So sorry, we have been away for way too long. . . . But we are BACK!!!

My apologies for the gap in W5 editions - it has been awhile since we published a "news" edition. It has been a very busy few months, but we are looking forward to bringing you the latest about issues and events in Ward 5 in the future. This edition of W5 Update includes some of the events that have taken place in the recent past as well as current issues.

The Management of Our City - Council Approves Priorities Action Plan

On December 15 at a news conference attended by all eight Vaughan councillors an action Plan for the management of our CIty was announced. At that time the Councillors announced a plan to refocus our management of the issues before our Council. It was our collective belief that even though we had established a strategic plan just over a year prior, there was a lack of concerted direction in how the major issues before us were being managed. The plan currently identifies eleven priority areas with members of Council, now including Mayor Jackson, taking on one or more of these critical aspects of the work of the City. At our Council meeting of January 13 the Plan was unanimously approved.

This plan lays out our agenda for the next two years. It is a very ambitious agenda covering the broad spectrum of issues that are before us as a City.  Each member of Council has assumed leadership in one or more of the items identified in the Plan. Over the next few weeks we intend to provide more details relating to the substance of each aspect of the Plan, including how we will be getting the public involved and how we will communicate our progress to the residents of the City.

The plan includes the following priorities:

1. Implement a transportation master plan and build the Yonge Street and Spadina subway extensions;
2. Continue to support the process to make a Vaughan hospital a reality; 3. Drive the management of the city based on our strategic plan - Vaughan Vision 20/20;
4. Ensure the highest quality of operations through continuous improvement principles including auditing of our departments. Review, update and expand the policy on Expenses for Members of Council and our Senior Management Team;
5. Create a new official plan through citizen engagement in order to build a more liveable, sustainable and economically prosperous city;
6. Inaugurate the new Vaughan Community Health Centre;
7. Publish the recommendations of the Task Force on Democratic Participation & Renewal to increase voter turnout in the next municipal election;
8. Approve a budget and develop the long-term financial plan that provides the leadership needed to deal with emerging economic realities;
9. Develop the plan required to build a dynamic corporate centre;
10. Move forward on all matters of integrity and transparency including putting in place a new Code of Ethical Conduct for Councillors and hiring a new Integrity Commissioner;
11.  Champion and provide leadership for an enhanced economic development strategy.

HOSPICE THORNHILL

Hospice Thornhill has moved into its new home, a historic property - The Charlton House at 220 Charlton Avenue
 
The Hospice services the palliative and bereavement needs of the Thornhill communities of Markham and Vaughan, free of charge. Full information is available at their website at: www.hospicethornhill.org or by calling 905-764-0656.

The Hospice runs a variety of programs including "grief and bereavement" counselling to help deal with the loss of someone close. Drop-in daytime and evening sessions, spousal loss, child loss and caregiver support programs are also currently in operation. Clients and caregivers are also supported by their in-home visitation and day respite programs.

Do you want to get involved?
Hospice Thornhill is currently accepting applications for anyone interested in sitting on its Board of Directors. Please contact the Hospice if you are interested.

AT THE VERY LEAST, VOTE!

Have your say on how Vaughan votes in 2010

Voter turnout in municipal elections is almost always very low. The first time I was elected, in a by-election in 2004, less than 20% of the eligible voters turned out - and you all got me!!??? In the last municipal election only 38% of the voters cast a ballot. We need to find ways to attract more people to get involved at this most basic level!

Following the 2006 election Council established what is probably unique in Canada at the municipal level, a Task Force on Democratic Participation and Renewal co-chaired by Councillor Tony Carella and Steven Del Duca. They have been meeting with a committee drawn from interested residents from across the city and now they want to hear from you.

"Our goal is to see an increase in voter turnout to 50% in next year's municipal election,", Carella said.

"To see that happen, the Task Force---composed of citizen representatives from across Vaughan---wants to hear from non-voters especially, though regular voters can participate as well", added Del Duca, who spearheaded an earlier get-out-the-vote campaign, called GO VOTE VAUGHAN, in 2006.

To complete the questionnaire, which takes about three minutes, go to http://vaughan.thepeoplesmind.com and follow some simple instructions. You can use your e-mail address as your password. If you do not have an e-mail address, use the password: Vaughan.  The deadline for responding is 12 noon, March 6, 2009.

Infrastructure Renewal - Rebuilding our Roads

On February 12 a public meeting was held to present to the Thornridge area community the plan to rebuild the network of roads in the area. This plan, which also includes significant work to alleviate the storm water flow, is scheduled to begin in the summer.

The work will affect all of Thornridge, Brooke, Old Jane, Calvin Chambers and Elizabeth Streets and parts of Charles, Raymond and Clarkehaven. Part of the work will include watermain and service connection replacement where needed and total reconstruction of the roads. It was decided at the meeting that the roads would be reconstructed to what is considered a semi-urban design, including shallow ditches and subdrains in the roadway. This design is similar to what is currently in place.

Based upon the need for a final approval of a segment of the budget for the project, and the tendering process that will follow, it is planned for the work to begin sometime in the summer. Our staff has promised that every effort will be made to limit disruption for residents during the construction period.

Roadwork II
A number of roads in Ward 5 were being repaired late last fall. As some residents noted, the work was not all completed prior to winter setting in. The plan is for the project to be continued as early as possible in the Spring. Look for the construction equipment to be back on the streets in the Spring.

