It’s been an honour to serve you on City Council over the past 4 years. We have good, positive momentum going on in our City. I ask for your vote this Monday, October 22nd to help keep that going. Below you'll see Budget Highlights and some of the great things we've accomplished in the last 4 years.
Like you, I'm a resident of Ward 2. I feel it's important that your Councillor looks after your concerns and issues in our Ward and the overall concerns of Kitchener. I invite you to explore the Testimonials page of my website to read how I've helped citizens in our Ward and with City issues overall.
I also invite you to take a look at the Dave At Events page where you'll get an idea of my participation in City and Ward 2 events.
Like you, I'm a resident of Ward 2. I feel it's important that your Councillor looks after your concerns and issues in our Ward and the overall concerns of Kitchener. I invite you to explore the Testimonials page of my website to read how I've helped citizens in our Ward and with City issues overall.
I also invite you to take a look at the Dave At Events page where you'll get an idea of my participation in City and Ward 2 events.
Budget Highlights
In my term on Kitchener Council we’ve achieved City budgets that maintained and improved services to you with modest increases at or below the rate of inflation. The budget has increased as follows.
2015 - 1.91% or $19.59 annually for the average household.
2016 - 1.46% or $15.00 annually for the average household
2017 - 1.73% or $18.00 annually for the average household
2018 - 1.60% or $17.00 annually for the average household
We’ve improved our infrastructure program, putting more priority on preventative maintenance to extend the life of water, sanitary and storm systems. We also decreased our debt levels and added to our reserves.
We’ve made key investments in:
Neighbourhood Building and Placemaking with the Love My Hood strategy.
Economic Development with the comprehensive Make It Kitchener strategy.
Citizen Engagement with the Engage Kitchener online citizen input website.
The Arts with our Creative Arts Hub at 44 Gaukel Street.
A new money and power saving LED street sight system with an Adaptive Control Network
High Tech Innovation with our Digital Civic Innovation Lab at Communitech to make use of the Adaptive Control Network.
Recreation with the renovation of the Kiwanis Park Pool and RBJ Schlegel Park in our Southwest District.
We did all this while living within our means and maintaining and improving city services to you
In my term on Kitchener Council we’ve achieved City budgets that maintained and improved services to you with modest increases at or below the rate of inflation. The budget has increased as follows.
2015 - 1.91% or $19.59 annually for the average household.
2016 - 1.46% or $15.00 annually for the average household
2017 - 1.73% or $18.00 annually for the average household
2018 - 1.60% or $17.00 annually for the average household
We’ve improved our infrastructure program, putting more priority on preventative maintenance to extend the life of water, sanitary and storm systems. We also decreased our debt levels and added to our reserves.
We’ve made key investments in:
Neighbourhood Building and Placemaking with the Love My Hood strategy.
Economic Development with the comprehensive Make It Kitchener strategy.
Citizen Engagement with the Engage Kitchener online citizen input website.
The Arts with our Creative Arts Hub at 44 Gaukel Street.
A new money and power saving LED street sight system with an Adaptive Control Network
High Tech Innovation with our Digital Civic Innovation Lab at Communitech to make use of the Adaptive Control Network.
Recreation with the renovation of the Kiwanis Park Pool and RBJ Schlegel Park in our Southwest District.
We did all this while living within our means and maintaining and improving city services to you
My Pledge To You Continues To Be:
Listen To You And Respond To Your Concerns. When you contact me, I'll respond and make sure your voice and concerns are heard. I'll work hard to get results and answers for you by taking your issues to the appropriate staff to be investigated to and resolved. I may not always be able to get the exact result you were hoping for, but I'll do my best to find a balanced solution. You will get an informed answer and explanation to your questions.
Respect And Value Your Tax Dollars. I'll make our roads, infrastructure, parks and trails a top priority. I'll support investments that bring economic, environmental and social benefit to our city, increase our quality of life and improve our service levels to you. I’ll support partnering with the private sector and school boards to bring new facilities that can be shared to the benefit of all and achieve cost savings. Having the services and facilities you want at a price you're comfortable with is the balance I seek. I'll look for savings and efficiencies. I’ll be socially responsible.
Strong Economic Development And A Vibrant Kitchener. I'll support efforts and investments to bring more and new jobs and help our current employers grow their operations and workforce. Supporting innovation, technology, manufacturing, educational institutions, arts, culture, neighbourhoods, inclusiveness, attainable housing, recreation, festivals and tourism keeps Kitchener a great and vibrant city to live, work and play in.
Listen To You And Respond To Your Concerns. When you contact me, I'll respond and make sure your voice and concerns are heard. I'll work hard to get results and answers for you by taking your issues to the appropriate staff to be investigated to and resolved. I may not always be able to get the exact result you were hoping for, but I'll do my best to find a balanced solution. You will get an informed answer and explanation to your questions.
Respect And Value Your Tax Dollars. I'll make our roads, infrastructure, parks and trails a top priority. I'll support investments that bring economic, environmental and social benefit to our city, increase our quality of life and improve our service levels to you. I’ll support partnering with the private sector and school boards to bring new facilities that can be shared to the benefit of all and achieve cost savings. Having the services and facilities you want at a price you're comfortable with is the balance I seek. I'll look for savings and efficiencies. I’ll be socially responsible.
Strong Economic Development And A Vibrant Kitchener. I'll support efforts and investments to bring more and new jobs and help our current employers grow their operations and workforce. Supporting innovation, technology, manufacturing, educational institutions, arts, culture, neighbourhoods, inclusiveness, attainable housing, recreation, festivals and tourism keeps Kitchener a great and vibrant city to live, work and play in.
I Also Believe Strongly About:
Decision making that uses your input from citizen research programs like Your Kitchener Your Say, the Engage Kitchener Website, Citizen Input Events and Your Calls and Emails.
Well maintained parks, playgrounds, trails, pools and community centres.
Recreational programs for children, seniors and adults in well maintained indoor and outdoor facilities and at our community centres.
The Love My Hood program where neighbourhoods determine projects and events they’d like to make happen and the City supports them.
Reducing the impact on the environment. Encouraging sustainable energy use. A strong urban forestry program and preserving natural areas.
Responsible development that looks after today’s and tomorrow’s needs. Supporting affordable housing opportunities and addressing social issues.
Roads that are in good condition, where measures are in place to control speed and traffic congestion is minimized.
The Arts with music, theatrical and cultural events and festivals. A strong library where different forms of literacy and technology can be learned and accessed.
Encouraging inclusivity and celebrating diversity.
Being a positive, respectful and honest councillor, working together with fellow council members, community groups and citizens to make Kitchener even better.