Latest Letter to Coucil

Subject: Evidence of Our Claims

Council,

After only two weeks of the new Maria street being open, there is already evidence that safety is going to be an issue. Notice on the image below that there are tire marks on the sidewalk indicating that trucks have a tight turn and that there is not enough room. Add this to all of the other factors that have already been communicated to you and you have a recipe for problems. It really is unfortunate that you were unable to realize this issue previously and do something about it before you wasted tax dollars. However, you can still change it back and make it safe again.

I hope you plan to fix this issue before someone is hurt.

Regards,

Jon Ross

Royal Reno Letter to Council

Councilors,

There are a number of concerns with the "Royal Reno" project, all of which have been previously communicated to the "Royal Reno" Committee to no avail. 

The first and most important area of concern is the safety of the proposed entrance to the park. The numerous issues with safety are as follows:

• The new entrance is right on the bend of Decew street.
• The new entrance is just meters from the intersection of Decew street and Minerva street.
• Decew  street is a busy street with traffic to and from the arena, soccer fields, memorial hall, medical centre and the school.
• There is no sidewalk and no provision for a sidewalk on the South side of the street.
• There is no provision for a cross walk for pedestrians to cross to the nearest sidewalk.
• There is no provision for bicycles to travel to and from the park.

Imagine for a moment a summer night, one baseball game is ending, another is about to begin and a soccer game just ends. Cars are dropping off and picking up ball players, some ball players are leaving or arriving by bicycle and some on foot, soccer parents pick up their children and travel to and from the soccer field via Decew and Minerva. Cars, bicycles and pedestrians will all be travelling that area at the same time and our children have no way to leave the park safely. This is clearly a SERIOUS HAZARD for our children. Can you the Council, the "Royal Reno" Committee and the Engineers not see this? A better place for a new entrance would be to create an entrance at the south-east corner of park onto Wellington street.  

The second major concern is that the majority of the Community does not want or need a 1 Million dollar outdoor building. If you don't believe me, simply ask around Tavistock and you will see very quickly that it is not wanted. Furthermore the project is not needed as we don't currently have high demand for the current Pavilions. Sure, you have plenty of groups that agreed that they might use the building in the future, but that does not mean to say that they would not also use the existing facilities. And yes, the old Pavilion in Queens Park could use a face lift or could stand to be replaced, but can we not come up with a different plan with a more reasonable cost?

Furthermore, the results of the survey actually illustrate a different picture than what was designed and what is being built. The data that is in the "Royal Reno" report of the most recent EZT Agenda shows that the most requested first selection in the survey is a Splash Pad and it received the second most votes overall (second only to "Picnic Area" which we already have in our current Parks and Pavilions). There were also many votes for other "non-pavilion" items such as a Public Pool, a Skate Park and New Playground Equipment, all of which are not included in the "Royal Reno" project. These items account for 47% of the first choice of those surveyed. This makes me wonder if the Committee was even working on the right project in the first place as almost half of the first choices are not Pavilion related at all. What's more is that all of the other items noted in that Survey already exist with our current Pavilions in Tavistock. 

I urge you as a Council to reconsider your decision and act with FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY and delay this project until it can be designed safer, reduced in scope and address the actual desires of the Community. If you were to scale back, include a Splash Pad and new Playground equipment in this project, I am sure that you would have great support for this project!!!

I'll finish with a very applicable quote “What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient.” ― Bodie Thoene.

Regards,

Jon Ross

104 Hope Street East

Tavistock, Ontario

Answers (not great answers) To Our Delegation

Angle Parking Delegation – Questions

The following responses were prepared by Jeff Carswell, CAO, Township of East Zorra- Tavistock based on direction given at the August 1, 2012 Council Meeting.

Shirley Hanlon Questions
Why was angle parking considered in the first place?
Angle parking in this area would create more parking spaces than parallel parking. With roadwork planned for this area, improving the parking area and increasing the number of spaces available in the downtown core was a logical idea that could be implemented at very little additional cost, if completed in conjunction with the
road work.

How many parking violations have been issued in Tavistock in the last 2 years? And where specifically in Tavistock were those tickets issued?
16 tickets have been issued. 3 relate to parking issues in front of Tim Hortons and the balance are related to parking overnight in the winter on residential streets.

