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Hello and welcome to my page on Election Forum 2010!

I look forward to the dialogue we will have all thanks to the Red Deer Public Library. Please look under the "forums" tab to see my answers to the various questions that have been posed.

Election time is exciting.  While Councillors spend a great deal of time throughout the term listening to citizens and hearing their dreams and concerns, an election brings more opportunities and more people into the conversations.  These discussions are crucial for helping to set the agenda for the upcoming three years.  Soon after the election the new council will sit down and lay out the concerns, comments and dreams candidates heard during the election.  Priorities will be identified and these ideas will begin to feed into council's discussions, debates and decisions.  There are so many choices! Council always needs to find the right balance.

So let the conversations begin....!

Seeking a third term...

I am seeking re-election on City Council as my second term as a Councillor draws to a close.  I believe the last three years on Council have been very productive.  Council has worked hard (with the help of city staff) on our governance model; together we have worked to define our role.  We have  become a more integrated part of City processes.  We are now involved at a much earlier stage so we can shape and guide the direction of plans and budget from the beginning instead of having input near the end.  I really feel this makes our work more meaningful and certainly more valuable.  

Some of the highlights of my 6 years on council include the work on the Greater Downtown Action Plan Update, the work the community has done on affordable housing,  the decision to move the civic yards, the River Valley and Tributaries Park Concept Plan, the Rotary Park Plan the renewal of facilities like the Dawe Centre and the Recreation Centre. I could go on. I have also appreciated the opportunity to get to know my community from a perspective that only council can offer. 

I am excited about: the work that is being done on the Environmental Master Plan; the implementation of several projects identified in the Greater Downtown Action Plan Update; the review of the Neighbourhood Standards and Design Guidelines; the Movement Study; the ongoing advocacy work provincially and federally; and continuing the work to improve Council's governance role to name just a few.

Challenges and priorities from my perspective...

• People.  Cities are all about people -where they live, how they live, how they get where they need to go, what they do, what opportunities they have, how healthy they are, where they interact, who they care about and who cares about them.   We want people to feel welcome, safe and engaged in our community.  

• Places.  When we build spaces and places in our community we determine what kind of opportunities our citizens will have. Having great public places like parks and squares, arts & culture spaces, recreational facilities, schools and libraries for our citizens is essential.  Our commercial and industrial areas are important people places too.  in our community there needs to be a place for everyone.

• Pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs, public transit, high speed rail and skateboards too!  The Movement Study will help us plan for various modes of travel in our city.  Recognizing that the car, while important, is not the only way to move about.  We need to facilitate choices.  We have made some progress over the last three years and there is more work to be done.  We know we have and will have more citizens with accessibility challenges.  As a community we need to be improving accessibility and planning for our future needs.

• Environment.  Like the farmers before us we are stewards of the land.  We need to be mindful of our impact on our environment and make choices to reduce our footprint.  Our actions should be sustainable today and tomorrow.  The Environmental Master Plan is currently underway, this plan will help us identify priorities and make decisions about services we should offer in our community in an effort to reduce our impact on our environment.

• Economic Development.  Red Deer is an attractive place to live and do business. Supporting local business and working to  attract new business should be a focal point. As a city we need to ensure we have the services and amenities which new businesses and residents are looking for.  As we look for the development of a wider range of housing options in the downtown it may make sense to look at possible incentives for development. More residents in the downtown will help support and enhance the downtown. 

• Setting priorities and focussing.  Trying to meet the needs of close to 100,000 residents is no easy task, if only we all had the same priorities!  There are so many choices and possibilities and not enough money to do it all.  As a community we have to work together to make wise choices as we build our city.  In the end, Council has to work to try and strike a balance that works for most.

• A City within Central Alberta.   As the largest municipality within the Central Alberta region relationships with our neighbouring  municipalities are very important.  Working together to look after our water and air quality is critical.  Regional approaches to water, waste water, transportation,  waste management, trail connections, and transit are great opportunities we all benefit from.  Continuing to implement the City/County Inter-municipal Development Plan is also important to our municipality’s future.  Communication and continuing to work on understanding one another’s positions is essential if we are to maintain good working relationships.  A shared vision for the Central Alberta region is something we should be working on with our neighbours.

• Budgeting for today and tomorrow.  The decisions we make today determine the community we will have in the future.  While revenue streams are limited and uncertain we must work steadily to meet our community's objectives over the long term.  We need to be responsive to current economic realities, but be prepared to take advantage of future growth opportunities at the same time.  Having a longer term approach leads to better decisions overall.

• Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability.  In all that we do, we must continue to make choices that are fiscally responsible.  In making choices we have to consider our ability to pay for the services and levels of service we desire.  There is always a cost when we choose to do something; there are also costs when we choose not to.  It is essential for Council to weigh and consider the alternatives and arrive at an acceptable balance.

   

More information...

http://www.cindyjefferies4council.com

mailto:cindyjefferies4rdcitycouncil@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/CindyJ4Council

http://andrewkooman.com/archives/5283   - 10 Questions Interview with Andrew Kooman

Also look under the "forums" tab or individual topics on the left side to see my answers to the questions that have been posed on this site.

Please note: you must include your FULL NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS or PHONE NUMBER with each comment. Your name will be displayed with your comment; your contact information will not.