albert. The affordable housing study, currently in progress, needs to be completed and recommendations brought forward to City Council. Working with Provincial and Federal Governments, Council must implement affordable housing strategies. A variety of housing such as secondary suites, apartments, condos, duplexes, small homes and larger homes are needed to meet the needs of our residents. To facilitate affordable housing, we must increase the number of smaller lots.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The transit business plan must be completed and brought forward to the next Council for consideration and implementation. Council also needs to work with Edmonton to pursue a rapid transit system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The main area of disagreement between St. Albert and Sturgeon is revenue sharing on the land that St. Albert would like to annex. All members of both new Councils must meet shortly after the election to examine the issues and identify possible win/win solutions so that we can move ahead with annexation.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I would support the development of Hunter Ridge if the land was annexed into St. Albert. The development would have to follow St. Albert's land use bylaw. St. Albert's land use bylaw may need to be amended to increase the number of smaller lots.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I believe the Councils of both St. Albert and Sturgeon should meet shortly after the election to discuss the results of the plebiscite. If the vote is affirmative, both Councils must re-examine our opportunity for working jointly in the construction of a multipurpose leisure center. The guaranteed price of the leisure centre is only valid until November 4th; therefore, the next Council will have to quickly take action. If the vote is negative, a new planning process will have to be initiated to meet residents' needs for recreation facilities in the years to come.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Some of the accomplishments of the current Council include:
a. the development of solid business plans;
b. improved transportation system (eg. expanded capacity on 170th St.); and,
c. progress made in environmental protection including the environment management system and sediment control program to protect the Sturgeon River.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I would like to see the new Council work more effectively and cooperatively with Sturgeon County.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would continue to work toward eliminating St. Albert's infrastructure debt by 2015 and continue working with the Provincial and Federal Governments to achieve sustainable funding for municipalities.
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Christine Brown
Website: http://www.christinebrown.ca
E-mail Address: csmithbrown@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 717-2706
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of Council is to represent citizens of St. Albert in setting policy and, with the expertise of City Administration, determine the future direction of the City of St. Albert. City Administration can then implement those policies that are developed by Council.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe that Council did make the correct decision. The West Road has been an ongoing issue since the 1970s. Given the growth of St. Albert, the road is necessary to alleviate traffic congestion in residential areas in St. Albert, to relieve some of the traffic on St. Albert Trail, and to provide a regional transportation link between Anthony Henday Drive which is Edmonton's outer ring road, and the north. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment was completed in September 2003 to meet the environmental examination requirements of both the provincial and the federal governments' environment departments. Results of that assessment indicated that the West Road met or exceeded all of the required standards.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No, the smoking bylaw should not be amended. An economic impact study was prepared for the BC Government which examined the impacts of smoking restrictions on commercial facilities in British Columbia. Results of the study (and of other similar studies done in other jurisdictions) concluded that there was a very short term (1 - 2 months) negative impact where sales declined, but that there were no longer term negative impacts. In fact, in some areas, business actually increased due to increased numbers of non-smokers. (The Economic Impacts of the Proposed Amendment to the ETS Regulation, prepared for the Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia, February 2001).
The benefits to business of having a non-smoking establishment were also presented in this study. They included reductions in costs due to reduced employee absenteeism, and reductions in operating costs associated with cleaning, repair of burned materials, and lower fire insurance.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
The draft consultant's report on Affordable Housing Strategies was completed and presented to Council in May of this year. The Report, which examined housing in St. Albert, made a number of recommendations and strategies that could be implemented in order to provide more affordable housing. Some of the recommendations included cooperative housing, higher density housing, and partnerships with other levels of government. Council needs to implement some of the strategies from the report.
I believe St. Albert has done a fairly good job in planning housing developments that contain single family dwellings, higher density (including apartments, condos and row housing), and parks in single neighbourhoods. I do not think putting high density housing in one location, for example, represents good planning.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I believe very strongly in public transit, and would like to make sure that the current system we have is performing efficiently. I would like to examine the capacity of the transit system, and how much capacity is actually being used. In other words, what is the current ridership or use of the system? I would also like to look at offering reduced fare busing for seniors during off-peak hours.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council currently has an application to the Municipal Development Board to annex land from Sturgeon County. Depending on the results of that application, Council needs to proceed with orderly development of that land.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I do not support high density housing in one single location. It would appear that the Hunter Ridge development has much higher density that St. Albert currently recommends - I believe this does not represent good planning. In addition, Hunter Ridge is located in Sturgeon County, which would not be providing the services for Hunter Ridge. If St. Albert is to provide the services (water, sewer, etc.) I believe we should have a greater say in its development.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
In the event of a YES vote on the Multi-Purpose Leisure Centre, Council should immediately begin construction of the Centre. The guaranteed cost is only in effect until November 4. We want to make sure that the cost does not escalate further because of further delays in construction.
In the event of a NO vote, I believe Council first needs to know why. Was it because of the location, the tax impact, or do residents believe we don't need it? Once that is determined, I believe Council has an obligation to quickly address that issue, keeping in mind that the cost for the leisure centre is only guaranteed until November 4.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Council undertook a number of budgetary reforms that will prove to be beneficial to future budget preparations.
Many of those elected to the current Council were elected based on their support of a West Bypass Road. They followed through on their promise to have construction on the West Bypass started.