Will you consider having open discussions (not in closed session) on how to improve communication with the rate payers of EZT?
Improving communications with ratepayers would not be a topic eligible for
discussion by Council in closed session. Council could provide direction to staff for
changes to procedures and protocols related to providing information to the public;
however, the Township currently does more than the “bare minimum” when
providing information. As with any Township service and program, staff attempt to
make continuous improvements and take advantage of best practices in the industry
across all Township activities.

Chad Breyer Questions
What is going on with parking enforcement?
Parking restrictions can be enforced by the Township’s by-law enforcement officer or the OPP. Parking enforcement activities tend to focus on areas that affect safety (trucks parked on the road in front of Tim Hortons) and operational matters (parking overnight during the winter). Staff will also investigate complaints about parking and will provide information about parking restrictions, warnings and/or tickets if required.

What are the parking restrictions now and in the future?
Current parking regulations
15 min parking on Maria St, West side – Hope to Decew
2 hr parking on Maria St, West side – Decew to Adam
2 hr paking on Maria St, East side – Hope to Decew
No Parking on Maria St, East side – Decew to Adam
There are not currently any proposals before Council to change the parking restrictions. After streets are reconstructed, PW staff will often review the area and make recommendations for changes. Any changes to parking would require Council to pass a by-law.

Where and who has the survey of my property?
The Township does not maintain individual property surveys. The Township does get copies of planning documents, reference plans and other survey information; however, this would not be the same as a “property survey” for your own use. If you wish to obtain a survey of your property, you would need to engage an Ontario Land Surveyor.

How will this reconstruction impact my property? (Property value & safety for my family)
The Township has offered to work with you on fencing and landscaping options that would help to improve the safety and appearance in this area. The new curbing in this area will be a barrier curb which would provide better protection over the existing roll-over type that is currently there. Having this area properly designed as a one-way street with clearly defined entrance and exit points, parking and traffic control will be an improvement over the current two-way street design being used as a one-way street 

How and why could the tree be removed within an hour of the Council meeting on July 4th? I don’t think there are many residents who have not come to the realistic conclusion that this was a pre-planned decision with tree removal waiting on speed dial. Council accepted the tender for this project at the June 6, 2012 Council meeting.
The staff report recommending the project included a letter raising concerns about the parking plans. Council approved the project, which included the angle parking and tree removal. With this approval, staff were given direction to proceed with the project as approved. On July 2nd, 2012 a request from Deputy Mayor Ralph was received, requesting that the angle parking matter be placed on the July 4th, 2012 Council agenda. The PW Manager advised the CAO that the contractor had started the project and tree removal was scheduled for the first part of the week. Recognizing that there could be a change in parking that could remove the requirement to remove the tree, the PW Manager requested the tree contractor to hold off until after Council gave the matter more consideration. Once the matter was decided by Council, the PW Manager advised the contractor to proceed with the tree removal. The contractor was in Tavistock on July 4th and removed the tree.

Jon Ross Questions
Are you willing to take personal responsibility for property that is damaged because of an accident that results from the angled parking, because I as a tax payer refuse to allow my taxes to pay for your bad judgement.
This question would need to be answered individually. From the overall Township perspective, there are many potential liabilities that the Township is exposed to. As such, the Township spends a significant amount of time and money reviewing potential risks and implementing appropriate risk minimization activities. The Township also carries a comprehensive municipal liability insurance policy should the risk management activities not be comprehensive enough. This matter is a difficult financial and human resources balance. For example a daily road and sidewalk inspection frequency could reduce the possibility of road and sidewalk accidents and injuries, but a daily inspection program would be cost prohibitive and is not considered the industry norm.

Are you willing to take personal responsibility for injuries that that occur because of an accident that results from the angled parking, because I as a tax payer refuse to allow my taxes to pay for your bad judgement.
Same as first question.

