Councillor

Councillor Brian Pincott

 

December 2011

Winter and the holiday season are upon us, and that can mean only one thing – snow!

The holiday season is a perfect time to consider becoming a snow angel.

Winter’s first snowfall and the rest that follow can create challenges for some Calgarians to keep their sidewalks clear and avoid falls. Calgary’s older adults in particular need extra help in the winter, keeping their sidewalks shovelled, ice-free and safe. Snow Angels is a campaign that encourages Calgarians to be good neighbours and help older adults, and other neighbours in need, with snow removal this winter.

All you have to do to be a Snow Angel is simply adopt an older adult’s sidewalk this winter, and keep it clear. Watch for people in your neighbourhood who could use help removing snow from their sidewalks and driveways and ask if you can lend them a hand.

I’d love to hear from you and hear about what you think the city could be doing better.  You call my office at (403) 268-2430 or email us at ward11@calgary.ca.

We also send out regular updates about what is happening at the city and in your community.  If you’d like to receive email updates from my office, please send us an email at ward11@calgary.ca , and sign up to receive information that is important your neighbourhood and for our city.

That’s it for now, and please have a safe and happy holidays.

 

November 2011

November is here, and that can mean only one thing: budget time at the City! This year we are setting the business plan and budget for the City of Calgary for the next three years. This will be the third three year budget and business plan that council has done, and the second that I have been involved with.  Since its introduction, the three year budget cycle has proven itself a successful way to plan the city’s work for the upcoming years.

This year, the budget’s development has also included significant public input to establish the City’s priorities for the next three years. Over the spring and summer a public engagement process was undertaken to see what services Calgarians valued and what services could be done without. Calgarians were asked what services they were willing to pay for, and how much they valued those services. The results have told us that Calgarians value city services quite highly and generally do not want to see service reductions.

The full results of the public engagement process can be found on the city website at: www.calgary.ca/ourfuture

With that information in hand, Council directed City Administration to go out and build a budget around these priorities. After a long debate in July, Council set what is called an indicative tax rate increase of 5%.

The indicative tax rate change serves as a guide for administration to build their budget.  This budget is what we are going to see when it comes to Council at the meeting starting on November 21^st (I expect that council meeting to last all week).

When you factor in growth and escalating costs, a 5% property tax increase (which is $50/year for the average homeowner) still means a budget cut of $90 Million.  What this means is that all departments in the City have been asked to find 1.7% in budget reductions. Over the summer, every city business unit has been examining their budgets to find those reductions.  Asking administration to find $90 million in cuts will undoubtedly mean service reductions in many areas.

The draft budget will be released to the public this month for everyone to have a good look at before Council debates it on the 21^st. Through the month of November, the above website will be kept updated on how you can share your feedback and participate in the Council Budget Debate. Of course, I also encourage you to let me know directly what you think of the budget. My office email address is ward11@calgary.ca.  I will also be emailing out information to anyone who would like to be kept informed on this (or any other) issue.

A budget is a great tool for us to use to meet the goals and vision we have for our city. It allows us to talk about our priorities and our values and decide how we want to move into the future. I, for one, am very much looking forward to that conversation. It is one that I hope we never stop.

Get on our mailing list at the office by emailing us at ward11@calgary.ca or visiting the Ward Website at www.ward11calgary.ca

 

Sept 2011

How did it get to be September already? I hope you and your family have had a wonderful summer.

Council is getting ready for what promises to be a busy fall. Throughout the summer, city administration was busy keeping our city working and making things better. You have seen the roadwork, the construction, the work in our parks that has been happening.

I’d like to take a minute, though, to highlight the city’s new website, launched in August.  The City of Calgary’s website, Calgary.ca, has become an important hub for Calgarians looking for information about what is going on at City Hall and to access city services.

Calgary.ca was last redesigned in 2002, and its age had become quite apparent.  With this in mind, the City launched a completely updated and redesigned Calgary.ca.  As anyone who used the last website can attest, there was a lot of information, and it was often difficult to find, especially if you didn’t understand the city’s organizational structure and acronyms.  The new Calgary.ca is completely search based, allowing you to find information using plain language and key words.

Beyond being a search-based website, the new Calgary.ca also includes an interactive map, a news ticker, public engagement listing and events calendar, updated content, and the ability to share content through social media.  The interactive map is particularly exciting, as it incorporates information from the city’s own geographic database, allowing you to find a surprising wealth of information quickly and easily.

The new Calgary.ca is also optimized for mobile devices and is accessible for folks who use screen readers.

