Candidate Surveys – Ward 4
Responses are presented in alphabetical order by candidate last name and include all responses received as of Oct 5, 2010. We will continue to upload additional responses as time allows.
Bedard, Leslie
1. Do you support a long-term lease for Race City as a track and advanced driving facility in Calgary?
No, but I would like to find a new home for Race City.
2. Does the City have a responsibility to play a role in preserving heritage sites? If so, what role?
Yes, we need to encourage their use and preservation.
3. What strategies do you have to create more pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure?
I would like to have better connected, and maintained, commuter pathways as well as to create a position within Calgary Transportation Department dedicated to cycling pathways and routes. I would also improve pathway and route signage.
4. Do you support urban farming, including urban chickens?
I do support urban farming and community gardens but I do not support urban chickens.
5. What have you done to address homelessness and urban poverty in Calgary? What will you do?
I will encourage social programs to step in and help struggling families and individuals, I will support “housing first” organizations and I will encourage community support of halfway houses and treatment centres.
6. Is urban sprawl a problem for Calgary? If so, what have you done? What will you do about it?
Yes, we need to encourage urban densification and the redevelopment of land that isn’t being used to its full potential. Furthermore I support Plan-it.
7. How will you make developers of new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects?
I support the recent levy on new development passed by Council in July. Although it may increase new home prices it is important that sprawl help pay for itself and the price not be passed to all Calgarians.
8. Would you extend the city’s recycling plan to include apartment buildings and/or organics?
Yes. I would like to extend our recycling program either through Calgary Waste and Recycle Services or by encouraging private companies to reach out to apartment and condo complexes. We also need to to immediately implement an organics pilot.
9. What will you do to help the province and city work together on the current SE Ring Road plan?
We need to come back to the table as partners and acknowledge that it is in both of our interests to complete this project.
10. Do you support legalization of secondary suits in all existing neighbourhoods?
Yes, with provisions. Land already zoned RC2 and RC1N can stay as is but new zoning must take parking, neighbours and safety into consideration.
Chu, Sean
1. Do you support a long-term lease for Race City as a track and advanced driving facility in Calgary?
I do support the Race City; however, I have some concerns about the financial situation of Race City.
2. Does the City have a responsibility to play a role in preserving heritage sites? If so, what role?
Yes. It has the power to make historic sites off limits to destruction, and can promote them as tourist attractions. The City does this now with Stephen Avenue, and Fort Calgary, and by promoting Calgary’s western heritage.
3. What strategies do you have to create more pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure?
With new neighbourhoods city planners can easily make roads with room for bicyclers. As for older communities, this will be a much longer process to create bike paths. The money needed to put in bicycle lanes in older communities by tearing up roads, might be better spent towards extending LRT lines where the environmental benefits are much larger.
4. Do you support urban farming, including urban chickens?
No, I have concerns about the health issues involved, and the benefits that are said to come from it are one sided.
5. What have you done to address homelessness and urban poverty in Calgary? What will you do?
As Calgary Police Officer, I know about the issues affecting the homeless in Calgary, and I know what works to try and mitigate some of issues facing homelessness. I support the Calgary Homeless Foundations ideas of building low cost housing, but the cost associated with it is a too much for me. We need to rethink the cost of solving Calgary’s urban poverty, and homelessness.
6. Is urban sprawl a problem for Calgary? If so, what have you done? What will you do about it?
Urban sprawl is a sign of growth. I will not restrict the growth of new communities. It’s natural that with the continued expansion of Calgary that the demand for homes in the suburbs for new families will only increase. The difference now is that we must look at the costs associated with extending utilities to these new communities. Freedom to choose where one lives, must not be restricted. With the continued suburban growth, it only further makes the need for LRT extensions more pressing
7. How will you make developers of new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects?
First were assuming that developers do not pay for any costs associated with new communities. That is not true. They are providing a service by creating new communities for new families because Calgarian’s are demanding them. If the costs associated with extending utilities are becoming an issue, then the city and the developers need to work together to overcome this issue. We have to remember that developers are just one industry and they employing many Calgarians’, and the industries that need developers to thrive: electrical, plumbing, construction, landscaping, etc employ even more Calgarian’s. We need to see developers as a positive force for Calgary’s continued economic strength. If we work with developers in a positive way, we can create community’s that allow for future roads that include bus lanes, car pool lanes, and bike paths, as well as making room for LRT expansion.
