MAYOR Kevin ASHE – TOWN HALL REPORT

TOWN HALL REPORT
Kudos to Mayor Ashe for standing before his electorate and presenting himself to voters’ questions, criticisms and complaints. He is giving residents the opportunity to dialogue with him. Nearly 50 people took advantage of this opportunity.

Mayor Ashe opened the Town Hall with a number of updates and announcements:

• Met with 5 Pickering Olympians from our region: 
  1. Justin Barnes, Sailing
  2. Justin Lui, Volleyball – Indoor
  3. Jayde Riviere, Football (Soccer)
  4. Courtney Stott, Canoe-Kayak – Sprint
  5. Nyl Yakura, Badminton
• The architect for SETON REC COMPLEX has been decided;
• Reminder: WATERFRONT SHUTTLE bus service -> DETAILS;
• Waterfront Trail has been completed and opened -> DETAILS;
• SENIORS TAX CREDIT available to reduce taxes -> DETAILS; 
• PETSMART gives $35k to City of Pickering -> DETAILS;
• PICKERING RANKING: 3rd best PROV CITY, 26th best NATIONALLY;
• Tax revenues sources: 15% INDUSTRY, 85% RESIDENTS;
• CITY CENTRE PLAN includes refrigerated ice rink; 
• CASINO payments: $47 mill received; recent $5.5 million; [applied to Social services, DARS];  
• Beneifits of OPG refurbishment: 11K jobs, $19 mill GPD 
• $12 million for roadway improvement [407 and Taunton Road]; 
• Open this fall: Porsche Experience.

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The Town Hall Q&A

1. Are developers contributing to City finance?
   – Response was unclear, but Ashe indicated the City is dealing with it;
2. What is happening to the Frenchman’s Bay purchase bid?
   – City will be bidding again with $30 million set aside for the bid
3. We are worrying about safety in our Community? Anything being done about it?
   – Serious ongoing concern for City
   – A 9% increase in funding given to Durham Police Regional Services
   – City aware of needs such as better lighting, more sidewalks
   – Mayor urges use of ‘Eyes on the Streets‘ programs -> DETAILS
4. What is being done about increasing Bike Lanes?
   – Mayor urges promotion of PUBLIC TRANSIT use
   – Traffic congestion is an ongoing concern of the City 
5. Are there any plans to improve the Bridge across 401?
   – not likely to be changed in any significant way
6. Is the city aiming at the concept of the ’15 – minute CITY’?
   [The concept is that all residents have access to most needed services within 15 minutes…not clear if this is walking or driving distance]
   – Councillor Mara Nagy reminded people that the concept was a reality at one time years and years ago, but with modernization and development, it is a way of the past
   – Ashe emphasized that it is an ideal that reality may never attain. However, the city understands the concept as something to be kept in mind in  city development planning
7. Can the improve the transparency of City expenditures?
   – Ashe reiterated that the City website shows the City’s expenditures and urges residents to confer with the website to learn more about City spending
8. What is the city doing about Climate Change?
   – Ashe underlined that large and constructive policies and programs relating to the Environment are provincial and national govt responsibilities
9. Is the City dealing with the potential Rat problem?
   Rat control is a City concern, but Ashe emphasized the need for residents to contribute and do necessary property maintenance and management to reduce rats’ attraction: garbage clean-up, property sanitation, standing water elimination, etc.
10. How is City dealing with the growth of traffic congestion?
    – Ashe emphasized that the City is very aware of the worrying traffic problems and again emphasized the city planning deals with road widening programs, such as Whites Road to Taunton Rd., promotion of public transit use;
    FIRE SAFETY: Ashe emphasized that fire response is a shared responsibility. In case of a major fire, regional and other city fire departments respond cooperatively, so it is not a concern left to the local Fire Department only.
11. What is City doing to reduce increase in HATE incidents?
    – The City is concerned about this and has programs to help educate Councillors regarding racism and bigotry;
    – The city urges that it is a social-based concern and that all residents need to consider taking on responsibility per person to support the philosophy of Diversity, Equity and Integrity within our city and society
12. Are there any thoughts of bringing back “Politics 101”?
    [ ‘Politics 101’ was a City-based program to help people learn about the Municipal government and politics. It ran for 5 weeks.]
    – Ashe endorsed the value of the past program and said the City may need to consider repeating the program at some time.
13. When is the ‘new’ City Website scheduled for launching?
    – once again, no date is available for the launch of the newly revised City website, though repeatedly, the launch date is claimed to be Fall 2024.

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Town halls, as done by the Mayor and some City Councillors, are always very informative for those who attend. However, the problem, as in elections, is that no matter how much publicity, promotion and persuasion the City tries, the response is always low, 15-20%,

The City repeatedly reiterates that information about City management and processes is published on the City Website and it continually urges residents to access that. Internet access to the City website and assistance with that access are available at the public libraries.

The City Website
Repeated complaints about the complexity and obscurity of the City website have been heard. The website has improved significantly over the past few months, with improved search tool results being one example. The City needs to continue improving the site.

However, city residents are responsible for accessing the website information. They need to practice and explore the city website so they become better informed about the City. 

Furthermore, again, the City repeats that a new website is in the works, launch scheduled for later in 2024.

Simplicity and Clarity of information
A significant problem with publishing City information on the website is that the presentation is too complicated and difficult to navigate. Much of the City website information is unnecessarily complicated and presented in an incomprehensible way for many. Financial information must be presented in ways more citizens can understand, not just accountants and bankers. 

The city website publishers must consider the residents more when presenting material. Much of the material is too difficult for many to comprehend easily. It must be reviewed, revised, and modified so it is easier to read and understand. 

Councillor shortfalls regarding local information
Too few councillors provide easily found, easily accessed information about their local constituency. The Mayor and some Councillors publish newsletters but we need more of this. Providing this material digitally online is still the best practical means of communication. Increasingly, institutions, corporations and political bodies are using digital services. Digital information is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Print material is fast becoming quaint history. It is incumbent on the populace to learn how to use digital material and accessibility to it but in that light, it is incumbent that the councillors provide more.

The Future of Town Halls
Like the proverbial horse and water drinking, these Town Halls need to continue. They are a tremendously valuable opportunity for residents to learn about their city. Perhaps the benefits of those who attend will trickle down and encourage others to attend. We may never reach the passive, less interested residents, but we must continue making the effort to engage them. We owe it to everyone to do so.