Roadwork III
Included in the 2009 budget, which is currently being discussed, is the first stage of a major road work project for the Thornbank network of roads. Currently the planning is that the this will be a two year project, with various studies taking place in 2009 and the road building in 2010.

Thornhill Garden and Horticultural Society

We have a wonderful diversity of groups and organizations in our community. One of them, a joint Vaughan/Markham group, is the Thornhill Garden and Horticultural Society. The TGHS meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Thornhill Community Centre at Bayview and John in Markham. Each meeting starts at 7:45 p.m. and has a speaker on a topic of interest to all those with an interest in gardening.
For membership information, please contact Peter Steiner at 905-709-2194.

Garnet's Hadar Senior's Club

Age doesn't matter for the regulars at the Hadar Senior's Club who meet regularly at Garnet William's Community Centre senior's room. This group of 80-somethings invited their ward councillor to drop in recently, so Debi Traub and I came by to talk about what's going on in the City and to hear from the Club members about what their concerns are. Among the issues discussed were the state of the City, slippery, icy sidewalks and transportation problems. We had a meeting of minds when we all agreed that the City needed to plant more trees - a favourite issue of mine. A number of the participants also talked about the need to put benches for people to sit on in our parks. Great idea! Hopefully we will have some new benches in place at York Hill Park in the Spring.

Civic Hero 2008 - Ellise Gasner

When Councillor Tony Carella and I conceived of the idea of recognizing members of our community who do the "little things" that contribute to great neighbourhoods and cities we could have used Ellise Gasner as the model.

Ellise is a pretty typical resident of Ward 5 in many ways. She goes about her business and takes care of her home and family. She has told me how much she loves living in Vaughan and in her neighbourhood. One thing that is exceptional about Ellise is that she has eight children (and a husband!). With such a large family, and as a committed recycler, she also has a problem in meeting the requirements of our Greening Vaughan program. About two years ago we began to dialogue, primarily through email, about the difficulties of managing household waste with such a large number of people in a family. She also connected me to others, primarily in the Orthodox Jewish community, who faced the same problem - a large family and a desire to help the environment by recycling more.

With her leadership, and after extensive consultation with the community and city staff, a special large families program was developed as a pilot to see how we could both maintain our goals for waste diversion and also accommodate the diversity in our city. So far the program has been extraordinarily successful with a number of very large families participating in the project.

It was my pleasure to present Ellise with the Civic Hero Award for 2008 at a Council Meeting on December 8, 2008.

And by the way, Ellise has also become both an advocate and a conscience for others to take part in helping to preserve our environment by advising and helping her neighbours.

Seniors Fees Reduced at Our Fitness Centres

While it may seem like prices for everything are going up these days, the City of Vaughan has fulfilled another commitment to our seniors by lowering the cost for a fitness membership. As of January 1, 2008 a Seniors Annual Fitness membership costs $310.25 + GST ($15.51) for a total of $325.76.  The previous fee for a Seniors Annual Fitness membership $387.75 + GST ($19.38) for a total of $407.13.

 Clean sweep for Ward 5 at Heritage Preservation Awards

Councillor Alan Shefman with Peter Edery and Richard and Tobi Hahn who were recognized on February 18 for their restoration of historical homes in Thornhill Village. Mr. Edery's is at 39 Centre Street and the Hahn's is at the corner of Brooke and Jane.

Ward Boundary Review:

Municipal representation is important!

Over the last few years Vaughan has continued to grow in population. We have continuously been one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. Along with this growth into newer areas - essentially to the north of Rutherford Road - has been an increasing inequality of representation for the Wards. This has now lead to a proposal to change the Ward boundaries prior to the 2010 election. Amongst the option being considered is to add a sixth Ward. To have a look at what is being suggested please go to http://tinyurl.com/aljqxx

On March 9, 2009 a public meeting will be held at the Civic Centre to consider the options being proposed. Please attend if you would like to have a say of what our political map will look like in 2010.

Building a Great City

Vaughan's Official Plan Review

What does Vaughan look like today? What will it look like in 25 years?

Without a doubt you will be surprised at both what we look like at present (as illustrated by our consultants) and what we might look like in the future. With a projected population increase of 150,000 people dramatic change will occur.

Be at the Vaughan Civic Centre on Monday, March 2, to take part in an evening of information and discussion on the future of the City. This program is part of our ongoing series of public consultations on our Official Plan Review process. The program will begin at 6:15 pm with a light dinner and then followed with our documentary film, "Voices of Transformation." A presentation and discussion on this three year project to develop a new Official Plan for the City will follow.

Registration for the program may be made by contacting Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

W5 - PUN OF THE DAY!

A few years back movie star John Wayne was travelling in Spain where he was going to act in a new movie. It was his bad luck to be on a flight with a very inexperienced cabin crew. They were veryclumsy providing drinks to the passengers. Wayne asked for a coffee and as it was handed to him, the steward spilt it on his new jacket. Wayne jumped up, then tripped over the feet of a sleeping passenger as he ran to the washroom to clean up. A few minutes later he was back in his seat, when it happened all over again.This time he fell so hard he ended up on his knees in the aisle. When this happened for the third time another passenger turned to her seatmate and said: "It seems that the Wayne in Spain falls mainly on the plane."

I can be reached at 905-832-8585 ext 8349 or by email at alan.shefman@vaughan.ca

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