59 Carden St.

Touché

posted by Scott

During a budget discussion at today's Wellington County council meeting, Coun. Lou Maieron expressed concern about how little input the county will have in the $12-million city-led POA court project, for which it is on the hook for half the costs.

"When the city makes up its mind on this we won't have much say," Maieron said. "It will just be, 'Here is your bill.'"

After a moment's reflection, Maieron added: "It's like us and social services. Even though (city representatives) weren't supportive of the budget at committee, it's our line item to pass."

And pass it they did, leaving the city responsible for $1.25 million more than city council had included in its budget passed in December.

Here we go again

posted by Scott

Relations between the city and Wellington County have been awfully chilly of late, and don't show signs of getting any better.

During today's county council meeting, Coun. John Green, who chairs the county's finance committee, noted the city would like to have some property behind the county-owned former post office on Wyndham Street for use in its Baker Street redevelopment.

Green said the county is talking with the city about its needs, but also sounded like the county is in no hurry to surrender its turf.

"If we want to expand that building in the future, the only place to go is back," Green said. "We believe we need to protect our interests for future expansion."

Stay tuned.

Water conservation and efficiency

posted by Nicole

Staff will present the water conservation and efficiency strategy update to council at a special meeting in council chambers starting at 6 p.m. tonight.

Wayne Galliher, water conservation project manger for the city, said the conent presented will be the same information from the last public meeting held at the River Run Centre on Feb. 4. This is council's opportunity to provide input.

For those who did not attend the public meetings or can't make tonight's meeting, here's the story I wrote earlier this month. It was really interesting to see how far Guelph has come in terms of conserving water, but also all the areas for improvement.

It should be noted that there is some mention in the strategy about co-ordinating it with other plans including the stormwater management master plan and the pending urban forest management plan. This was a high priority among many vocal members of the public that attended.

LaFarge OMB hearing dates confirmed

posted by Scott

We've finally learned the most recent revised dates for an Ontario Municipal Board hearing into a development proposed for the former LaFarge lands on Silvercreek Parkway South.

An information package sent to residents in the area -- including one of our reporters -- by lawyers for Silvercreek Guelph Developments Limited states a prehearing conference will be held March 18 and 19, with the full hearing scheduled to begin on July 27.

The prehearing conference will be held at City Hall to identify any additional parties or participants, set a final list of issues to be determined during the hearing and set direction for the prefiling of witness statements and written evidence.

The notice also states evidence may be heard at the prehearing conference "in an attempt to settle the matters in dispute," and that even if no settlement is reached the board "may make a final decision on the evidence it received."

A settlement seems unlikely based on my previous discussions with representatives of Armel Corp., the only remaining opponent, who pledged to fight the proposal to the end.

How they voted

posted by Nicole

There were plenty of good discussions and interesting votes at tonight's council meeting. Here are most of them:

That the development charge increase (effective March) be deferred for a not-for-profit housing development that will include 40 affordable housing units. The money collected for the old DC rate will be pooled to help pay for these affordable housing units. The increased cost that was deferred (equal to $1.1 million) will be paid over 10 years.
vote passes 11-2 (Kovach and Billings against)

On an amendment just to defer the DC on those 40 units and not all 124 units: vote fails 11-2 (Kovach and Billings for)

On signing a license agreement with Pollination Guelph approving the clay capped land-filled part of Eastview Community Park for the Pollinator Park: vote passes 13-0

That staff look at funding needs for the 10 year capital forecast, during the 2010 budget to implement all the phase of Eastview Community Park. Phase one was already approved at $1.74 million, but an additional approximately $3 million is needed. (the increased cost is not attributed to the pollinator park).
vote passes 11-2 (Kovach and Billings against)

That the Trans Canada Trail concept be deferred back to staff to look at moving a portion of the trail east of the train tracks by Eramosa River. vote failed 9-4 (Piper, Bell, Salisbury and Farrelly for)

To approve the Trans Canada Trail concept: vote passed 13-0.

