The Financial Table Is Set. What's Next?

When I decided in June 2018 that I would not run for Mayor again, I knew that this time of transition would occur. Back then we hoped that most tasks would be completed, leaving the next Council the opportunity to follow their own path.

And while we have completed most major projects – including officially opening the new Meridian Community Centre – some important financial and land transactions that will need to wrap up during the new Council term.

I liken it to having the table set and the meal ready to be served. Now the Town is waiting to see what the new Council will do. Will they follow the menu and serve the meal as prepared? Will they scale it back? Will they add to it? Or, will they rip out the table cloth and watch the glasses smash on the floor?

So, what is on the menu and has been prepared? What is in place for the financing for the new Meridian Community Centre and for the Town of Pelham?

You will recall that the financing plan for the $35.5 million Community Centre budget included a number of elements:

Tax Levy Debenture:

The Town took out a $9.1 million 30-year debenture in 2016. This is like a mortgage that you might have on your house, but with two major differences: 1) it’s for a very low rate (3.34%) and 2) it’s the same amount for 30 years. That means that as interest rates increase the Town continues to pay the historically low, locked-in rate. The Town already included the $47 increase for the average home (valued at $309,200 in 2016) in your 2016 property taxes. Your future taxes do not have to be increased any more for this debenture.

This is the only part of the financing for the new Community Centre that is being funded by your property taxes.

Development Charges:

The outgoing Council also set in place the process for new growth in the Town to pay $12.1 million of the new Community Centre via Development Charges (DCs). DCs are charged on each new unit or home built in the Town. A portion of these charges cover the capital costs for “indoor recreational facilities” – in our case for the new Community Centre. Council updated the entire DC Bylaw in 2018 to capture even more funds to cover growth related projects. And, while the DC Bylaw has to be renewed at least every five-years, the financial plan is initiate a “scoped” update – just for “indoor recreational” capital costs – either each year or, at minimum, every two years. At no cost to existing tax payers, an annual update could help to pay down this Centre’s DC component even quicker.

Donations:

You will recall that our initial financing budget hoped for $3 million from community fundraising. Because of a very generous community we actually raised more than $3.3 million in gifts and pledges to date! And, the new Council could promote more fundraising opportunities -- like completing the community seat campaign, for example.

Land Sales:

The initial budget also called for $12 million to be raised by sale of lands. I am pleased to report that we have generated $11.7 million from land sales so far. These are firm offers, but they are conditional. 

This calculation includes the $3.0 million offer of a portion of the former Arena property for a development that will follow the plan generated by the local community. (That community plan calls for selling about 55% of the Haist Street property for single family homes and townhouses, and keeping about 45% in public ownership.)

Some of these land transactions close before the end of 2018, with the rest closing in early-2019. And, the Town still owns approximately 4 acres of lands surrounding the new Community Centre that should be sold in 2019 to generate more revenue.

Costs Under Budget / Revenue Exceeds Costs:

As reported by the Community Centre Oversight Committee, the overall project actually came in at $35.4 million – that’s more than $785,000 under budget. (That’s thanks to the amazing efforts of the Ball Construction, Petroff Architects, the Oversight Committee, and Town Staff!)

If you add up each of the elements above, the revenue comes to $36.1 million and exceeds costs by $700,000.

Now, a few folks might argue that some of the revenue comes in over time – called “deferred revenue” in Municipal Financing parlance. Some of the fundraising, for example, includes multi-year pledges. And, as mentioned, the current land sales will close in 2018 and during the second quarter of 2019.

For the fundraising, this means that the new Council should “steward” the donors – be sure to continue to thank them and honour their agreements – so that their support continues. And, the new Council can continue promoting seat sales in the Accipiter Arena.

As mentioned already, the new Council can continue to sell the additional lands in East Fonthill – and this should more than cover any financing costs for the deferred revenue.

New Revenue from New Development:

While some people don't like the new homes and businesses in the Town, that growth was inevitable. Why? Because the "urban boundaries" -- the areas where new homes and businesses could be built -- was added to the Town in 1990 for Fenwick and in 2000 for East Fonthill.

Our job as a Council was to work with you to plan the development in the best possible way to add to the Town.

And, the hundreds of millions of dollars in the value of those new homes and new businesses, means that the Town will receive millions of dollars of new property tax revenue. Our Council planned on using that revenue to pay down debt and build up reserves.