I also think it is important to acknowledge that the new Calgary.ca is not the only source of information about the city.  Many of my constituents do not have access to a computer or the Internet at home, either by choice or circumstance, and the City of Calgary’s 3-1-1 phone line remains an important resource for accessing city services and finding out what is happening with your municipal government – and of course, there is my office available for you to contact any time as well.

As a reminder, you can call my office at (403) 268-2430 or email us at ward11@calgary.ca.  Or, you can send us an email to sign up to receive email updates from my office with information that is important to your neighbourhood and our city.

That’s it for now. Please be sure to let us know what you think of the new Calgary.ca!

June 2011

The fun never stops in Ward 11, but it does progress.

I’ve mentioned in earlier pieces that a number of road projects were about to resume, and a number of public consultation initiatives were either reaching important junctures, or about to begin. Let me give you the latest:

River Park/Sandy Beach/Britannia Slopes

By the time this piece is published, a new draft management plan for this park space will have been released to the public. The Parks department and O2 Design have put together drawings that they believe reflect the ideas and suggestions given by the public during the consultation process.

The public will now have an opportunity to view this draft before the Standing Policy Committee report is drafted. Please visit www.calgary.ca/riverpark for the most up to date information.

Elbow Drive Reconstruction

This will also likely be underway by the time you read this piece, but allow me to fill you in on the scope of the project. Phase two of this project will be undertaken this year, and it will include the full-depth road reconstruction of Elbow Drive between Lansdowne Avenue and Glenmore Trail. It will also include adding, replacing or widening sidewalks for better pedestrian access, underground utility work and landscaping.

Please visit www.calgary.ca/elbowdrive for the most up to date information.

Lakeview Storm Sewer

Work on the storm sewer is due to resume as soon as the weather permits- likely mid to late May. A lot of the remaining work could be classified as aesthetic- repaving, curb and gutter repair and boulevard restoration. There will also be a lot of landscaping done around the pond; trees and aquatics will be planted and the grass will be re-established.

No major road closures will be necessary for any of the remaining work; the only times traffic should be affected will be during repaving- particularly around intersections.

Glenmore Athletic Park

It’s the City’s desire to start public consultation on the Glenmore Athletic Park upgrade sometime the early summer. If my office has your contact information (because you’ve sent it to ward11@calgary.ca) I’ll be sure to provide you with specific dates as they’re booked.

For now, be sure to keep an eye on the City’s website, www.calgary.ca, and my own, www.ward11calgary.ca for up to date information.

That’s all for now. Please get in touch with my office if there is anything we can help you with, or to get yourself on our contact lists for regular updates.

Sincerely,

Brian

March 2011

Things are moving along in Ward 11. As I mentioned in my previous submission, our ward is going to be a hive of activity for at least the first half of this year, and a number of the big projects are underway with more about to start.

The second phase of public consultation has begun to develop a management plan for River Park/Sandy Beach/ Britannia Slopes . In January, two open houses were held to get feedback on the process, which will include a number of very collaborative workshops. The dates for these can be found on the city’s website at www.calgary.ca/riverpark or you can e-mail my office at ward11@calgary.ca We would be happy to put you on our mailing list and keep you up to to date on this project.

The process is designed so that you don’t need to come to all of the workshops. If you are out of town on one of the dates, there is a way for you to have your input into the plan. I have heard from a number of constituents who tell me they plan on attending all of the sessions, which is just fine as well. And of course, anyone who wants to give their input is welcome to attend.

In other news, many of you are aware that the Province did release the results of its planning study that looked at five options to improve southwest transportation via a ring road, or something resembling a ring road. The study results were released to a group of community stakeholders in late January, but they will be unveiled to the public at a number of open houses in late February and early March. Again, if you would like us to keep you updated about new details as they arise, please write e-mail us at ward11@calgary.ca and ask to be placed on our contact list.

Many of you are aware of my position on southwest transportation, but for those who don’t here goes: I don’t believe that our objective is to figure out the best way to build a ring road; I believe our objective is to find the best way to get people moving in the southwest. I have put forward proposals such as Bus Rapid Transit, with a dedicated lane on 14th St SW to alleviate a lot of the pressure, and there are other things the City can and should do to make sure progress is being made. We have been through ring road deliberations before, only to see transportation problems worsen. We cannot make the same mistake of hanging all of our hopes on the Province; we need to get people moving, and not sit back and wait.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous columns, my office makes every effort to keep you informed on issues that you care about. We are always trying to improve our ability to give you information without you having to ask for it. If you want to be updated on an issue, please send an e-mail with your contact information to ward11@calgary.ca That’s all for now.

