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Saskatoon Recycling Survey – The results are in, and….
Aug 14th
Recycling has been a primary focus of this blogs (sporadic) postings over the past couple of months. In addition, yours truly has found himself speaking out in both print and television media advocating for the creation of a city-wide curbside recycling program for Saskatoon.
At the end of June, the City launched the first portion of it’s recycling consultation with Saskatoon residents with the mailing of a large brochure and creation of a website that were an attempt at education. Included in those informational pieces were details on four options for the make-up of Saskatoon’s future recycling program – #1 do nothing; #2 subsidize private curbside pickup; #3 expand the current deopt system; #4 city wide curbside recycling. I made it quite clear that I found this consultation to be both lacking in detail, not well planned, and the presentation of the four options before Saskatoon residents to be biased and confusing, a view I still maintain. In conjunction with this part of the “consultation” the City undertook to survey residents on which of the four options they most supported, through both a phone survey and online survey. Again, I found the content of those survey’s to be convoluted, confusing, and More >
Light Posting Ahead
Jul 11th
I started a new job last week, hence the lack of posts.
Posting will be light for the next few weeks as the new job will be taking up a good deal of my time and energy.
Not to worry though, I’ll still be keeping my ear to the in’s and out’s of City Council.
There is a lot happening, even though the public portion of City Council has slowed down for the summer months.
Stay tuned…
back in action
Jun 21st
Sorry for the sudden darkness here at Municipal Matters. I’ve been on vacation for the past 6 days but will be back in action on Wednesday.
Saskatoon Residents to see 3.86% Property Tax Increase
Apr 27th
Last night City Council approved the 2010 Operating Budget, with the end result being a 3.86% hike in the municipal portion of resident’s property tax bills. This despite campaign promises by six sitting councillors not to increase taxes above the rate of inflation (which depending on several factors is between 1 and 2%).
Additionally, Council approved the “one-time” transfer of $2.5 million dollars from the Revenue Stabilization Fund (i.e. Rainy Day Fund) to offset what would have been an even higher municipal property tax increase. However, that rainy day fund was empty last fall before Council made two moves to top it up.
In August 2009, City Administration reported a projected year-end deficit. At that time City Council transferred $3 million from the Neighbourhood Land Development Fund (NLDF) to cover the projected deficit at year-end. The NLDF consists of revenue generated from land sales (mainly Willowgrove and Hampton Village in 2009), which are re-invested back into the development of new neighbourhoods. There were two glaring reasons why this move was unsustainable and a really bad example of how to manage the cities finances; 1) it uses one-time revenues to cover operating costs that are incurred year-over-year, and 2) it depletes the NLDF More >
An Expanded Election Expense Report
May 6th
Posted by Sean Shaw in City Council
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I originally posted my Campaign Expenses and Campaign Contributions Declaration (Schedule A) as well as those Contributors who gave more than $250 on February 12, 2010 (here). Below is a portion of that post, including what was reported to the City Clerk and an expanded expense report that goes above and beyond the election by-law requirements:
For the record, this is what I submitted to the City Clerk’s for my 2009 Civic Election City Council Campaign Expenses:
REQUIRED EXPENSE REPORTING:
That the following is a true account of all the campaign expenses and campaign contributions of my election campaign in respect of the aforesaid election:
(a) Campaign Contributions: $8,757.00
(b) Campaign Expenses: $8,265.82
(c) Total Surplus (Deficit): $491.18
That I intend to use the surplus as follows: Personal Use
I have accepted campaign contributions in excess of $250.00 towards my campaign expenses from the following contributors and in the following cumulative amounts:
Rita Shaw (my mother) – $500.00
Saskatoon District Labour Council – $1,166.00
___________________________________________________
VOLUNTARY EXPENSE REPORT:
Contributions Breakdown:
Family – $1,025.00 (7 members)
Supporters – $7,126.00 (79 individuals, 1 organization, 1 company)
Fundraiser Event – $606.00 (ticket sales/silent auction from concert event held on Sept 26/09)
Expenses:
Lawn Signs – $2,524.50
Sign Stakes – $369.00
Printing – $1,798.20 (brochures, leaflets, cards)
Mailing – $1,483.62 (Canada Post)
Advertising – $325.50 (Community Assoc. More >