Impact by the New Council:

Obviously, the new Council will need to get up-to-speed on all elements of this financing plan – how the table has been set and ready to go.

Yet, there is a risk for our community. The new Council could alter these arrangements. 

For example, many recently elected Councillors have said that they don’t want to follow the plan that was developed by the local residents for the former Arena site; some said that they either want to develop another plan or keep the entire site for parkland. If they try to follow through with those statements and stop the land sale, they would hit the community with a multi-million loss of revenue in 2018.

Or, if they decide not to follow legal advice and do something to jeopardize the land-deal closings in East Fonthill, they could cause additional multi-million impacts in 2019.

Whose Issues? Each of Ours:

While I know in my head that after November 30 these are not the problems of myself and the current Council. Yet, I feel in my heart the deep care we each share about the Town’s future.

As a private citizen starting December 1, I will hope that the new Council will accept how the table has been set and follow this financial plan for the benefit of our entire Town.

Rededicating Ourselves to Peace

Hundreds of Pelham residents took time to gather with local Veterans, members of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary, the 613 Army Cadets, the Pelham Fire Service, and others at the Veteran’s Park at the Fonthill Legion to commemorate and remember the sacrifices of Pelham’s Veterans.

Others also joined a nation-wide initiative called the “Bells of Peace” as they gathered at five Pelham churches – Holy Trinity, Fonthill United, Fenwick United, St. Ann Roman Catholic, and First Presbyterian. Each of these churches rang their bells 100 times at dusk to mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of the First World War.

This special year and each Remembrance Day it is right to remember those brave men and women who have served, and who continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict, and peace.

We honour them for their courage, their commitment, and their devotion to standing “on guard” for Canada.

Engraved on the cenotaphs throughout our Town and on the bricks at Veterans Park upon which we have stood for 10 years are the names of those from Pelham and area that were killed in service. May their memories also be engraved on our hearts.

The democratic freedoms that so many of us might take for granted – the freedom to express ourselves, to participate in cultural, religious, and political activities, to come and go as we please, to associate with whom we please, and to pursue a safe and happy life – are all due to the sacrifices of Veterans and those who serve today. They sacrificed their futures so that our future might be one of peace and happiness.

Yet, we must also recognize that war and conflict are man-made. They develop from traits inside each us and from our actions and inactions. War and conflict arise from those times when we have not sought justice, from those selfish moments when we have deadened our spirit to the needs and to the sufferings of others.

Instead of allowing those negative qualities to grow, let us strive to listen to each other with an open mind. Let us reopen our hearts to the needs of others.

Therefore, at this time, the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War One, let us be thankful. Let us never forget. Let us reopen our hearts to the needs and the sufferings of others. And, as we reflect on the “Bells of Peace”, let us rededicate ourselves to justice and to peace in our community.


Dave Augustyn served as the Mayor of the Town of Pelham and a Niagara Regional Councillor from 2006 to 2018. You may provide your ideas and feedback to Dave at daugustyn@cogeco.ca or check out his Dave Augustyn NOW columns at www.daveaugustynnow.blogspot.com.

Introducing Dave Augustyn Now

It has been my honour to serve as Mayor of the Town of Pelham and a Niagara Regional Councillor for the past twelve years. I launched my Online Journal in 2008 and since that time I’ve authored nearly 400 columns about community issues and the business of local government.

 As I transition by career from that of a political representative I look forward to continuing to share my observations about local politics and community matters via my newly renamed Online Journal ‘Dave Augustyn Now.’

Please note that the name of this Facebook Page will soon be changed to reflect my new URL: www.daveaugustynnow.blogspot.com. As always, I welcome your ideas and feedback. I can be reached via email atdaugustyn@cogeco.ca ~Dave

Premier Ford and Appointing Niagara's Regional Chair

And, so it begins…. We are hearing rumblings of at least one – Niagara Falls Councillor Bob Gale – testing the waters in an attempt to become the 2018-22 Regional Chair.

While the new term of Council officially begins until December 1, Regional Council cannot convene until the indirectly-elected Councillors – the 12 Mayors – are officially sworn in at the local Councils.

So, on Thursday, December 6 at 10:00 AM, the Regional Clerk will officially convene the inaugural meeting. She will first administer the “Declaration of Office” for the 19 directly and 12 indirectly elected members.

Then, the first and only order of business is the election of the Regional Chair.