Finally, after many years and a number of different Councils, a plebiscite for the construction of a leisure centre for the City of St. Albert has been put to the people of St. Albert, so that they can make the final decision on its construction.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Although I believe there are two sides to every story, I believe that Council needs to work collaboratively with Sturgeon County in future annexation bids, and future developments.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would like to aggressively pursue business development to see if we can reduce the tax burden on residents of St. Albert. Building the West Road will likely increase development of Riel Park. The MPCL will encourage business development, particularly commercial, in Campbell Park. We need to try to reduce the 88/12 ratio of residential/business taxes.
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James Burrows
Website: http://www.jamesburrows.ca
E-mail Address: burrowsj@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 458-4958
Bio:
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Michael Cooper
E-mail Address: michaelcooper@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 721-7163
Bio:
Michael Cooper declined to answer my questions, claiming "I can sufficiently reach all 20,000 households in St. Albert on my own."
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Nolan Crouse
Website: http://www.nolancrouse.com
E-mail Address: electme@nolancrouse.com
Phone Number: 459-6899
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To set and change policy. The laws of Canada make clear that this is the case.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe the correct decision was made, though the public expected a plebiscite. It should not be revisited. Council should now clear up the financing and get the province to commit to the schedule for the Anthony Henday portion of the road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
Not at all. It should be left as is.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
I would like to see a subdivision of starter homes - smaller lots and smaller homes for young people to buy their first one. I would also like to see more senior citizen complexes.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
It should re-examine the cost and the service, as it appears to be more money than what taxpayers can afford.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
It should sit with the county quickly and iron out the full plan in a win-win situation. The tax issue is so important that it needs to dominate a lot of discussions.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Not in its current state because I do not see a plan to service the development - who provides services, how it fits into a long-term plan. . . these are all unanswered questions.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If more than fifty-five percent of voters support it, it should be built. If fewer than forty-five percent of voters support it, it shouldn't be built. If the figure is somewhere in between, there needs to be more debate.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Creating awareness of annexation challenges.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Its public image was not well-managed.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Crime has been one of the top five items discussed in my door-knocking.
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Randy Duguay
http://www3.telus.net/randy-duguay
E-mail Address: randy.duguay@telus.net
Phone Number: 460-8095
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Councillors work to consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole. The role of the councillor then is to bring to attention and address issues that impact the municipality; to participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality; to participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the council; and, to provide guidance and direction to City Admin and operations in regard to general planning and strategic direction for the community.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I have been involved in some capacity with the matters surrounding the West Boundary Road since 1996 when I was a member of the West Boundary Road Study Advisory group, and then later with the Spirit of St. Albert group which provided general information on the development prior to the 2001 Election campaign. I have no hesitation in stating that, based on all the materials and public consultation that has been conducted on this existing alignment, that it is clearly the best solution to the City, and far superior to the previously proposed Ray Gibbon Drive, which would have had significant negative near and long-term impacts on the Riel Business Park, and on the Riel Recreational area. The previously outlined Ray Gibbon Drive proposal had in my opinion equivalent environmental issues as compared to the current alignment, and it had other negative implications in the City's overall transportation plans. Therefore, Council's next steps are to move forward with the construction of the West Boundary Road development as currently tabled, and to take key measures in protecting and mitigating environmental impacts, and additionally moving forward on addressing the Red Willow Park Master Plan as the City moves forward.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I have been clear in my support of the existing Smoking Bylaw as a health issue. The bylaw should remain as is.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Without the proper supply and diversity of homes in St. Albert, we are at risk of not having a healthy churn in homes that is important for addressing people's changing needs. I believe that home values are better maintained, and that St. Albert will appeal and sustain that healthy diversity for all ages in our community, by paying attention to these key points. Affordability, to me, is more about truly understanding the values in our community that serves the interests of attracting the young, supporting those who are older and on fixed incomes, and making our community a place where healthy lifestyle and diversity can be supported. Therefore, I would propose that we work to establish zones where we are providing for some more affordable homes, or condominium developments. That isn't to say that we want poorly constructed homes, or small homes on an equally small base of plot to work with - but rather homes that can grow as we grow or that more suitably address our changing needs as we go through life changes. And, we need to look more closely at our tax mill rate for different types of homes and challenge whether we can in fact reasonably adjust some rates downwards to reflect reasonableness relative to the service costs for these different types of residences.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I would support a review of all Edmonton bound or return peak-hour bus trips, to ensure that we are properly addressing capacity requirements as a key transportation issue. I would further recommend undertaking a review of current St. Albert based ridership and the overall capacity and demand for transit within the City, and beyond the City. Based on the current growth patterns for the City and the continued pressures that our city is facing with respect to commuting to Edmonton, we need to clarify whether we need to take additional steps to increase ridership and routes to Edmonton as one possible solution, and additionally plan for a longer term potential for special bus lanes, and additional routes in peak hour.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
St. Albert is continuing to grow, and we are very near exhaustion of our commercial/industrial lands, and need to look to having a 20 year supply of land to provide for proper long-term planning and development within St. Albert. By providing for at least a 20 year supply of land for potential development of the City, we can better address the issues of improving our residential / non-residential tax-split to help reach objectives of a 80/20% split. Additionally, we will be better able to provide for longer-term management of residential and commercial developments that are being planned for the region; rather than having developers creating non-contiguous developments outside the confines of the City of St. Albert, and causing possible negative service cost implications to the City. We need to be able to better manage the development of our community in a holistic context. Therefore, I support the annexation of lands outside St. Albert to address needs for proper long-term planning, rather than an incremental approach that does not best serve St. Albert's or the regional interests.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
At this point I do not have significant amount of details relative to the Hunter Ridge development specifically. However, I would take a similar stance to this proposed development as per the outline in my response to the question on affordable housing. I think that we all need to have a very clear understanding of the near and long-term implications to the City of St. Albert, what service costs would be needed to serve the area, whether St. Albert would be expected to account for these needs, how the development fits into the overall regional context and good land use and planning guidelines, and whether the initative was reasonably achievable and sustainable.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
An affirmative vote is what I am supporting for my campaign. The primary reason that I am supporting an affirmative vote is that construction costs are forecast to rise by up to 10% or more if we do not take steps on the MPLC. The MPLC is something that would benefit the people of St. Albert greatly, and keep people closer to home, and in support of local facilities. In the event of an affirmative vote, then St. Albert can move forward in detailing a sustainability plan, beginning efforts to exercise on the construction, and to secure the development before costs escalate any further.
