March 26th: A Show Of Hands 2: Unplugged – A Skills Sharing Forum

Please see the attached posters for more details.

Transition Kingston:

March 26 “A Show of Hands 2: Unplugged – A Skills Sharing Forum!”

9:30 – 3:30 at Regiopolis NDHS on Russell Street.

Although the workshop deadline has passed, there are still lots of great ideas and information.

Transition Kingston – March 26 “A Show of Hands 2: Unplugged – A Skills Sharing Forum!” 9:30 – 3:30 at Regiopolis

From Jim Neill’s web site

Thank you!

October 27, 2010

Dear Neighbours and Friends;

Thanks to everyone who voted on Monday. I’m thankful and humbled by your vote of confidence in me. It’s never easy running against an incumbent, but people were welcoming at their doors and willing to share ideas. I am looking forward to continuing these dialogues. I promise to work hard to maintain your trust.
As exhausting and tiring as the past few months have been, I know it’s going to be even more so in the coming months. When the City CAO congratulated me on Monday night, I jokingly told him I might be City Staff’s worst nightmare. I knocked at 5000 doors, and then returned to knock at 3500 again. So I now have a log of dozens of constituency and neighbourhood issues to follow up on. I’m starting on these this week.
I want the people in Williamsville to have the best constituency service in Kingston. No longer will residents who phone their City Councillor be given the “City Customer Service” number. We’re all much more than customers. We’re Kingston citizens.

I also have many things that I’ve pledged to do over the next four years. I plan to begin taking these issues to Council and Committees as quickly as possible. I’ve created an ambitious agenda to fulfill. I will bring these forward in the coming year. With your lobbying and support, we can achieve these. I will be creating petitions and asking for supportive delegations in order to achieve these goals. With your support we can make Kingston even a better city.

I will be active and visible in your neighbourhood. Please let me know what I can do to help facilitate things. Too much of City Council business is reactive. I hope to be proactive. So I want to listen to you.
There are many committees of council that will be looking for new appointees. These will be posted in newspapers. Most are voted on in council. If anyone is interested in serving, email me your areas of interest (jim.neill@sympatico.ca) and I’ll keep you posted.

In my previous terms on Council I appreciated constituent input before crucial votes. Please call if you have concerns (613-544-2465). This is my home number, not an answering service. I pledged to respond to all emails and phone calls within 24 hours. I’ll keep that promise.

Again, I want to thank all the voters of Williamsville. I will work hard to maintain and to earn your trust in the coming four years.

Sincere thanks;
Jim Neill
613-544-2465
jim.neill@ysmpatico.ca

Letter To The Editor, Whig Standard, November 2010

From Kingston Whig-Standard, Letters to the Editor 1 November 2010
By Ed Smith Outgoing City Councillor, Williamsville District Kingston

Thanks for the memories

Serving on city council for seven years has been a very pleasurable and rewarding experience. I would like to especially thank the constituents of Williamsville for placing their trust and faith in me and allowing me to represent them for two terms.

I met so many good people in my district and, really, in all of Kingston over the past years. You all rewarded me on a daily basis with your gratitude and it often made me feel as if you were serving me rather than the other way around. So thank you again to the constituents of Williamsville and to all Kingstonians who continue to be passionate and express so much love for their city. You have truly made this departing councillor feel greatly appreciated.
I also want to thank the City of Kingston and Utilities Kingston staff, the management team, the middle managers, the support staff and the “hands-on” staff who collectively make Kingston work. The City of Kingston is a complicated $265-million operation, with its fingers in many different pies, so it is natural that there might be a few hiccups in its service delivery from time to time. But, even when there are occasional areas that need improvement, during my seven years on council I witnessed a dedicated, hard-working and effective municipal workforce who truly cares about doing the best job possible for the citizens of Kingston. So I would like to say thanks to all of you who helped me do my job.

I must also thank my colleagues on council over the past two terms. Despite our differences, we all agreed that the job was ultimately to make Kingston a better place to live and raise a family.

I would like to single out a few special people who inspired and guided me. To Mayor Rosen, who honourably and courageously led a much-needed transformation of our great city which will keep it vital and relevant in the competitive world in which we live, you have truly made a positive difference in the lives of Kingstonians for generations to come. I am proud to have played a small role in that.

To Leonore Foster, who provided wisdom, amazing leadership and an unselfish work ethic on behalf of Kingstonians, it was an amazing experience working with you.

To George Stoparczyk, who I served with on my first term of council and who served his community as a councillor for over 15 years, thank you for the advice and support you provided when I was new and starry-eyed about being a councillor.

I want to thank my campaign supporters, contributors and especially the volunteers who knocked on doors, put up signs, helped produce content for my flyers and website. Thank you for believing in me.

Finally, I want to wish the incoming council all the best. I think the citizens of Kingston have elected a council that has the potential to be great. Please remember you are all on the same team — the team of Kingston. If I can offer any advice, it is to take the time to learn the job, to listen to your colleagues and city staff, and to talk to your constituents. By doing that, you’ll have no problem making the best decisions on behalf of your constituents and all Kingstonians. Good luck.

