City staff backs civic square; Adding parking spots to park area 'wouldn't serve the greater good'

Byline: PHILIP JALSEVAC RECORD STAFF

Edition: Final

Section: LOCAL Sept 12th 2006

A proposed public square in the heart of Waterloo moved one step closer to reality last night with a staff report that recommended the widely discussed project go ahead.

The report rejected combining the civic square with a limited amount of parking, which is the current use of the land. And it said the square should be built in front of the entrance of Waterloo Town Square shopping mall on King Street "to reinforce the sense of community within our growing city." It's not a done deal yet, though.

The staff report was tabled for information only and the issue is scheduled to come back for a decision by council on Sept. 25.

Even if the plan is approved, the city will go back to the drawing board to come up with a new design. A previous conceptual plan was deferred by council in March of 2005 for more study and public consultation.

It included features like a water sculpture, gardens, a stage for festivities and community events and the removal of about 70 parking spots.

Some merchants have complained about the potential negative impact on the shopping centre if the parking spots in that location were lost.

In an interview, project manager and city landscape architect Barb Magee Turner said "parking is crucial" in the core. But a mixed use for the site wouldn't be worth retaining what would be about only 20 parking spots at the expense of the public square.

"It wouldn't serve the greater good," she said, adding that "a great urban space . . . is not a parking lot."

The city has set aside nearly $2.7 million for the project, but council has asked staff to aim for a figure that is closer to $2 million. The staff report notes any money above that would "cover any additional costs that council may choose to require and/or approve throughout the design phase."

If council approves the plan later this month, Magee Turner said: "We would get right into the design with concept plans . . . with the full intent of being back before council around early January."

After that, a more detailed design would be developed with the tentative opening of the square set for late fall of 2007.

Council last night also approved spending $113,000 for the consulting and design services of the GSP Group of Kitchener. While the actual design and potential uses of the square remain to be determined, the staff report said programming will be a key aspect of the project.

It cited such city events as jazz, country music and busker festivals and said some of these "may be expanded to permit additional events within the uptown and within the square."

There is also a potential for new programs and events to be introduced specifically for the square.

They could include things like music concerts, street theatre, art displays, film screenings, antique car shows or even a seasonal skating rink.

Although council spent little time debating the issue last night and made no decision, some expressed a few concerns.

In particular, Coun. Gary Kieswetter asked staff to report back on why they have ruled out establishing the square on Regina Street in an area now used as parking lots.

"Why not have a public square next to City Hall?" he asked.

Kieswetter also wants assurance that the square will be used year round.

"Will the square be used in winter or will it be a vacant lot?" He also asked "do we have a good grasp of our parking needs (in the city core)?"

The staff report only said the city has initiated a parking study that will be completed sometime next year, which will "address the opportunities and challenges of parking in the uptown."

Coun. Jan d' Ailly asked staff to provide "some indication from some of the major players . . . that they are on board," citing in particular the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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Waterloo square a worthy goal

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: THE RECORD

Edition: Final

Section: OPINION April 5th 2005

The staff and council at Waterloo city hall are winding their way slowly, step-by-step toward making the right decision on a public square at Waterloo Town Square.

The planning staff had come up with an interesting concept to make Waterloo's core more attractive. At present, the Town Square has a rather flat, utilitarian look to it. Even those who question the city staff's suggestion could hardly deny that the proposed plan was designed with good intentions.

First, consider the draft plan. The staff suggests that council spend about $2.5 million on a public square that would contain a fountain, stage and garden. They would be built on land now used for parking at the front of the mall near King Street.

The biggest objection to the plan is the loss of parking spots. Although alternative parking spaces would be available at the south end of the mall, some merchants think their customers might find this parking arrangement less convenient than at present.

The divisions within the community are visible within the council chamber. Support for the project is not unanimous. Coun. Jan d' Ailly, for example, wants more facts. He said he wants a "clear set of objectives for everybody to understand."

The councillor's caution is understandable. Waterloo has had its share of problems and the city doesn't want to become embroiled in another dubious building project. It is still recovering from the RIM Park financing fiasco.