In the event of a negative vote we would need to work with the primary recreational and sports stakeholders in the community, and additionally with the public at large, in seeking new input on whether a different type of facility is needed, and how we can address the existing pressures on our existing facilities. Another consideration is that separated independent developments that address different community organizations would ultimately cost more, so ultimately an integrated facility that reduces overall operations costs should be a key consideration.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
I have a very good understanding of the issues that this current Council faced in working through to the ultimate approval of the planned West Boundary Road. Many hurdles and roadblocks were faced by this Council through the concerted efforts of a very small group of people. Those hurdles have cost taxpayers a tremendous amount of money, and wasted energy - and so, there is no question in my view that the existing Council ultimately was successful in securing the West Boundary Road development and passing the various environmental reviews that were necessary to move forward. As a second key point, I believe that this Council also needs to be recognized for putting solid financial planning systems and processes in place and taking a stand to replenish fiscal reserves that were getting depleted by previous Councils.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
This Council worked hard in my view to try and resolve some core issues with respect to working with our neighbors in Sturgeon County, but I think must be dissappointed in the current state. Working out matters with Sturgeon County and matters of annexation will be a challenge too for the next Council.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Firstly, I think that it will be very important to continue on the path of proper fiscal management and budget process that the past Council and administration has established in better managing City affairs. Secondly, I think that we need to provide further attention at the state of our Heritage assets and cultural facilities, and continue to find ways at making them even better than they are today. Thirdly, we do need to understand the implications of the Federal government program to share fuel taxes with municipalities and make sure that St. Albert receives benefits from that. And finally, I think that we need to explore further what types of operational or shared services initiatives that we could undertake with our neighbors or the AUMA in taking advantage of special programs, or finding new efficiencies.
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Neil Feser
E-mail Address: nfeser@shaw.ca
Phone Number: 419-7433
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to set policy based on the desires of the community so that administration can act upon it.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe that the current council acted on the wishes of the majority of the community and it is time to move forward and finish the West Regional Road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
While this has been a controversial and divisive issue in our community, I feel that the current council made its decision based on the facts which were available to them. These facts were presented from both sides, with the health and wellness of our citizens in mind. Based on this, I do not see any reason to reopen the debate . We need to look forward in our planning and move onward.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
It is my understanding that there is a study already underway into this issue. I would like to see the next council take the information contained in this study and act on it accordingly.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The transit system seems to have pros and cons, one of which is the fact that the downtown and University routes at peak hours are over-capacity while the residential routes are slow except at peak hours. I think this is an area that we could easily get more input from the public as to what they want to see happen and then act on it as soon as possible.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
We need to finalize the annexation negotiations so that we can move forward and plan, both in our residential and commercial developments.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No, I am not in favour of the Hunter Ridge development. I think we need to finalize the annexation first, and then look at developing this area when this has been completed.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I think that in the case of an affirmative vote the next council needs to act immediately to begin construction so as to get this project moving. In the case of a negative vote, I think the next council needs to get back to the drawing board as soon as possible to find a solution to this issue that is acceptable to the community.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
I think the greatest accomplishment of the current council was their ability to get as much done as they have, in spite of the fact that they face constant scrutiny from interest groups.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
I think that the current council has had some problems during its conflict with Sturgeon County that may have been avoided, but I do not feel that these problems were exclusively the failing of St. Albert's council.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would like to see more opportunities for our community's youth and I would encourage more initiatives in this area.