Ed Smith Outgoing City Councillor, Williamsville District Kingston

Williamsville Main Street Study

The Planning Committee approved the undertaking of this study at its September 16 meeting, to be approved by City Council. Once hired, the consultants will be examining Princess Street between Division and Bath Road and speaking with area residents and business owners for input on what we want to see happen.  It is expected to begin before the end of this year.

This is an exciting prospect, and something we have been talking about and asking for. For more information see:

It is important to be involved with this project.

Municipal Election October 25th

Dear Neighbours:

With the municipal election fast approaching, we encourage you to exercise your right to vote.  In Williamsville there are only two candidates – incumbent Ed Smith and challenger Jim Neill.

You should have received their literature or even had an opportunity to speak with them during door to door canvassing. For further information on these candidates please see the following web sites:

www.re-electedsmith.com and www.electjimneill.ca

Ask questions on issues important to you, make sure your neighbours get out to vote, and most important – VOTE.

Advanced poll:

  • Poll 1 & 2 Wednesday October 20, 10am-8pm at Kingston Alliance Church 540 Palace Rd.

Election Day, Monday October 25, 10am -8pm:

  • Poll 1: Kingston Alliance Church 540 Palace Rd.
  • Poll 2: Kingston Memorial Centre 303 York St.

Don’t forget your Voter Notification and ID.

PLEASE VOTE!

Proposed Development at 630 Princess

I’m concerned about the condo development planned for 630 Princess by Patry Inc. Development and urge people to write to FoTenn, the agent for Patry Inc. and to Patry Inc. themselves with their concerns and questions. Upon my first attempt at contacting FoTenn with questions, they sent them to the city. The city then said they would forward comments to FoTenn and Patry Inc. Development, so it appears as though it is a complete run-around. I have since contacted both FoTenn and Patry about this and have received no response. Fotenn.com lists contacts for the Kingston office, or general delivery is admin@foten.com. Patry Inc. Development is at Patryinc.com. Email info@patryinc.com.

My concern is that the development will turn Nelson St. into a higher-traffic area, as the 21-car condo parking will enter and exit on Nelson, to reduce traffic on Princess. Nelson residents are being put aside for the greater good of improving Princess, and the city supports this. Read the city report on it, Report pc-10-069, File D14-188-2010 at the city site. If you can’t find it, ask the city to email it to you. You can leave a general message at the city site. Ask them to send it to the planning dept.

Another concern is for the trees on the site. I have asked for details regarding th plans for the trees, but neither the City nor FoTenn have replied. Patry Inc. Development is the same group that tried that giant Frontenac St. development that was eventually rejected at the OMB. Let’s make them accountable again.

Seth

326 Alfred St. Rezoning 3

Dear Neighbours:

326 Alfred St. the former Salvation Army Citadel has been purchased by Podium Development Corp who have applied to the city Planning Committee for a zoning change. The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday May 20 starting at 6:30 pm at City Hall Council Chambers.

If you wish to comment on the proposal you can attend the meeting or write to Karen Fraser re. file D14-180-2010 at kfraser@cityofkingston.ca

The details are as follows:

  • the property is currently designated residential but zoned for one and two family – the proposal requests re-zoning from one and two family to multiple family.
  • the existing building will be demolished and a new 18 unit building with 12 3-bedroom plus a den units and 6 2-bedroom units constructed.
  • the applicant requests an increase in lot occupancy from 100% to 112%
  • the applicant requests a reduction in the side yard setbacks from required 4.7 metres and 9.4 metres to 0.1 metres and 0.9 metres.
  • the applicant requests a reduction in rear yard setback from required 9.4 metres to 7.1 metres.
  • the applicant requests a reduction in amenity area from required 891 square metres to 638.2 square metres.
  • the applicant requests a reduction in parking spaces from required 25 to 9 spaces.

This is a significant change from the former use which will increase the amount of activity occurring on the block on a daily basis. It is also important to note that this property will impact more than just Alfred Street. All vehicle access to the property will be via Frontenac Street.

 

Williamsville District Town Hall Meeting May 25th

Williamsville District Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:30 pm
St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 236 Nelson St
.
(corner of Nelson & Princess)

City Memorial Centre Progress Meeting: Monday May 17th

Dear Neighbours,
we are all very pleased with the progress that we see on the grounds of the Memorial Centre and are eager to see the various sections completed.
As a result of area residents and other interested citizens asking questions about the progress of the revitalization, city staff have agreed to hold a public information session. This is your opportunity to ask questions about what is happening, and express concerns over what has or has not happened.
So please take this opportunity to find out where the M-Centre is going and how long it will take.
  • When: Monday, May 17, 2010 at 6:30 pm
  • Where: Memorial Centre
  • Why: Update on Memorial Centre progress
See attached letter from Lanie Hurdle, Director of Recreation & Leisure. Some of you will receive this notification directly. Please pass this on to others who may have an interest.
Thank you.

OMB updates

OMB updates are archived here.