Comments for Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward

Comment on Seeking your input on summer bar season by Pennyhersh

Pennyhersh — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Marianne, does a vibrant downtown mean drunk, disorderly people urinating on lawns and causing damage to private property? Does it mean that residents living in close proximity to the restaurants and bars have to be awakened at 2AM? Perhaps the bars should close at 1AM instead of 2 AM, this would eliminate an extra 60 minutes of drinking and could result in less issues. A vibrant downtown to me encompasses people being able to go for a walk along the water, have a nice meal, attend at movie or go to the art centre or performing art centre. Also included would be stores to shop in, etc. Why does it always seem that the bar scene, and festivals seem to be considered essential to a vibrant downtown?

Comment on Pier wind turbine cancelled by Jason Diamond

Jason Diamond — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:52:00 +0000

Absolutely the turbine should stay – since it is already purchased the payback is infinite if it isn’t even installed and the lights are staying and now need to consume power so without it, there is an avoided cost that you are not including in this simplified estimate that likely assumes no increase in power costs. At some point is there going to be a transformer upgrade to accept feedback power? This will also improve things.

Also, as stated it is also a demonstration project and a huge visual reminder of renewable energy and what can be done that the fire station (or other projects) does not provide. The single turbine on the Toronto waterfront does not have a huge impact electrically, but it is a visual reminder to every car on the Gardiner Expressway and this could be a similar value.

Comment on Transit funding shifted to infrastructure by Don

Don — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Marianne:
As I have said in the past Burlington is in need of a Transit shift from the elephants presently roaming the streets to small vans equiped to carry the three or four people that occupy the few seats of a Bus needed in a City like Toronto. Here we need small Vans built to carry eight to twelve people on the secondary routes at non rush hour times. (although with proper planning they could handle all times of the day) These vans could be purchased from a manufacturer such as Chrysler, Toyota or any other major manufacturer in a stipped down model without the added extras a Family Van would come wiith. The City could then purchase the same amount of Buses at a fraction of the cost and operate at a much lower overhead due to operating cost and storage due to the difference in size.

Comment on Transit funding shifted to infrastructure by R Tanner

R Tanner — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:58:00 +0000

As you say yourself, the gas tax money is intended for ‘transit capital costs’. Yes, buses use roads too, but the roads this money is earmarked for are back streets such as 1st street where buses do not go. As a result, this looks like a piece of sharp practice by the city to take transit money and use it for cleaning up residential streets. If it’s not against the letter of law, it’s certainly against the spirit.

Comment on Transit funding shifted to infrastructure by David Goodings

David Goodings — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:10:00 +0000

Burlington Transit is an essential service relied on by many of Burlington’s citizens. Better service would attract more people to transit, and that requires more frequent service and longer hours of service on some routes. The City needs to invest more money from the gas tax on buses in order to provide better service. I hope the reduction of the gas tax split from 30% to 20% for transit is for this year only.

Comment on Pier wind turbine cancelled by Keithmarion1

Keithmarion1 — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:16:00 +0000

I say make the turbine twice as big so that we can pay for it in 106 years. By that time we won’t be around to remember the stupidity of doing it.

Comment on Pier wind turbine cancelled by Amyschnurr

Amyschnurr — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:07:00 +0000

I would like to know if there is a written staff report on this issue to support a reasonable public awareness and consultation process.

Comment on Pier wind turbine cancelled by Jwhalen000

Jwhalen000 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Since the turbine has already been paid for, I say keep it and explore installing it where demand for additional power is required but not available. J,J,Whalen

Comment on Pier wind turbine cancelled by Dan Schiedel

Dan Schiedel — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:35:00 +0000

Has the fact that the batteries would have to be replaced at least 3 times (every 15-20 years) during the quoted 53 year payback been factored into the cost?

Comment on Master Plan for Burlington Beach under review by Gary

Gary — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:20:00 +0000

I am concerned at how peoples homes are considered in such a casual way. We all get sewer connections. In times past people protected their homes with some force. Our political representatives should be careful to let the state take away peoples homes.