City council’s hopes high the new year

Mayor, councillors list some of their goals
By SARA ROSS AND JENNIFER BURDEN THE PACKET & TIMES December 29 2010
Orillia’s mayor and city councillors for the 2010-14 term were elected on a mandate of change that they hope to fulfill.
Mayor Angelo Orsi and councillors each have their own vision and personal goals — some in step with their colleagues, others unique — they would like to see realized in the New Year.
They kick-started the term at their first council meeting in December with a number of initiatives including taking a new approach to the budget process, examining the ward system and reviewing and updating the recreational needs of Orillia.
Before being sworn in, council members participated in team- building exercises and many hope to continue working together.
Here are their hopes for the year ahead.
Mayor Angelo Orsi
Ensuring council sticks to its team approach will be important for the mayor in the coming year.
“We work together as one as a council and make sure we move together the interests of the city,” Orsi said.
The council has set out initiatives in December that Orsi would like to see completed.
These include a recreational needs assessment, reorganizing the city’s economic development committee (EDC) and dealing with the budget process.
“We’re going to take every decision that we’ve done back in December and hopefully complete them quickly.”
Setting out a waterfront and downtown revision plan will be a focus for Orsi.
“That’s important to get going on that right away. It’s been outstanding for many years and we want to see it come to fruition and we see that as a job generator (and) also increase tax base.”
WARD 1
Patrick Kehoe
Job creation is on Patrick Kehoe’s radar for the new year.
“My priority, personally, is kick starting the economy in any way we can, creating opportunities.”
His plan is to work with the post-secondary institutions to create research initiatives together.
He would like to see the city acquire research grants for facilities and outsource some to private industry.
Kehoe would also like to see fiscal responsibility addressed through the revamped budget process.
Maintaining council’s team effort will also be important, Kehoe said.
“We are certainly appearing, at least in the early stages, to work together quite well, which I think is encouraging and I see that continuing.”
Don Jenkins
Could not be reached for comment.
WARD 2
Pete Bowen
Pete Bowen would like to move ahead with discussions about recreation facilities in Orillia.
He would also like to look at the budget more closely to come up with cost-saving measures that will still allow the city to meet community wants and needs.
“That’s important to me, that we keep Orillia affordable. That we don’t go out and start all these projects and initiatives and make it so that people can’t enjoy them and use them because they can’t afford them.”
Starting on recreation facilities and making timely decisions on emergency facilities remain at the top of Bowen’s list as well.
Building sidewalks has become a major concern of residents in Ward 2, he said.
“A number of those streets have some very deep ditches. With the snow we’ve got right now, it makes walking on those streets perilous.”
Bowen would like to look at the situation and see how they can make the area safe and accessible.
Linda Murray
With the new council voting to hold a call for tenders on the OPP detachment, Murray is focused on using the 60-day delay to inform herself on possible options.
“To me, that’s the most immediate.”
Planning for the city’s future will also be of importance for Murray.
“A year from now we will have that four-year plan and even a further plan in place.”
Following a plan will encourage council to act in a proactive manner, rather than reactive, Murray said.
Ensuring Orillia citizens approve the plan will be key.
“It’s going to be a matter of ‘This is what we think is our course of action. What do you think?'”
In the new year, she would like to see council continuing with its team approach.
“Working together as a good team and keeping the respect going,” Murray said is a priority.
WARD 3
Paul Spears
Action is needed on affordable housing and emergency housing for youth, says Paul Spears.
“It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time. I think it’s time to quit talking.”
Spears would like to see the Second Mariposa Non-Profit Housing Corporation project go forward.
In August, the previous council gave the project one acre of land to be in a better position to secure government funding for an apartment complex.
Also, now that Orillia has Lakehead University established on University Avenue, the city should change its approach to doctor recruitment, Spears said.
“To try and attract people here and show them the growth with the post- secondary institutions.”
In Ward 3 specifically, Spears would like council to examine the lighting on Monarch Drive and West Ridge Boulevard.
“(It’s) insufficient. Pedestrians feel at risk when they are trying to cross there.”
Michael Fogarty
Dealing with the “elephant in the room” is a top priority for Michael Fogarty.
“I can’t describe how badly I want to see a pool and some gym space built in this city.”
Fogarty would like the updated recreational needs assessment completed.
Revamping the budget process is also an important step for Fogarty in the next year to “try to find some efficiencies.”
Fogarty would like to see a discussion about creating and enforcing bylaws with regards to student housing.
This will protect stable neighbourhoods and encourage further investment into the community.
“I think if we take a more proactive approach and deal with it early, people will know the rules hopefully by (the next school year,)” Fogarty said.
WARD 4
Andrew Hill
Andrew Hill’s first goal for the new year is to ensure each and every member of council works well with each other in trying to bring forward an era of change within the council and the city.
“I’m going to dedicate myself to work very closely with the mayor and each and every councillor that is there.”
A big issue Hill hopes to tackle is finding a collective solution to the city’s waste management issues.
“I think it is a shame we have a landfill on the foot of Lake Simcoe… We have to start looking at newer solutions for our children’s well-being in the future.”
That solution involves talking with our neighbouring townships, he added.Within Ward 4, he would like to move ahead with turning Hillcrest Public School into parkland, while also preserving some of the facility for recreational needs.
Tony Madden
Tony Madden would like to see the new council become established in early in 2011 and set the course and direction it will take for the next four years.
He would like to begin some “meaningful discussion” on the active transportation plans and recreation needs for the city.
“By the end of the year, I’d like to have something concrete.”
Traffic problems within the north ward continue to be on Madden’s radar, as well as transforming the Hillcrest Public School into parkland.
“I’d like to get a start on some ward issues that I’d like to continue to press on — that’s the Hillcrest property to be designated parkland. I’d like to have further discussion with respect to some of the traffic issues in the north ward.”