Candidates from Council Only:
In the first phase of the election, the Regional Clerk will ask for nominations for candidates. Only newly-minted Regional Councillors can run as a candidate to become Chair. Following nominations, each candidate will have a chance to speak for five minutes.

While the Municipal Act does allow the election of any qualified elector from Niagara to be nominated and elected Chair, historic precedent, two Council resolutions (in 1991 and again in 2013), and confirmation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, means that Council elects a Chair from the recently elected members of Council.

Run-Off Election and Secret Ballot:
If two or more candidates run for Chair, the Clerk will oversee the “run-off” election (like used in some political leadership contests). For example, if after the first ballot, no candidate receives a majority of the votes – 17 – then the candidate with the fewest votes “drops-off” the ballot, and Councillors will vote on the remaining candidates on another ballot. The voting continues until one candidate receives a majority.

Interestingly, while the Municipal Act allows for the option of secret or open ballots, Niagara Regional Council’s procedural bylaw stipulates that the vote for Regional Chair “shall” be a secret vote.

Believe it or not, the new Council actually considers a motion to destroy the ballots… I voted against this last time; I hope this new Council will do the right thing and release the ballots publicly.

Filling the Vacancy:
Following their election as Chair, the Councillor must “give up” his or her seat – creating a vacancy on Council. How is that seat filled? Regional Council follows the advice of the local City or Town Council. The options include a by-election, appointing the next candidate in the last general election, appointing another qualified elector. In the case of filling the Chair’s seat, precedent has been to appoint the next candidate in the most recent election – Tim Rigby after Peter Partington was acclaimed Chair in 2006; David Lepp after Gary Burroughs became Chair on a fourth-ballot victory in 2010, and Kelly Edgar after 18 voted to appoint Alan Caslin as Chair on the first ballot in 2014.

Horse Trading:
Sadly, this appointment system has significant drawbacks. First, it’s anti-democratic. We should be able to elect the Regional Chair – who is like the Mayor for Niagara – from across the entire Peninsula. Other Regions – like Waterloo – have been doing this for more than 25 years… You and I were to have elected the Chair “at-large” across Niagara this time, but Premier Ford and the PC Majority at Queen’s Park negated that election on Friday, 27 July 2018.

Second, the appointment system lends itself to “horse-trading.” We saw this in spades in 2014 when some Councillors traded their vote for Chair for something else. “If you vote for me, I will ensure that you get on the Police Board.” “I’ll support you if I can be chair of the Public Works committee.” Or, “I want to get on the Niagara Parks Commission. Can you guarantee that?” And, sadly, there was some bullyingly too: “We already have 22 votes for him. If you don’t support him as Chair, we will make sure your community doesn’t get any Regional investments.”

As you can see from the votes in 2014 – it was easy to figure out the single-ballot – this is where the so-called Cabal got their foundation. As nauseating as it is, some Councillors were actually given “who to vote for” cards so the Cabal could live-up to their Board appointment assurances. 

Again, an election at large would help sanitize appointments and help to stop this kind of Cabal formulation.

Ford’s Wildcards:

Not many agree, but I think the Ford Government can still impact the Niagara’s Chair election. Here’s how.

First, they could insist that nominations for the Regional Chair must be open to any Niagara elector (and not just from Council). Why would they do this? If they don’t like the option(s) for Chair from Council – like odds-on favorite Jim Bradley, for instance – they could open it up for someone else to run. It would mean that someone on the sidelines could throw their hat into the ring. Ford would take this option if there is an element of success for a preferred “outside” candidate.

Second, the Ford Government could go one step further and actually appoint the next Regional Chair. Yes, it is possible. It falls under the “Municipalities are the children of the Province mantra” that we heard during the 47-seats to 25-seats chaos with the City of Toronto election. And, as most people forget, the Provincial Government appointed Niagara’s Regional Chair from 1970 to 1985 – namely the beloved John Campbell.

But, why would the Premier even entertain these options? It would allow the Province to dictate and oversee a governance review in Niagara. At the recent AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) conference, Municipal Affairs Minister Clark promised a “review” of Regional governments following this Fall’s elections. Appointing a Chair would ensure governance is dealt with this term. And, as a side benefit for the ruling Conservatives, it would stop Jim Bradley, life-long Liberal, from becoming the Chair. (The Tories could also use this step in Peel – where Brampton recently elected Patrick Brown as Mayor.)