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Lorie Garritty
Website: http://www.loriegarritty.com
E-mail Address: lgarritty@telus.net
Phone Number: 458-1348
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Serving on St. Albert’s City Council is an honour. It’s an opportunity to listen to people’s views, examine all the options, and make the best possible decisions for St. Albert’s future. City Council’s role is to lead, not to manage the details. You hire a City Manager and capable staff to take direction from City Council and manage effectively. And you hold them accountable for the results they achieve. Sound fiscal management is critical. People are willing to pay taxes for city services, but tax increases have to be reasonable and fully justified. It’s up to Council members to provide budget leadership. They should be held accountable for how they manage taxpayers’ dollars. Finally, City Council is responsible for setting the vision – for listening to people and saying “this is the kind of community we want for the future”, then getting to work and getting things done.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Let’s get on with it. We’ve discussed and debated the west road issue for decades. A decision has been made. Let’s move on and get the road built. That doesn’t mean all our transportation problems are solved. We need to take the next steps to link the road to the Anthony Henday and the highway to Villeneuve. And we need to take a longer term look at transportation needs in the city, including the option of rapid transit connections to Edmonton.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I support the smoking bylaw and would not support re-opening the debate. This is a serious health issue. We need to make good health a priority in our community. The smoking bylaw was established through a democratic process and a decision was made. We can’t revisit and second-guess every difficult decision our Council makes. If big cities across Canada and around the world can go smoke-free for the health of their citizens, so can we.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
It makes no sense that young people who have grown up in St. Albert have to leave because they can’t afford to buy a home here. And seniors who have lived here all their lives shouldn’t have to leave because housing costs too much. St. Albert is a family community, yet for many families, living in our community is simply not an option. I wish that City Council had agreed to release the consultants’ report on affordable housing before the election instead of keeping it under wraps until the election is over. There is an affordable housing committee, but their views also have not been made public. We need open, public discussions about a variety of options for affordable housing. St. Albert needs a mix of housing options – and with good planning, I believe that’s possible without compromising the quality of our neighbourhoods.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
We need to take a longer term look at all our transportation issues. Do the solutions lie just in building more roads so we can send more cars into Edmonton every day? I don’t think so. I support exploring options for more public transit, including links to Edmonton’s LRT system.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I don’t pretend to understand all the details behind the agreement reached between the previous City Council and Sturgeon County. I’ve heard good things and bad; it depends on who you ask. The reality is that, if St. Albert is going to grow, the only place it can grow is to the north. The current approach seems to be to ignore the terms of the agreement, launch an annexation bid, fight the battle in court, then ask the provincial government to step in and make a decision for us. As a strategy, that doesn’t seem to be working very well. I’d rather see us sit down with Sturgeon County and come up with a reasonable plan that serves both our communities. That has to be better than spending thousands of dollars on legal fees and, in the end, having no direct say on what happens. There has to be a better way of resolving these issues.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
From what I’ve read and heard, the Hunter Ridge development is huge, and there’s little question that it would have an impact on St. Albert. I’m not sure I know enough about the pros and cons of the development to give a well-informed answer. There certainly are a lot of strong views on both sides. I’d like to get the facts from an unbiased source – and I don’t think I have that now. I do believe that, if we could get back to the negotiating table with Sturgeon County, we could find better solutions than fighting in court over developments like Hunter Ridge.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If the vote is yes, then the answer is clear. Let’s get on with it. The reason for having a plebiscite is to seek the views of the electorate. City Council has an obligation to listen and to act. If the vote is no, we’re back to the drawing board. Unfortunately, we won’t necessarily know why people voted no. Some people I’ve talked to say it’s in the wrong location. Some say the costs are too high. Others say they’re not going to use it so they don’t want to pay higher taxes. If the majority of people say no, my vote would be to reopen discussions with our neighbours to see if we can get a deal on another location at a better price.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The smoking bylaw is the first thing that comes to mind. It was and continues to be a very contentious issue. But it’s a health issue first and foremost. The decision was made, it was made through a democratic process, and it was the right one for our city. The reason I decided to run for City Council is because I want to see things get done. The smoking bylaw is one example where City Council actually made a decision and stuck to it.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Two come immediately to mind. The first was losing the St. Albert Saints. Do I blame them for the Saints leaving town? Yes, I do. Of course it was a business decision by the owners of the team, but if we had taken action sooner on a recreation complex, if the Council had worked more positively with the Saints, I believe they would have stayed. And it bothers me that the rest of us were all left in the dark until it was too late. The second is the deterioration of relationships with our neighbours. Rarely a week went by without more name calling, acrimonious debates, and posturing on both sides. I understand standing up for our City. But we can disagree without being disagreeable.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
It’s not what I’d call an “initiative” but one of the biggest challenges City Council will face is paying the bills – specifically, providing the services people want, meeting their expectations, and doing that at a price people are willing to pay. Right now, we have some big cost items on the horizon. The multi-purpose leisure centre. The west bypass and future transportation extensions. Increasing costs of utilities. Not to mention paying the bills for maintaining current services, parks, and facilities. Added to that problem is the fact that close to 90% of St. Albert’s tax burden falls on residential taxpayers. In spite of years of promises from consecutive City Councils, in fact, the balance of residential to non-residential property tax has gotten worse, not better. My approach will be to take a proactive approach to attract business to St. Albert including securing the land for new commercial developments, making sure we get the best value out of every dollar City Council spends, and keeping tax increases to an affordable level.