What should be clear is that the principle behind the Town Square project is sound: Waterloo's core could use a well-designed, imaginative public square that would be the focal point of civic life. But this principle could be applied in various ways. Designs that are different from the one first conceived may be even more suitable. The concern about parking spaces is something that a different design may be able to take into account without the overall project losing its many assets.

This is not a time to rush. It is a time to study and review with the hope that all the participants feel they are moving into the future with confidence. The city should avoid setting artificial deadlines as it strives for the best solution. The only really important thing is to get the project right.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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Cool response to pesticide ban

Byline: Record staff

Edition: Final

Section: LOCAL Oct 19 2005

Column: COUNCIL BRIEFS

Waterloo city councillors have balked at endorsing a regional government ban on the use of outdoor pesticides by homeowners.

A divided council refused to support any pesticide ban until after the regional government has finished its public consultation process. Regional council will debate the issue Nov. 23 but wanted the municipalities to comment on options for a ban.

Phil James, an environmental co-ordinator for Waterloo, had recommended city council support a qualified ban on the use of pesticides against weeds.

Councillors Mark Whaley and Jan d' Ailly supported the full recommendation, but councillors Ian McLean and Jim Bolger and Mayor Herb Epp did not.

Council heard from eight delegations on both sides of the issue Monday.

Dr. Liana Nolan, the regional medical officer of health, and Dr. Anne Marie Mingiardi, who had polled other local physicians on the issue, both asked Waterloo council to support a full ban on pesticide use.

But Craig Martin, representing the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, along with the owners of several Waterloo-based lawn- care companies, encouraged council to reject an outright pesticide ban.

(c) 2005 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved

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Waterloo's focal point

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: THE RECORD

Edition: Final

Section: OPINION Sept 13th 2006

Although a lot of work remains to be done, the plan Waterloo city council has to build a civic square at the entrance to Waterloo Town Square is an exciting project. Waterloo wants to build this square at a time when the city's core is in the midst of a major redevelopment. The west side of King Street in the core area is being completely rebuilt with construction crews putting up an LCBO store as well as the future offices of RBC Dominion Securities and the KPMG accounting and consulting firm.

The city has set aside $2.7 million for the square, which would be a community meeting place and focal point for attractions such as the annual buskers' festival. The design has not yet been approved but the square would likely contain features such as a water sculpture, gardens and a stage. Council is expected to discuss the square at its Sept. 25 meeting. At the very least, it should approve this plan in principle.

Yes, there are still issues to deal with. The biggest one is parking. Some merchants in Waterloo's core worry about the number of parking spaces that would be needed for the civic square. The city had been considering a plan that would have kept 20 parking spaces near the square, but project manager Barb Magee Turner is recommending the city sacrifice them in order to make a better square.

The core does have other parking lots; nevertheless, council would be wise to make sure there will be enough spaces on and near King Street to serve the public's needs.

Coun. Jan d' Ailly rightly pointed out that council needs to hear from organizations, such as the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area, that would be affected by the changes it is contemplating. Clearly, now is the time for businesses and residents of Waterloo to offer any comments they have on the square. There's no point waiting until the city builds the square.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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Don't cut services, Waterloo residents say; Roads, new fire hall among top priorities for participants at two budget workshops

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: TERRY PENDER RECORD STAFF

Edition: Final

Section: LOCAL Feb 26th 2004

Waterloo residents would rather see their taxes increase than services cut, says Coun. Jan d' Ailly, chairman of the city's finance committee.

That's the main message d' Ailly is taking from the citizens who attended budget workshops Feb. 11 and 12.

"I thought the most interesting part was that people did not want to have a cut in services at all," d' Ailly said. "They are willing to increase the taxes to maintain the level of services."

The information collected from nearly 200 residents at the workshops was released earlier this week. And d' Ailly will use the information as a road map in coming weeks, when city politicians grapple with the 2004 budget.

Maintaining the same level of services as last year requires a tax hike of 6.7 per cent. But d' Ailly hopes a line-by-line review of the budget will bring that down to about five per cent. Then there's the operating deficit and long-term loan for RIM Park. That alone calls for a tax hike of 5.1 per cent.

So at a minimum it appears the tax increase for 2004 will be 10 per cent.

