SUPPLEMENTARY TO DS-I 1-188 S 14(1), Munlcfpal Freedom

From: Rosemary McConkey , of informatfon and Protection Sent: Monday, May 09,2011 10:09 AM of Pnvacy Act To: "clerks@oshawa.ca"; Margaret K~sh; Tom Hodgins Subject: DS Report 11-173 on May 9 2011 Agenda

To: Oshawa Council Re: DS Report 1 1-173 From: Rosemary McConkey

In preparing DS Report 11-1 73 Margaret Kish wrote me with questions about the community visioning questionnaire. I took time to respond and correct a misunderstanding that apparently arose due to some confusion between the 2010 Columbus Community Visioning Questionnaire and the 2009 Columbus Ratepayers Survey.

Copied below are my two reply emails April 8th and April 13th to Ms. Kish which in my opinion set the record straight and should have been accurately reflected in Report DS 1 1-1 73.

I consider the continued misrepresentation that is contained in section 5.1 of Report 11-173 an unnecessary discredit to me personally and the Columbus Community Coalition's grassroots effort to better our community.

From: Rosemaw McConkey Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 337 PM To: Maraaret K~sh Subject: Re: Grassroots Columbus Community Survey - Summer 2010 Hi Margaret, Any mention by me of a survey with a 60% response rate out of 120 odd homeowners would have been me referring to the Columbus coalition's April 2009 Hamlet of Columbus Ratepayers survey. The originals of this survey were forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in May 2009. The results were presented at the Columbus community coalition's May 21st 2009 public meeting attended by Mayor Gray and five Oshawa Councillors. It seems some confusion has arisen between that survey and the 2010 Community Visioning Questionnaire. The community visioning exercise you and Commissioner Hodgins were promoting last year for Bill Humber to facilitate at a cost of approx. $13,000 was to be based [as you said) on Mr. Humber walking the community and interviewing a few residents over a two day period.

The Community's own visioning exercise and the 21 questionnaire responses submitted were a grassroots alternate initiative to that. Please note: the 2010 Columbus community visioning questionnaire also included a Keepsake Booklet with a history of the Hamlet and pictures of all buildings and residences. Copies were provided to the Mayor and Councillors, our MP and MPP who were in attendance at our July 1st 2011 Columbus Canada Day/Columbus United Church 175th anniversary Celebration and subsequent to those who completed the questionnaire. Later copies were also given to Chair Anderson when he attended our October 2010 Columbus coalition public meeting on the 407, and to 2011 Region Planning Committee members, and last month to Transportation Minister Wynne. Feel free to call me i f you have any further questions. regards, Rosemary McConkey 905 718-0900

From: Rosemarv McConkey Sent: Wednesday, April 13,2011 5:05 PM To: Maraaret Kish Subject: Grassroots Columbus Community Survey - Summer 2010

Hi Margaret,

Sorry for the delay in my reply to your last email, Wednesday already! ~ime's'been evaporating on me.

The April 2009 Ratepayer's Survey was mailed out in personally addressed stamped envelopes to all Hamlet of Columbus households and the high response rate was because we were involved in attempting to give a 'profile' of our community in preparation for the coalition hosting its first public meeting May 21, 2009 and we made follow up phone calls to reach as many as possible. I'm attaching a copy of the survey form with the questions that were asked as well as the results of the survey that were included on page 2 of our news flyer of the May 21st meeting, together with the 'Summary of the Survey Comments' which we handed out at that meeting and gave to the Mayor and Councillors in attendance.

The 2010 Community Visioning Questionnaire was emailed and/or delivered to the front doors of all Hamlet of Columbus homes on Simcoe St. and Columbus Rd. E., Brookfield Crt., Steepleview Crt., Northview Crt. and Westview Crt., and Ridge Top Crt. with instructions to drop off the completed questionnaire at a house on Simcoe St. But due to my printer being out of commission for a number of weeks and summer holidays too, copies weren't distributed to all residents on Columbus Rd. W. Also, since the Keepsake booklet was promised to all who returned the completed questionnaire and they were being printed on my copier, there was no reminder notice or follow up because the printing of the Keepsake booklet was time consuming and costly, and if you can

appreciate, we weren't asking for any remuneration ... I forwarded all the responses to DSC.