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Stanley Haroun
E-mail Address: sharoun@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 459-1095
Bio:
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Al Henry
E-mail Address: alanhenry@interbaun.com
Phone Number: 717-0305
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The Council is to set the Direction of St Albert.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I have entered this election with only one mandate and that is to force a Plebicite on the West Road.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
They should adopt the same exception formula as Edmonton. There are more pressing issues than revisiting this one.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Work with Sturgeon and Hunter Ridge to provide Affordable Housing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Suggestion: Use the ill gotten gains from the Red Light Cameras and the Vans to support Public Transit. With the cost of gas going through the roof we're going to need it.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
If Paul Chalifoux is not elected Mayor, hire him as a consultant to help with this mess.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Absolutely. It will provide the affordable housing St Albert needs.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?There will be a positive vote. Recreation Centres are Revenue Neutral that is they don't need to be subsidized. Our current facilities are subsidized to the tune of 60%. It will bring tourist dollars with tournaments and trade shows. It will bring business' to support the facility ie additionnal hotels and Sports Physicians. If it doesn't go, St Albert becomes less desirable for young families who are will to pay extra for the facilities and like the Saints they will go elsewhere. What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?Support of NABI Northern Alberta Business Incubator in Campbell Industrial Park. This is a major step in Economic Development in St Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The West Road without the support of the Province or the County and the underhanded Borrowing Bylaw.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Work with the Recreation Centre to raise funds from the Public and Privite Sector to reduce the initial cost.
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Brian Kendrick
No contact information yet
Bio:
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Kerry Kineshanko
Website: http://www.votekineshanko.8k.com
E-mail Address shank@telusplanet.net
Phone Number 993-7013
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To act in a way that reflects the mindset of a majority of St. Albertans.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes, the west road makes sense. No, the issue should not be revisited. Council's next step should be to secure as much funding as soon as possible for the road to be built on time.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No, the smoking bylaw should NOT be amended in any way. Those in favour of amending the bylaw are against democracy and the health of St. Albertans and in favour of special interest groups.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Rezone land to secure lot sizes that enable 1200 square foot or less single detached homes to be built on them instead of 2500 square foot. homes. My family and I bought our first house in Calgary in 1998 in a new neighbourhood and we loved it and it was affordable.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Ensure that all buses are as small as possible. We do not need large buses on nearly any of St. Albert routes. I would freeze bus pass costs for seniors at today's rates.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The first approach should be working in cooperation. Eventually Greater Edmonton and Region will become one Mega-Zone much like Greater Vancouver Regional District. St. Albert Council needs a long range plan with various scenarios (Shared Transit, Complementary Bylaws etc) played out.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Yes. The benefits to St. Albert will outweigh the negatives.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
I have reviewed the materials for the Rec Centre and while the current location isn't the best and it would have been nice if the last council hadn't blown it with our neighbours I believe we need to get the Rec Centre started. I support a yes vote although I would argue for higher fees for non-residents of St. Albert to use the facility. Since St. Albertans would be paying for the whole cost of the facility we should pay less for Facility Passes than non-residents. Fair is Fair.
In the event of a no vote, Council should get into talks with surrounding towns immediately and actually cooperate with them to get the Rec Centre built in a location that St. Albertans want as well as our neighbours.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Finally implementing a smoking bylaw.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Taking the entire term just to come up with a location - and not even a popular location - for the Rec Centre.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
Change the mill rate for Condominiums in St. Albert to match Sherwood Park's and Spruce Grove's. Condo owners (many of whom are seniors) are paying way above their fair share for services in St. Albert.
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Neil Korotash
E-mail Address: neil_k@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 418-2971
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to make policy decisions for the city of St. Albert and to assist residents with any issue or concern that may arise. Policy decisions include setting the budget / tax rate, determining the level of municipal services, and how such services will be paid for. As policy makers, city council is not supposed to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the city which can be frustrating. Residents often call expecting members of city council to "fix their sidewalk" or "issue somebody a ticket" but that's not quite how it works. As members of council, it is our responsibility to direct these residents to the right department within the city and possibly even get them some answers if they have been unable to get them themselves. Also, if council gets many calls with regards to one particular area of the city's operations, it may be time to look at a new policy for that particular aspect of the corporation. This I believe is a somewhat simplistic, though accurate, view of the role of council.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I would have preferred that we had a plebiscite on the West Regional Road because it was such a controversial and divisive issue in the community. We also had two very clear alignments to choose from. That being said, those of us in favour of a plebiscite were defeated 4-3 in a vote early in our term and after that vote, I believe we made the right decision by moving forward. I have always supported the current alignment as I believe it is able to accommodate both regional traffic as well as local traffic. I also believe that there is little environmental impact and this has been confirmed through our extensive independent review process. The issue of the West Regional Road should not be revisited and council should get on as quickly as possible to get the entire length of the road done from the Anthony Henday through to Villeneuve Rd.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
As indicated in my response in the paper, I do not support re-visiting the smoking bylaw unless we are given a mandate to do so through this election. Even then I would only support amending the part of the bylaw that comes into effect July 1st 2005 which affects Bars, Bingos, Casinos, and Private clubs. The following is my position statement that I forwarded to "Smoke Free St. Albert": I fully support a smoking bylaw that prohibits smoking anywhere where minors are permitted. I also support a smoking bylaw that prohibits smoking anywhere the public must go without a reasonable non-smoking alternative. This would include for example bus stops, public buildings, common areas in residential and commercial buildings etc. I do not support a bylaw which prohibits smoking in establishments such as bingos, casinos, lounges, private clubs, or any other facility which is only accessible to those of legal age. I believe that adults are responsible enough to make decisions for themselves including whether or not they want to frequent or work for a smoking establishment. That being said, St. Albert City Council has already adopted a smoking bylaw. One skill that is required if we are to have a functional and competent council is the ability to move on and support a council decision once it is made no matter how much you may dislike it. While I can not support this bylaw, it is not a high priority of mine in the upcoming election to have it repealed. My
