Keeping people informed of civic issues has always been a priority of mine. I strongly believe that Calgarians deserve to hear directly from the people they elect to represent them. I am pleased to announce the introduction of eNews, a bimonthly electronic newsletter to provide City staff and Calgarians an overview of important initiatives impacting our city and Council's progress in meeting the needs of our citizens.
You are invited to subscribe to the newsletter by clicking here
Each and every day I am reminded of the pride that City staff take in performing their work to make Calgary a great place to live, work and play. Staying informed can help at both work and at home, I am certain you will find eNews a worthwhile means for keeping up to date.
Best regards,
Dave Bronconnier
Mayor, City of Calgary
eNews - News At A Glance - Issue 01
State of the City 2007
2006 was a year in which Calgary was firing on all cylinders, setting records one month, then breaking them the next. Now, thanks to a commitment from Premier Ed Stelmach to provide new funding for Alberta's municipalities, 2007 should be even better.
Premier Stelmach promised the growth-stressed municipalities $1.4 billion every year for 10 years, 'no strings' funding the municipalities can spend as they see fit, on local needs and local priorities. The Premier's commitment will stand as one of the most significant promises ever made to Albertans; following through on the commitment will be a turning point for the whole province.
This city, and this province, are global players, competing in the worldwide market for skilled workers, business, and investment capital. To compete successfully, Calgary must be a place that's affordable, safe, and exciting, a place that's easy to get around in, where people want to live, and business wants to be.
Calgary's share of these new dollars will go toward building the west leg of the LRT, recreation centres and parks, downtown infrastructure, transit and road upgrades, and support for arts and cultural facilities.
This very welcome new provincial funding, plus the drive and imagination for which Calgarians are justly famous, will ensure our community is the place everyone wants to be.
The Calgary Committee to End Homelessness
Senior business leaders, representatives of social agencies, the faith community, and all three orders of government have joined together in an all-out effort to end homelessness in our community.
The Calgary Committee to End Homelessness, which had its first meeting in January, is being chaired by Steve Snyder of TransAlta, and modeled after similar community initiatives that have been successful in several large cities in the United States.
The end-homelessness programs in New York and Philadelphia have been so successful, in fact, that they have actually been able to close two of their largest homeless shelters.
The committee has an ambitious goal: over the next 18 months, draft a plan for ending homelessness in Calgary within 10 years.
The strategy is clear: continuing to manage homelessness is not good enough for Calgary. We're developing a plan to end it.
Mayor's 2006 annual report on its way to Calgarians
Watch for your copy of my 2006 Annual Report, scheduled to be delivered to all Calgary homes the last week in February.
It's a summary of the highlights and key city issues last year, and where our priorities will be in 2007. Reporting to Calgarians on the activities of your municipal government is in keeping with Council's commitment to open, transparent government. You have a right to know what's being done with your tax dollars, and we have an obligation to keep you informed.
The annual report is bring produced and delivered for less than 19 cents per copy.
eNews - News At A Glance - Issue 02
The revitalization of The Rivers district: Tomorrow starts Monday, April 16
After decades of neglect and decay, the redevelopment and revitalization of The Rivers district, including the long-troubled East Village, will soon be underway. One of the most ambitious urban renewal projects ever undertaken in all of Canada, the redeveloped Rivers will give Calgary an inner city that is truly world class, and will mark our emergence as a global city.
The area is Calgary's birthplace and now takes in all the east end of downtown. Some of the most popular attractions in the city are here: the soon-to-be-expanded Zoo, Fort Calgary, and the proposed new TELUS World of Science. The University of Calgary is planning to build an urban campus in the district, and the Stampede's expansion and redevelopment is already underway.
The redevelopment will be 'kick started' by public infrastructure improvements – including East Village upgrades and the building of a riverwalk that links to the existing river pathway system – that will be the catalyst to attract private sector investment.
These improvements will be funded through a Community Revitalization Levy (sometimes called Tax Increment Financing – TIF). This is a new (to Canada) municipal financing tool that is self-sustaining, and will not increase taxes either within or beyond the Rivers district.
You are invited to attend a Public Hearing on Monday, April 16. The public hearing, scheduled for 9:30 am in Council Chambers, will be on the proposed Rivers District Community Revitalization Levy.
Independent community board to oversee Rivers District development
To implement The Rivers district revitalization, a new independent entity has been established: the Calgary Municipal Lands Corporation (CMLC). Governed by a board of business and community leaders, including myself, the CMLC will be bringing forward their business plan to City Council on April 16.
Clean to the Core one year later: We've made downtown a safer, more appealing place to be
We kicked off the Clean to the Core initiative in the late spring, 2006, bringing the efforts of many City departments together to clean up and spruce up some parts of downtown that were getting decidedly shabby.
In particular, we launched an all-fronts campaign against the graffiti, street crime, and general seediness that had taken over the 7th Avenue LRT platforms, inner city public parks, and back alleyways.
We set out to make our downtown once again a place people wanted to visit, explore and enjoy, even after working hours. We hired more police officers and assigned them to patrol key trouble spots, improved security on the LRT platforms and on the trains themselves, and dedicated resources to cleaning and maintaining the downtown streets, sidewalks and open spaces.
The full report of what was accomplished in 2006 – and what will be done in 2007 – will be ready soon, and will be posted on www.calgary.ca.
