Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

Municipal Election October 2014

Issues and/or Questions for Debate

Submitted by Arnold Neufeldt-Fast

Here’s a start. What’s important to you? What would you add? Where do you disagree? Let’s

debate what’s best for a flourishing community. Follow on Twitter: #Stouffville (@neufast)

Create a Transit Advisory Committee which includes youth, to raise awareness, advise

and advocate for bus shelters at key stops; evening, weekend, and more frequent

service. Reports to Council

o Corollary: Only politicians who have used YRT Transit in a given month will be

granted speaking privileges (!)

Achieve provincial average for per-person Library operating funding within three years

(current: $26 per person; average $44).

Plan library expansion on the assumption of growth. The expansion will not be

completed until 2018; the current proposal is based on the consultant’s “minimum” per

person space (0.65 square feet) recommendation, and for a 2021 population (i.e., 3 yrs

out).

Shorten official, amalgamated town name to our de facto used name, i.e., from

“Whitchurch-Stouffville” to “Stouffville”.

Retire the 1993 motto “Country close to the city,” and rebrand to better reflect our

vibrant town reality.

(Lower business property taxes have not worked to fill employment lands). Focus on

"Quality of Life Recruitment Tools" (e.g., more adequate library & arts funding,

walkability; bikeability) to attract the creative class and grow a knowledge-based

economy.

Enable Mayor to work full-time, with a fair, full-time salary in line with Statistics

Canada’s median household income for our community. In 2013, the Mayor’s Town

salary was $48,900 (comparator towns: $63,194).

(Walkability). Make all planning decisions with the vision of becoming Ontario’s most

walkable, bikeable community.

Complete “broken” trails / bike paths: e.g., from Reservoir to Bethesda Park; Lori Ave

to Park Drive; Byers Pond Park to Hidden Crescent; Richard Underhill Ave to Hoover

Park; Delbert Cres. to Hoover Park.

Turn back proposals for new strip malls that are not walking-friendly (e.g., wide

sidewalks) and without street-appeal and significant gathering space (e.g., square).

Plan for small-town “feel”--not sprawl feel. Strip malls, drive-thrus, expansive parking

keep residents from walking and cycling and gathering. Goal: replicate old Main Street

features (mixed-use; walkability; civic space) along Main from Ninth Line to Hwy 48

Honour the significant First Nation history of our location (Mantle Site; Wendat/Huron

First Nation) in the library/leisure centre expansion design

Advocate and lead for the preservation/repurposing of the Downtown Grain Elevator

(owned by Metrolinx) in its present location.

Create an Environmental Advisory Committee (like all neighbouring communities) that

can draw attention to Council matters in a formalized and regular manner.

Create “W-S Environmental Grant” for students and student groups; to be

administered by the Environmental Advisory Committee; three grants up to $500 each.

Protect of Oak Ridges Moraine as town asset. Council will not petition province to

expand town’s settlement boundaries (e.g., Hwy 404 corridor) for more employment

lands

(A citizen is more than a tax payer or customer) Transform Town’s “customer service”

paradigm (and commoditization of services) to one of building citizens and

strengthening community fabric.

(More than information evenings) Invite meaningful participation and collaboration

with informed and engaged residents on town projects, like library expansion, a satellite

campus, transit needs, etc.

Develop a Cultural Plan with measurable short, medium and long-term goals and time-

line to full build-out, 2031. Create a Cultural Advisory Committee that will report

annually to Council with recommendations

Provide significant funding and grants to support the development of local artists and

the 19 on the Park. Administered by Cultural Advisory Committee

Nurture a creative, inviting, proactive and visionary leadership style (e.g., when

universities invite town to make a presentation for a satellite campus location, we are

ready).

Create an Economic Development Task Force (e.g., see Richmond Hill). This is not an

advisory committee, but comprised e.g., of mayor, 2 councillors, Chamber of Commerce

president, 3 residents, and key staff; reports to Council

Realign ward boundaries along the principle of representation by population: only 1/3

of town’s population is rural, yet rural Whitchurch-Stouffville holds half of Council seats.

An expanded leisure centre must generate new income/ attract new users: a sauna

and outdoor hot tub are basics.

Create “student mayor” program (see Barrie example)

Start Council meetings with more focus and dignity. Ideas: Sing “O Canada”; begin with

something like a “Prayer for Guidance” (Barrie); “Interreligious Prayers” (Sarnia; invite

clergy by Census results); “Moment of Meditation” (Georgina).

Introduce “Open Forum” at start of every Council meeting for anyone wishing to speak

on item not on official agenda (see Aurora & Newmarket)