Sincerely, Brian

 

February 2011

The purpose of a monthly newsletter is to tell people in the community what’s happening and what’s coming up. Well…here goes nothin’.

Ward 11 is going to be a hive of activity in 2011, particularly early on in the year. There are a number of very large projects and/or proposals that require significant public input. First, there is the ongoing issue of transportation in southwest Calgary. As many of you are aware, the Province has been working on a planning study to investigate the feasibility of “all options” for improving transportation in the quadrant. Among others, one option that is sure to be presented is the construction of a ring road on City lands, something that is of deep concern to me and many Ward 11 residents. I am told that the Province will be presenting the findings of this study sometime during the winter months, but as I write this, no date has been set. Nevertheless, if you would like my office to keep you updated, please make sure that we have your contact information. More on this in a second.

I will also be continuing my push for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to service the southwest. The proposal was presented to the public at a number of open houses last November, and I was very pleased with the feedback. If you would like to see what was presented, you can check out the following website: http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/sw_brt_2010.html. If we can get the funding and the support for BRT (and I’m confident we can) we will make travelling in the southwest much easier for both transit users and drivers.

The second phase of public consultation to develop a management plan for River Park/Sandy Beach/Britannia Slopes will be underway shortly, and the process is being designed to ensure that citizens are in the driver’s seat. I have asked the Parks Department to garner as much feedback as possible and to be as inclusive as possible. I am also asking citizens who wish to give input to be prepared to comment on all of the issues facing

the park space, and to help come up with solutions for all of the problems raised during the process. The park is not a sum of its parts, and we will not get a plan that works by simply grouping together particular interests. But, if we identify the problems and come up with solutions together as a group, we’ll have something that everyone can buy into.

These are three big issues that I wanted to mention, but they are by no means the only things happening in Ward 11.  I want to be able to give you as much information as possible, as often as you would like to receive it. So, if you want my office to keep you in the loop about something, please make sure we have your contact information (e-mail is best). We can be reached at ward11@calgary.ca, and we hope you pass the word along to your friends and neighbours as well.

All the best to you and yours, and I look forward to keeping you informed.

Sincerely,

Brian

January 2011

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and found time to relax with family and friends. And if you live in a community that is new to Ward 11 and you’re hearing from me for the first time, let me just say that it’s good to have you.

2010 was a very interesting year on Council, and there are a lot of reasons to be excited about the year ahead. We have a new Mayor, and there are five new Council members bringing new ideas and perspectives to complement the work already underway at City Hall. Calgarians have asked for more opportunities to give input and participate in Calgary’s decision making process. This is something that excites me a great deal, and I will be looking for ways to improve my efforts to provide the public with information without them having to ask for it.

I’d like to take a moment to explain how my office communicates with constituents. The only way that my office gathers contact information is by collecting it when my constituents contact us. Then, once we have a constituent on file, we organize their information according to the community they live in, and the issue they contacted us about. This allows my staff and I to send information we know would be of interest to my constituents, and avoid sending multitudes of information that likely doesn’t interest them.

For instance, we have sent information on the rebuilding of Elbow Drive (between 50^th Avenue and the Elbow River) to those folks who live in the surrounding communities and updates on off-leash parks to constituents who have contacted us about similar issues.

My office has received important and helpful feedback from those constituents that we have on file and can communicate with effectively. I have also received a lot of information from Ward 11 residents that I have used when making decisions and trying to gain support from my colleagues on council. To my mind, this is what democratic and inclusive government is supposed to be; decision making influenced by those who are affected by the decisions made. That said, we need to hear from you that we have your contact information on file in order to cast the widest net possible when distributing information.

So, if you want to be better informed, please contact my office at ward11@calgary.ca. If you provide us with your e-mail and mailing addresses, as well as any specific issues you are interested in (though this is not required) we will be sure to pass along information that is relevant to your community and personal interests without inundating or pestering you.

That’s all for now. Welcome to 2011 and make sure you get in touch with my office if there is a City issue we can help you with.

Sincerely,

Brian

December 2010

It’s time to get to work. The election is over, we have a new Mayor, a new group of Aldermen and a request from the people of Calgary to make this City better of the next three years. I will be doing my part to make sure this happens, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to do so.