You might also be interested in the three previous petitions circulated with 'visioning' type questions ... I will try to include details of those in another email to you hopefully tomorrow, and I believe you would have copies of the Petition re: the specific objections to the Columbus Community Centre designation from August 2009 and the November 2009 petition objecting to a heritage conservation district signed by over half of the heritage property owners, and the June 2010,1,000+ signature "No to ROPA 128 and Yes t o Slowing Urban Sprawl" petition which was not actually circulated in the Hamlet but in other areas around Oshawa ...

regards, Rosemary

From: plaraaret Kish Sent: Friday, A~rilO8, 2011 356 PM TO: R O S ~ ~ ~ N Mc~onkey Subject: RE: Grassroots Columbus Community Survey - Summer 2010

Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for providing this clarification. Since I was not here in May of 2009, 1 am not aware of the April 2009 Hamlet of Columbus Ratepayer's Survey. Can you explain to me what that survey was about, how many surveys were circulated and how many responses were received?

With respect to the 2010 Community Visioning Questionnaire, how many surveys were circulated, how many responses did you receive, and if you received more than the 21 in the package that I have from Clerk's Services than it would be useful for me to get a copy of all of the survey responses that you received. This way, I could have a more accurate appreciation for the results of the survey.

You've put a lot of effort into the work you have done, and continue to do for your community, and I would like to make sure that I accurately reflect that.

Thank you for helping me with all this.

Margaret

Margaret Kish, MScPI, MCIP, RPP Planner 'B' City of Oshawa 905-436-5636 ~ 2 9 4 5 1-800-667-4292 ~ 2 9 4 5 mkish@oshawa.ca

Hamlet of Columbus April 2009 Survey Comments

A summary of Columbus ratepayer comments/questions sent back with the survey are categorized in 10 areas:

Columbus Future What are Oshawa's future plans to enhance and improve Columbus within the next 3-5 years including infrastructure and commercial plans? Why is Columbus not found on most Oshawa maps? What is the plan for the vacant lot beside the church? Concern for the land in Columbus and surrounding areas is that it will be no longer agricultural and just a busy pass through for cars breaking the speed limit. Whitby appears more respectful heritage of their community. Why would you be opposed to allowing us to separate?

K e e ~ Hamlet ~esipnation ' Don't want to have our Hamlet designation changed.

Why is Columbus Hamlet not given same consideration as other Hamlets that must have a planned buffer around them?

Oshawa Should Give Notice Of Chaupes Any changes affecting our area should be posted and advertised in our area before they are made.

School Opening the new Brooklin school to Columbus residents is a wonderful idea.

Roads The planning and consultation process for the road reconstruction was a waste of time for the Columbus ratepayer as the end result shows the residents were not listened to. Why did it take 4 years? When are the 50km signs going up on Simcoe (recommend police presence to enforce it) and is it going to be designated as a community safety zone? Columbus Rd is marked 50 but most do 80km/hr. Why was a 14" diameter road drainage pipe removed to be replaced with a lower capacity 8" pipe on Simcoe St, it's cheaper but could cause road flooding?

Sidewalks Object to this winter's sidewalk snow removal warning. Wrongly directed, especially how just after the ratepayer shoveled a Simcoe St. sidewalk, the road plough filled it back in.

Internet Would like to work from home but can't get high speed internet.

Water More interested to get street fire hydrant than household water services. Our water supply is not only inconvenient, it is contaminated. Have no interest in Oshawa's water or sewer hookup even though it appears Oshawa plans to develop Columbus. Prefer to keep own excellent quality well water. Not interested in waterlsewer hook ups as recently spent a lot of money upgrading a private water system.

