Transit was not on debate agenda

Many issues ignored at candidates debate, but overall it was an integral event

Audience heard from 17 people on agenda, so not enough time to cover all bases

All the candidates for either City-only (4 seats with 13 running) or City-County (2 seats with 4 competing) appeared on Oct. 12 at the UNIFOR 636 hall in Woodstock for a debate.

The format permitted a 3-minute introduction speech, followed by 3 rounds of questions by moderator Brent Thompson, and then a 2-minute summary by each person. It was going to be a daunting task as the event began, but with 17 people answering the same 3 questions it became quite difficult to meander through your personal thoughts to answer the question directly and offering new material.

The topic I didn't like of the 3 was 'leadership' as all 17 people feel they have the leadership qualities to represent the 46,000 population with determination, understanding and hopefully the ability 'to make a decision'. Yes, when it's time to vote on an agenda item you are required 'to make a decision'. At the same time each candidate would certainly have traits of team work and collaboration. 

Also at the same time, many candidates simply sew together a group of cliches, sell lines, and fancy resume verbiage and make you think they could be or might be leaders.

I've been chair of so many committees, I must do a recount someday, but 21 years on the recreation advisory committee, including 7 as chair, could begin that list.  

I am not convinced, however, that all names on the ballot understand the hierarchy of City Hall departments and the necessity to fully comprehend that each department has its tasks at hand and operates each respective budget as approved by council. In other words, it is not the role of a city council member to walk around a job site with a white hard hat. City council does not hire staff as the very capable human resources group is exceptionally qualified.  

Since many topics were simply not discussed last night, I present a list of items I have concerns and interest in, which were not on the itinerary. Feel free to scroll through previous logged items in my blog, for more information on topics like the 5-year rolling budget which was only pondered by yours truly in the debate, and the issue about intensification versus boundary adjustments.

Bus transit, the library, the museum and art gallery, South Gate seniors centre, sports facilities, community events, trails and parks, snow removal, garbage tags, maintenance of our historic buildings, boundary adjustments, and attracting industry were all concerns in my mind that may have been eluded to momentarily, but didn't seem to be of importance to the overall scope of the evening.

Bus transit is integral in a city quickly approaching 50,000. The City expanded to 7 routes and recently (Sept. 6) increased modestly single-fare rates to $2.75 per ride. 

The buses do have the dilemma of returning to the Dundas / York depot every 30 minutes -- a time crunch in an expanding community.

The bus system is ESSENTIAL for a city our size, and could maybe see additional improvements which all cost more money. Could the future include -- starting earlier than 6 a.m. as some shift workers have to be at their employment by 6?  Could the service extend to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays? Could their be buses running on Sunday? Could there be an 8th route to incorporate TMMC? Could their be 10 buses which would permit the implementation of more cross-over transfers at dozens of locations? 

Many many people rely on the bus transit system as a one-way taxi ride from Cowan Sportsplex in the north end to Canadian Tire in the south end is now $16 by debit.

Now, when we discover the numbers and costs, transit operates at a significant deficit and it could be worse if you consider the City always receives gas-tax dollars annually for transportation services. Since it's a deficit service, it's a subsidy to the users.   

Inserting numbers relayed to me by transit supervisor Jeff Springsted, it can be said that it costs $3.5 million each year to operate the 7 bus routes and that encompasses wages, buses, bus repairs, maps, maintaining the depot, and hiring and training staff.

Transit revenues in 2022 are budgeted to be $1,232,800. Springsted is confident that number can be reached because customer usage is 85% of the totals attained pre-Covid. 

Quick math will say that the difference or net expenditure are $2.3 million or approximately . . . $7,700 per day (300 days on the road per calendar), $481 per hour, or $68 per hour for each route. \

If the rates were increased to $6 per fare to partially offset this subsidy, would those who need the service still be able to afford it, and that includes a large group of high school students.

At City Council on Oct. 6, council's agenda approved a new rates fee list for all city services -- bronze star swimming classes, bus shelter advertising, sponsoring rink boards, riding a bus, death certificates, building permits, sewer-line camera inspections, cost to purchase a rain barrel, arena ice rates, cricket pitch rentals, art gallery memberships . . . 

It's called Municipal Code Chapter 330 Fees & Charges. All the notations and numbers are effective Jan. 1, 2023. Department heads can utilize these abacus figures to assist in creating an operating budget for the next calendar. Be sure to ask that (non-incumbent) candidate on your door step about it as I'm sure they will have a blank grin.

The transit rates are noted as Schedule B-4.

A bus rider can save dollars -- beyond the already noted subsidy - by obtaining a 12-ride pass for $27.50 (resulting in 2 free rides). A monthly adult pass is $66.00 and it's also exempt from HST.  This past summer, my daughter bought the Stride Pass which covered July and August -- terrific to get her to a part-time job or visit the library (No late fees at the library, but that's a story for another day) -- and it was just $27.50 for 60+ days.

While citizens complain about nearly-empty buses on the streets, you must realize it's a necessary service, and obviously a service folks in Innerkip or Sweaburg do not have to pay.

Other possibilities could be mulled over such as smaller buses (Wouldn't work when kids are getting to school in the morning), or electric buses, but the current fleet is maintained to its utmost to the point where the City has extra buses for parts or to be used for events like a parade of lights at Christmas, and to save on overall wear-and-tear.

In conclusion, re-elect me as I know how City Hall operates on a daily basis and I know we have exceptional department heads, and I know about the 5-year rolling capital budget and I also know the tulip bulb sale at the end of their garden season is always a great deal.