priorities include making progress on issues such as affordable living, environmental protection, community safety, and the multipurpose leisure facility. If a majority of council is elected that share my view with respect to smoking then it would be worthwhile to re-visit the issue. However if that does not occur it would only be detrimental to the city to continue to pursue amendments to the current bylaw.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council should work with the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to implement some of the strategies in the recently completed Affordable Housing Study. Some specific strategies that could be implemented almost immediately include amending the Land Use Bylaw to allow for smaller lots and increased densities within the city. Such modest changes would allow for an increased variety in housing types at less cost. When we look at affordable housing however, we must also look at affordable living. The affordability of St. Albert goes beyond the cost of accommodation, but also includes taxes, user fees, and utilities. We need to control taxes through continued efforts with economic development, but also sound financial planning. We need to keep user fees for recreation and transit services low and keep our utilities free of franchise fees and additional taxes.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I believe transit is an extremely important service provided by the city. It not only offers a benefit to the user, but also a benefit to the community at large as it reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. Studies show that transit also leads to increased economic development, worker mobility, and higher property values. That being said, our current projections for transit are not sustainable and we need to start to look at how the service operates. We have already made the move towards smaller more cost effective buses and perhaps it is time to look at alternative fuel sources as the price of diesel has been one of the most significant increases in transit over the past few years. We are also getting to the point where contracting out drivers isn't as cost effective as it used to be so I believe it may be time to re-evaluate whether or not we should have our own city drivers. Nevertheless, there will be changes required in transit to make it more sustainable but I don't think the answers are to drastically increase fares or to decrease significantly the level of service that we provide.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council must be able to have civil and respectful conversations with our neighbors but must also protect the interest of St. Albert taxpayers. The key to the annexation and the principal cause of the breakdown in negotiations is due to the cost / revenue sharing arrangement. Sturgeon County has asked for 50% of the commercial taxes along the highway corridor in exchange for annexation for a period of ten years from the start of any new development. We have calculated that this could be in excess of 80 million dollars and we simply can not afford that type of expense especially when it is unprecedented in the province. We require that commercial revenue to offset the residential land we would also be annexing, but Sturgeon council is unwilling to consider a cost / revenue sharing arrangement on both the residential and commercial land because they know there is no "net" profit. We need to continue to pursue a settlement similar to what has happened in every other annexation in this province and if it means going to the Municipal Government Board so be it. It may cost us a lot of money to go through mediation and arbitration, but is far far cheaper than what Sturgeon County has been asking for in terms of revenue sharing.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I absolutely do not support the hunter ridge development. They are proposing a city of 16,000 people at double the densities of St. Albert right on our border. Not only would it significantly increase the taxes of Sturgeon County residents, but it would also be very expensive for St. Albert residents. Currently, the developer is attempting to force St. Albert to provide our municipal services outside of our boundaries to service that development. This would mean huge costs to the city of St. Albert and thus St. Albert taxpayers. It also would significantly hamper the growth of our city.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
With an affirmative vote on the plebiscite council should move as quickly as possible to get the facility done. In fact the first reading of the borrowing bylaws have already been done so that if we get a yes vote, the contractor can begin construction November 4th. This is critical for construction company as they have submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price which they are responsible for. If they start construction any later, the prices may rise and then they are on the hook. With a yes vote, we anticipate the centre will be complete by the end of 2005. With a no vote, council must endeavor to find out why people voted no. Was it the location? The cost? The facilities? Once we know the reasons, we'll be able to make a decision on where to go. For example, if it was primarily the location, maybe we build the same facility but in another location a couple of years down the road when we have more room. If it is facilities, maybe we need to make some adjustments to the components of the facility. If it is cost, I have no idea what we will do as we need recreation facilities and there is no way of building them cheaper than this type of facility. This is the most cost effective way of delivering recreation services and building individual stand alone facilities is far far more expensive.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The first accomplishment that comes to mind is the West Regional Road however council really didn't have to do anything with respect to that priority. We gave direction a couple of weeks after the election to make it happen and it did - unfortunately it was tied up for a year and a half in the environmental approval process. Probably our biggest accomplishment that required the most work on the part of council members was the significant financial reforms we put in place. We re-wrote all of our reserve policies, our debt management policy, put in place a new self-sustaining utility model. We have become a leader in municipal finance and the envy of many other communities and this will pay significant dividends to the city in the future. We have really set this city up for success financially in the long
run.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Finally a question I feel I can use bullet form on!
- Not completing the Land Use Bylaw
- Not addressing the Traffic Bylaw (a concern for many residents)
- Failure to create a Tree Bylaw / Natural Areas Bylaw
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
You've pretty much covered most of the major issues except perhaps environmental issues and issues pertaining to our green spaces in St. Albert. We have had significant success with some of our environmental initiatives over the past few years - in fact the list is to numerous to list here. For example we have created and implemented a sediment control program to reduce the sediment going into the river, we have launched a comprehensive energy audit and retrofit program of all our city buildings, incorporated an Environmental Management System into our Transit Department, and the list goes on. We have also increased the budget for parks maintenance and tree maintenance quite substantially. That being said, there are still some environmental initiatives I would like to accomplish. We need a tree bylaw or a natural areas bylaw to prevent significant natural areas from being demolished particularly in newly developed areas. We also need to expand the scope of the environmental management system so it is front of mind for all city employees when making decisions.
