7 years as Councillor

After 7 years, today is my last day as Councillor for the City of Waterloo. Last night I made my closing comments in Council. My speaking notes are below. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on Council as the city moved from the dark days of RIM Park to the thriving community we have now. I am both proud and privileged to have been your representative during these times. We have a great and active community, and it have been a pleasure to work with everyone who want to make us a better place to work, live and play.

Many have asked what I will do doing next. I have made no decisions yet, other than find a "paid leadership position". I do hope to keep involved in some way in the municipal level, and who knows what opportunities will present themselves. In the meantime, I am becoming board member at The Clay and Glass and on the GRCA, and have applied to be on the City of Waterloo Trails and Transportation committee.

I wish the current Council the best of success. Thank you to all.

Thank you and Congratulations

Thank you to all who supported me during this election campaign and at the polls. Not the outcome that I was looking for, but that is the democratic process. We had a good campaign and great ideas for the city.

Congratulations to Mayor Brenda Halloran on her success, along with the Scot Witmer, Karen Scian, Angela Vieth, Diane Freeman, Mark Whaley, Jeff Henry and Melissa Durrell as members-elect of the 2010-2014 City of Waterloo Council.

Leadership for Waterloo Platform

Just a reminder to come out and vote on Monday.

The Record this week: “Jan d’Ailly brings not only 7 years of experience as a councillor but one of the most comprehensive platforms we’ve ever seen from a municipal candidate, one that stresses economic development, environmental sustainability, better rapid transit, as well as frugality. Voters should check this out.” It can be checked out at http://dailly.ca/issues.asp

I have a record of addressing issues and getting things done including bringing financial stability to the city after the RIM Park financing scandal, tackling the student housing and the Northdale issues, guiding Clair Creek rehabilitation through city hall and protecting the Waterloo Moraine by establishing the Laurel Creek Headwaters ESL (environmentally sensitive landscape).

Feel free to contact the campaign office if you need to know where to vote or need a ride to your polling station, or to answer any questions that you may have.

The Laurel Creek Headwaters ESL and protecting the moraine

Campaigning over the past few months, many people have asked me about my stance on protecting the west end lands and the moraine. When the developments in the west end came to Council back in 2004/2005, the critical issue was to ensure that development only occurred on the lands which were suitable for development, and that the rest of the sensitive lands would be protected. However, there was no policy framework in place to ensure that this would happen.

In order to protect these lands from development I worked with the Region, the Townships and concerned citizens to put in place a land use vision which was compatible with their ecological function.

A policy framework was needed to accomplish this. The video looks at how the Laurel Creek Headwaters Environmentally Sensitive Landscape came into being.

Leadership for Waterloo Policy Platform

On Monday September 20th I released my Leadership for Waterloo Policy Platform.

It is comprehensive plan which was developed through extensive consultation in the community, and outlines a vision for Waterloo and a plan of action to achieve it.

Waterloo is rapidly becoming an internationally recognized small City. We have world-class educational and research institutions, a bourgeoning arts and music scene, a thriving high-tech sector, and an advanced manufacturing base alongside a well established financial and insurance industry.

I want to lead this City to embrace a broader vision, one which takes advantage of the tremendous opportunities before us. To be vibrant, innovative and diverse. To be a City that is people-oriented, characterized by a sense of history, distinctive architecture and open spaces, and based on a sustainable environmental and financial foundation. To be a place where each of us can thrive and be our very best.

The plan focusses on three areas:

Sustainability—specific programs or initiatives to help manage our day to day growth.
Community Development—development initiatives with citizens; recreation, arts and culture; and the strengthening of neighbourhoods to enhance our quality of life.
Accountability—process oriented improvements in managing City Hall, public service and public engagement.

Please take the time to review the plan, and I look forward to your comments.

WHY VOTE in the municipal election?

Municipal government has a tremendous impact on our day to day lives. It manages the public realm which shapes how the city looks and feels.

