Moose Jaw Forum

I have some questions for Stan that although limited to my concerns for the city might help others decide where to vote.

1. What is going to be done with the Multiplexes parking mess???? What is your policy there, are you going to be putting forth a proposal to build a parkade there, bus people in, put in parking restrictions or just leave it the way it is??? Also at the same time you are looking at the expected parking mess, do you have any desire to fix the mess we have up here around SIAST???
For instance did you know that the students up here are now parking up to 1 and a half blocks away on streets they never have before??? Do you have any ideas on how to fix it??? And what would your ideas be????
Has any thought been given to putting down parking restrictions in both neighbourhoods and then using our already under-utilized and heavily subsidized publlic transit system to increase ridership, eliminate greenhouse gases and maybe even make it so that the system does not need such a large subsidy????

2. With the Multi-plex now asking for the pennies that we use to give to the kids for sports teams, recreation and other activities, What is your policy regarding helping fund these activities in the neighbourhoods??? Is there any chance that the playground program that has been running in Moose Jaw for generations being scaled back, expanded or shutdown to save money????
Will you look at some sort of organized activity - even if for one day - for families at the many outdoor rinks we have in the city???
I ask this question in light of the report that the Multi-plex committee quoted to gain support on the February vote. The report states that what most people want (in Canada) is affordable recreational activities for their children. How do we fulfill this need that most people want???

3. Do you have any feelings on the restoration of the ward system in Moose Jaw??? As it stands right now all of our city councilors could be next door neighbours living on a Cul-de-sac and there is nothing that can be done about it. We could very well have a council after this election where all of the councilors live on north Hil (north side of the tracks). How will South Hill have any representation??? Could this situation lead to a yet further divide within our city???? And would that be good for the city???

4. What sort of services would you encourage for seniors??? I say this in light of the early city policy (Stan Montgomery's day) of an economic development policy of encouraging seniors to move to Moose Jaw. How do you make them feel safe and comfortable in their homes???

5. What do you do about gangs and disaffected youth in this city???? Could we not be using our area playgrounds and school facilities to take some of the young people off of the street and give them something constructive to do as well as encouraging physical fitness???? Do you have any further ideas about this???

6. How do you make housing affordable for all???? Hey the middle-class are reallty taking it up the rear on this one.

7. What are your feelings on some of the subsidization that the area businesses have and are continuing to seek from all three levels of government??? Does the downtown re-birth count as real entrepreneurship or is a lot of it just corporate welfare????

8. What is going to be done to encouraqge more large retailers into the city???? Let's face it, many people head to Regina to shop as we just don't have it here. Money spent elsewhere just makes jobs elsewhere, or does it???

Anyhow I would like ot thank you in advance for your appearing on this forum and answering some of the questions people have, That makes two of the mayorality candidates which is nice to see as the answers are viewed by many.

Thanks.

Truth defender,
Wow, I won't be able to answer all your questions right away. I will organize my thoughts and go through some of the ideas I've recieved from people during my platform walks and get back to you.
Thanks
Stan

Hi skotch; hope you don't mind if I respond toTD.
TD, I moved from a smaller town and our outdoor rinks were taken care of by parents and volunteers. Is this seen as an option for you? Would you be willing to volunteer if the city doesn't have the funds? Money is tight all over and budgets can only go far? What if, after all is said and done, taxes were raised to support this, how would you feel?
As for affordable housing, that is a problem across the province not just in MJ. I'm not saying Stan shouldn't speak to the concern but it could be an issue that the mayor/city don't have alot of input into? As in, we have a housing authority, an agent (correct term?) of Saskatchewan Housing Corp. I can't recall what Dave Foley, local MJ Housing's Mgr said earlier this year about this, does anyone else recall?

MagicM wrote:Hi skotch; hope you don't mind if I respond toTD.
TD, I moved from a smaller town and our outdoor rinks were taken care of by parents and volunteers. Is this seen as an option for you? Would you be willing to volunteer if the city doesn't have the funds? Money is tight all over and budgets can only go far? What if, after all is said and done, taxes were raised to support this, how would you feel?
As for affordable housing, that is a problem across the province not just in MJ. I'm not saying Stan shouldn't speak to the concern but it could be an issue that the mayor/city don't have alot of input into? As in, we have a housing authority, an agent (correct term?) of Saskatchewan Housing Corp. I can't recall what Dave Foley, local MJ Housing's Mgr said earlier this year about this, does anyone else recall?