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Curtis Krenbrenk
No contact information yet
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
Council’s role is to facilitate the social and economic infrastructure of the city to that all citizens’ lives are maintained and enhanced in the future.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Council should replace the West Regional Road with the Ray Gibbon Drive alignment, because it is cheaper and because it runs along Riel Park and will protect the parklands area at the mouth of Big Lake for the future.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
The smoking bylaw needs to protect smokers’ right to smoke as much as non-smokers’ right to a smoke free environment. The compromise is separate rooms with ventilation and air quality standards.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Council needs to facilitate the creation of high density housing, affordable homes for new families, and more rental apartments. Without all three approaches, Council will not solve our affordable housing problem.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Council needs to communicate with citizens. By finding out what transit users needs are, Council can remodel routes to be more effective for the community.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
The Intermunicipal Development Plan sets out St. Albert’s annexation needs over the next 60 years. It is a step by step approach that should be followed, rather than a sweeping approach that would creat continued friction with Sturgeon County.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No, Hunter Ridge is an encroachment on the City of St. Albert and must be stopped. If St. Albert had not taken up an adversarial position against Sturgeon County, we would not have this problem with the Hunter Ridge subdivision today. The new Council must regain a working partner relationship with Sturgeon County.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
It would be my duty if elected to oversee the building of the Recreation Centre if the public votes yes. A no vote would mean looking at alternatives such as smaller separate facilities for the 1700 seat ice arena and the Twin Soccer Fields.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The current Council’s greatest accomplishment is its involvement with the Northern Alberta Business Incubator which will help attract industry to St. Albert.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
Council’s greatest failing is its continued reliance on two income professionals as the only type of people St. Albert develops infrastructure and new homes for. This focus has meant that twenty-somethings have nowhere in St. Albert to live, seniors on fixed incomes are likely to be forced out, and taxes are out of control with no end in sight.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
I would implement a property tax freeze for seniors on fixed incomes, as the cost of the upcoming tax hikes will likely force many from the community.
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Bob Lewis
E-mail Address: boblewis17@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 458-7765
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To provide for the needs of the city in the best possible way within the framework of the budget.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
Yes. If council members that support the west road are elected, then the issue should not be revisited. If part 2 is the case, proceed as soon as the outstanding hurdles can be solved.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
No.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
They should include a density quota in each new subdivision. A %age of the land in the subdivision must be allotted to higher density, therefore, affordable housing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
The bus schedule and routes for transit needs to be overhauled. It has been "tweeked" to function for much too long. The next Council needs to work in conjunction with Edmonton to facilitate the next stage of the LRT to the northwest.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
We need to go back to the bargaining table and work with the county implementing the agreement that currently exists.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
No. Can you imagine, first of all, a complete development of high density housing?
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
Proceed with the building of the centre in agreement with the contractor. If a no vote, we must find out why it was a no vote and respond to the wishes of the electorate.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
The accounting and budget procedures.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
To work amicably with our neighbours.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
St. Albert is where Alberta's history began for the settling peoples. We need to showcase this (the Father Albert Lacombe story, the interaction with the indiginous people, our historical buildings, the Metis village, the growth of our province from this beginning) to Canadians and to the world and include an interpretive centre. This would have tremendous benefits for our business community, our arts groups and would stimulate a local economy that would take some of the burden off our dependence on residential taxes. Everyone thinks we need to attract new businesses. I believe we should start from within and develop our own around a central focus.
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Malcolm Parker
E-mail Address: mjparker@telus.net
Phone Number: 458-4727
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
The role of council is to establish policy related to budget, municipal services, taxation and administrative management of the city’s interests. This does not mean getting involved in day-to-day operations. That needs to be left to city managers responding to the wishes of council. The role of council is also to provide leadership, clear direction and long-term vision so that business plans can be in place to manage the city’s operations.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
I believe this project is necessary to ensure the safe and efficient flow of passenger and transport traffic through the region which will assist in relieving traffic congestion on the St. Albert Trail and Highway 2. I think the current Council has accomplished what most St. Albertans wanted and the issue should not be revisited. Council’s next steps include strict adherence to sound fiscal and environmental management during construction as well as solicitation of provincial funding to ensure the costs to taxpayers are reasonable.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I do not support re-visiting the smoking bylaw. The majority of our citizens are non-smokers. With a greater awareness of health hazards associated with smoking and an increased focus on health care, this trend will continue.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
Housing is a fundamental need for everyone. I believe our community has a responsibility to work cooperatively with developers and other levels of government to ensure that housing remains both available and affordable.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
Public transit is an important service provided by the city. Seniors, University students and NAIT students from St. Albert represent large and significant groups that value our public transit system. It is also part of the answer, long term, to the ever-increasing traffic problems we will face in St. Albert as the city and region continues to grow. Therefore, public transit must continuously be reviewed and re-evaluated to keep it affordable, efficient and a viable alternative for the citizens of St. Albert, especially those that choose not to own and run a vehicle of their own.