For example, the city:

 manages all public and open spaces between office buildings, factories, stores and people’s homes;

 ensures that what gets built or managed by the private sector is also built and managed for the betterment of the entire community;

 manages trails and roads, sewer and water systems, parks and open spaces;

 directs where stores and businesses are located, their size, and the size and number of signs they can put out.

 what type of housing can be built, and where housing can be built,

 makes sure there is a long-term plan, or Strategic Plan in place to address population growth, and to encourage long term economic and environmental sustainability;

 determines how waste is managed, and how public transit is to function;

 establishes behavioral norms relating to noise, pets, parking and property standards so that we can all get along as members of our community;

 manages public order and safety through police, by-law and fire services;

 ensures there are recreational, cultural and social services available for everyone’s well being, to keep one’s body, mind and spirit active and healthy;

 provides a sense of place, so that we can all feel part of a community; a place were we feel safe and secure today, and in the future; a place we can call home

The people you elect into office now will play a critical role in shaping what Waterloo will look like into the future. Waterloo is becoming an internationally recognized small city. We will continue to grow. On October 25th let your voice be heard.

Council in Summer Mode, but important decisions still happen.

July's council meeting dealt with a lot of routine business. A few developments were approved including a 120 unit retirement home on Ira Needles and University, across from the new mall that is going in across the street. The developers are those who build the Water Park apartments on Erb and Willow, so this should be a first class development. We are so fortunate in Waterloo to be able to attract the best.

Also moving forward are more commercial buildings geared towards the high tech sector in the Conestoga Highway and Northfield area. Council also approved the engineering for the installation of the water, sewer and other infrastructure needed for UW's North West Campus. It will support the development of academic, and research and technology facilities over the next 40 years.

Lastly, and what gets the most attention, is that By-law is actively moving forward with new tools to better enforce of our by-laws.

The latest is for graffiti removal. Under the old process, owners had up to 14 days to remove graffiti before any remedial action could be taken. Now the city will be able to remove it within days if required. This is especially important when it is gang related. Also added a provision whereby the perpetrators can be fined instead of being charged with a criminal offense. This gives the police more flexibility in being able to deal with the perpetrators, especially when youth are involved.

As a sailor, I have participated in a number of races at the Conestoga Sailing club, including the regional Wellington Cup, which our club won, and the Canadian Wayfarer Nationals, which were hosted by our club. Who would have thought that one could sail competitively here in Waterloo Region!

Council takes first solid steps on Northdale.

On Monday night many aspirations and hopes for the Northdale neighbourhood were presented to Council by 22 delegations. A common thread in what we heard was that what is happening now is not working but also that full intensification is not the answer.

Council voted to begin a land use study in the Northdale area. This will be followed by a community improvement plan. Council also directed staff to explore partnerships with the universities to develop a community outreach program.

This summer, staff will complete the terms of reference for the land use study, which included developing a Vision for the area. This will come to Council in September. It will include terms for the formation of an advisory committee of the stakeholders, and the hiring of an independent consultant to undertake the land use study.

As outlined in the report to Council on Monday night, the city does have many tools available to achieve its goals. It is now time to develop and articulate the vision, the first step in making Northdale a community that we can be proud of.

No to Merger with Kitchener

Based on my 6 years on Council and research on the issue, I am against a merger with the City of Kitchener. History has shown that the expected benefits from mergers have just not been realized. There is a list of articles about municipal mergers on the right hand side bar.

In summary, mergers:

1) increase costs. It does not decrease them.

2) make government less responsive to the local citizens. A little friendly competition between the municipalities does wonders to make them accountable!

3) do not make a city globally successful. Many cities and regions areas like Boston, Silicon Valley and Sydney are made up of many small municipalities.

4) reduce diversity. Waterloo is different from Kitchener. The two cities' policies and corporate culture are different in many ways including financial stewardship, public engagement, urban planning and design, development priorities, environmental sustainability, heritage and the arts, etc. As a region, our strength is our diversity.

And lastly, what problems do the pro-merger group want to solve that would make all of the costs and disadvantages of a merger worth it?

Town and Gown Ontario Conference and Rental Licensing

On May 17th and 18th I attended the Town and Gown Association of Ontario (TGAO) conference. It was a very interesting conference because you meet the by-law, police, community development, university affairs and students representatives from across the province, all who are involved with student housing and other town and gown related issues. The presentations are to be posted on the TGAO website.

One of the main topics was rental licensing. TGAO was formally established in 2006, and one of its first activities was to lobby the provincial government to enable municipalities exercise better control over student oriented housing. This lead to municipalities being able to license rental units.