Roads, expansion of the fire department and an efficient city administration were the priorities among workshop participants. While many rated library services as important, a majority didn't want to spend money on expanding library services for several years.

"I feel comfortable that we are not going to have massive tax increases," d' Ailly said.

At the start of the budget process, the proposed tax increases ranged from a low of about three per cent, which called for large cuts, to a high of 52 per cent. The proposed 52 per cent increase called for raising, in one year, all the money required to make payments on the $32.8-million debt from the RIM Park financing scandal.

Now, Waterloo wants to invest $14.1 million in a dedicated fund to make payments on that debt. That money could be taken out of Waterloo North Hydro, so the city can avoid large tax increases in the next few years.

A final decision is not expected for several months, but all the owners of Waterloo North Hydro -- the city and the townships of Wellesley and Woolwich -- have voted to support the move in principle. The board of directors at Waterloo North Hydro also supported Waterloo's wish to take the money out of the utility. The parties involved will spend the next few months doing due diligence.

"I feel much more positive that we are coming to some resolutions, which in the end will be acceptable to the public as a whole," d' Ailly said. "It's a far cry from where we thought we might end up."

NEW FIRE HALL

Residents want some projects they view as necessities to proceed, such as the new fire hall scheduled to be built on the city's east side in 2006-07. The city plans to phase in a tax increase of five per cent between 2005 and 2008 to pay for the fire hall. And 73 per cent of workshop participants support that idea.

The participants were asked to rank several new projects in order of importance. Fire services and roads tied as most important for 86 per cent of the residents. Parks came in second with 40 per cent, closely followed by the library at 39 per cent.

When asked about the timing of the expansion of library services, a solid majority of workshop participants wanted to wait several years before spending money on the library, which is badly underfunded compared with library systems in other cities.

But those findings appear inconsistent with the responses to a question about taking on more debt.

Waterloo has more debt than most cities of its size in Ontario. The debt is scheduled to increase to about $84 million in a couple of years.

But when asked if the city should borrow more money, 51 per cent said the city should borrow if it needs the money for high-priority projects. The projects mentioned in the survey included expanding fire services, expanding the library, cleaning old, rust-laden water mains or building parking garages.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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Half of council favours square

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: PHILIP JALSEVAC RECORD STAFF

Edition: Final

Section: LOCAL April 1st 2005

At least half of Waterloo council supports a proposed public square in the heart of uptown Waterloo.

But it remains to be seen whether the proposal will get a majority of at least four out of six votes among city councillors.

"I'm definitely leaning in favour of it," Mayor Herb Epp said in an interview

.

"Most of the public is very supportive. It's just a few people who are opposed to change."

Square supporter Coun. Jim Bolger said resistance to change is natural.

"That's human nature. But you can either see the positives in it or see the negatives."

Coun. Ian McLean also supports the square.

"The public square is an important element for moving into the future . . . a significant majority of people I've talked to are supportive."

Less decided is Coun. Jan d' Ailly.

"I think there will still be a fair amount of debate to come."

Asked which way he's leaning, d' Ailly replied, "I'm waiting for all the facts."

Among other things, he said, he wants to "make sure we have a clear set of objectives for everybody to understand."

And d' Ailly wants more assurance that the square "fits and draws in the community and becomes the focal point of the entire uptown area," he said.

"Right now, there's some concerns that it's a monument in its own right."

Coun. Gary Kieswetter, who is on vacation, is the only councillor who could not be reached for comment.

But Coun. Mark Whaley stood out as the one most strongly opposed to the square, which is pegged at a cost of up to $2.5 million. The city is financing the project.

The square is planned as part of the redevelopment of Waterloo Town Square and will include features such as a stage, trees, gardens, a water sculpture and a large plaza that would serve as a gathering place.

It would replace about 70 parking spots between the entrance of the north end of the mall and King Street.

Whaley said he's "adamantly opposed" to the square, at least as the plans now stand.

He's concerned about its cost and the fact that there are "mixed messages" from business people both for and against the proposal and its impact on parking at Waterloo Town Square.

Whaley also doesn't like the design and the location. To him, it appears to simply be an extension of a shopping centre building bearing two large signs of Scotiabank and Shoppers Drug Mart towering over the plaza.

OTHER PUBLIC AREAS

"There's no distinguishing features to say this is a welcoming place," Whaley said. He also complained there are too many other public areas in the core, including Manulife Place and the Barrel Works Park, that have been less than successful projects.

"This plan seems to be more of the same," he said.

McLean believes the public square will go a long way to making the core more attractive. At the same time, like Epp and Bolger, he said his support is based partly on plans to ensure there is adequate parking to allay concerns of merchants and residents.

"That's an essential element," McLean said, adding "it's become clear that there's a lot of misinformation out there."

McLean emphasized there will be no significant reduction in parking spots -- which number about 650 -- after Waterloo Town Square is redeveloped.

Parking will simply be relocated and still provide relatively easy access to King Street and the town square, he said.

First Gulf Development Corp., which owns the shopping centre, has put forward a conceptual design that entails demolishing the south end of the existing mall.

In its place, new stores will be phased in and built along an extension of Willis Way and along the front of King Street, with new parking in the back facing Caroline Street.

City planner Rob Trotter said that, along with new entrances on Caroline Street, the parking lot will have four access points.

Two will be pedestrian walkways to allow people to leave their cars and walk through a row of stores to King Street and Willis Way. Another access point on Willis Way near King Street will allow both pedestrian and vehicular traffic to move in an out of the lot.

The fourth access point will be located at the south end of the mall near William Street. It will also serve as a pedestrian walkway and allow restricted vehicle access as an entrance but not an exit to the parking lot.

The plan "will still provide convenient parking," Trotter said. "People may have to walk a bit further, and by that, I mean an extra one or two minutes. That meets my definition of convenience but whether it meets others', that's up to them."

Paul McGough, owner of the Ali Baba Steakhouse on King Street across from the mall, still maintains the proposed access points are not sufficient.

McGough, who is organizing opposition by uptown merchants, said he is not opposed to new stores fronting King Street and acknowledges "there may be the same amount of parking spaces."

"But the problem is that the access and proximity to our businesses will be significantly changed."

City staff have been asked to report back to council about various issues raised at an earlier council meeting about the square.

Initially, this was to happen on Monday, but city planner and team leader Cameron Rapp said the report will take more time and be presented a later date.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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The people of this region want to talk amalgamation

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: BILLI GRISDALE

Edition: Final

Section: OPINION

Column: Community Editorial Board Oct 28th 2005

To amalgamate or not to amalgamate -- that is the question.

Everybody's talking about amalgamation these days. Well everybody, that is, who is involved with local and regional government. But what are they saying? Reading over the articles about regional reform in recent weeks in The Record, it's hard to discern exactly what councillors are talking, or not talking, about when they refer to amalgamation or other reforms.

The first thing you'll notice if you reflect on recent articles about amalgamation is that no one is talking about what exactly amalgamation would mean for our cities.

Councillors are more interested in communicating that they are not interested in discussing the issue rather than explaining what the issue could mean for our area. In saying this, councillors are basically saying that we, the residents, wouldn't be interested in amalgamation.

If fact, if you watched a recent edition of Street Talk on CKCO news, you would see that people in this area are interested in amalgamation (whether or not we actually know what it means).

A number of citizens were asked for their opinions on the issue and the answers were split equally between those who support the motion and those who do not. Clearly interest exists.

The "I don't want to talk about it" sentiment put forth by so many councillors confuses me. Are these councillors suggesting that their cities are perfect? That the region runs perfectly? That there is no room for improvement?

I find this hard to believe. There is always room for improvement, so I cannot understand why our governments would not want to investigate the matter more deeply.

One councillor, Jan d' Ailly, is on the right track when he explains in an Oct. 17 article in The Record, Approach Municipal Reform With Open Mind, that perhaps there is room for improvement and that some kind of reform does merit investigation.

d' Ailly begins his piece by explaining a little about our current state of affairs. He explains that as a region, our transit, police, and health systems are common. This is something likely not every citizen knows.

d' Ailly goes on to suggest that although he feels much of our current system is highly effective, we can always do better. Though he isn't sure "wholesale municipal reform" is the answer, he believes it is worth investigating.

d' Ailly's stance seems logical and open-minded -- qualities I'd hope are prevalent in the stances of all members of local and regional government.

A popular refrain from local politicians is that the issue of amalgamation was discussed only six years ago and it was not agreed upon then, so why rehash the matter?

Well, a lot can change in six years. Six years ago, I didn't live here and I'm sure a number of other new residents didn't either. Six years ago, 911 was just an emergency phone number. Six years ago, our economy was much different than it is today. We live in a fast- paced world and change happens rapidly.

This region needs to make sure it is keeping up, and maybe amalgamation is the answer, maybe it isn't, but that can't be decided if no one investigates it.

I used to think amalgamation was a good idea. As a new resident of the region, the existence of two separate cities in such close proximity to each other baffled me. I was constantly confused by the term K-W. If they are two separate cities, why are they so often mentioned in the same breath?

I moved various times between Kitchener and Waterloo and found it to be quite annoying as a dog owner. A Kitchener dog licence is not valid in Waterloo. Students, like myself, move constantly, and changing a dog licence more than twice a year can get pretty costly. But these are only small issues that exist amidst, I imagine, so many larger issues in our current system of government.

What is the harm in looking into single-tier government? I'm not saying amalgamation is right or wrong -- I couldn't possibly know that since no one has provided me with a list of pros and cons, but until somebody does, I will forever wonder what the big secret is and wonder why our councillors are so afraid to explore regional reform.

Billi Grisdale of Kitchener is a member of the Metis community and is a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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City moves on public square

Kitchener Waterloo Record

Byline: PHILIP JALSEVAC RECORD STAFF

Edition: Final

Section: LOCAL Feb 7th 2006

Waterloo council narrowly approved the hiring of a consultant last night to study and make proposals on a proposed public square on King Street in the heart of the city.

Councillors Jan d' Ailly and Gary Kieswetter voted against the proposal for different reasons. But three other councillors ensured a motion by Coun. Ian McLean passed 3-2 to adopt a staff report outlining an action plan.

Mayor Herb Epp did not vote but later said: "I wholeheartedly support the decision." He added he's confident "history will show that council made the right decision."

Kieswetter was opposed to the hiring of consultants, arguing the city doesn't need "a third party" involved.

"I'm just tired of consultants," he said.

The city should just canvass the public to obtain their views on what they want as the top five features of the square, he argued.

That list could then be used by council and staff to draw up a plan.

"We're the leaders, therefore we should lead the charge," Kieswetter said.

However, Scott Amos, interim director of planning, said the city doesn't have the resources to do all the work required. Furtner, the consultants would be acting as though they were staff.

"This is not a farmed-out project," Amos said.

d' Ailly was opposed because he felt it was premature to go ahead when "right now, we don't have an uptown vision yet . . . . I'm afraid in our enthusiasm, we're jumping the gun."

He said "in my gut" he thinks the public square is likely a sound proposal but nevertheless argued "there is a very good likelihood that we will make a mistake. Haste makes waste."

However, McLean countered: "I couldn't disagree more strongly that we're jumping the gun."

He noted proposals for a civic square in the core have been bandied about for at least a decade.

As for Kieswetter's argument, McLean said "we need professionals . . . who can put proposals before the community."

McLean added that their help, along with community input, is "absolutely essential."

"This is a permanent feature in the uptown core for the whole community forever . . . certainly for our lifetime."

The study and design of the new square by a consulting firm, yet to be selected, is expected to cost up to $75,000.

A previous proposal for a $2.5-million square was deferred by council last spring for more study and public consultation.

It included such features as a water sculpture, gardens and a stage for festivities and community events. But it called for the removal of about 70 parking spots at its location in front of the entrance to Waterloo Town Square.

The city's plan calls for the location to remain the same, but the consultants have the option of recommending various parking proposals in conjunction with the square. Or they may recommend the parking be eliminated, as previously contemplated.

The consulting firm selected will present a final detailed design and cost estimate to council in January 2007.

If council gives the go-ahead to the project, construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of next year.

There is $2.6 million set aside in the capital budget for the project, adjusted for inflation from the previous $2.5 million. That is the most that would be spent and some councillors want staff to look at bringing the project in closer to the mark of about $2 million.

(c) 2006 The Record (Waterloo Region). All rights reserved.

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