Bus Fares and Fair Solutions

I have been having some computer problems lately and have been experiencing difficulty accessing my hotmail account. I am not sure if it is the network or my computer so I am taking it in to IT later today.

It has been an interesting couple of weeks for Council. Last Wednesday June 17, Transit Windsor had a strategic planning session specific to fares. We asked administration to explore the following recommendations and report the budget implications for 2010 implementation.

Cash fares to be $2.50 across the board; trip tickets to be sold in denominations of 5, 10, 15 or 20 and offering a discount for buying the tickets; family day passes – 3 times for price of a cash fare 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 4 children can ride the bus all day; day passes – 3 times the price of cash fare unlimited rides on the buses; open ended transfers – eliminating transfer points and allowing a rider to use a transfer on any bus within a 2 hour period, in other words you get a transfer and can use it on the trip home if it within the 2 hours; low income passes – offering $40 bus passes to anyone that has an income below a certain point (to be determined in conjunction with the poverty reduction roundtable committee) .

The Transit Board has also asked Administration to explore Senior discounts on top of these programs. We decided to explore various fare mediums in an attempt to increase ridership and meet the needs of our community. I am pretty excited at the prospects of the programs outlined above, as many people don’t take the bus, as it is too expensive.

It was that same day I received an email to attend an in-camera meeting at 2:00 to discuss labour negotiations. I was pretty excited at the thought of a possible end to this strike. I attended the meeting and later walked out. Let me explain why, keeping in mind it was an in-camera meeting and I cannot divulge details. We met, motions were put forth and failed, words exchanged and I did not like what was said, it angered me. I got very frustrated at hearing the same things I have heard for 10 weeks. I felt like I was talking to a wall and no one was listening. There was nothing more to discuss as far as I was concerned, the vote was already taken, direction already given. I heard enough and needed a break. In 6 years I have never walked out of a meeting out of frustration – never. People have said I am pro union, I don’t have taxpayers interest in mind and some really nasty folks have sent very derogatory emails. It has been tough taking a stand and not being able to say why as the entire meeting was in-camera.

I would not say I am pro union but I will say I represent fairness. All I have ever said I wanted was a fair deal for both parties, negotiating is all about give and take. I have always treated the staff at City Hall with respect and dignity. I always say thank you when they do something for my constituency, I recognize when someone puts forth an extra effort. I am disheartened at how negotiations have been handled from the media scrutiny to the division of the community and certain people playing into that division. A fair deal can be reached that will not increase your taxes. If we can accelerate 5 years of capital projects to 2 years we are not as financially strapped, as some of my colleagues will lead you to believe. A fair deal can be reached.

After I left the meeting I went home, sat in my hot tub and drank two margaritas. It was relaxing and I enjoyed watching my daughter swim in the pool. The following day we were asked to attend an in-camera meeting to discuss the leak to A channel. I did not attend that meeting. My oldest son David graduated last Thursday from grade 8 at Benson School and that is why I missed the in-camera meeting. I told the clerk 3 weeks prior to the graduation I would miss the first portion of the special meeting to discuss the new jail because of this event.

We voted for a new jail, which I supported because based on Planning principles the site works. I also have never heard any issues with the jail in Sandwich Towne, in fact I lived at 234 Brock for a few years and never even realized the jail was a block away. I am glad council passed the new site. We needed a new facility from a health and safety perspective and it will create another 120 jobs once complete.

Last Friday Don McArthur from The Star showed up at my house to ask me since I was not at the in-camera meeting, am I the leak. I laughed; told him my son graduated from grade 8 and I am not the leak. Looking back I probably should not have walked out of that meeting, but I am only human and I do have emotions and occasionally get upset. My daughter and her friends miss their ballet class at the community center not to mention day camp. Several people miss their daycares not to mention the tall grass and garbage. I miss my committee work and by-law enforcement.

It saddens me to see so many people divided in our community and deeply concerns me that once this is settled how will we work together cohesively again? CUPE has made some public guffaws but for the most part picketers have been respectful and have been mindful to try and correct bad behavior. I just want a fair deal for all and it can be done, otherwise why would council be so split on the strike?

ENOUGH ALREADY!

It has been a while since my last entry and my days seem to just flow into one other. Time goes by so quickly I am having trouble keeping track of dates. I am tired of feeling like I am on a fast track but getting nowhere. Our issues in the city are endless, take your pick: WE Parkway, DRIC, boarded up homes in the West End, highest unemployment rate in Canada, loss of tax revenue, the CUPE strike to name a few.

I have never seen an issue polarize the community as this strike has. The emails are endless and the phone calls jam up our council lines and it is very hard to keep up with the messages. People are either against the CUPE workers or supporting them with few in the middle. Most people are saying at this point to go to binding arbitration because we can’t seem to get a deal.