Regardless of what happens in December, expect City / Town / Regional governance reform to be a top-priority for this 2018-22 term of Council. And, please call for a release of the ballots when the new Council appoints its Chair.

_____________________________________
6 November 2018:
For more information about the Chair's election, please see the Welland Tribune:
https://www.wellandtribune.ca/news-story/9007731-new-regional-councillors-mulling-over-next-chair/

Also, I was on 610 AM CKTB this morning about this issue. To listen, please click here.

Thanks!

Thanks so much to all who voted for me and supported my campaign for a better Region!

I appreciate you standing up for Pelham and for wanting to improve Niagara together.
Congratulations and best wishes to the new Regional Councillor-elect. Congratulations, as well, to the new Mayor-elect and Town-Councillors-elect.

When my family and I decided this summer that I would not run again as Mayor, we knew that the time would come for me to pass the gavel to a new Mayor. I am happy to offer any assistance I can provide between now and the start of the new term (on December 1) to help with a smooth transition to the new Town Council term and the new Regional Council term.

It has been my honour and pleasure to work together with the Councillors, Town staff, and the community and to serve as your Mayor over the last 12 years. Together we have achieved great things and helped our community grow and become stronger.

Working together we revitalized our Downtowns, rebuilt our playgrounds, expanded our library, rebuilt our pool, built two new Fire Halls, fixed up our roads, added +20 kms sidewalks and trails, and invested in infrastructure that helps residents and businesses prosper. This Fall officially opened Pelham’s new Community Centre – on time and under budget. The Centre is the place for people of all ages to gather, celebrate, and make “memories that matter.”

I’ve also served on Regional Council – standing up for Pelham to renew Regional roads and bridges, fix our long term care home, construct a new dog park, and to keep taxes low by chairing the Region’s $1 billion budget, and to promote incentives for industrial and business growth.
I stood up at the Region against the wasting of tax dollars with cost overruns and Councillor expenses, against the rigged hiring of the CAO, and I’ve worked for reform of the NPCA.

I ran to bring back integrity to the Region and the NPCA, to move Niagara’s economy forward, and to create a more compassionate society. I continue to believe in the promise of Niagara and I hope to continue to play a role in achieving this future together.

Thanks, again, for your support and encouragement!

Proven Leadership & Experience for A Better Region

Now more than ever, our Region needs proven leaders.

We are at a critical turning point in Niagara. We have the opportunity to reset our Regional Council and restore the reputation of the Niagara Peninsula that has been tarnished by scandals and controversies at the Region and NPCA. In order to do this, we require proven leaders, with a plan and clear vision for bringing about positive change.

As both Mayor and Regional Councillor for the last 12 years, I have demonstrated how I have stood up for Pelham and helped lead positive change in our community and across the Region. I chaired the Region’s $1 billion budget for four years (2011-2014) – approving increases 20% less than inflation and 4% lower than this current term of Council. I worked to improve Regional infrastructure and parks in Pelham – including servicing and reconstruction of Rice Road, the Regional Road 20 expansion, the replacement of O’Reilly’s Bridge, and the construction of the Centre Street Dog Park. I championed protection of the Fonthill Kame and led the Town's and Region's efforts for the removal of the contaminated “Fenwick Berm.” I also worked against the efforts by the NPCA to destroy age-old wetlands and I voted against all urban boundary expansion proposals.

Serving on all four “standing committees” and many other subcommittees, I also developed a complete understanding of our Regional government system and structure – knowledge and experience that will be crucial, particularly with a new Mayor and new Regional Councillors.
To lay the foundation for an effective and stable regional government moving forward, representatives with demonstrated leadership and Council experience will be a huge asset. I will help provide guidance, share knowledge and ultimately, allow our Regional Government to help make Niagara as successful as possible.

Pelham is positioned to lead by example at the Region. We are a growing community that has succeeded in attracting investment, developing plans for smart growth within our urban boundaries, protecting our environmental features, supporting our senior populations and investing in quality-of-life benefits in a sustainable way.

Working together, we have brought about positive change that is responsible, sustainable and reflective of our population.

If elected to serve Pelham as Regional Councillor, I will bring my proven experience leading positive change in Pelham to the Region. I would be honoured to offer leadership and knowledge to a new Regional Council so that we may truly bring integrity back to the Region and build a more prosperous and compassionate Niagara.

