Council Priorities 2019-2022 Refresh

energy retrofits micro-financing

Unlock low-interest capital for homeowners + business owners to get in with deeper home efficiency changes. Especially older inefficient homes and buildings wasting heat -+ energy (which equals wasting money and creating unnecessary GHGs). Help break the cycle by providing low interest loans secured by the property to unlock money. A made in Kingston PACE-like program. Kingston is ready for this. Make it available to commercial properties as well as homes.

Enforce mandatory minimum-sized green spaces for all building developments. Reduce concrete surfaces that inhibit drainage and limit trees.

The pier must be staffed with lifeguards and security. As much as it’s use at your own risk there is so much illegal drinking and drug use -

A safe pier for everyone

Sustainability and Net Zero

1) Build new sub-divisions without gas lines and use electricity for space heating, cooling, and hot water heating. Include solar PV and solar thermal. Increase the size of the electrical service and infrastructure into homes. 2) Make waste water heat exchanges mandatory 3) Incent builders and home owners get off gas and use electricity, using reduced DCC's or the ability to finance green initiatives under a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. 4) Fast track the implementation and use of electric buses and electric City and UK vehicles 5) All new city buildings should be net zero and not burn NG. All city building retrofits should be net zero and eliminate NG. 6) Promote embedded net-metered generation at all city owned facilities. 7) Promote and foster community renewable energy distributed generation initiatives, including energy co-ops.

Stop spending on bikelanes that are not used enough. Use the money to reduce emissions elsewhere. It’s great to fund pet projects but...

There's only one way to fix affordability: build more housing.

New social housing is a powerful economic multiplier contributing to local, provincial and national prosperity and economic recovery efforts. It's the only way forward. The private sector will never fix this issue on its own, neither will loosening requirements for families to rent out their basements.

Provide more shelter options

Acknowledge the city has a homeless problem that will need more than one solution. We need more shelter spaces that are more geared to the needs of the user.

Where does food security fit within the existing priorities? People need proper employment and food - basic needs

Too many students, seniors and families go hungry.

Make affordable housing mandatory in all neighbourhoods and buildings to limit red line districts, encourage community and mental health.

End ‘Othering’.

Actually build more affordable housing

Depending on private developers to add a sprinkling of "affordable" units in their buildings is not cutting it. The city needs to step up and build the units. Efforts so far have been a drop in the bucket.

How can we ensure snow is promptly cleared from sidewalks? Residents' duty vs city?

Some residents shovel, others don't. Rarely does this result in a continuous thru fare on a street. There is the belief that the city is responsible for this, but the city sidewalk plough is not always timely or necessarily thorough in its removal. Commuting is dangerous in winter for people who have difficulties walking or need to use a wheelchair. This is inequitable and will be a continuing problem as our population ages

Improved Road Maintenance for Cycling

I have seen some positive developments with bike lanes and trails over the last few years. However, one area that could improve is road maintenance - specifically large potholes and cracks in the cycling lanes. It's a major safety issue for cyclists (much more than motorists, obviously). If the city creates and maintains bike lanes, part of that program should include regular maintenance especially after the winter thaw.

Fix Queen Street and King Street by the Hospitals. Instead of using pot holes as speed bumps, review the work done on Palace Road.

Narrowing the roadway with the planted bump outs narrowed the roadway, reduced the speeds on it and made it more pleasant to drive. Parked cars are protected by the bumpouts. Looks like a win for everyone.

Better snow removal from sidewalks

Sidewalk plows, while removing the bulk of the snow, leaves behind a smooth layer of snow on top of the sidewalk. This creates a walking surface that is very slippery and worsens as snow melts and re-freezes due to fluctuating temperatures.

Overpass across Highway 15 for Students attending SJAM and St. Martha's

As a Memorial University student in 1982 I learned the name of Judy Lynn Ford. Judy had been struck and killed by a car crossing a four lane road that bisected the campus. Students protested the dangerous level crossing until the city and the university agreed to take action to limit the risks of crossing the road. The actions included installing two overpasses. I urge the city to take preventive action and proactively provide a safe way for children to get across Highway 15 to access SJAM and St. Martha schools. Please don't wait for a tragedy and protest to take prudent action.

Developer/financier incentives/subsidy for affordable commercial/industrial spaces for creative boutique businesses and craft manufacturers

Examples of businesses might include soap making, pottery, jewellery making, fine art painting, metalworks, cabinet making, coffee roasting, microbrewery or winemaking, handcrafted clothing manufacture, custom shoe manufacture, hat and accessory manufacture, printmaking, papermaking, screenprinting, video and filmmaking, photography, furniture restoration, sound studio recording, musical rehearsal spaces, writing hubs, dance/yoga/martial arts studios, leather tooling, saddle making, art framing, art restoration, bookbinding, musical instrument making, etc.

Smarter Shopping

The Rideau Center East end is getting a new mall. It will have a $ Store and there is already one there, which has been serving us well. I’m sure the new store will put the old one out of business. I guess competition reigns supreme.

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.

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...

Good jobs for people with skills

Look at Economic development with an employee lens, not just a. Business focused lens. What is being done to create good well paid living wage (at a minimum) jobs. Many are not employed in spite of good skills, training, education. Creation of jobs should be a prioirty. Investment and incentives for businesses should be based on the quality and quantity of jobs being sustained in the community, not warehouses or minimum wage jobs

Plant more trees

Combine public art into functional bike racks at all shopping spaces.

Healthy communities are aided by reduced policing.

For safe and healthy communities there is increasing evidence—not only in the US but also in Canada—that we should rethink the role of police, focusing on providing many services through other programs (bylaw enforcement, health services, etc). The city may consider freezing police budgets as a first step here.

Provide pro-active programs to foster health in relationships and families. Can combine with affordable housing...

Build spaces (like affordable housing) that also reflect city goals (community spaces, partnerships with social )

Where does food security and employment fit within the existing priorities? People are going hungry; support those who can break the cycle

The City has a role in ensuring children, families are not hungry and have access to healthy food. Help families on low income (who are not on social assistance already) and often working two or three jobs