8. Would you extend the city’s recycling plan to include apartment buildings and/or organics?
Yes. The recycling program has made it easier for Calgarian’s to recycle. This service must be extended to high density living as well.
9. What will you do to help the province and city work together on the current SE Ring Road plan?
As alderman I will advocate strongly for the SE Ring Road, because it is needed to take pressure off some of Ward 4 biggest road arteries. It is common sense to support the SE Ring Road. It is a step in the right direction to be more environmentally friendly by reducing the use of vehicles, and with the SE Ring Road finished, can the attention and funding for the future Center North LRT line begin. This LRT expansion is sorely needed for Ward 4, with 87,000 people calling Ward 4 home—the largest Ward in the City by population—to have to rely solely on buses or vehicles to get to work, is not realistic anymore. The North Center LRT as a result will take pressure off Centre St, McKnight Blvd during rush hour. That is why I will support the LRT and cooperate with the province to share the cost of such a large infrastructure project.
10. Do you support legalization of secondary suits in all existing neighbourhoods?
I am not anti- secondary suites, but I have two concerns about their construction. Firstly, is there enough parking for both tenants, and secondly is it up to fire code. Ward 4 has some of the oldest community’s in Calgary, and there is a desire for secondary suites. But the City needs to make sure that secondary suites, if they are made legal, are up to fire code, and can be show to have adequate parking. These two issues must be strictly enforced, especially with regard to fire safety before I will support the legalization of secondary suites.
Haussecker, Jeff
1. Do you support a long-term lease for Race City as a track and advanced driving facility in Calgary?
YES. As an Internationally known facility, the City needs to diversify its income and tourism base. If the current site is not an option, the City must work together with Race City to build a more advanced and sustainable facility.
2. Does the City have a responsibility to play a role in preserving heritage sites? If so, what role?
Absolutely. The City, along with the Heritage Society of Calgary must preserve what is left of our immediate history. Quality structure is assessed by the society.
3. What strategies do you have to create more pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure?
First, do not impede on the existing traffic system. An option I developed a few years back was to utilize the rear lane system that is set up in the older communities. The roads immediate infrastructure already exists. A system of paved lanes and safety lights would not only be a step in the right direction for traffic, but be an effective tool in keeping crime out of the ‘lit alleys’ of Calgary.
4. Do you support urban farming, including urban chickens?
No. Chickens bring predators into the city; skunks and raccoons looking for eggs and coyotes looking for chickens. Not to mention the rancid smell of chicken feces.
5. What have you done to address homelessness and urban poverty in Calgary? What will you do?
I have worked on several low cost housing projects that were a result of negotiations between the City of Calgary, developers, and various organizations. I will continue to promote this kind of alliance.
6. Is urban sprawl a problem for Calgary? If so, what have you done? What will you do about it?
Urban sprawl is a definite problem in Calgary. This issue is the major contributing factor to Calgary being a sustainable and livable city. Urban sprawl is a drain on taxpayers. This fact has been proven in the USA by its consumer based, crime ridden cities.
The implementation of PLAN IT, GO Plan, and the BRZ- Developed by the City of Calgary for the vision of the future.
7. How will you make developers of new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects?
Issuance of performance bonds with the Developers assets as collateral until the new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects.
8. Would you extend the city’s recycling plan to include apartment buildings and/or organics?
Yes to recycling and maybe to organics. I would like to see methane reclamation at the current facilities.