How can you call yourselves representatives of East Zorra Tavistock when you do not heed the wishes of the tax payers you represent?
Each councillor may wish to comment on this question, as there is not likely a single response that could encompass everyone. From a staff perspective, direction is taken from Council as a whole and the votes that take place to make decisions. These decisions provide direction to staff on the projects, programs and services to be offered.
With respect to representative democracy, following is an excerpt that may be relevant:
The one unforgettable incident that convinced me that I could always be well represented by Mr. Halliday occurred at an all-candidates' meeting in Tillsonburg when, in answer to a question on how he would act on an issue, he responded by quoting Edmund Burke's Speech to the Electors of Bristol in 1774, the substance of which described the essence of representative parliamentary democracy (our system of government inherited from our British forebears). Though written from a male perspective, it refers to any person serving the public.
It refers to the principle that a "representative ought to live in close communication with his constituents" and that "their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, his respect; their business, his
unremitted attention." It is "his duty to sacrifice his pleasures and satisfactions to theirs and prefer their interest to his." But, this must always be balanced by the necessity of "not sacrificing his mature judgment, his
enlightened conscience, to you or any set of men living." In sum, "your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays you, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion".
Taken from a letter to the Editor from Tom Mayberry in the Woodstock Sentinel Review.

Why do you insist on spending our tax dollars to fund a project that doesn't serve any residents of Tavistock?
Based on Council’s direction to proceed with this project, Council must believe that this project does benefit the residents, businesses and visitors to Tavistock. Based on the recorded vote, there are “Councillors” that do not agree with the parking changes, but “Council” as a whole has provided direction to staff to proceed with the project which includes the angle parking.

Why, with all of the opposition, from the tax payers of East Zorra Tavistock, are you moving forward with a this project?
Essentially the same as above.

Bill Gladding
There were several questions interspersed in the statement, but they did not appear to have the same desire for a response, as they appeared to be used to illustrate points in the statement. In any event, following are responses:

Who do we turn to when we disagree with the County on lagoon expansion and expropriation of land from a local farmer?
Communicating with your local representatives and EZT Council would be appropriate courses of action.

Who do we turn to when the traffic is backed up out of town due to construction and there are no police to take control of the situation?
Communicating with your local representatives and EZT Council would be appropriate courses of action.

Who do we turn to when the Township wants to take land away from a new resident to create a parking lot?
Communicating with your local representatives and EZT Council would be appropriate courses of action. Land has not been taken away with the parking changes. To “take” land from Mr. Breyer, the Township would have to purchase the land or go through the expropriation process.

Where is our representation?
I would draw your attention to the above comments on representative democracy.

Safety Issues Compound Each Other

It's been a while, but here is an email that I just sent to Council. Also, the questions that were asked at the last meeting have not yet been answered, it shouldn't take an entire month to answer them. According to Council, they are addressing the questions today at the Council meeting.

Anyway below is the email that I just sent to Council.

Council,

It is unfortunate and disappointing that you have now poured the curbs for the angled parking. You have had opportunities since March to correct this safety issue, but now it comes at a greater cost to make the right decision, you'll have to remove the curb that has already been poured. However, now is still not too late to make the right decision but if you leave until the project is finished, then the project to fix the safety issue will cost the tax payers significantly more. 

Another issue that is becoming more and more of a concern for the safety of Tavistock Residents is the intersection of downtown Tavistock. The intention was to make it safer for everyone, but it has done quite the opposite. Now, in order to make it through the 10 second lights, people are racing through yellow and red lights, because otherwise only one truck or two/three cars can make it through. From what I gather that decision was not made because of any study or actual issue, but rather it was done because someone thought it would be a good idea. You should (or have the authorities responsible) return this intersection back to the way that it was until you can have a study done to come up with a safer solution, because what we have now is MORE dangerous.

What is interesting about these two points is that the project to change the lights was done out of a concern for safety when there was not a safety issue. Then the angled parking project was conjured up to address a need for more parking when there is not a need for more parking. What's more is that these two projects together compound the two safety issues into a much greater issue. Vehicles racing through the lights towards the Mill, Medical Clinic, Arena, or School will do so right through the path of cars backing out blindly into those racing to get through the lights. Additionally, this is all going to happen right beside the sidewalk (with no curb) where most children from Tavistock walk to school. Give it some more thought, this summer you have constructed a perfect storm of danger on Maria street. Now is the time to correct this issue. 

Furthermore, right now with the construction on Maria street still going on, children have to navigate missing sidewalks, construction vehicles and other dangers on that street. The timing of that project could not be any worse, you'd have been better to wait until the spring for that project.

Please correct these issues by fixing the lights and removing the angled parking. 

Regards,

Jon Ross

A Concerned Tavistock Resident