Not sure I should be in here as I see this seems to be questions to and from Mr. Koch. Maybe we should move this to another thread? I'm not sure.

But I wanted to say that I do volunteer, and I don't accept the argumtent that "the city doesn't have the funds? Money is tight all over and budgets can only go far" I recall last year Councillor Swanson asking for the Administration to do a study on the cost of putting a sidewalk in on 4th avenue and he was outright rejected because they "figured" the cost would be too high in the end. Councillor Schwinghamer said they didn't have the money for it, too expensive. In that same meeting they approved $65,000 for some study for the multiplex. So don't give me that bull about budgets. The City finds money for whatever it wants the most and it will move it forward from next year or pull it in from another account. The money is there. It is the priorities that are screwed up. We didn't have money for the multiplex either but we borrowed, transferred, begged, and ignored other priorities to get what we wanted.

I have no problem volunteering to help out if I am able to do so.
In the past, before I had to work so much out of town, I was a member of a service club that did their best to raise some funds to help out.
Maybe we need more volunteers and community involvement and perhaps the mayor's office could facilitate that.
Nobody wants their taxes to go up, but at the same time if you read some of the reports out there, maybe a little money spent now will help alleviate a lot of problems later. Later problems that will cost more later. It is like putting off a minor repair now because things will keep on running only to have to spend a lot more later when the thing does break down.
No the city should not be expected to provide everytrhing, but at the same time they could provide leadership, examples and even lobby the two senior level of government to make investments that in the end will pay oif dividends.
For me having some sort of activities for the kids might just reduce some things like childhood obesity, teenage crime and add a little bit of civic pride that could go a long way to making Moose Jaw a great place to live.
I don't think it is the only answer, but maybe it is just part of the solution.

Thank you.

Truth Defender,
In regards to the parking for the Multiplex, yes there are concerns (lots) on getting to the facility and the distance needed to park to get to it. The council will need to negotiate in good terms with the surrounding building owners. There are abandoned building to the west of the facility that could also be looked at for parking. Multi level parking to cut down the foot print of the facility to allow businesses to take advantage of the area also.
When I lived in Calgary downtown, what we saw alot of was problems with parking and the streets surrounding the core. There were parking permits for the streets, any vehicle not displaying the permit was ticketed and towed. SIAST is good for Moose Jaw but it is up to the residence of the streets as to the directions they would like to go.
Our public transit needs to be overhauled from the times run and routes driven. We have seniors that have to walk 3 blocks to a bus stop because the building they live in is on a street the bus cannot negotiate. Game day routes and transport when the new facility opens if parking is not available yet.
Behind my house we have the summer program for kids to participate. I feel that it is a good program for both the kids and the people that work the programs. This is not something I would even look at getting rid of. My son is in hockey and the concern that I have is the increases to the cost of play. Reality is that cost go up every year to offset the rise in rentals and salaries. We have in Moose Jaw a great volunteer base that helps to keep these programs going. Do you have a suggestion for organized activities?
The ward system allows for equal representation throughout the city. This is something that would have to be decided by council and the people of Moose Jaw. What reasons were given to abolish the ward system? Was the representation at that time equal? We need questions answered for a clearer answer.
TD, I am on my way out but will continue on the questions.

skoch wrote:Truth Defender,
In regards to the parking for the Multiplex, yes there are concerns (lots) on getting to the facility and the distance needed to park to get to it. The council will need to negotiate in good terms with the surrounding building owners. There are abandoned building to the west of the facility that could also be looked at for parking. Multi level parking to cut down the foot print of the facility to allow businesses to take advantage of the area also.

The problem of parking is one of planning. The City bragged about skirting the $5.5 million price tag of the downtown property by reducing the number of buildings they were going to purchase by about 7, and then boast of only $2 million acquisition cost. If we are going to buy the remaining properties for about $3.5 million, where will that money come from?

The other problem is that a 500 unit multi level parking structure WAS considered in the original plans back around 2005 and quoted at about $7 million. For a facility that was only $35 million at the time that means a big portion would be spent on parking. Knowing this, they removed the parking from the multiplex project and we all just KNEW that they would use the reduced cost to sell the project and then add in the inflated parking price at a time later when there were no parking options. check out the parking pages and documents at http://www.moosejawmultiplex.com for background info including copies of the original quotes.