I see an exciting future for Pelham and I believe in the promise of Niagara! With your support today, we can continue to build that exciting future and fulfill that promise for the entire Niagara Peninsula.

Fonthill Kame, Cannabis, and Senior Campuses at AMO Conference

Last week, Councillor Accursi, Councillor Papp, Town CAO Ottaway, and I attended the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa. The annual three-day conference offered a range of learning sessions and networking opportunities for the more than 1,500 delegates.

While at AMO, your Pelham representatives also met with various Ministries to directly advanced your interests with the Provincial Government.

We met with Hon. Jeff Yurek, MPP, Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF), and Toby Barrett, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant, about maintaining and increasing the protection of the Fonthill Kame. Over the last 10 years, we effectively used AMO and “Niagara Week” meetings to urge the Province to enhance the Area of Natural & Scientific Interest (ANSI) protections of the Kame. For the last few years we thanked the Provincial Government for finalizing those protections in late-2013. Now, we asked to work together with MRN Staff to add more of the Fonthill Kame to the protections offered by the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

We are delighted that Minister Yurek indicated that the Government would not be changing the ANSI protections! We look forward to working together on further safeguards.

We also met with Hon. Steve Clark, MPP, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, about Provincial funding. We encouraged the government to fund municipal projects that help create wealth and prosperity for a community; we spoke not only about projects like downtown revitalizations but also community and cultural facilities like community centres and libraries. We also discouraged the government from investing in projects that create more sprawl – like urban boundary expansions or “smart centers” disconnected from community. Ministry Staff indicated that they could work with the Town on these issues.

The Minister also informed us about his planned review of Regional governments following this Fall’s municipal elections; we indicated that Niagara would definitely want to participate. This was consistent with his message earlier in the conference when he shared his focus in working with local governments: cut red tape, increase the housing supply, reduce unnecessary reporting, strengthen regional governments, and find efficiencies.

We also listened to the three party leaders. Premier Ford acknowledged that Cities and Towns are “closest to the people” and stated that the Government had no plans for Toronto-type election reform on other cities “in the near future.” The Premier ended his speech talking about his Government by stating: “A new day has dawned in Ontario.”

Obviously AMO also many includes educational sessions and panel discussions.

Because of Pelham Council’s ongoing work, I especially appreciated the panel about “campus-style” approaches for Long-Term Care and retirement homes. We can use some of these suggestions to further enhance Pelham’s plans for a new medical centre, new seniors affordable housing, new senior’s apartments, a retirement residence, and a long-term care facility in Fonthill. Scheduled to start over the next year, these new housing and service developments are planned around the new Community Centre, Wellspring Niagara’s new Regional Cancer Support Centre, and the new stores and restaurants.

I also attended an information session about “Cannabis and Communities” – where the Provincial representatives shared that one of the “first orders of business” for a Council will be to decide whether to “opt-out” of allowing recreational cannabis retail outlets in their City or Town.

Finally, I was pleased to attend a session by representatives of Petrolia, Sioux Lookout, and East Gwillimbury about ways in which they worked with neighbouring communities to combine services to residents and businesses or find efficiencies in those services. I am committed to helping these types of discussions among the cities and towns across the Niagara Peninsula.

Not only did the AMO Conference encourage your Pelham delegates to use “best practices” and reach higher goals, we also used it as a tremendous opportunity to advance your interests with Provincial Ministries and build relationships with other municipal leaders.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca and find documents and past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.

Broad-Based Consultation for B&Bs and Vacation Properties

An overflow crowd assembled at last week’s Town Council meeting, because of concern raised in the community over “short-term rental properties.”

You see, some home-owners in the Lookout Point neighbourhood – between Haist and Lookout Streets and north of Regional Road 20 – have complained to their Ward Councillors and Town Staff about a couple of other property owners who rent-out their homes or rooms via AirBnB. These residents are concerned with increased traffic, more street parking, their own property values, noise, and of not knowing who might be renting their neighbour’s home. These residents feel like their enjoyment of their homes and properties have been impacted by the decisions of others. And, while these issues are being felt in communities across the country and around the world, these residents turned to the Town for help.

The Ward Councillors raised the matter at a June Committee meeting and Council directed Staff to work with residents to find out more and to propose a possible course of action. Staff held four meetings with residents to find out more about their concerns and to consider possible solutions.