The City doesn’t stop for election campaigns, and Ward 11 certainly didn’t either. City crews have continued working on two major infrastructure projects- the Lakeview storm sewer upgrades and the refurbishment of Elbow Drive- and both of which are now drawing to a close for the winter months. Though both projects were delayed a bit because of poor weather, enough progress has been made to have all roadways open for the winter. Crews will return to Lakeview in the spring to complete the pipe work on Crowchild Trail north of 66^th Avenue, and they will also return to Elbow Drive to reconstruct the road from Crescent Boulevard to Lansdowne Avenue, and to complete landscaping and paving work.

I want to thank everyone for their patience with respect to these two projects, and thank those who took the time to contact me with their concerns. Please continue to let me know how things are looking, particularly along 66^th Avenue and Elbow Drive. The purpose of these projects is to make your communities better and you are the best judges as to whether or not this is the case.

I’m very excited that another initiative of mine is moving through the planning stages. A Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) for Southwest Calgary is something that will do wonders for southwest commuters and  will help ensure our existing transportation infrastructure is not worn out before it’s time. I’m excited to hear what Calgarians have to say about this project and I look forward to sharing more details with you as they develop.

Finally, I’d just like to say thank you. It has been a tremendous honour to represent the people of Ward 11 for the past three years and I’m humbled to be able to serve another term as your Alderman. Ward 11 has faced some of the toughest challenges in the city, challenges that accompany rapid urban growth. If it wasn’t for the positive attitudes of people in Ward 11, these challenges would be all the more vast. It is refreshing to work with constituents who are informed, committed to their communities and concerned about their neighbours. I consider myself a very lucky person to do what I do, and I want thank each and every one of you for allowing me to do it.

As always, please contact my office if there is a city issue I can help you with, and all the best to you and yours as we enter the (yikes!) holiday season.

Sincerely,

Brian
Brian Pincott
Councillor, Ward 11
www.ward11calgary.ca

Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart

Budget 2009-2011

First I would like to thank all of you who contacted me and engaged in the budget debate. It is important for me, as an elected official, to hear from Calgarians and hear the impact this budget will have on people’s daily lives.

I really appreciate your support, comments, suggestions, and advice. Your feedback gave considerable strength and credibility to my efforts.

On November 15 we held a very successful open house at City Hall with hundreds of Calgarians coming out. Over 900 signed my Taxpayer Petition which stated: “We the undersigned support a one year budget near the rate of inflation.”

Many of those Calgarians who came out to voice their concerns were over the age of 55 (like me) who are very concerned about making ends meet and who have lost a considerable amount of money in their savings and investments with the downturn in the global economy. Calgarians are worried.

When we voted on the budget, and only four of us from the original eight voted against this budget, I felt very deflated. The excitement we had earlier in the process was gone. I voted against every attempt to add money and voted for every amendment to cut spending.

Disappointingly, the group of eight fell apart shortly after we began the budget debates on the Monday morning. As a result, we were unable to get the votes we needed to refer this bad budget back to administration and bring back a one year budget based on the rate of inflation.

With only four of us trying to refer the budget back, making amendments and being consistent – Aldermen Connelly, Chabot, McIver and myself continued to do what Calgarians asked of us.

After 24 hours, we had managed to cut only $3.2 million and in order to cut the rate by 1% required a cut of $8.3 million. This is why I wanted to see this budget sent back to Administration. They are the ones with the expertise to find the big dollars and because 15 Members of Council can never agree on what to cut.

It is unbelievable to spend over $1.5 million on an exclusive health club when so many people have to cancel their own memberships because they can no longer afford them. The Art Program was $175 million last year. The policy is 1% of the total capital budget, this needs to be cancelled.

Prudent leadership was required so we could fund what we need and not what we want. I also strongly believe we need to conduct an independent expert financial review to find efficiencies and savings.

Council needs to continue to do all we can to reduce the tax burden on Calgarians when your tax rate is finally set in April 2009. We also need to start working right away for how the budget will be brought back to us in November 2009.

Again, many many thanks to those Calgarians who spoke up and engaged themselves in this budget. I will continue to fight this budget and make cuts when and where I can.

The blue cart recycling service is here

Waste and Recycling Services will be implementing the city-wide blue cart recycling service in early 2009.

This service will include weekly collection and processing of recyclables for approximately 300,000 single family homes, up to and including fourplexes.

Beginning in March, you will receive your blue cart for recycling along with detailed instructions. Collection services will be phased in by quadrant with the southwest being the first in late April 2009.

As always, you can contact my office regarding this or any other civic matter at 268-1624, by email at dcolley@calgary.ca or through my website, www.aldermandiane.ca. Alternatively, you can contact ‘311.’