Our West End

Friends, Last Monday, City Council held its 3rd meeting of the new term. Two items on the agenda were of particular importance. The first was a status report on our active transportation plan. Active transportation includes walking, cycling, and transit as a primary mode of travelling. We will receive a final report later this year but the status report was hopeful as it set out the goals and benchmarks of our active transportation. One goal was to increase city-wide active transportation to 25% (currently hovering around 10% or so) by 2041. To achieve this ideal, the plan called for a breakdown of active transportation between neighbourhoods in our City. In the inner city, active transportation would go up to 45%, whereas in the newer developed neighbourhoods, active transportation would go up to only 13%. The reason? Inner city neighbourhoods (west-end, downtown, etc.) are better built to allow for active transportation infrastructure. It begs the question, why are we not building o...

Friends, I have a few news updates to share. Parks and Pools As you may know, Atkinson Pool will no longer be an item for discussion at City Council.  This is great news. Several residents have contacted me regarding South Tilston Park.  It has been decided by many that a public meeting at this time will not be beneficial.  I have been working diligently on this issue and have had several discussions with our Councillor and others about this as well.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions or concerns.  It is our hope that South Tilston receives the same good news as Atkinson Pool did recently. Positive News I have just found out some very positive news today regarding an initiative that I have been working on for several years in the west-end.  There will be a public press conference regarding this great news in the near future.  Until then, I cannot say much, other then the fact that this positive development...

Friends,  Below is an email I received regarding a meeting this Wednesday on the future of South Tilston Park.  For those of you who may not know, the park is located in the Bridgeview neighbourhood.  I hope you can make it out to the meeting.  I will be there.   "Fabio: Letting you know about the City meeting on Wednesday, February 6 from 6 - 8 p.m. at College Ave. Community Centre as to: "Future of South Tilston Park.   This .64 acre pocket-sized park is located on Tilston Drive east of Rankin Avenue.   The City, in keeping with its Official Plan requirements is inviting the public to discuss the proposed disposal of the park and consolidation of park amenities in neighbouring parks" This was posted as a public notice in the Star on Saturday. Source:  West-End Resident 

When I think of the past year, I think about how much we have been able to accomplish, but also how much more we have to do going forward.  From the good work in crime prevention and reduction, to the closure of Forster High School, we have had our share of ups and downs throughout the year.  Let us take a look at some of the key areas where progress has been made, where challenges lay ahead and where we are going, together, as a community.  Crime Prevention and Reduction The Bridgeview Neighbourhood Watch team is operating in full speed.  According to the group, they have contributed, either directly or indirectly, to nine arrests in the west-end.  In addition, they have provided Windsor Police with useful tips and information throughout the year.  In sum, they are doing great work.  I hope they receive more help in the new year so they can expand their information sharing and further assist Windsor Police.  Moreover, earl...

Below is a letter that was written by a Ward 2 resident who will be unable to attend Wednesday's Ward 2 meeting.  His concerns and letter are as follows:  I thank the representatives of the city and university for taking the time to hear comments from residents.  As I am unable to attend the Ward 2 meeting, I am providing these comments by email.  As suggested by council staff, I have indicated those comments to which I request a reply. My vision for the neighbourhood is a clean, quiet, happy place with a diverse mix of families, university professors, graduate students, undergraduate students, and retirees.  The city and university should encourage and support diverse populations and property use within each neighbourhood since experience has shown that concentrating any one population leads to problems. 1. Parking by-law enforcement A.   I commend the Commissionaires for their ge...

The City of Windsor plans to get tough on owners of abandoned or derelict buildings.  City council will deal with a "blight mitigation strategy," which was developed by city staff.  This may have implications on the boarded-up homes in Sandwich Towne.  See the link to learn more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2011/11/15/wdr-blight-mitigation-strategy.html

Hi Fabio, I have attached the Park Usage Report and the appendixes, the council minutes from July 4 --which aren't very informative (they deferred), although I think it is interesting to note that the topic was identified as "surplus parkland" (pg. 20 of July 4 council minutes) and that the report is titled "Park Usage", while all the media coverage is about the City's obligations under the accessibility legislation.  ( Does this seem odd to you?--I am thinking that the accessibility legislation is being used as an "enabler" for the sale of public parks that Council has tried in the past. )   One line from the report particularly concerns me: "In some cases the function of a neighbourhood park can be better accommodated by the closest community/regional park."  Clearly, Ward 2 is "deficient" in "neighbourhood" parks and over-supplied in "community/regional" parks--the waterfront, Mic Mac and Malde...