A motion to have staff examine the possibility of a secondary (not paved/ smaller) trail in that east-of-the-train-tracks area near the Eramosa River. vote passed 7-6 (Billings, Wettstein, Hofland, Kovach, Beard and I didn't catch the last vote against)

That the decision into moving the provincial offences court into the old city hall be reopened for a minor scoping exercise, looking at the cost of other options. vote failed 12-1 (Burcher for)

Rally 'round the Family (Thrift Store)

posted by Scott

I trust Rage Against the Machine will forgive me for scalping their lyrics for the title of this post.

I noticed on Facebook a meeting has been organized for this Sunday night to discuss strategies to stop the approved Baker Street redevelopment, which will of course result in the loss of four buildings on Wyndham Street North, including the one housing Ray Mitchell's store.

Here are the details, according to the Facebook page:

Date:	Sunday, February 22, 2009
Time:	7:30pm - 10:30pm
Location:	2 Margaret Street
City/Town:	Guelph, ON

Contact Info

Phone:	519-821-9833
Email:	katiemackattack@hotmail.com

The organizers advise they have "2 dogs and many cats" so those with allergies beware. Chili will be served and pot luck items are welcomed.

 

City $3.5 million into court-at-City Hall project already

posted by Scott

It would cost the city nearly $3.5 million to walk away from the proposal to move the municipal court into the soon-to-be-vacant City Hall, councillors will learn in a report to go to council Monday.

Council asked staff last month to report on the implications, "financial and otherwise," of not going ahead with the project.

The resulting report, authored by five city staffers, notes the city has already spent $2.44 million on design, construction, consultant fees and other costs, and another $1 million on "litigation costs."

The report contains a number of other reasons why staff believe "there remains a valid need and rationale" for moving the court into the old City Hall.

But despite all that, at least one city councillor thinks the issue deserves more discussion before any final decision is made.

Read more in tomorrow's paper.

City CUPE workers may strike

posted by Nicole

The City of Guelph is in collective agreement negotiations with three CUPE locals that represent city staff. If it's not resolved CUPE says it has set a tentative strike for March 6 at 12:01 a.m. (I originally had March 5 here because that's what the CUPE website said)

A failed city negotiations committee meeting on Feb. 12 means a provincial conciliator has been appointed to provide mediation services to both parties in an attempt to reach a settlement.

CUPE locals 241, 973 and 1946 represent approximately 550 outside, inside and library employees.

These are the same CUPE locals that went on strike and won against the city in 2006.

The CUPE contracts expired on January 31, 2009. The parties are set to meet again on March 2 2009.

Mercury reporter Charlotte Prong Parkhill is looking into the story for tomorrow's paper.

C2 concept approved

posted by Nicole

In a 10-2 vote city council approved the Baker Street redevelopment conceptual design that will see four businesses on Wyndham Street knocked down to make room for a road, green space and a library fronting Wyndham.

Councillors Kovach and Billings voted against.

But the wording also included the commitment to have staff come back with a mitigation plan to help displaced businesses.

This was largely directed at Ray Mitchell's Family Thrift Store, which more than a handful of delegates argued should be saved. It will be demolished according to the plan.

Coun. Ian Findlay put forward this amendment to help Mitchell (although he accidentally called it the Family THEFT Store -- twice).

Kovach corrected him.

The conceptual design estimates a cost of $55.5 million. In the end the vote seemed to come down to supporting the library or not.

Look for more information in Wednesday's Mercury.

More money for Gummer

posted by Scott

The city’s Community Development and Environmental Services Committee voted this afternoon to increase funding for the Gummer Building’s redevelopment to more than $2 million from the $1.3 million approved in 2007.

Since that 2007 decision, which generated some controversy, Skyline has bought the adjacent West End Bakery building and increased the overall scope of its redevelopment plan.

Ian Panabaker, manager of the city’s urban design program, explained this move dramatically increased the assessed value of the property, and should result in about $76,000 in additional property taxes over what the project was expected to generate when the $1.3 million was committed.

The $1.3 million grant was to be achieved through the deferral for 10 years of the anticipated $131,000 in annual property taxes the project would generate. With the project now expected to generate about $205,000 in taxes, the $2.05 million approved today still represents a 10-year deferral.

Panabaker stressed all the money designated to Gummer under the Heritage Redevelopment Reserve is contingent on the work being completed.

"They don't get a cent until the work is done," Panabaker told me. "We haven't given them any money yet."