Put The Lid On

Last Sunday,  a group of people got together and rode their bikes (pedal not motor!) through the pathways and trails around the Dairy Queen on Baseline Road. There were big bikes and small bikes, Mums and Dads - and kids, some great kids who pedalled harder and faster than their parents (especially at the end of the trip when the Dairy Queen was in sight and they could smell the Blizzards!)

Most families rode with the Mud Sweat & Gears Club regularly. Others just came along for the ride. This was a diverse group of people of all ages, with one thing in common. They all had a passion for bicycle safety. They all believed that your helmet could one day save your brain, if not your life. So they joined together, with the support of Michael Liber, owner manager of the Dairy Queen, to embark on a ride safely campaign called ‘Put The Lid On’. 

One of the kids had a friend who had banged into a tree with his helmet on. One of our Granddads was wearing his helmet in a professional bike race – his helmet saved his life. We all knew someone who wore a helmet, or should have. We all had our reasons for riding that Sunday.

And what a great day it was. The idea was to give the kids we met wearing helmets a brochure on Safe Cycling with a free DQ treat inside. We also wanted to talk to kids and adults to explain why wearing your helmet is as important as wearing a seatbelt in the car. 

Pauline told of her group meeting a man with two kids – all on bikes. Only one child wore a helmet. The child without a helmet was not given a free treat. As the cyclists rode away, feeling bad about their ‘tough love’ treatment, they heard Dad  say “now stop crying Susie, the lady is right – we are going home right now to find your helmet.” Yay Dad! (I just know he took her to the nearest Dairy Queen too.)

Our group saw a Granddad riding with a helmet on. On a hunch I stopped and asked whether he had grand children and were they riding bikes. He said they never got on their bikes without their ‘lid on’. I gave him three brochures and coupons on the promise he would talk to his grand kids about bike safety.    

We had such a great time and felt that we had really made a difference. When you are out riding the next few weeks, look for us – and make sure you have your helmet on, for your family’s sake!

Reaching Legitimate Decisions

What government staff person has not inwardly moaned at the thought of walking into yet another heavily publicized public meeting to face an empty room? Finally two or at most five stragglers walk in – looking timidly around for a coffee, then a way to escape.  

It seems like governments are very willing to spend money to survey, conduct opinion polls, advertize, bring in consultants, and provide options – all in an effort to fulfill their obligations to Council to “consult the public”. Someone should tell all levels of government bureaucrats that the public is tired of being fed a bland menu of predetermined alternatives with a dose of lack of respect. Governments still think they can get public buy in by rounding up representatives of stakeholder groups, showing them a power point, and asking them to put a dot on piece of paper. The leader then summarizes with the ‘where to from here’ and ‘we’ll get back to you’.

Whether it is municipal, provincial or federal - governments sometime gets blinded by its own smoke and mirrors. There is not enough grassroots engagement going on. Residents want genuine discussion and respectful deliberation with all sides sharing decision making power and responsibility. Information and process must be transparent.

Does technology hold the answer? Should we just send out information bullets with a decision piece on Facebook, e-mails and Twitter and wait for the populist vote to come in? Life, sadly, is not that simple. Not all citizens have the time or the inclination to get involved. But it is, I believe, the obligation of enlightened governments to develop regular and timely forums and processes that can educate and inform citizens, not on a predetermined decision but with the goal of getting informed opinions from our citizens.

At this point in time, I believe that public apathy demonstrated by abysmal turn out at public meetings and low voter turnout at the polls is the direct result of the inverted use of the Public Engagement Spectrum. There is far too much informing and consulting being done, top down to the people. Only true involvement, collaboration and empowerment will increase voter turnout and draw more people to public meetings. 

I look to the time when peoples’ concerns are not only heard but understood and considered. Not enough feedback is given to people on how their views impacted the decision making process to develop another alternative. Why should people take time out of their busy week to meet with strangers on an issue that is not immediately impacting their family unless they feel their views and opinions are valued and actually incorporated into the decision to the maximum extent possible?

I believe it is the responsibility of elected officials to push the use of the Public Engagement Spectrum towards involvement and collaboration and away from top down informing and one way flow of information. To do this, elected officials must spend more time at the public meetings to ensure the process is truly two way participation, must bring more discussion in front of the public and spend far more time engaging the man on the street instead of on the golf course.

Time to Plan for Next 40 Years

Flashback to the summer of 2007, when, as a neophyte candidate for public office, I went door-to-door to find out what our residents’ thoughts were and what they envisioned for their community.

I recall the comments about growth. Some residents said “Stop the growth and I will vote for you.”
My answer today is the same one I gave then: “Strathcona County is positioned close to a huge metro area and in a region that offers highly attractive jobs. We are the key municipality in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. People flock to Strathcona County for our high-quality lifestyle. We expect to have housing for our elders and homes for our children when they are ready to raise families. We are not in a position to stop growing. However, your elected leaders are responsible to plan and manage balanced growth.”
The last five years have solidified Strathcona County as one of the top three communities in Canada to live and raise families.

The third largest municipality in Alberta, our 2.25 per cent average growth rate is leading the way to even greater prosperity with business and industry projected to contribute approximately 63 per cent of municipal property taxes in 2012 toward covering municipal operations.

Becoming a community of choice does not happen by accident. Kudos to former councils and administration who planned our way to success — balancing intergenerational equity (who pays for the next huge recreation multiplex and art centre, us or our children?); front ending growth (do taxpayers pay for gross investment of support infrastructure for the next mega residential growth area, or the developers?) and community revitalization (who pays to revitalize the sewers and water systems of our lovely old residential areas?).

It is all about balance and planning. It’s about weighing the infrastructure demands of current growth versus the revitalization needs of our existing residential areas.

It’s about the cost implications and who pays how much and when. Prioritization and planning are the keys to success and prosperity for you and your grandchildren. We are building for the future.
As you hear more about the new Growth Management Strategy, which provides direction and cost analysis of future growth, understand this: the Capitol Region Board (CRB) Growth Plan has recently identified and put guidelines in place for Strathcona County’s priority growth areas.
Their decision significantly impacts the existing Municipal Development Plan put into place by former councils.

The North East growth area (the northeast corner of highways 21 and 16) was accepted by the CRB, so we can continue to plan for an urban density similar to Sherwood Park in that area.

The Colchester growth area density has been changed (from our former 2007 Municipal Development Plan densities of urban rural transition, 50 to 129 units per quarter section) to 28 to 30 units per hectare.

What does that mean? Visualize Colchester in 40 years: not a “rurban” landscape of smaller acreages transitioning smoothly from west to east into larger 10-acre small holdings, but a bustling neighbourhood that looks like Summerwood or Emerald Hills.

That is a totally different vision than our previous councils had planned.

Take into account our current growth status. Your tax dollar is contributing to support infrastructure for Summerwood and Emerald Hills (now in the final stages of build out). Council has already signed off and committed to the Cambrian residential lands as the next residential build.

We are enjoying the fruits of previous councils’ collaborative work with the province to build highway interchanges and a hospital to service our growing region.

What about our rural strategy? Council committed to supporting existing rural population and planning for modest population increases when it expanded Ardrossan Recreation Complex and committed almost $9 million tax dollars to a waste water line.

This municipality is planning and building on many fronts. When does this become a headlong rush into urban sprawl? When planning is minimized and decisions are made “on the fly”?
We need to be wise in our commitment of resources moving ahead.

This council and our residents in Strathcona County need to have a hands-on, get-involved approach to this critical stage of planning that results in a strategic and focused plan for growth moving forward.
More than half of the elected officials on the bench, myself included, will not be here to enjoy the new growth areas that will be in place in 40 to 60 years.

That does not absolve us from the responsibility of putting to work all the skills and new technology at our disposal — taking the time to plan well, to lay the strong foundations — to make the wisest choices for both our current taxpayers, as well as our grandchildren.

I urge residents to take every opportunity to engage in the upcoming new Growth Management Strategy process.

Municipal Infrastructure Deficit

With the good news of the official start of construction for the Northeast Anthony Henday Drive - our thoughts turn to the need for all levels of government to continue to be proactive in their revitalization of public infrastructure.

Local governments build and repair over half of all public infrastructure, while collecting an average of eight cents of every tax dollar, creating an inequitable system.

Up until now, the federal-municipal funding agreement has provided for an annual $2 billion to assist in this monumental task. This program, as I have reported in earlier articles, is set to expire in 2014. Communities need to continue moving forward with the job of rebuilding our municipal infrastructure or we will fall behind as crumbling infrastructure costs our economy jobs and investment.

Strathcona County is one of the nearly 2,000 municipalities supporting the Federation of Canadian Municipalities(FCM) in its bid to encourage Federal, Provincial and territorial governments to protect and build on recent investments in municipal infrastructure. This national organization is trying to create a consensus about what the future program should look like before they present to the federal government through it's Municipal Infrastructure Forum (MIF).

Given the approaching deadline - you should hear more from your local Council soon.

Highlights of July 3, 2012 Council Meeting

Council meetings are webcast live and on tape for three months. The background reports for every meeting are on the site by the end of day, Friday prior to the Council meetings.

Recycle Stations & Enviro Service Enhancement

Council approved a 1.75 million dollar increase in the 2012 budget to be funded from the Federal Tax Grant program for a centralized and greatly enhanced urban recycle station. 

The   increase will take the total project cost to 4.225 million dollars - allowing the municipality to create a one stop enviro service centre with vastly improved safety and efficiency features.

Residents and our local Landscape Companies will find drop off of branches and grass clippings more convenient and safer in the future with new ground level access instead of current steep metal stairs. The site will be controlled with a permanent building and services yard where residents can drop off hazardous and yard waste as well as computers, metal and recyclables.

New Meeting Procedures Bylaw Passes with Amendment

Council passed an amended version of the proposed Meeting Procedures Bylaw  that ensured that a motion to amend bylaw must be seconded (section 10.7(b)).

One significant outcome of the changes to the bylaw is that Council Open House is available only at the first regular meeting of each month. The public no longer has the right to speak at every public meeting unless Council makes a special concession to allow for a resident to speak. Limiting times restricts access and, I predict, will discourage public participation. Engaging citizens reflects the spirit of a government’s philosophy in being open to citizens’ opinions and needs. The rationale given for restricting the number of Open Houses was that this would save Councillors’ and staff time and ‘that not enough public attended anyway’. Bylaw changes take effect in September.

On the plus side of openness and transparency, this bylaw revises the order of business to facilitate the publication of ‘in camera’ agendas. Most municipalities are already providing this for their taxpayers. By September, residents should be able to see what their Council is discussing in private meetings. In camera or out of the public eye discussions are limited to land, legal and human resources by the Municipal Government Act (See my January 27, 2012 blog post).

Busy Night at Council Open House

Both citizens and local business were lined up with presentations at this Council meeting. Resident Trina Boymook spoke to the negative impact of all three readings (and approval) of a bylaw being allowed at one sitting. She referred to the Meeting Procedures Bylaw as an example of a bylaw that was passed without any time lapse that would enable the public to contact their Councillor or ask for permission to address Council to have input into decisions that affect their daily lives. She stated that three readings in one session limited the ability of taxpayers to influence change, be engaged, and communicate with their government.

Abbey Lane Homes, Christenson Group, Landmark and Granger Advertising – all companies that do businesses in Strathcona County presented to Council on different aspects of the recently approved sign bylaw that are negatively impacting their businesses. 

While several meetings had been held recently to reach a mutually agreeable solution to decrease the sandwich board signs for Open Houses, businesses noted that it was in need of Council’s review of a section of the bylaw that dealt with signage size. They contended that this section was more applicable to single unit housing sites.     

The Provincial Board of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) 

PDD brought a welcome message to Council: The Premiere has shifted increased support to persons with disabilities by directing PDD Community Boards to raise awareness, support those municipalities to increase community capacity and recognize communities that are progressive. Strathcona County was given a glowing commendation for its current Vision Statement, Social Inclusion Policy, Social Sustainability Framework, Affordable Housing Program, Everybody Gets to Play Program, Transit Master Plan and the achievements of the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Rotary Service Clubs and the Chamber assist in finding employment opportunities and some municipal Recreational & Parks buildings provides job opportunities. Robin Hood is also extremely active in the area of job training and search.

E News Bulletin

I send out an E News Bulletin four times a month to residents. It is an opportunity for me to inform you of events and matters of interest to your family and neighbours in a timely manner. These electronic news flashes also help me to get your input and touch base with you. You are welcome to sign up at roxanne.carr@strathcona.ca

Your calls and opinions are welcome at Roxanne.Carr@strathcona.ca  or contact me at 780.267.3137 or a Twitter: @CouncillorCarr 

June 26, 2012 Meeting

Residents continue to express concerns on excessive speeds in their neighbourhoods and am determined to continue trying to address the speed in our residential areas. I feel we are making some success. In fact, in a recent Council meeting on June 26th, the Traffic Safety Office  brought forward an update on the Strategic Plan and progress made in the past few years. I am providing a link to it for you as I believe you will find it interesting and may feel positive as to the efforts that the County is making.

As of July 1, 2012, Strathcona County will be served by a joint traffic unit composed of 11 RCMP officers and 11 municipal traffic officers.

Photo radar will be removed from the County effective Sept. 1, 2012.  In 2012, the RCMP will continue to focus their attention primarily on intersections and to use intelligence led policing for efficient, effective traffic safety enforcement. New initiatives include:

1) exploring the use of new technologies for intelligence gathering and strategic enforcement

2) the identification of prolific traffic offenders in our community to safeguard Strathcona County residents.

June 15, 2012

Thank you for your great e mails with your comments and concerns. At this time of the year, with school ending and your family thinking of vacations, weekend activities and looking for things to do, I recommend both the Strathcona County and Information and Volunteer Centre websites

Traffic Calming

The greatest number of calls from residents in my ward come from concerns over traffic safety. Residents will see a number of new initiatives this year from the new pedestrian counter lights, Driver feedback signs, and the trial speed hump on Jim Common. More info click here.

Glencoe Blvd is under construction for some traffic calming that resulted from the Ward 2 traffic calming public engagement a few years ago.

Speed studies continue is those hot spot areas and I urge concerned citizens to keep reporting speeders to the RCMP at 780.467.7741.  If you feel that your neighbourhood needs the 'Give Our Kids a Break' mobile sign or the mobile Electronic Feedback signs please contact 780.417.7100