O CANADA! -- Rain failed to dampen spirits of thousands who attended the annual Canada Day pancake breakfast at the Legislature hosted by the Aga Khan Council for Edmonton. I was invited to serve and had a whole lot of fun. Later I spoke at the Mill Woods Park's celebration -- the largest volunteer-driven, free Canada Day event in the nation. PHOTO BY JASMINE FRANKLIN
Survey: People wary of arena costs
A solid majority of people polled (68% vs. 24%) want a new arena built in Edmonton. But a significant number of people surveyed either don't want the arena built at all or want a new financial framework than the one currently proposed (a total of 50%).
That's the conclusion of an informal online survey conducted by my office. A majority of respondents (49% vs. 46%) indicated the City shouldn't consider using provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative money (MSI) to fund the ‘missing' $100 million needed to build the proposed $450-million downtown arena.
Like me, a resounding majority want to see a new arena built. But there's a lot of concern that the financial deal proposed between the City and the Katz Group isn't a great deal for taxpayers. I agree. We need to negotiate a better deal.
We had 1,329 people who did the survey and nearly 1,000 left some valuable and valid comments, which I shared with my council colleagues.
To see the survey results and comments, visit www.kerrydiotte.com. |
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Our "Tee off with Kerry," contest winner!
Connie Schwartz is the winner of my golf and dinner contest.
I'll take Connie golfing after work and we'll have dinner afterwards -- my personal treat.
Thanks to all who entered the contest! |
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What's your view on 2013's proposed property tax hike?
City council on June 20 discussed next year's potential property tax hike.
City administration told council the hike in 2013 could be as high as 8.6%.
Later, city council voted to tell administration to prepare the 2013 budget at a level that would see a tax hike of 5.5%.
I voted against that, arguing it's still double the expected rate of inflation. A hike like that hurts those in our city who can least afford it -- people earning minimum wage and folks on fixed incomes, especially seniors.
It is not just a question of paying higher taxes or having services cut. That's simply not very creative.
I argued we've got to look much harder at finding efficiencies in the city -- and empower front-line City workers to find those efficiencies and offer them rewards for doing so.
Hikes higher than the rate of inflation are not sustainable.
This is just the start of the budget process and, with common sense, political will and some public pressure, a tax hike could be much lower than 5.5%, I believe.
Even at a 2.5% tax hike to cover inflation, we could still maintain service levels.
In order to reduce the 2013 proposed tax hike of 5.5% to 2.5% we would only have to find about $30 million of cost savings in a civic budget of about $2 billion.
I want your views on this (especially if you're a City of Edmonton employee). Please leave them on my website www.kerrydiotte.com and forward the link to others. |
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Tweet o' the month
(Comment regarding Coun. Kerry Diotte's informal, online survey to Edmontonians on their opinion of the downtown arena deal. Check out the results at www.kerrydiotte.com)
@focuscom says, "Good for @KerryDiotte to try new consultation methods, even though it's not scientific, it will still collect thoughts." |
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Money well spent?
The City of Edmonton paid $14,000 to an independent consulting firm (Consumer Strategies Group Inc.) in part to develop and test a variety of possible names for the redevelopment of the City Centre airport lands.
The firm came up with six possible names including The Landing, Crossroads, Sol' Town, Wingfield, Avia Park and Central Park. The names are now being tested though a public survey. Do you think this is money well spent? |
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Food for thought
There's a movement afoot to try to preserve large tracts of agricultural land in Edmonton for producing food instead of allowing rezoning for housing development.
Edmonton now has 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of land zoned as agricultural.
The presentation is being spearheaded by a group known as the Greater Edmonton Alliance. For details, visit their website http://greateredmontonalliance.com.
What do you think of this idea? I'd love your feedback on it. |
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Did you know?
- Have an idea to rename the current and future LRT lines? The City of Edmonton wants to hear it and is holding a contest that's giving away an iPad. For more information visit takeETS.com/myLRT or call (780) 447-3439.
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COFFEE, CAKE AND A CHAT -- I met Shirley K. Stevenson June 13 during my visit with residents of Shepherd's Care senior facility. Residents came for cake and coffee. Shirley did a great job writing a letter of concern about transportation issues and getting others to sign it. I've asked admin to address those issues. Thanks for having me! PHOTO BY JASMINE FRANKLIN |
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You said it...
These comments were pulled from kerrydiotte.com, my interactive website where I encourage your thoughts and opinions. For the chance to get your comment in next month's "You said it," visit kerrydiotte.com and comment on the site about civic issues.
Doug commented on the proposed property tax hike: "Hi Kerry, You're doing a great job fighting for our tax money and I for one truly appreciate the effort. Keep on fighting the good fight!"
Shelly commented: "I really like your community spirit!"
A City of Edmonton employee commented on the proposed property tax hike: "As a City employee, I feel honored to work for our City. Where I would like to see the city do a better job is with paper management. We have made some strides towards going paperless, but there are still departments who rely heavily on paper and use a tonne of paper keeping duplicate paper files and lots of paper files where we could rely on the computer to store what we need. This could save the city money. |
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PRIDE PARTY -- I chatted with former Edmonton police commissioner Murray Billet and Alberta Official Opposition Leader Danielle Smith June 12 at the EPS Chief of Police annual reception to celebrate Edmonton's Gay Pride Festival. PHOTO BY CHERYL GARBERA |
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Good news in the City!
In 2008, revenues from city recycling totaled roughly $3.6 million.
Last year in 2011, those revenues increased to $4.96 million. Way to go City of Edmonton Waste Management! |
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Section of greenway fenced off for art sculpture
A section of the Hazeldean Greenway -- between 93 St. and 96 St. -- will be fenced off until the end of July as the City begins construction for the installation of a new art sculpture.
The sculpture reflects the historical significances of the greenway, formally the Edmonton Yukon Pacific Railway line. |
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Sewer upgrades in Ritchie and Strathcona
As part of ongoing flood prevention, the City's Drainage Services will be upgrading sewers in the Ritchie and Strathcona neighbourhoods. New storm sewers will be built between 96 St. and 98 St. and between 80 Ave. and 89 Ave.
Construction is expected to begin in mid July and is slated to be completed in 2014. |
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Stay in touch with me at City Hall
As a city councillor, I welcome your comments, concerns, feedback and ideas.
The best way? Check out my website at www.kerrydiotte.com and leave a comment on any issue you like.
My e-mail is: kerry.diotte@edmonton.ca
My City of Edmonton website is: http://bit.ly/eeV4DW
Send mail to: Coun. Kerry Diotte, 2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7
Phone: 780-496-8142. Fax: 780-496-8113
Sign up for my e-newsletter by going here: http://bit.ly/zhFtB9
Sincerely,
-- Kerry |
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