Taxes Only garbage pick up and snow removal for exorbitantly high taxes. How will our taxes be affected? Will they go up or down if we join Whitby? Taxes increased by 150%, property value only raised by 70% in last 8 years and not received any more services. Considering moving due to high taxes. Why are property assessment values increasing while property values are decreasing? Are there plans to decrease the mill rate? Would City consider serious tax amendmentshreaks or cuts for Columbus residents given we do not have the services? Mayor Gray, why was the City Hall tom down when the taxpayers' money should be spent on schools, roads and parks? Columbus residents pay extra insurance, well maintenance costs, septic maintenance costs, high speed service high cost, water filtering system and maintenance costs, and although all of these are known to purchasers when locating here the property tax mill rate has been a loose cannon. What exactly do we get for our property taxes? What is the difference between Whitby and Oshawa's mill rate?

4 Bedrm Bv-law Oshawa 4 bedrm by-law is poorly conceived and possibly illegal. Recommend if such a by-law is imposed, square footage play a part.

Over one hundred people attended (all 75 chairs were filled). Attendees from Oshawa: Mayor Gray, John Neal, John Henry, Nester Pidwerbecki, Tito Marimpietri, Louise Parkes

8 Joe Marion gave an informative presentation on the History of Columbus.

Steve Hurst did an outstanding job moderating the meeting.

Steve managed to keep it upbeat, focused and under the 2 hour time frame. His humor and agility at maintaining decorum, was greatly appreciated not only by the other members of the Steering Committee who'd worked hard organizing this event, but also by the majority who were there to be informed and give support.

Anne Hellas and Tammy Lessy representing Columbus Rd. West; Shirley Purdy and Dave Squires representing Columbus Rd. East, Lou Poliacik representing Simcoe 5t. and Ehren Mendum representing the Courts, each gave their point of view with clarity and passion, speeches about why a boundary change has merit.

. Mayor Gray commented about:

TAXES: how unfortunately taxes in this area are high, but it is because Oshawa properties are undervalued. (He did not explain how he proposes to increase Oshawa property values, especially In this poor economy, and how relatively speaking if Oshawa property values were to increase. Columbus values would also increase resulting in even higher Columbus taxes.)

WATER ISEWER: how the fact that Columbus lacks waterlsewer services has no bearing on property taxes. There is no waterand sewer component in the property tax bill. Water and sewer services are funded by those who receive them and are set up to be self-sustaining. 40% of Oshawa taxes go to the Region, 40% to the City and 20% to Education.

NEW BROOKLIN SCHOOL: school board should let Columbus children go to new Brooklin school if desired.

BENEFITS: projectslfacilities in Oshawa that City has spent money on are for benefuuse of Columbus too.

GOVERNANCE: Oshawa not in support of Columbus joining Whitby and claims Whitby doesn't want us.

With all due respect to Mayor Gray, his words are not unexpected. From the outset our Steering Committee has understood Oshawa will actively

attempt to obstruct a boundary realignment. Also by law Whitby cannot 'pursue us' or appear to do a 'land grab'. We recognize a boundary change will be an uphill process with setbacks, but we believe it is something that can be achieved if the community works together. Columbus residents should not be so easily dissuaded, particularly since what is being proposed makes sense and is fair.

Boundaries were changed 35 years ago. We should be able to change them again and there are avenues other than Oshawa 'giving us their blessing'.

Toqether we are the key to positive change in Columbus with our residents giving support and showing they won't be so easily deterred.

COLUMBUS RATEPAYER SURVEY APRIL. 2009

Puroose: to assemble a Hamlet of Columbus profile for the May 21 Columbus Coalition meeting that wi l l assist with our 'join Whitby' movement & raise awareness o f our positionslconcerns.

On April 6" Oshawa Council directed staff to liaise with the Columbus community residents. We have already submitted in writing some questions to Oshawa staff such as what i s the status of the gas station property, a comparison o f WhitbyIOshawa tax rates, when are the plans for water & sewer hook ups and what would be the cost, but we need to know your questionslcomments.