Basically council has been split on the strike issues and we have requested recorded votes on all motions (consistent votes at 7-4). Last week was rare with a unanimous motion not to go to binding arbitration and to reaffirm faith in our bargaining team.

Last week we made the decision to allow our team more freedom to negotiate a contract that is fair to both parties and we also agreed that binding arbitration is not the right path for us. I strongly believe that for the past 7 weeks council has not given our negotiating team the tools to truly negotiate. We have set parameters for them but have not given them the autonomy required to get a contract. In essence they have been negotiating with themselves.

Binding Arbitration means a third party comes in and decides what the contract will be. The City is worried that if we go to arbitration we will lose and CUPE will receive some post retirement benefits and a wage increase, essentially their latest offer to the City (4 year contract, modest wage increases, cost sharing for post retirement benefits, if the person wants them). I am not sure what the next steps are other than to get back to the table and negotiate the contract. CUPE Local 82 provided a proposal last and the City must respond to it, so the ball is in our court now.

I will only speak for myself when I tell you that all I ever wanted was to treat our staff with respect, negotiate a fair contract and keep them working. I never thought we would end up in a 7- week (going on week 8) battle over post retirement benefits or wage increases. I naively thought we could reach a middle ground early and get everyone back to work. I don’t agree with overzealous strikers throwing garbage at a park, picketing people’s houses or interrupting council meetings but I understand the frustration.

I understand workers questioning why certain groups are entitled to wage increases but others apparently are not unless they give up something. I also understand some of the public when they are wondering how will we pay for the wages. I understand CUPE’s concern for post retirement benefits for the future members and I understand the city saying the liability is too high for us to maintain.

All I know is our City is a mess and it stinks. I know I lose sleep thinking about even more people at risk of losing their homes and others without daycare service. I lose sleep over the threat of violence because people on both sides of the arguments are so passionate and angry. I am overwhelmed and just want everyone back to work. I want the grass cut, the garbage picked up and my committee work to resume. I want to heal my community and my staff morale. I know we can get a contract, for me it is not soon enough. I just want the negotiating teams to return to the table and get it done. Enough already!

SHAME ON YOU GORD HENDERSON.

SHAME ON YOU GORD HENDERSON.

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/wake+call+city+council+Gang/1579149/story.html

“Money, money we don’t need no stinking money.”
Gord Henderson is fibbing. Council applied for over $180 million in projects that are sorely needed like sewers, retention ponds that will help stop flooding basements, much needed airport upgrades to support the business expanding for a perishable goods center, major intersection improvements and long awaited city center street-scape. If the Feds will not fund these projects because they don’t have a “Wow” factor, then there is a fundamental problem with their system. Is council supposed to ignore the major capital expenditures we have on the books to improve the quality of life for residents because MP Jeff Watson and his government say roads and sewers are not “pie in the sky” projects?

Windsor’s decision to turn down money for the Canal project means that Minister Baird and his government may have already decided, based on the report they received 2 months ago, that they are going to fund it. Where is the guarantee? I did not see anything in writing stipulating that if we applied for the Canal, we are guaranteed the money for it. How could they decide to fund a project knowing it was not vetted publicly? The fed’s own stimulus fund criteria were not even made public at the time they received the reports from the Mayor. Something really does smell here, more putrid than the garbage piling up from the strike! They had better be careful because we are all watching now.

Henderson is really reaching. He wrote: “…a ward in such sad shape that Postma boasted to me last year that a new Tim Hortons represented hope for the area”. I clearly recall the event, which Mr. Henderson is referring to. We were sitting in that very Tim Hortons at Crawford and Wyandotte speaking about Ward 2 issues. I mentioned that the Tim Hortons we were in represented a kick-start to development in that particular neighbourhood. We were not talking about the entire West end. We were talking about Crawford and Wyandotte, which had two projects that were approved during the same Planning Advisory Council meeting a few years ago. More specifically we were talking about the Tim Hortons and a new No Frills store across the street. We also talked about the old Grace hospital, which is also supposed to be partially demolished and turned into a retirement/ nursing home. All of these projects were within a square kilometer of each other. The Tim Hortons was the first of these projects to be developed and I was commenting that it represented hope to the residents on Crawford and that their neighbourhood would be seeing much welcomed developed soon.

Lesson to be learned –opinion columnists don’t have to report objectively, especially if your viewpoint is different from that of their favourite politician! Gord, Gord. What are we going to do with you?

Canal Project Part 2

You know for months now I have been feeling tired. I thought maybe it was because I was not eating properly, so I changed my diet and started going for walks. I am still feeling tired. In retrospect I am tired of fighting. Tired of fighting the Province, the Bridge Company, our workers, the County of Essex, my colleagues, everyone.

My knick name for 6 years has been Rocky due to my being a little brash from time to time. I am usually quiet and think hard about what to say before I turn on the microphone. I will fight when it comes to my Ward, my beliefs and my family.

I will fight for what I know is right. A $44 million Canal project that has not been vetted with the residents who live in the affected area is worth a fight. I cannot fathom living in that neighbourhood and not being considered by my area representatives. They deserve to see the details of the Canal project to reassure them this is a good project. We should welcome their input - after all it is their neighbourhood.

I have heard from many residents in that area who have legitimate questions. The people want to know: What land is needed for this project? Are there any expropriations? How deep will the canal be? Will municipal water be used to fill it? How much will it cost to fill it with municipal water? What is the plan to keep the water clean? How will access to our homes be affected? With the waterway possibly being 15feet deep, during construction will anyone’s foundation walls be affected and if so how will we be compensated? Besides the canal, what other structures are planned – housing, hotels, commercial, retail and when? People who live in this area have questions and concerns, they have every right to fully understand the project and have all of their issues addressed and their input included in any final report that goes before council.

Let me be very clear on my position with the Canal. I cannot vote in favour of a project that was not only submitted to the Federal government but also shown to a columnist from the Windsor Star before it was submitted to me. I represent the area, am in tune with my residents, live close by the area and deserve to see the report before the Feds or a reporter! The residents deserve to see it at the same time and so do the citizens of Windsor at large. My issue is with process on the Canal project, not necessarily the actual project itself. I do not know enough about it to judge -that is the problem!

It has been a little crazy for all of us on council for the past few weeks and the strike is taking toll on everyone. We have so many issues outstanding for discussion and resolve. I think we are all feeling the frustration. Everyone understands we need jobs in our community – good paying jobs. Infrastructure projects can create many of these jobs but banking everything on a cosmetic waterway project is not the answer. It is a part of a puzzle but will not get us out of the high unemployment rate and dwindling tax base situation we find ourselves in. We need to stop fighting and find solutions to our major issues including the WE Parkway, the new jail site (which I support fully), WEDC, regional transit, upgrading transit, getting those boarded up houses in the West end torn down and becoming more development friendly.

We need to change the conversation (someone I know said that once). We need to lock ourselves in a room with everyone we have major issues with, from the Province to the Ambassador Bridge to the County of Essex and work out our differences for the sake of our regional economic future – for our children’s future. I am not a dreamer, I just know the way we do business for over two years is not working anymore, let’s try something different – communicate better for starters.

CUPE vs. Council

I have never been involved in actual Union negotiations before. My family, for the most part have all been involved with their workplace unions from steward positions to Union president. I studied Negotiations at St.Clair College as part of my HR diploma. The past few weeks have been interesting and have tested my schooling and my philosophies to the maximum.

I understand that proposals are exchanged and the parties are supposed to bargain or negotiate for the interest of their respective members. What went wrong at the City? Really that depends on who you talk to. Talks broke down over two main issues post-retirement benefits and wages. Council is holding strong on their position of no post-retirement benefits for new hires and no wage increases. Union is holding onto their position. Meanwhile garbage is piling up, grass is growing, committee work is at a stand still and people are loosing money daily.

Last Monday Sid Ryan came before City Council. He was slated to speak regarding the WFCU Centre; instead he spoke of CUPE 543 and 82 being on strike. The Mayor allowed him to speak and council even waived the procedural by-law to hear Mr. Ryan speak for his members as opposed to the WFCU Centre. It was both an interesting and frustrating night.

I believe both sides need to come to the table formally or not and discuss options for the outstanding issues (wages and post-retirement benefits for new hires) – period! Monday a motion was put forward by Councillor Marra, seconded by Councillor Jones to have Mayor Francis and Mr. Ryan get together and have a political discussion. The motion would also allow city councillors to be present if they chose and the Local CUPE Presidents. After a lot of discussion the motion was withdrawn by Councillor Marra. I could not support his motion. What is a political discussion? Does that mean that Mayor Francis and Mr. Ryan talk about Global Warming or Prime Minister Harper or the Provincial budget? The motion was not specific enough for my support. It meant nothing although the intention was good the wording was sorely lacking.

Councillor Brister put a motion forward that I gladly seconded that outlined for Mr. Ryan to go to his membership in Windsor, Mayor Francis to go back to Council and discuss outstanding issues then for the 2 leaders to meet, discuss the issues and bring back the discussion to their groups for possible direction.

I did not vote against getting together for discussions yet somehow I was labeled a turncoat, traitor and other negative, hurtful things Tuesday by some ill informed Union people. I received several calls from union friends including the President of CUPE 543 asking me what happened Monday night. I thought it was clear but when emotions rule the room things get mixed up and direction to some people becomes as clear as mud. I was very disappointed that some of the people who sat in Council Chambers Monday night thought I was not supporting further talks between CUPE and the City.