Dear Residents:  Sent to me by email from a west-end resident:  Hello again Fabio, Attached is a Word file with a stripped-down version of the written complaint form I left with you at the Green Bean.  Some people may find it more convenient than the hard copy.  Those who are not digitally adept could fill out by hand the hard copy.  The hard copy also has part of the by-law on the back, which the Word file does not. NOISE COMPLAINT, CITY OF WINDSOR BY-LAW 6716 WITNESS STATEMENT I, (name )______________________________________________________________________ of  (address of Residence) _____________________________________________________ state that the following information is true to the best of my knowledge and belief (please attach additional pages if required): PARTICULARS DETAILS Date of Incident Description Of Noise (Include as many details as possible) ...

City Council approved the lease of the property known municipally as 3110 Sandwich Street for a period of ten years, subject to mutually agreed upon terms and conditions between the City of Windsor and Suncor Energy Product Partnership. The land will continue to be used as a parkette under the lease agreement. To learn more about the agreement see this link: http://www.citywindsor.ca/DisplayAttach.asp?AttachID=24639 Sincerely, Fabio Costante

Dear residents: On November 23 at 6pm, Councilor Ron Jones will host a Ward 2 meeting at the Church of the Ascension on University Ave. W.  The meeting will address accomplishments and future plans and will feature representation from Windsor Police, Public works and the Planning and Bylaw department.   I look forward to seeing you there! Sincerely, Fabio Costante

Dear west-end residents:  I received an email today from council services following up on our town hall meeting held two weeks ago.  Below are some of the issues that already have been addressed by each respective authority:  -  Noise complaint about Faces on College, the Supervisor of Licensing & Deputy Licence Commissioner indicates that the complaint process is through Windsor Police, they would enforce in the evenings, afterhours, residents should call Windsor Police to report these complaints, afterhours. - The streetlight complaint at College/Randolph, and in front of 349 Rankin was repaired on Friday. - I forwarded the alley closing concern to the appropriate dept. for response, the resident should be contacted directly. - Other concerns re: adding lighting have budget implications, Councillor Jones will have to update you regarding these issues.  As to the last issue, we know that North Merritt Park was already approved for lighting....

I received a call Monday morning and it was confirmed by councillor Jones at city council Monday night that lights will be installed in Merritt Park within the next few weeks.  We did it!  Congrats to everyone involved and to the residents who live in Bridgeview.  Sincerely, Fabio Costante

Critics slam Grits' funding spree

City considering west-end bylaw exemptions

City council has approved the awarding of contracts or the beginning of negotiations on a number of Windsor projects. Facca Inc. will be hired to build a temporary replacement for the College Avenue bridge over the railroad tracks between Wellington and McKay avenues. The contract will pay Facca Inc. $1.22 million. Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/Council+green+lights+projects/5225665/story.html#ixzz1UXLwnaHd

Builder eyed for College bridge

Councillor Ron Jones spent some time yesterday checking out the park on Merritt Dr. and consulted with residents in the bridgeview area.  Some residents were open to having lights in the park and others were not.  Therefore, to resolve this issue, Councillor Jones has decided to run a survey with the affected residents and make a decision based on the majority of votes. On behalf of the residents on Vercheres, Merritt and Askin, I would like to thank Councillor Jones for his speedy response and for providing democratic leadership on this issue.  An update will follow regarding the outcome of the survey.  All for now, Fabio

Included in the motion that affects West Windsor residents: - The main pool (but not the therapy pool) of the Adie Knox Herman recreation complex will be closed. - A lease agreement will put the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre in the College Avenue Community Centre building. After being present at the 7.5 hour council meeting last night, I witnessed over 40 delegates express their viewpoints and ideas. There were many from West Windsor who spoke clearly against the closures of Adie Knox and the College Avenue Community Centre. Given that council voted on the motion put forward (see link below), it is essential that residents partake in the process and discussions that will follow. We have an opportunity to really define what we want to see in our community centres, not just in the west-end, but across the city. All for now, Fabio Council takes plunge, approves aquatic centre