So now we are looking at $3.5 million to acquire the remaining property, plus $7 million (in 2005 dollars) for a parkade, PLUS everyone who goes to the games not only has the pleasure of paying the increased taxes to finance the facility, the pending increase in taxes to operate the facility, the probable subsidy of the Warriors, the increased cost to watch a game, the increased cost to enrol kids in activities, but we also get the privilege to pay to park at what, another $4 a game?

Can you see why so many of us are concerned with this whole ill-conceived and poorly executed project? One thing that really bothers me was that the 9th Avenue site was removed from consideration because of difficult access into and out of the facility. Imagine what it will be like to get 500 cars in and out of a one lane parkade downtown at the same time after a game.

My son is in hockey and the concern that I have is the increases to the cost of play. Reality is that cost go up every year to offset the rise in rentals and salaries. We have in Moose Jaw a great volunteer base that helps to keep these programs going. Do you have a suggestion for organized activities?

You'll find in Saskatoon when they built their soccer facility parents were outraged that they had to pay $350 a session for their kids to enroll in soccer. Will the parents of soccer kids in Moose Jaw be willing to go from $100 or so a year up to $300 just to pay for heat in the uninsulated soccer dome? Somehow I think kids who play on school playgrounds in the summer won't be willing to absorb a cost jump like that.

And again, thanks for being willing to post here.

Thank you Stan for replying to my questions. Sorry I had so many of them.
As a resident in the SIAST area I think that it is time we have the parking permits. I also think that it is time SIAST be encouraged to move some of their programs to other facilities. Hey, we have a really decent and largely vacant industrial area, why couldn't they build a facility there and move some of the trades courses out there.
Let's face it if I was a private business that wanted to come to into your neighbourhood and set up a commercial welding shop there would be concerns. Maybe it is time to move them to an area where there is little or no impact like the industrial area instead of just keep adding more and more students.
As far as organized activities goes, how about working with the school divisions to see more fun leagues held on the weekends or the evenings??? I am not speaking about showing up with big fancy equipment or uniforms, just gym shoes, shorts and a t-shirt and maybe play some basketball, indoor ball, hockey or whatever. Just a safe place to get out and enjoy.
Most people I know got their kids into soccer wasnèt because they are soccer fans, but because it was affordable. Hey it cost $60, minimal equipment and the kids got to run around all of the time. With the new facility I do not know what will happen.
I realize that they are school facilities, but why not something be worked out to get this stuff done.
Maybe the city could have mini carnivals once a year for the kids at their little neighbourhood rinks. Hey get out a couple of the Warriors, have free hot chocolate and come out and meet people.
Or maybe the city could have some sort of a challenge out there to get kids involved. The winner could become honorary mayor, police chief, fire chief or a department head, CFB Moose Jaw colonel for a day. Take them out to the radio station for an interview - it would be something memorable for them.
It is good to see that you mention transit. I can tell you that something needs to be done. It is too underutilized and maybe just a few changes will make it work better. How about allowing drivers to stop - if it is safe - between stops so that people do not have to walk so far between stops.
Perhaps the ward system will not work but thanks for at least saying you would look at it.
Once again thank you for responding.

Working with the schools is an awesome idea but could take some time in negotiating. I haven't tried to rent a gym in some time but when I did I was looking at $45/hr (Central Collegiate). And most schools are booked quite a ways in advance.
There's clean up to consider (things like running shoe marks on the floors) and supervision so no one wanders down the hallways unsupervised or makes too big of a mess in the washrooms, etc. I can't recall if each school set their own rental rate?

MagicM wrote:Working with the schools is an awesome idea but could take some time in negotiating. I haven't tried to rent a gym in some time but when I did I was looking at $45/hr (Central Collegiate). And most schools are booked quite a ways in advance.
There's clean up to consider (things like running shoe marks on the floors) and supervision so no one wanders down the hallways unsupervised or makes too big of a mess in the washrooms, etc. I can't recall if each school set their own rental rate?

I am wondering if the schools would do it for less considering it will help their students be more healthy??? I do not know how this would fly or not, but it is just an idea. The facilities are there, an argument could be made they are under-utilized and why spend millions to make similar facilities when you could use what you already have????
Doesn't the city already highly subsidize our golf courses???? Why not a cheap league for kids out there as we are already paying for it....