The Mayor had his meeting with Mr. Ryan and a special meeting of Council was called for last Friday at 4PM. I felt like I was spinning my wheels and talking to a wall. Why not get together and hash out a deal? I really don’t understand why Council won’t bend a little to allow exploratory discussions regarding post-retirement benefits or even a wage increase. There are many ways to deliver post retirement benefits. For example: the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) can be the first plan retirees draw from then the City could pay for whatever is not covered by ODB or a payment is paid by the City to go toward benefits then topped up by the employee or a lump sum payment is made by the City and a health account created which retirees can draw from, or employees are given an option to purchase a retiree benefit plan at the City’s rates at their expense. There are numerous other options available that should be discussed.

Allow the Union leaders and City team to openly discuss outstanding issues and bring acceptable proposals to their respective bodies for discussion and resolution. Can’t we stop countering each other through the media and pointing fingers at who is right and who is wrong?

Maybe I am too naïve but I believe we can find resolutions even if it is done informally and presenting options for final closure of this contract. I don’t like fighting and getting nowhere. All I can say is I want to get back to the table. I honestly believe there can be a solution for both sides if we can get together and talk about it.

Canal Project

I was in Ottawa last week with CUTA (Canadian Urban Transit Association) for advocacy days on the Hill (I will blog about CUTA at a later date). When I returned I kept hearing buzz in the community regarding the Canal project proposed in the City Centre West area. I am confused. I have not received a report yet nor have I received any drawings or engineered specs. I understand The Star wrote an article about the project so I decided to ask the Mayor about it.

Thursday at the Mayor’s regularly scheduled bull-pen sessions I learned a report will be coming forward not only outlining the business case and engineered study but also incorporate all of the studies that have been done in that area (CRIP Central Riverfront Implementation Plan, City Centre West Community Improvement Plan). I was also assured that the homes would not be negatively affected.

I can’t wait to see it, learn more about it and include the residents that live in that area for feedback. Rest assured when I receive the report it will be shared with the residents well before council debates whether a Canal is worth while or not. I cannot commit either way yet – I have no information.

Art Gallery

You know as a child one of my fondest memories was going to the Art Gallery with my Nana, having tea upstairs and admiring all of the paintings and sculptures. Some people don’t know but I am an amateur artist. I can draw, paint and sculpt and have been an art lover all of my life. There is nothing more relaxing to me than sitting in front of a display at the gallery getting lost in the painting before me. My daughter shows the same enthusiasm I did at her age so every chance I get I take her to the AGW. We get lost in the paintings, photos and sculptures.

The AGW is the largest cultural organization in our region. Unlike the Windsor Symphony they have collateral in their building (approximate value of building $24 million) and their Endowment Fund ($6.8 million). It is not at a value of $96 million as stated by a delegate Monday night, I am not sure where that came from. The AGW gave up their space in the 1990’s to the Casino who in turn set up- an Endowment Fund and built them their current building. The purpose of the Endowment Fund as I understand it is to be able to take income off of the interest of the fund to use as operating funds or to cover shortfalls in their budget.

We have a beautiful building on the waterfront with amazing views that is funded 68% by private funds (memberships, donations, rental fees, traveling collections, etc.), 19% municipal funding, 7% federal funding and 6% provincial. The AGW is told every year by Council to find savings and think outside the box, generate more revenue. How outside of the box is renting the AGW as a venue for weddings, receptions and banquets? How about partnering with organizations such as WIFF (Windsor International Film Festival) for movie nights at the gallery? How about offering classes? How about taking their collections out on tour? How about having their building retrofit for energy efficiency? Apparently these items were not outside the box enough for Council Monday night.

The AGW like many others have suffered the crash in the markets. Their endowment fund lost $1.5 million last year. Wow, that is a lot of money. Council had many choices before them Monday evening. One of them was a motion put forward by me, seconded by Alan Halberstadt, which would have given the AGW a loan of $450,000 at 3% interest over a 10-year period with payments starting in 2012. The Endowment Fund, with a value (principal) of $6.8 million as collateral. We would have been guaranteed payment with the fund as collateral and would have made money with the interest charged. What was council thinking? You mean we could have loaned the AGW money (without it coming from the tax base as stated by Onorio Collucci last night) and made a return on investment from the interest charged? What was I thinking? The City could have saved the AGW and made money off of them to boot and it would not affect our tax base! My City includes an Art Gallery - a place where people of all ages can appreciate and celebrate each other and the creative works of one another. I will work with the AGW to ensure they remain open and viable so when my daughter has a child I can carry on the tradition of art appreciation in our family.

I’d like to thank “photo404” for providing this sound bite from Monday’s Council meeting:

http://photo404.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/agw2.mp3

They also have a pretty sharp blog too. You can see it here:

http://photo404.com/