The Infamous Agenda Item #14 (Now #13)

Remember the infamous Agenda Item #5 just over a year ago. I wrote about it in these terms:

"Who would have thought that a subject entitled ‘Essex-Windsor Regional Transportation Master Plan’ is really a motion that includes endorsing the already failed Schwartz short-term strategy on the border and giving out a blank cheque to spend taxpayer money!" Sixteen delegations overnight lined up to speak about it and oppose it. The Mayor and Council cut and ran when they saw the opposition and it has never been brought back!

Perhaps this Monday night we have another one of them. Shall we call it, say, the Infamous Agenda Item #14. It is described as Item 14 "Asset Review Analysis, Development of Surplus Real Estate Disposal Strategy."

One of the authors is Mike Stamp, the fellow in charge of the Superior Park. A funny section in his Report seems to me to be the basis of the OMB taking a look again at the Superior Park deal. Take a look at Part 2 where it talks about Superior Park. Stamp refers to Resolution M114-2005 in the Report which says:

• "That the initiative to sell the City owned parks BE DISCONTINUED and further that issues and decisions relating to the disposal of parks and any community meetings held for the purpose of discussing same BE INITIATED by the Ward Councillors."

He goes on to say that the Official Plan allows for the sale BUT that taxpayers have historically expressed dissatisfaction of the sale of parkland.

WAS THE PROPER PROCEDURE EVER USED IN THIS MATTER? HOW WAS THE SALE OF SUPERIOR PARK RAMMED THROUGH AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE NEIGHBOURS? DID THE WARD COUNCILLORS INITIATE THE SALE?

I'll let the Superior Park residents decide if they are going to move forward to an OMB appeal on the basis of improper procedure and that the Park needs rezoning if a school is to be built there.

I must admit that I am not sure what this Agenda item is to accomplish. I think it is designed to let Administration sell what they want on the List since it is a "Development of Surplus Real Estate Disposal Strategy" provided the "process" is followed but frankly, I am not certain.

Interestingly, the date of the Report is August 22, the "drop-dead" date of the Superior Park deal but it is brought forward 2 weeks before the municipal election for passing by the Council that is effectively finished. Why can it not be held for the new Council to make the decision. I am just getting too suspicious I guess of everything that is being done.

PS. Since this Report is prepared by the "Planning Department" that knows everything about the City and the future, don't you think that the Mayor's cry for a second bridge now is positively demonstrated to be a phony! Read on Page 4:

RETAIN BORDER INITIATIVES: "Realization of monies from this source could be years or decades away."

The land discussed is 368 properties of which a great many parts are at Brighton Beach.

It's all a huge joke and we are being sold a bill of goods on the border by our municipal leaders!

UPDATE:

Item #14 has been re-numbered to Item #13 (housekeeping issue....the original #13 was pulled and dealt with Oct 23 06 due to time sensitivities). I wonder if it will be bad luck for some on Council like the November 13 election