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
Council must facilitate future growth. Council must ensure that additional land for residential and commercial development is available. A win-win outcome for Sturgeon County and St. Albert is a high priority for me but any outcome must past my test regarding my role, which is to represent the best interests of St. Albert. I am convinced that a win-win outcome for the region is possible. The City has initiated an annexation application to the Municipal Government Board who will make the final ruling on this complex issue. There will be an opportunity with new faces on both the City and County Councils to meet in a spirit of cooperation and develop a positive proposal that could assist the MGB with its decision.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
I am extremely concerned about the Hunter Ridge development and quite frankly cannot see it as a viable development on the edge of St. Albert. How services are to be provided has been vague and recent court judgements in favour of St. Albert have upheld the fact that St. Albert is not obliged to service Hunter Ridge as a County development. If the original IDP agreement framework is to work, the County of Sturgeon will withdraw from the business of residential, city-like development which Hunter Ridge clearly is. When annexation of the lands occurs, including the Hunter Ridge area, major changes would likely be required related to housing density standards in order to conform to the rules and practices established in St. Albert.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
With a yes vote, the Recreation Centre will go ahead based on the terms of the plebiscite. My greatest concerns relate to cost and the next Council will have to engage in cost sharing opportunities with provincial and private funding sources and closely steward actual costs to the budgeted costs. With a no vote, negotiations with Sturgeon County should resume, presumably after annexation problems are put to rest, to identify alternative locations and cost sharing. A survey of St. Albert citizens may be necessary to identify the reason(s) behind a no vote in order to develop an optimum plan for a much needed multi–rec facility.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
One of the most significant (and uncontroversial) accomplishments of the last council relates to the financial controls and budget management processes required of the city administrative departments. Various other financial reforms have been put in place which reflect good corporate management.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
The greatest failing or disappointment felt by myself and a lot of St. Albert’s citizenry stems from the confrontational stance that seems to have plagued this last council, whether by its own doing or by others. How much of this can be blamed on history is hard to say but one would hope that the future is less so under a new Council. In some areas, a fresh start won’t hurt and may be welcomed even by incumbents.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
My skill sets relate to leadership, teamwork, planning, communication, and sound management. I don’t see myself focussing too narrowly on specific initiatives early in my tenure on Council, although I’m sure there will be a number of causes and concerns to champion and give leadership to when the time arises. My first objectives will be to advance quickly on an accelerated learning curve to embrace the most immediate priorities. I will most assuredly work with other members of council to establish annual business plans that focus on fewer rather than many priorites so the chances of success are achievable. Accountability will be measured over the three year period to determine how well these priorities have been realized.
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Bob Russell
Website: http://www.electbob.ca
E-mail Address: robertr@telusplanet.net
Phone Number: 459-8274
Bio:
What is the role of Council as you see it?
To set policy for administration to carry out.
Did the current Council make the correct decision on the question of the west road? If not, should this issue be revisited? What should Council's next steps be?
The decision on the road was a bad one. There was a plebiscite covered but never carried out. No one in City Hall has any idea what this will cost. Every voter should walk down to the Big Lake viewing platform and ask themselves if it is a good place to build a major roadway. The latest screwup, as detailed in the September 24 edition of the Saint City News, is the Borrowing Bylaw.
The issue should be revisited in terms of location and cost.
Should the smoking bylaw adopted by the current Council be amended in any way? If so, how?
I am a non smoker and my home is non smoking, but I don't think some do-gooders on council should decide that our veterans cannot smoke at the Royal Canadian Legion - there is already a non-smoking area there.
What approach should the next Council take to affordable housing?
I served on the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association's provincial task force on affordable housing and have written briefs on the question. We need to review our land use by law and take steps to provide affordable housing (I could fill several pages on this) The important factor is this current council has had three years to do something and has done nothing.
What approach should the next Council take to public transit?
I usually avoid studies but, our transit problems cry out for a study. We have too many double buses traveling interior roadways with two or three people on board. We need to ask one basic question: are we providing a good service for the majority of citizens at a reasonable cost?
What approach should the next Council take to annexation issues?
I served as a co-chairman during negotiations with Sturgeon County. Mayor Plain's massive annexation move is a violation of our Intermunicipal Development Plan. We need to withdraw that annexation application, sit down with the County, and review the original IDP.
Do you support the Hunter Ridge development?
Hunter Ridge is a knee-jerk reaction by a developer to the bullheaded attitude of Mayor Plain. We need to review this plan with the County.
What should the next Council do in the event of an affirmative vote on the Recreation Centre plebiscite? A negative vote?
If our citizens vote against the rec plebiscite then we need to sit down with the County and look again at the joint venture we discussed and negotiated before the last election.
What was the greatest accomplishment (or accomplishments, if you can't limit yourself to one) of the current Council?
Easy question, easy answer: this current council has only achieved one accomplishment, a traffic line down 170 street - a matter negotiated by the
former council of which I was a member.
What was the greatest failing (or failings, if you can't limit yourself to one), of the current Council?
They have managed to screw up everything. They fired the City Manager, fired the City engineer, and fired the Superintendent of Public Works. They got into a fight with the County. They raised taxes three years in a row. They moved the recreation site three times in four months. Frankly, these bozos couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery.
Are there any specific initiatives that you would undertake if elected that were not covered by the above questions?
We need to meet with the County and resolve our issues (the Wal-Mart site tax issue, annexation, and future growth and servicing issues (i.e. water/sewer/transportation). We need to review busing and affordable housing. We need to give support to a good civil service - set policy and let them do their job.
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Ben Van De Walle
Website: http://www.benvdw.ca
Phone Number: 951-9753
Bio:
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