Council Priorities 2019-2022 Refresh

Active separated pathways across the city

More multi-user separated pathways (biking, running, walking, for strollers, and older folks, etc) which link between neighbourhoods + allow people to commute or travel safely, away from traffic. Not on roads. Most people who want to bike do not feel safe on the roads. Most existing distinct pathways are limited to within pockets of certain neighbourhoods, so you don’t get far. Ideally wrap a waterfront pathway across the entire waterfront and basin. Be inspired by Calgary and Vancouver cycling pathways

Urban Tree Planting Program

Give residents the opportunity to purchase a tree from the city for a low cost that they (or volunteers) could plant on their property. As a part of an urban forestry strategy, this could help increase planting of appropriate tree species across Kingston, which could be controlled by the city in conjunction with forestry experts.

Picking up litter as a community service

We are still struggling with litter in the streets, and as we are on Lake Ontario, this is particularly worrisome. If students could collect litter as part of their community service, and offenders could do so as their community service, it might help to clean up the area.

Provide continuous sidewalks on all streets - Like Collins Bay Road

If you want people to walk you need to make it safe - there either is no sidewalk on roads like Collins Bay or it moves from the east to the west side - and no lights to cross the road when it does that

Less frequent mowing of city parks

Lots of bumblebees at local parks in spring, all gone through summer. Just an extra inch or two makes a huge difference since clover and yarrow can flower

Need to increase number of affordable housing units

Ban AirBnB-style short-term rentals of suites that can be long-term.

AirBnB rules favours landlords and removes legal rights normally afforded to tenants. Landlords convert otherwise normal rentals into AirBnBs to get more power and extract more rent from tenants. There might be a space for ethical use of AirBnB (for actual Bed & Breakfasts for tourists...) but that's not the major use case.

Make it easier for individual property owners to add additional residential units

A quick, easy solution for increasing rental housing supply

Diversify Shelter Options

Go back to a diversified shelter system, not a one-provider system HBH has proven itself unable to provide the kinds of shelter that respect the dignity of all, and to facilitate healing and wellness. Some people don't mind HBH/IFTC, but many really can't be there. City should be more careful about their service provider relationships in the future. The Housing and Homelessness Plan is done. DIdn't work the way you thought it would. Try something Different.

Eliminate shelters & move to providing emergency housing with individual units to stabilize homeless providing wrap around support services

Someone already posted this but: Promote the development of restaurants, shops and green spaces all across the city.

It would promote more walk-ability ( and reduce car emissions) if you didn't have to leave your neighborhood every-time you need to grab something quick from the store or wanted to get a bite to eat.

The Mystery of the Disappearing Bike Lanes

Division St - heading south in the bike lane; approach the intersection at Regi and BAM, no more Bike Lane, and instead traffic cuts me off to turn West on Concession. How hard can it be? Other cities have figured it out.

"Quiet Streets" is a solution without a problem!

The streets where the barriers have been placed are already super-quiet residential streets! Unclear what the benefit is there. There is already minimal car traffic on these roads, and no existing pedestrian or cyclist congestion that would require the use of road space for walking, in order to increase physical distancing. On the other hand, closing down a pedestrian-busy street like Princess also didn't work out... So let's just stop forcing this idea. It's a solution without a problem. It makes sense to close down Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto to let pedestrians and cyclists use the road without over-crowding on the sidewalks or in the cycling lane. We don't have a pedestrian over-crowding problem outside of core downtown, so let's stop losing focus and wasting city resources on something that is not an issue.

Funding for road expansion reduces resources for basic maintenance and upkeep. Stop funding road expansion and repair existing streets

Backlog of road and sidewalk repair has been a long time issue in Kingston. Wheelchair users frequently have to use the roads due to rough and cracked sidewalks, and cyclists are often forced onto the sidewalks to avoid hazards on the roads (johnson st). The funding for repairs is a comparably small amount in comparison to the hundreds of millions spend on widening and extending J. Counter Blvd and providing free roads into future subdivisions, but both draw from the same funding budget for roads. Council can set state of good repair a priority over road expansion.

Consider streetscape in new development

As new mid-rise housing is built in Kingston—and it's much needed!—it's clear that some developments add to the walkability along Princess and side streets, while others (particularly on Princess) present pedestrians with a blank cement-block wall next to a comparatively narrow sidewalk. Relatively minor changes—including trees or benches in the development—make a big difference here, and I would love to see the city require these things of development projects, as opposed to creating new problems that might need to be fixed (at more expense) later.

Legalize missing middle housing to empower small-scale developers

Missing middle housing (duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, etc.) will not only help solve our housing crisis, but it will help empower small developers and construction teams, rather than only those who have the financing to build large-scale development. In addition, missing middle housing types seem to be an easy way to densify citywide without potentially causing political turmoil (unlike recent mid- and high-rise proposals).

I think in light of COVID, priorities must be chosen based on city-preservation and best for YGK citizens....

Economic development and affordable housing become top priorities in light of this...

Offer support to provide more short term leases and/or reduced rents for space in downtown core: encourage pop-up/trial businesses.

Bring in commercial variety and give newbies a chance.

pandemic forces us to re-evaluate; focus just on essentials to help business

Future Economic Growth means investing today

We need to ensure projects such as a deep water dock and a multi use/Conference centre receive proper consideration now to ensure our industry rebounds and returns to a strong growth pattern. Tourism requires continual investment which results in economic wins through long term employment opportunities as well as supporting relocation to the Kingston community. We currently lose significant economic gains to our competitors in surrounding regions without the above assets. I understand these projects will not happen overnight but to postpone development will place us in a further competitive disadvantage and ultimately detrimental to Kingston's tourism industry.

focus on essentials of society, safety, shelter, food

Enable walkable areas outside of the core. Build & Plan for walkable areas and not just drive-able.

areas west of SirJohnA Blvd are car-dependant. Walkway connections within and between - neighbourhoods are deliberately blocked or not built by policy. This requires pedestrians and cyclists to hazard crossing highways, private property, and rail lines to travel to school or employment. This is designed for car use. examples are Cataraqui North area, Bayridge drive, and Gardiners rd areas.

Plant more trees

Affordable housing is needed in order to have healthy citizens and vibrant spaces

Continue to foster ways people can socialize but physically distance outside in the colder weather