London and Oshawa are the first two municipalities to implement rental licensing by-laws. They have taken different approaches. London has a city side by-law, a low fee based on self-reporting with a random inspection program, and a 5 bedroom limit. Oshawa has a higher fee, it applies only in a specific geographic area and is more like Waterloo's licensed lodging house program. Waterloo is in a good position to learn from what London and Oshawa have done, along with our experience with licensed lodging houses.

Waterloo's licensing by-law, which is expected to come to Council this June. A discussion paper was issued last year, which outlines the broad parameters being considered for the licensing by-law in Waterloo.

My considerations for a licensing by-law is that it must enable the licensing of any dwelling, without a minimum distance separation, as long as the number of rooms/occupants can be limited to the number of intended occupants/bedrooms of the dwelling. Other components include its application only to non-apartment buildings, and apply to dwellings renting three or more rooms/beds. Fees must be reasonable, and proof of proper insurance, fire inspections, adequate parking and appropriate garbage management etc must be provided. It is my hope that landlords will see this program as a benefit for them, as it will set a minimum standard to which everyone must adhere to.

Implementing the by-law should help to restore stability in the near university neighbourhoods. I look forward to this coming to Council in June, and will post the Council report here when it is released.

Around the World in Dance

Last night I got to dance around the world from my seat at the Center in the Square. The Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Center, (COCCC) hosted the Kaleidoscope of Dance, as a fundraising event. Dances from China, Taiwan, Mongolia, India, Germany, Scotland, Greece, the Middle East and other places around the world were performed by our local groups.

We all respond in our own way to the sound of a drum beat. To see such a variety of dances, the opening Lion Dance, the stomping of feet in a courtship dance, the waving long sleeves creating images of the winds, the swinging hips of the belly dancers, the athletic footwork of the highland dancers, and the closing dragon dance under black lights, each responding quite differently to the sound of the drum, made for a fabulous evening.

This is a must see if the COCCC puts the show on again next year.

The groups involved were

Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Center (COCCC)
Brahmrishi Mission of Canada
The KW Chinese School
The Concordia Enzian Schuhplattler Verein
The Gujarati Cultural Association on the Golden Triangle
India Canada Association
Laya Lasya Dance Studio
Mary Ellen School of Highland Dancing
Pryvit Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
The Queen Helena Canadian-Croatian Cultural and Charitable Society
Levendogenia Sts Peter & Paul's Greek Orthodox Church Dance Group
Swastini Dance Group
Voula Middle Eastern Dance Academy
Waterloo Region Chinese Community Association (WCCA)

Merger Question will be on the Ballot in October elelction

Yes, the merger question will be on the ballet in this fall’s municipal election. On Friday April 16, the province announced that it will order the City to ask the following question in the election:

“Do you support the members of Kitchener and Waterloo Councils engaging in discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of merging the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo? Yes or No.”

I have always been against this question. We don’t need a referendum to discuss how to improve our governance structure. The question should have been “Are you in favour of a merger between Kitchener and Waterloo, yes or no?”

Attached is a good summary article on amalgamation written by the Montreal Economic Institute. It reviews experiences with municipal mergers and amalgamations. I hope that you take the time to read the article. There are other studies and comments about mergers on their web site as well.

Based on everything that I have heard and read to this point, my experience on Council over the past 6 years, and having heard the issues that the proponents of the merger want addressed, I do not believe that a merger is the right answer for Waterloo or for the Region.

Rather than have a debate on whether to merge or not, it would be much more valuable to have a discussion on the pros and cons of our current system, identify the missed opportunities and problem areas, and then look at a range of solutions. This is a process that I have been advocating for over the past few years, as described in my October 2005 Second opinion article on how to deal with municipal reform.

Merger isn’t the only answer. We should broaden our horizons, and take the time to do what is right for the city and the region, and find a made-in-Waterloo Region solution.

Clay and Glass Gallery: Things are looking up.

The Clay and Glass gallery is busy developing its sustainability plan, and will present its plan to Council in June. A lot has happened since the financial issues first surfaced last fall. Two new board members have been added, the board has reviewed its role and responsibilities vis-a-vis staff, a development committee has been established, and it is in the early stages of re-branding its Mission. These are all quite positive developments, and bode well for a very exciting future for the gallery.

There is a public input session planned for Wednesday April 28 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at RIM park, room 208. If you have any interest or thoughts about the gallery, you should attend the session. If you cannot make it, there is an opportunity to provide input at the gallery website, or leave a comment here which I will forward on.

Ticketing for Parking on Lawns simplified

On Monday, Council passed a motion which will enable by-law staff to issue the equivalent of a parking ticket to any cars that are illegally parked on lawns or someone else's driveway. In the past, it took 30 minutes to issue a ticket, because the owner of the car had to be identified. Now it will take only about 2 minutes.

This is a good example of how the city continues to to improve its operational effectiveness, and in this case, how it make our by-laws more meaningful.

Waterloo finances look up

It is satisfying to see The Record editorial commenting on the progress we have made since the days I held public meetings and the extensive internal reviews 6 years ago to deal with the Rim Park financing fiasco. At that time we set out three budget targets get our finances under control. This paved the for the current three year budget providing stability and predictability to our finances. We are the only municipality in Ontario to have a 3 year budget, and now our city staff are being asked to speak to other municipalities and at conferences on how to implement them. We have made such great strides.

Conestoga Sailing Club

Sailing in a passion of mine, and some good friends and long time Conestoga Sailing Club members, Ben and Eliza are planning a sailing adventure, which may take them around the world. They started sailing at nearby Conestoga Lake when they enrolled their children in sailing lessons, and then got hooked themselves. Ben has since built his own boat, and has a website with some of his boat building and sailing experiences. When we think of Waterloo, we may not think of sailing, but if you learn to sail well at Conestoga, you have a solid base of experience to sail anywhere in the world.

Clay and Glass Gallery

Ione Thorkelson, who exhibited at the Clay and Glass Gallery in 2004, has just won the Governor General's Award for Visual Arts for 2010. In an email message to the gallery she stated that "This is a very exciting time for me. The CCGG has had a huge effect on my development. An opportunity to stretch all my abilities to fit that grand space sent me off in new directions."

I am the Councillor Liaison on the board of the gallery. We are in the process of developing a sustainability plan for the gallery. One of the challenges is to ensure that the gallery is seen as relevant to the community, both the artistic community and the community at large. Being able to attract Canada's leading artists should surely fall into that category.

WCEAC had their AGM last week, and invited Steffanie Scott, a local UW professor and Co-Chair of the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable, who gave a broad reaching talk on our food system, starting from a global perspective to local food priorities. This is a very interesting and relevant topic, especially for those who are interested in what can be done to buy locally produced food, and to encourage more of this.


Northdale has also been back in the news, with residents at 251 Albert street constructing a sexually explicit sculpture of a nude women with a kiwi fruit stuck between her spread legs. The Cord wrote an editorial suggesting this was art, that there are more important issues and questioned the why there was a controversy. True enough, but as I wrote to The Cord, neighhourhood norms should be respected.

On a more positive note, Kingston is also dealing with issue of intensification in near campus neighbourhoods, and have recently issued their recommendations.

Waterloo Council will be receiving a staff report at the end of April with options for Northdale, and Council will have to make some decisions in May. Shortly after that will come recommendations on the licensing of rental units.

The Merger Question

Should Council request that a referendum question be placed on the municipal election ballot this fall regarding a possible merger between the cities of Waterloo and Kitchener?

I have always believed that one should fully understand the problem, before deciding on the solution. As I first said in my Oct 2005 Second Opinion article, we have to understand both the benefits and the shortcomings of the current form of government before we start down the path of municipal reform. We need to have the public engaged in an open community dialogue about what works and what doesn’t.

In my letter to the editor in The Record last weekend, I recommended that "having a community discussion, without a preconceived outcome, will enable a more robust examination of the issues and the development of alternative solutions, without the divisiveness of arguing for or against a merger."

The ballot question that was proposed does not accomplish this goal because everything is discussed in terms of a merger outcome. It is not about identifying the issues that need to be addressed. It does not permit a "third solution" or other alternatives to come forward. It does not ensure we protect many of the great benefits the current municipal structure offers.

Welcome to Jan d'Ailly's blog

Welcome to my first blog. This is the first time that I use this medium for better communication with those who are interested in City of Waterloo politics.

I will use this blog to provide updates and my thoughts on items of particular interest to me as they relate to city hall. No doubt, as the election nears, there will likely be partisan statements, but it is my intent to stick to the issues at hand to make Waterloo a better place to live, work and play.

So, I welcome your comments. Thank you for visiting, and see you back. Jan


PS. I do have a web site which is essentially my 2006 election campaign site. It will be updated prior to the election campaign getting into full swing.