Hello! 

August has been a busy month for Council, and having just returned from a family wedding away, I'm eager to catch up with you all. There are a couple of big files on the agenda this month - read on for key information about budget preparations and the next steps on the climate change file.

With summer coming to an end, this week is also your last chance to make use of certain outdoor city facilities/programs. More details here. 

Ward 2 updates: 

- As update to previous notes about sidewalk corner ramps, there is a report on Monday's agenda identifying the gap, and some options to close it. I am glad to have this information in one place, and very pleased that the roadways programs underway will, going forward, include corner ramps even when the corner panels are in serviceable shape. The stance I have communicated is that a corner sidewalk panel is not serviceable if it does not have a ramp - that is an old standard that we need to work systematically to do away with. It seems that there is now agreement on that as outlined in this report. I'll keep pushing toward full retrofit of all known 3500 corners without ramps, many of which are in Ward 2 neighbourhoods and continue to create accessibility challenges for many.

- There is a motion being discussed on Monday that would have the administration report back about the feasibility of allowing dogs on leashes in all riverbank parks and along the meewasin trail. Many of these parks are in or near Ward 2, and I'm keen to hear your feedback. As noted, the motion is only asking for information, so if passed, provides lots of time before and upon reporting back to discuss the merits of this.

- As you have likely heard, the City administration, the Mayor and I are in ongoing discussions with members of the Pleasant Hill Community Association about safety issues in the area. A letter outlining concerns was discussed earlier this month at Committee, and follow up is and will take place in a number of ways. I believe that there is great opportunity in working together to support communities and that it will take a great deal of collaboration to curb some troubling trends. I am committed to ensuring the City is a meaningful contributor in this work, and will continue to be at the table to ensure that is the case. I believe that working at a way forward in Pleasant Hill where the concentration and scale of issues is notable is key for local residents, but will also benefit our community as a whole, and may help to chart a path forward for other areas that may face similar challenges. Thank you to all who have reached out in support of the work needed.

City wide policy & updates: 

- An update on budget preparation: The full detailed budget will be debated and set in late November.  In the last month reports were considered about opportunities to lower the projected property tax increase, and also considering projects that are of merit but are unfunded. Those that were supported by Committees will all now be incorporated into the draft budget to be presented in November.

- The 30-year plan entitled the Low Emissions Community report and projects for short-term implementation are on Council's agenda this Monday (agenda report links in list below). I've been hearing from many residents and stakeholders about this and look forward to reading all that I receive before Monday. As discussed at Committee earlier this month, the report clearly demonstrates that the costs of inaction are steep, and the social and economic benefits, in addition to the climatic ones of taking serious mitigation steps are substantial. I hope you'll take a look at the report and I look forward to hearing from you.

- As you've likely heard, the City was victim to a fraud scheme recently. The latest update is here outlining recovery efforts so far. While this situation is certainly regrettable, I have been glad to see full transparency on this from City administration, and a commitment to accountability as the incident is investigated.

Consultations/Workshops to participate in:

- The Holiday Park/King George neighbourhood traffic review has now been scheduled for October 29th at 7pm. Details here.

Did you know...

- The next Household Hazardous Waste date is September 8th.
Dates for 2019 and info about what can be accepted can be found online. Don't forget the new location at the Civic Operations Center. 

- There's an online map where you can find details about all of the ongoing construction projects in the city! Don't stay in the dark about what's happening around the corner - check it out here. Here's a spotlight on resurfacing and how it fits into the roadways strategy.

Community Notes

Most community associations are gearing up for their fall meeting after a summer break. Now is a great time to think about how you might like to be involved in your community association as the season for Annual General Meetings approaches. Find out more about CAs here.

Come check out the 33rd street fair on September 14th. 33rd Street has lots to explore, and vendors will be out in full force, rain or shine. Come drop by my table for a visit!