While the Town’s Official Plan allows Bed & Breakfast facilities, the Zoning Bylaw makes no reference to B&Bs or vacation properties. Since this type of designation does not currently exist under zoning, the group suggested that the Town work toward defining these type of short-term rentals.

The key is that once the Town defines the type of use, it can regulate the use – for location, parking requirements, safety, noise, and other elements. The group also suggested that the Town learn from other communities facing these same issues.

Town Staff informed the resident group that Staff would present a report recommending a community consultation toward this approach to Council at our August 13 meeting.

A week before that report become public, a resident in that neighbourhood started an on-line petition. Someone also wrote an anonymous opinion piece that threatened that Council “intends to permit this use in every home within the town—every home, on every street, in every neighbourhood” and that Council saw this as a “new revenue stream.” These inaccurate missives suggested that people flood the Council Chamber and demand a total ban of short-term vacations rentals across the Town (which would not be legal) and also that the matter be deferred until after the election this Fall.

This anonymous “call to arms” caused panic across the Town and helped fill the Council Chamber last Monday.

Obviously, nothing could be further from the truth on what the Town had planned. In fact, Staff recommended a more broad-based community consultation begin so that the use might be defined to match the desires of our community.

During the meeting, the Town’s director of planning corrected the record and addressed the many inaccuracies and false statements that were published in an August 8, 2018, opinion column in a local newspaper and on the Change.org website. This correct information helped quell the panic of residents.

Councillors discussed the Staff report and the statement and directed that the Town undertake fulsome, broad based discussions with the community regarding this issue. Please look forward to these discussions this Fall. We will want to know where bed and breakfast establishments and vacation rentals should or should not be permitted; and if they are to be permitted, what should be the conditions? Only following that community discussion will there be a further report to Council with options on whether or not to amend the zoning bylaw and/or to introduce licensing of these uses; that will take a few months to do, depending on the feedback.

Council and I look forward to rational and constructive discussions of this issue and to a community-based solution. We also recognize the importance of the issue, since it is currently affecting folks across the Town.

Please check out the planning director’s statement, the Staff report, other documents and a video of our Council meeting at the Town’s website: www.pelham.ca.

We look forward to working together with you and your neighbours to address short-term rental properties.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca or read past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.

Answering Pool, Haist Arena, and Double-Pad Questions

Since some people asked me recently about certain elements of the Meridian Community Centre, and the former Haist Street Arena, I thought I would also answer their questions here.

Business Case:
As you know, recreational and cultural services in Pelham was at a log-jam for decades. Numerous consultant reports outlined great desires and drew nice designs of community centres. However, none evaluated the operating costs nor tested the business case. It was like those former reports offered a shiny new sports car but failed to account for operating costs and whether the community could afford to drive it.

To help break the impasse, the Town hired Leisureplan International to develop a market analysis and business case study.

Indoor Pool:
Despite the desire – which still continues today – LeisurePlan recommended against including an indoor pool. They stated that demand for an indoor pool was only at 50% of that required to financially support it. This lack of sustaining demand makes sense because there are three indoor pools 5, 10 and 15 minutes from the Meridian Community Centre – at the Niagara Centre YMCA, Welland Wellness Centre, and Brock University.

LeisurePlan reported “To be financially viable, a significant annual operating subsidy would be required from the Municipality in the order of $1,000,000 per year.” This is in line with other municipal pools; the Kiwanis Aquatic Centre in in St. Catharines, for example, costs $1.6 million net per year (expenses $2.36 million; revenues $734K).

An extra $1 million for an indoor pool would mean about a 9% increase in property taxes for the average residential property, plus another 3% for financing the construction costs. Obviously, Council did not include a pool in the Centre.

Double Arena:
There are still some questioning the need for a double arena.

While LeisurePlan initially estimated that a second arena wouldn’t be financially sustainable until 2023, arena users questioned the completeness of that data and the Architectural Design Advisory Committee struggled with the feasibility of a phased design. LeisurePlan considered the missing information and concluded in June 2015 that “a second ice pad would be utilized 69%-77% during prime time” and recommended providing a second ice pad by 2018. In July 2015, Council agreed with that recommendation and directed that the design include two arenas.

It’s a good thing we did because we will exceed those demand projections for the second ice pad. The Town signed binding five-year usage agreements with local minor hockey and figure skating associations to use 100% of the Accipiter Arena and more than 90% of the Duliban Insurance Arena during prime time. (And the ice is currently being used in the Duliban; Staff plan to get the ice in the Accipiter once Lacrosse season ends this month.)

