59 Carden St.

A little too close to the issue?

2009-12-09T14:21:55-05:00

Earlier this week, city councillors endorsed some changes to the intersection at St. George's Square which are intended to help downtown businesses struggling with the recession and ongoing construction.

But I wonder if one councillor might not be a little to close for comfort.

Ian Findlay, owner of Thomas Entertainment on Baker Street, has become the champion of downtown in general, and this issue in particular. In fact, on Monday night after councillors heard from one business owner about the impact construction is having on his business, Findlay echoed those sentiments and then made a motion endorsing the recommended changes to the intersection.

I won't pretend to be an expert in municipal conflict of interest, but it would seem council motions designed to put more money in the pockets of downtown business owners should be made by someone other than a downtown business owner.

It's perhaps not unlike Coun. Bob Bell, who makes his living building bicycle trailers, championing more bicycle lanes throughout the city.

38 delegations, no waiting

2009-12-08T22:02:07-05:00

I'm back already from city council's public delegations night, where 38 people addressed council on a wide range of topics related to the 2010 budget deliberations.

The meeting was finished in about 3 1/2 hours, including a 10-minute break.

City staff will spend the rest of this week answering queestions posed by councillors following many of the presentations, and council will reconvene next Tuesday night to debate, and possibly pass, the tax-supported budget.

We'll have a couple of stories in the paper tomorrow about what went on tonight.

Mayor weighs in on troubling comments about Sikh temple

2009-12-08T15:51:01-05:00

Karen Farbridge has shared some thoughts, on her blog, about anti-Sikh comments being thrown about by some of those opposed to a proposal to build a temple on Clair Road.

Expect to hear a lot more on this issue in coming months.

Read Karen's blog here

Read our story on the issue here

Missed it by that much

2009-12-08T15:38:37-05:00

City councillors on Monday night agreed to award the general construction tender for the $10.5 million job to turn the old Loretto Convent into the new Guelph Civic Museum.

The tender went to Harbridge and Cross Limited of Concord, which submitted a bid just $10,000 lower than that submitted by Guelph's Devlan Construction Limited.

Murray McCrae, the city's manager of corporate properties, said the city is basically obliged to award the contract to the lowest bidder, even if this was unpopular with some councillors.

He said the city had to go with the lowest bidder "if you don't want legal battles."

We'll have more in the paper tomorrow.

Troubling opposition to Sikh temple proposal

2009-12-07T17:57:58-05:00

There are a few shocking assertions contained within letters of opposition sent to the city by those opposed to a proposal which would see a new Sikh temple built on Clair Road.

One letter writer contends Sikh culture is "known for (its) violent doctrine."

Another writer ties the 1985 Air India bombing to Sikhism and writes of "the generally low view of Sikhism as a religion" in an attempt to convince council to deny the Sikh Society's request.

A public meeting on the proposal is scheduled for this evening at 7:00. At least one of the aforementioned letter writers told me he will be in attendance.

We'll have full coverage in tomorrow's paper.

Tougher times ahead, Warden tells crowd before heading to open-bar reception

2009-12-04T22:09:06-05:00

Was I the only one stunned by this?

Friday morning, minutes after telling a packed council chamber municipal staff are "scrambling" to find efficiencies as they struggle with the economic realities of the day, newly re-elected Wellington County Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj led a large crowd of politicians, guests and county staff across the road to the River Run Centre.

There, approximately 150 guests enjoyed an open bar and catered lunch including pot pies, kabobs, vegetable tangine and other nibbles.

Such receptions are held annually in December after the election of the warden and committee chairpersons. This year, the warden and five of the six chairs are those who already held the positions.

Wow.

Just wow.

We'll endeavour to find out what the event cost county taxpayers, but while staff are "scrambling" to find efficiencies they might start with this annual schmooze-fest.

Buses will roll New Year's Day, if council says so

2009-12-03T17:07:08-05:00

When I was downtown getting a coffee Wednesday morning, a Guelph Transit operator asked what I knew about bus service being cancelled on statutory holidays this year; i.e. on Boxing Day.

He said some of the drivers had been talking before heading out for the day and noted the sign-up sheets for volunteers had not yet been posted. Coupled with recent talk of cutting stat service to save money, the drivers wondered what was going on.

I told this particular driver those measures only relate to 2010 and should not affect service on Boxing Day. (There is no service on Christmas Day)

A short time later I spoke to Michael Anders, Transit's new GM, who said the Boxing Day sign-up sheets had just gone up.

Anders noted, however, the transit service is in a bit of a jam over New Year's Day. It will not be known until after council passes the budget on Dec. 15 (or potentially 16th) whether the service will roll on Jan. 1.

Anders said Transit officials are negotiating with the drivers' union, and the service will be a go on New Year's Day if council deems it so.

"It's not something that Transit is controlling," Anders told me. "It's being controlled at the council level and we have to work around that."

NOTE: I changed the headline on this post this morning. Initially it suggested buses "would roll one way or the other," which struck me as inaccurate. Obviously if council cancels stat service, there will not be buses on Jan. 1. I apologize for that lack of clarity.

Downtown businesses weigh in on budget deliberations

2009-12-02T15:30:29-05:00

Opposition to various proposals aimed at knocking down the tax rate next year have been coming in with increasing frequency.

We received the following this afternoon from the Downtown Guelph Business Association:

Dear Members,

As you are aware, the City of Guelph is facing a budget shortfall in 2010 and there are many proposed cuts in next year’s budget. One item that staff has put forward to council for consideration is removing 2 hour free on-street parking.

The Downtown Guelph Business Association has been a strong supporter of this program, and believes that it promotes a vibrant and user-friendly downtown core. In addition, next year will see large construction projects throughout the core, and 2 hour free parking is an excellent way to thank customers for choosing downtown Guelph.

The email then included information on how to appear before council as a delegation next Tuesday night, and contact info for the mayor and councillors.

'Emergency' meeting to discuss potential funding cuts

2009-12-02T12:27:30-05:00

Waverly Neighbourhood Group has put together an emergency community meeting to discuss the potential impact of funding cuts included as possible cost-saving measures in the city’s 2010 budget package.

Councillors Vicki Beard and Ian Findlay are expected to attend the meeting Thursday night organized by the Waverly Neighbourhood Group.

An email issued by the group Tuesday indicated a loss of city funding could mean limited or no programs, fewer office hours and staff reductions.

The proposal to cut community grants was included by city staff on a list of “other considerations” for councillors to mull over as they put together the 2010 budget.

But that line item seems to be meeting some resistance already around the council horseshoe. During a staff presentation of the budget on Monday, Coun. June Hofland said she will specifically ask her colleagues not to consider removal of the grants when council meets Dec. 15 to pass the budget.

Coun. Mike Salisbury said he will second that motion, noting in tough financial times the city needs its neighbourhood groups “more than ever.”

The Thursday meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in Room 9 of Waverly Drive Public School.

Bring a pillow if you're going

2009-12-02T10:17:41-05:00

I heard this morning there are 26 delegations already registered to address council next Tuesday night on the 2010 budget.

If you still want to get on the official list, you must register by 4 p.m. today either through www.guelph.ca or by calling council coordinator Joyce Sweeney at 822-1260, ext. 2440.

Delegations can register right up until noon next Tuesday, but their names will appear on an addendum instead of on the agenda to be issued tomorrow.