Please fill this out and on the back add what Columbus issues you would like answers to or A information on so we can address this and provide a detailed report on May 21'' * ellow brick house on south eas

I HAVE LIVED IN COLUMBUS YEARS

I PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN (circle) A) COLUMBUS ONLY B) OSHAWA C) WHITBY D) ELSEWHERE

# O F PEOPLE CURRENTLY RESIDING AT MY ADDRESS, INCLUDING ME IS -

I HAVE ELEMENTARYISECONDARY SCHOOLAGE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL A) NO B) IN OSHAWA C) IN WHITBY D) SCUGOG E) PRESCHOOL AGE

I MAY WlSH TO HAVE MY CHILDREN ATTEND THE NEW BROOKLIN SCHOOL EAST OF THICKSON RD. A) YES B) NO C) NOT APPLICABLE

I NEED MY CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ATTEND THEIR CURRENT SCHOOL A)YES B) NO C) NOT APPLICABLE

I AND/OR MY SPOUSE WORK (CIRLCLE APPLICABLE) A) FROM HOME OR NOT PRESENTLY WORKING B) OSHAWA C) WHITBY D) TORONTO E) CLARINGTON F) MARKHAM G) ELSEWHERE

I AM INTERESTED IN MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER HOOK UPS (PICK ONE) A) NOT VERY INTERESTED B) DEPENDS ON COST TO ME C) VERY INTERESTED

I WlSH COLUMBUS TO JOIN WHITBY BECAUSE I FEEL A) DISENFRANCHISED WITH OSHAWA B) STRONGER CONNECTION WITH WHITBY C) I WANT LOWER TAXES D) OTHER

I FEEL THE NEED FOR A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF COLUMBUS IS: A) VERY IMPORTANT B) SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT C) NOT IMPORTANT

OSHAWA RECENTLY APPROVED THE REGION'S 2009 OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO EXTEND OSHAWA'S NORTHERN URBAN BOUNDARY TO HOWDEN RD & REZONE ALL COLUMBUS AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO URBAN LIVING AREA & INDUSTRIAL LANDS. I FEEL OSHAWA FAILED TO INFORM AND/OR INVOLVE COLUMBUS RESIDENTS A) AGREE B) DISAGREE

PLEASE DROP OFF THIS SURVEY AT FRONT DOOR MAILBOX AT 3315 SIMCOE ST. N. ('Pereman house' the yellow brick house on south east corner of Simcoe & Columbus Rd. -with circular drive) or call 905 655-5735 for pick up -as soon as conveniently possible with thanks, the Columbus Community Coalition Steering Committee

PRIMARY RATEPAYER NAME (optional):

ADDRESS(optiona1):

QUESTIONSICOMMENTS YOU WISH TO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD ON MAY 21 ST:

A couple of people failed to inform wrote over this consult them re question 'Strongly

Agree' and 'What's Official Plan 2009 Amendment rezoning

The Columbus Communitv Coalition has secured a Public Meeting between Columbus residents and Oshawa Development Services (tentatively scheduled for September); and has gathered information from City and Region staff, MTO and MPAC, May 2009 as follows:

The gas station property: the City file is dormant, but this coufd change at any time. The City has no development plans for Columbus other than the estate lots planned for the slw corner of Columbus Rd. & Ritson. Region has no current plans to bring waterlsewer to Columbus. Columbus Rd is being paved kom the Whitby border to Ritson Rd. in the next couple of months. The traffic lights will be installed mid July 2009. The Region has no plans for reducing the speed limit on Simcoe St. through the Village The fire hall referred to in a newspaper interview would be at the comer of Simcoe & Britannia Rd. (the Windfields~Tribute subdivision). Oshawa is in the process of acquiring the land but it will only be approved if and when the Fire Chief determines there is a need. Based on our residents' earlier recommendations, it appears likely the sle corner of Simcoe and Columbus Rd. will be upgraded to a 'parkette'. The total assessed values of the properties within the Hamlet being approximately 43 million, based on the 2008 mill rate: taxes levied are approx. $800,000; City's 40% portion is approx. $320,000 The operational date for the 65km of the 407 to be built from Brock Rd to Hwy 115 is still officially 2013 ('off the record' we were told the more likely timeframe is 2015) . The Simcoc St. interchange will involve Simcoe St. going OVER the 407. There will also be a Thornton Rd. interchange which will involve Thomton Rd. going UNDER the 407. Extension will be a toll h ~ y .

Over 60% ofthe April 2009 surveys mailed were responded to and the data indicates: