The Future: Things To See Through & New Plans

There are some great things already in the works for Merritton, St. Catharines and Niagara. I want to return to Council to ensure they happen. At the same time, we are not done yet with ideas, policies and changes that can make Merritton, Queenston Street, Secord Woods, Barbican Heights and the whole city a more affordable, safer and better place to live!

Housing and Affordability

  • Re-tool the existing Community Improvement Plan to stop providing tax incentives to wealthy developers that provide no affordable housing. Instead, let’s add the increased property taxes from luxury developments to our Affordable Housing fund to build more social housing, co-ops, apartment buildings and other affordable housing so that the next generation can afford to stay in Merritton and current home owners can downsize if they wish.

  • Ensure we see through plans for Inclusionary Zoning that would mandate affordable units in new developments and a Municipal Development Corporation that would allow the City to play a more direct role in housing rather than relying solely on the private sector. I would also seek to continue my role on the Surplus Lands Task force which seeks to ensure affordable housing is built on public land that was previously used for municipal facilities.

  • License landlords. At the City we have taken some proactive measures to address properties, like a vital services by-law and a vacant property registry to penalize negligent landlords. It is time to time the next step and create a registry of landlords so we can properly regulate and monitor absentee landlords in particular.

  • Bring back the City grant for Accessory Dwelling Units. We deferred this recommendation from staff during this term of Council. I’d like to see us enact so residents are encourage to create more residential units and improve density.

  • The Region is in charge of social housing and community services locally. I will continue to advocate, as I’ve done since prior to even being a City Councillor, for a public, year-round, 24/7 shelter with adequate sleeping, hygiene and recreation facilities and places on-site for community service providers to engage with residents forced to live in poverty. Further, we need all levels of government to commit to building more transitional, co-op and rent-geared to income units.

  • Continue to support existing tenant associations and get involved in starting new ones.

Better public services (SNow plows!)

  • In 2021 I sought to increase our snow plowing fleet and budget to improve response times. Unfortunately, that did not happen and we saw the impacts of snow storms shutting down the city in 2022. It’s time to commit the funding necessary so even after heavy snow residents can get to emergencies, school, work and more.

  • Replace grass cul-de-sacs with more environmentally friendly and attractive green options. Restore City stewardship of these slices of City property.

new and improved facilities for merritton

  • In addition to building the new Splashpad and keeping open the Lion Dunc Schooley Pool, I’d like to see the City build a new community hub in Merritton similar to the Kiwanis Aquatic Centre in the north end. This would provide a much needed indoor pool, restore the seniors centre we lost in Merritton, providing meeting and event space for local groups like the Lions and allow the Merritton branch of the St. Catharines Library to have a secure home. This proposed central hub, along with the outdoor pool, sports fields and Merritton arena, has the potential to positively reshape Merritton for decades to come.

  • Ensure the new public washroom is built in the Queenston Street area.

  • Update the Garden City Golf Course. This area really does not have the ability to be anything but a golf course due to where it is built. Since we know that, let’s improve its amenities to attract more golfers and leagues and improve the experience of those who have been loyal to “The Dump” for years.

Public Transit and transportation

  • St. Catharines Transit has delivered great service for decades, even without always receiving adequate funding. As we move to the new Regional transit model, we need to ensure we receive not only the same level of service, but an increased level of public transportation options. I am committed to seek to continue to represent St. Catharines at the Region, as I have since 2018 on the Niagara Transit Commission/Linking Niagara Transit Commission.

  • Make transit more affordable. In St. Catharines we reduced the cost of family weekend passes and made transit free for kids under 12 and veterans. It is time to expand the free transit program to high school students and seniors with a goal of eventually achieving a fare-free public transit for all.

  • Complete the Chestnut Street Connection and the Secondary Access for Moffat Street. Both represent opportunities to improve vehicle, cycling and pedestrian traffic throughout Merritton and the Moffat Street connection in particular is necessary due to potential safety issues. These projects are ongoing.

  • More bike lanes. Simple as that. They need to be built. We know the benefits. Let’s get it done.

  • Slow down drivers. Our residentials streets are becoming motorways. We have asked the province to reduce speed limits but that’s not enough. We need to change the design of streets to discourage speeding and improve safety for all pedestrians and cyclists.

Communication

  • Currently I communicate with residents via phone, email and all social media platforms. I’d like to take a page out of my ward-mate Lori Littleton’s book and add an emailed newsletter to that list. Lori set a high standard for communication as a City Councillor and I do not want to see that drop off as she is, unfortunately(!!!!!) not running again.

  • With the unfortunate decline in funding for local anchor news institutions like the Standard and CKTB, there is a communications gap about what is happening at City Hall, City Council and within the City. The City is striving to fill that gap with a new website and I am committed to providing City Staff the resources to keep residents informed online, offline and in-person.

Supporting Local business and local neighbourhoods

  • Downtown has seen the success of expanded patios and pedestrian walkways. I am proud that the City supported Merritton and Queenston Street businesses during the pandemic and would like to see bringing some of those “downtown” improvements to Merritton and Queenston’s commercial hubs. Businesses have worked hard to stay open during the pandemic and I believe the City can play a role in increasing traffic and creating really distinct commercial areas that residents want to shop and spend time in.

  • An idea we had last term was for the City to help facilitate and support local neighbourhood associations throughout Merritton. Unfortunately, this plan became lost during the trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic. I’d like to bring it back to start local organizations from Queenston to Secord Woods to Merritton to Wilfrid Laurier to Barbican Heights and everywhere in between. These organizations provide insight to the City on what is needed, advocate for local improvements and can host local events that support their community.