9. What will you do to help the province and city work together on the current SE Ring Road plan?
Bring the two parties together again. If a solution is not found; Calgary must find 1(one) city department and make it efficient. We will have enough money to finish the project.
10. Do you support legalization of secondary suits in all existing neighbourhoods?
Yes, however, as an Architect I am mandated to ensure that all my buildings meet the Alberta Building Code, the Alberta Fire Code and the City of Calgary bylaws. A secondary suite must FIRST comply with health and safety. The proper fire separation between units must be taken seriously. The same issue goes with “a safe means of egress”; a window. Meaning, when there is a fire outside your door, your only route to safety must be to the direct outside with an operable window of a certain dimension. This issue is very close to me as I lost a friend to this situation 1.5yrs ago when 4 men died in a rooming house fire in Tuxedo.
Morgan, Jane
1. Do you support a long-term lease for Race City as a track and advanced driving facility in Calgary?
Race city has been badly treated as a business by the City of Calgary. The city cancelled the original lease made with the speedway which was to have been until 2025. A new lease has been signed, for a shorter period, though some members of council want to cancel the new lease as well. There have been attempts to increase the lease costs to Race City by as much as 3000% and access to the site was cut off for a period by the city. This treatment of business in Calgary has been nothing less than shameful. Calgary businesses need to be assured that they have a stable environment to operate in and a city council and administration that can be trusted.
Calgary has been growing quickly and we need to examine what will be happening in our outskirts. The issue of Race City should be examined and it should be determined if the site should move when the lease is up or if it is still feasible to remain at its current location. Race city brings many outside dollars into our city with its events and its programs help reduce uncontrolled street racing which has been a huge and terrible problem in other cities.
2. Does the City have a responsibility to play a role in preserving heritage sites? If so, what role?
Yes the city has a responsibility in preserving heritage sites. The city should have guidelines to fairly ascertain what is or is not a heritage site while respecting the rights of property owners. When heritage sites have been designated, the city should set a reasonable amount of funding aside to assure that these sites are maintained. That means that there should only be a limited number of sites that are indeed determined to be official heritage sites.
3. What strategies do you have to create more pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure?
Bike and pedestrian routes need to be examined closely seeking continuity and feasibility of routes. Many routes enter and exit busy streets, which keeps many from considering biking as a means of commuting. Carefully designing connections for bike/pedestrian routes for continuity will go a long way towards increasing alternative transportation as opposed to building bridges in areas with no need or demand.
4. Do you support urban farming, including urban chickens?
No. I only support livestock being in the city on a temporary basis. (IE: Stampede) I do support community (vegetable) gardens.
5. What have you done to address homelessness and urban poverty in Calgary? What will you do?
We I have made a point in educating myself on the issue. I recently participated in an evening homeless walk, which was very enlightening. I’ve also been in communication with Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs; he has provided me with a great deal of information on the “Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Year”.
Targeted and effective addictions treatment and mental health aids will go a long ways towards reducing homelessness. Calgary city council needs to work closely with the federal and provincial governments as well as with the street level organizations working in the field to assure that these services are being provided. A strong local economy created through a business friendly city council will decrease unemployment and help to reduce poverty as well. The best social program is still a job.
6. Is urban sprawl a problem for Calgary? If so, what have you done? What will you do about it?
No. Sprawl has been used as a negative word. I see growth. Growth means we have healthy environment for both businesses and people. The city is growing naturally based on consumer demand and the fact that we have space for expansion.
7. How will you make developers of new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects?
Developers already provide much of the infrastructure in new communities and are responsible for the first ten years of maintenance. Additionally, they currently pay roughly $135,000.00 per hectare to the city towards offsetting provision of utilities and services. The city has a responsibility to come clean with the public on this and show us where how those funds are being used.
8. Would you extend the city’s recycling plan to include apartment buildings and/or organics?
I support extending our current recycling programs to apartments and condos. And also exploring more opportunities for independent businesses providing this. I’m hesitant on introducing the organics component. Some cities have discontinued this to do odor and health concerns.
9. What will you do to help the province and city work together on the current SE Ring Road plan?
I’m a strong advocate for keeping open and reasonable lines of communication open with federal and provincial governments on all issues. City’s council’s role will be to advocate to the other levels of government on behalf of Calgarians to ensure that their needs are met with the construction of the ring road.
10. Do you support legalization of secondary suits in all existing neighbourhoods?
I support secondary suites where there is a demonstrated need. I also believe they must meet some basic requirements when it comes to parking and fire safety. This type of housing addresses many needs within our society; affordable housing for low income individuals, seniors are able to stay in home communities and independent longer, increased options for students and young families, etc.
Wong, Jon
1. Do you support a long-term lease for Race City as a track and advanced driving facility in Calgary?
I believe the City should honour the existing lease and then work with the leaseholder to find an acceptable alternative should the current location not be suitable moving forward.
2. Does the City have a responsibility to play a role in preserving heritage sites? If so, what role?
The City should play the role of public guardian looking after the public image and long term viability of our City, we need to ensure our history and culture is preserved, promoted and marketed to the world to display our great City in the best possible light. We need to engage qualified experts to ensure we are properly categorizing our buildings and public property to ensure we preserve it in a realistic fashion. There will be different degrees of preservation, ensuring the public safety is always paramount! Maybe some properties we need to keep façade’s while others we are able to save it all; however we determine it, we need to have guidelines that neither handcuff developers who want to improve our City, nor do we want to lose an important part of our heritage
3. What strategies do you have to create more pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure?
We have to determine needs versus wants of the taxpayers of this City and hold it up against what people want, and what they want to pay for! Saying that, I am a proponent of physical activity and will promote the need for pedestrian and bicycle oriented infrastructure.
4. Do you support urban farming, including urban chickens?
I believe there is merit in urban farming; however, we need to ensure the greater public good is looked after in regard to public health, noise levels, and respect for the property of others.
5. What have you done to address homelessness and urban poverty in Calgary? What will you do?
We need to look at and improve affordable housing, work training programs and educational opportunities for Calgary’s less fortunate.
6. Is urban sprawl a problem for Calgary? If so, what have you done? What will you do about it?
We do have to increase density and we can do it with some new, innovative thinking. The Plan It document has a lot of good ideas in it that should be carried forward.
7. How will you make developers of new subdivisions pay the full, life-cycle costs of their projects?
We play a cautious balancing act to ensure we don’t hamper the development necessary to keep our City vibrant and attractive for current and future residents without costing existing and future tax payers more than what a fair return on investment should be (in this case, break even for the City would be fair). There needs to be give-and-take from developers and the City to work together so that neither are paying an unfair proportion of any project. The developer will benefit in the near term from what they do to create an inviting community that enhances our City’s image locally and internationally; while the City will benefit long term from a growth in the tax base to the diversity of people it will attract to the community.
8. Would you extend the city’s recycling plan to include apartment buildings and/or organics?
The responsibility for waste (which includes recycling) removal for existing multi-family apartment dwellings rests with the landlord. If the landlord chooses not to provide their residents with a recycling option, it is up to the tenants to demand change in how their waste is handled, take their recycling to one of the community recycling depots, or move to another building that offers a recycling option. In terms of organics, I strongly support a civic program of some kind to reduce the amount of unnecessary waste going into our landfills. If done right, the City can create a valuable resource that can in turn be used in our parks and public spaces. We need to find an affordable and workable solution.
9. What will you do to help the province and city work together on the current SE Ring Road plan?
We need to find an acceptable solution and start the process. It is clear we will not go through First-Nations land, it is not a viable option so we need to find a workable alternative route and start building.
10. Do you support legalization of secondary suits in all existing neighbourhoods?
We need to find an acceptable solution and start the process. It is clear we will not go through First-Nations land, it is not a viable option so we need to find a workable alternative route and start building.