Twinning Haist Arena:
As the Town is currently decommissioning it, some folks have asked by whether the former Arena on Haist Street was ever built to be twinned.

We know that this Arena did not meet the Building Code when it was constructed; that’s why the brick cracked and the Town had to spend $120,000 to reinforce the arena walls a few years ago. And, we know that the Town scrimped on the construction in the 1970s – shrinking both the ice surface and changeroom size. Yet, this rumour prevails…

So, about four years ago, I asked a building official to examine the original plans for the Haist Street Arena to see if they gave any hints on the potential for twinning. The plans showed no indication of twinning – like you might do with hatching or marking an area “for future expansion.” Further, and more telling, had the structure been twinned, the fire / emergency exits on the East or West sides of the building would have exited right into a second rink.

Reflecting on these questions, I find solace in a quote from Winston Churchill: “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”

I am pleased that we have constructed Pelham’s new Meridian Community Centre based on a solid business case analysis and that it will serve as our community’s gathering place and recreational space for people of all ages and abilities for decades to come.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca or read past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.

Cancelling the Chair Election

Ken Seiling was re-elected in Waterloo Region, 2014.
Waterloo Region has elected the Regional Chair-at-large since 1997.

In light of the Ontario Government’s unexpected and anti-democratic announcement a week-and-a-half ago to cancel the Niagara Chair election this Fall, I filed my nomination in Pelham to become a Regional Councillor. I hope to win a seat on Council and to work together with other Councillors, residents and businesses across the peninsula to fix the Region’s integrity crisis and to create a better Niagara.

2016 Legislation:
In the Fall of 2016, the Province introduced legislation that included mandating the election of all Ontario’s Regional Chairs by the public-at-large, starting in 2018. While this push toward a more accountable and democratic election alarmed a few folks in Niagara, those watching the Municipal sector weren’t surprised.

At the time, Niagara stood as the only hold-out Region that still wanted to appoint the Chair from among members of Council. All other areas either already elected their Chair of Regional Council at large, or were working toward doing so.

Waterloo Region began electing their Chair 21 years ago. Halton Region has elected a Regional Chair since 2000. Durham Region first elected their Regional Chair in 2014.

A bill to elect the York Regional Chair-at-large was before the Ontario Legislature in 2016. And, in 2013, Peel Regional Council directed staff to report after the 2014 election on options to directly elect their Chair for the 2018 municipal election.

History:
When they first created Regional Governments in the 1970s, the Province also appointed the first Regional Chairs. After our first Chair (John Campbell) retired in 1985, Council appointed one of its own as Chair from Council (Wilber Dick).

This appointment process meant that the new Chair had to give up his or her seat and was appointed for the entire four-year term of Council.

In 1991 and again in 2013, Council reaffirmed this process of appointing from Council. And, since the Municipal Act states that if a Mayor were appointed as Chair he or she would have to give up his or her position on the City or Town Council, for practical purposes only elected Regional Councillors (not Mayors) put their names forward for Chair.

An Opportunity for Niagara:
With the direct election of Chair-at-large, candidates for the Chair’s position were putting together a vision that would appeal to all of Niagara. These visions were similar to the visions that Mayoral candidates present to the public – but they were for all in the peninsula.

Directly electing the Regional Chair would have helped pull the views and hopes of our Region’s citizen’s together and could have become an important and unifying force for moving Niagara forward.

I believed that it would have also helped us to work together to become more open, transparent, accountable, and democratic in Niagara.

Recent Announcement:
Sadly, the new Provincial government recently announced that they would be stripping that democratic right away from millions of voters in Niagara, Muskoka, Peel and York.

It doesn’t make sense that a Government that claims to be “for the People” removes your and other people’s right to vote and decide on our future together. And to erroneously claim that directly electing the Niagara Chair added an “additional level of government [that] competes with local municipalities” is misleading and insulting.

I had put my name forward to run for Regional Chair because hundreds of people across Niagara asked me to bring integrity back to the Region and lead the peninsula forward. To those who see the major problems our Region’s facing and the opportunities we are missing, the Government’s cancellation changes nothing. My commitment to restoring integrity to our Regional Government and bringing prosperity and compassion to people is unwavering and I will continue to work for a better Region.


You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca or read past columns at www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca.