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Beverly Miller
- 'The division of the municipality into two units with smaller councils to better serve the rural and urban communities more effectively and efficiently.' Select 'Yes' if you support dividing the municipality in this manner, or 'No' if you oppose the division.
Yes...but it must be done very slowly and very carefully. The memory of the financial and emotional damage that amalgamation caused is still fresh. We don't need a similar mess with any de-amalgamation process. We need to carefully consider many options and start with immediately do-able options like giving the Community Councils more power (including returning the power to make decisions about the downtown to the Peninsula Community Council) and tax reform; then proceed from there. One resident suggested the borough system that is used in New York as a viable option but I am sure there are many others. We need options to consider and we need them to be costed and discussed with the citizens.
- 'Tax reform that more closely aligns taxes with the actual cost of services delivered.'Select 'Yes' if you support reforming taxes in this manner, or select 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. It is true that the urban areas have lots of services, but the tax system needs to reflect not only the services, but the per household cost of delivering some of these services which is often cheaper in denser, urban areas. We also need to pursue an idea put forth by the Peninsula South Community Association i.e. that there should be a different tax structure for income-producing houses in residential areas in which the owner is not 'ordinarily resident'. Many properties in District 13 are grossing $50-100,000 a year and paying the same taxes as the neighbours.
- 'More aggressive development of the Arts and Culture sector by committing a minimum of 1% of the annual municipal budget to this sector.' Select 'Yes' if you support committing a minimum of 1% of the annual municipal budget to the Arts and Culture sector, or 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. There is little or no appreciation for the role the arts play in many areas of civic life: the generation of economic activity, the creation of a unique/identifiable culture, and the role of an active arts community in attracting businesses as well as attracting and retaining their employees. Richard Florida, who spoke in Halifax several years ago, has written extensively on the role an active cultural community plays in attracting talent, in all fields, to a city. I have worked in the arts as a shared administrator for the ArtsVenture Group, as interim Executive Director of Dance Nova Scotia and as managing Director of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and I can't tell you how much difference, both psychological and financial this kind of support from the city would make.
- 'The creation of the position of Chief Sustainability Officer with the necessary authority and budget to ensure Halifax becomes the most sustainable city in Canada by 2020.' Select 'Yes' if you support creating the position of Chief Sustainability Officer as described in this statement, or 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. Absolutely...for the usual identifiable financial reasons but also for the role sustainability plays in the health of our citizens. The Sustainability Officer's signature needs to go on most staff reports, especially those related to transportation and planning.
- 'The development of an integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community.' Select 'Yes' if you support developing an integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants, and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community, or select 'No' if you oppose.
Yes.
- 'The creation of a transportation authority to develop and implement a long-term comprehensive transportation strategy that integrates all modes of transportation.' Select 'Yes' if you support creating a transportation authority as described in this statement, or 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. Long-term, comprehensive and 'all modes' are the important words here. It's about public transportation, yes, but it is also about pedestrians and bicyclists. It is not about short term, one off projects like Chebucto Road This authority needs to work with the Sustainability Officer and that officer should sign all reports on transportation projects.
- 'The adoption of a more transparent and streamlined development process as proposed by the HRM by Design initiative.' Do you support or oppose adopting a more transparent and streamlined development process in this manner?
No...because the Halifax By Design process is NOT transparent. The present approval system for any development that is not an as-of-right development includes a public information meeting (PIM) with the developer and the citizens at the early stages of the process, staff input, a public hearing before Council at which both the developer and the public have a chance to speak, a public decision by Council and then the right of either the developer or the public to appeal the decision of Council if it is felt the decision was not reasonably consistent with the Municipal Planning Strategy. The system proposed by Halifax By Design removes both Council and the public from the process, vesting this power in an appointed Design Review Committee. Approval of this revision in the year when we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of democracy would be cruelly ironic.
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