Going old school wrestling…here’s my promo for Tigerfest 2011 this coming Saturday at Miltons Downtown Street Festival!
ward 6 report
Walking Piano Steps – A good idea?
Does anyone remember the movie BIG? Tom Hanks and the famous giant piano scene?
Would you like to see those similar piano keys on the steps of the Milton Arts Centre? Councillor Huffman asked staff for a report on the viability, cost, etc of installing these piano keys on the steps of the Arts Centre. That report can be found here.
The picture here is of something similar, but not to the spec’s of the Milton Centre for the Arts. The cost is approximately $92,000. The staff recommendation is to approve the project once there is a sponsor available to pay for it.
After speaking with some people around town, some feel it will look tacky and cheapen the look of the Arts Centre that we just spent MILLIONS of dollars on and its not even open yet and we will have to tear up the steps removing the tile and replace it with this.
Do you think this would be a draw for tourism? Would you come from out of town to see this? This installation is apparently popular overseas and this would be the first one in North America.
Feedback?
There has been a lot of feedback on the Hawthorne Villager Forum (which is administered by ward 7 Councillor Rick Di Lorenzo) and you can find the comments on that thread here.
Here are some of MY comments:
This process is backwards as far as Im concerned. We have the approximate costs for the stairs done, which is fine. Council can receive the report for information.mike@mikecluett.ca with your comments/input for Monday’s meeting.Any other comments?
Next part of the process should be feedback from the Arts Centre. Does this “fit” into the vision of the MAC or does it take away from the feel of the building. For those who havent been inside, despite the outside appearance, its really well done and elegant on the inside. If I can get in or if anyone has any pics we should show them for sure.
After feedback has been received and given an “OK” that the MAC would support something like this, THEN we go out to the business community and search for a sponsor. That way we have the approx cost of the stairs AND the thumbs up from those who will be running it.
If we cant find a sponsor or sponsors for the full amount then the project should be shelved. Im not comfortable as a CSAC member and as a councillor suggesting these sponsor(s) make an application to the community fun for the difference. I’d hate to be on CSAC and have to deny funding for someone who qualifies under the Community Fund guidelines because $X was given for the piano steps.
If the private sector cant come up with the funding for this, I think we should pass. That wont be known until we hear from that business/arts community which is the reason why council (IMO) should wait before giving the project the green light.
We can receive the report for information, consult the people involved and address any maintenance issues/safety issues etc that might be on peoples minds, then go to the business community and get the full cost.
There are more important things for council to be considering right now like the 2012 budget call reports, hospital expansion funding, building/maintaining our roads and traffic calming policies.
Feel free to post here or email me mike@mikecluett.ca
Thompson & Louis St Laurent UPDATE
I have received a few postings on my Facebook page (Click on the Facebook logo to the right and join up!) about the status of Thompson Road and Louis St Laurent.
During the last municipal campaign, we talked about trying to get a signalled pedestrian crosswalk in front of the Metro mall so it would make it easier for people on the east side of Thompson to go to the splash pad and soccer fields instead of getting in their vehicles, going across Thompson Road, park and enjoy the wonderful area there. Likewise, people on the west side of Thompson told me that they have to get in their cars, cross Thompson Road and then park to go shopping at the mall.
We were notified by town staff recently that the intersection of Louis St Laurent and 25 will be completed soon and traffic will flow east and west now, which will help alleviate some congestion on Britannia Road. Paul Cripps brought this up at one of our recent meetings and in response I asked about traffic lights at Thompson and LSL. He informed us that they are pushing to make sure the lights are installed at the same time LSL and 25 is complete. Once that intersection is complete, traffic along LSL will increase which will require
At this coming Monday’s town council meeting there is a purchasse that will be authorized to get the materials needed for Thompson and LSL traffic lights, which shows its on the move.
HOPEFULLY this will help pedestrians cross the road safer. There will be lines for pedestrians to cross at this intersection and I urge EVERYONE instead of crossing mid-traffic to the park to use the intersection and cross there. I will continue to monitor this intersection after its done to see if it helps the problem of pedestrian traffic. If not, I’ll be asking town staff to look into the possibility of a signalled crosswalk.
Thank you to everyone who has emailed me their concerns and I hope we can continue the conversation as these changes happen. I’ll keep everyone in the loop as to the exact date we will have the lights installed, but it looks like late June as a possibility.
Traffic Calming Policy
The Town of Milton has issued a report outlining the new traffic calming policy for our roads.
The Town’s Traffic Calming Policy provides guidelines, procedures and criteria to initiate, investigate and implement traffic calming measures within residential neighbourhoods. Its purpose is to address safety concerns related to speeding and excessive volume in a fair and efficient manner.
Guidelines in the Policy apply to local and collector roadways within primarily residential neighbourhoods.
Traffic calming measures can be effective in addressing issues related to vehicle speed, excessive traffic volume and overall neighbourhood safety. Commonly used traffic calming measures include speed humps, traffic circles, curb extensions, curb radius reductions and raised median islands.
The Policy was developed by staff and approved by Milton Council. Residents will be notified about the implementation schedule and procedures.
Here is a link from the Town of Milton website.
Administration & Planning Committee Meeting May 16 2011
This coming Monday May 16th is the Administration & Planning Standing Committee meeting at Town Hall starting at 7pm.
This Committee consists of five Councillors and the Mayor. Committee members review all reports, formulate policy and make recommendations to Council on matters over which Council has authority under the Municipal Act, the Planning Act and other legislation. Recommendations are made in the areas of corporate administration, personnel, legal issues, planning and finance.
The Administration and Planning Committee reviews the operating and capital budgets as well as various financial matters affecting the Town of Milton.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here.
Some of the highlites include:
- The 2010 Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP) results;
- April 2011 Capital & Operating Financial Statements;
- Interim Control By-Law regarding Power Plants;
- Recepit of the Boyne Survey studies which include the Functional Stormwater & Environmental Managment Strategy & Milton Urban Expansion Conceptual Fisheries Compensation Plan;
- and a report for the Main Street Streetscape Design Proposal.
There should also be an update on the proposed cycling race that was first discussed at our last community services standing committee meeting and some other housekeeping items.
As always, you can link to the live feed from the Town of Milton website to watch online starting at 7pm if you cant make it there in person.
McHappy Day in Milton
Please join me and other Milton dignitaries, such as fellow council members Mayor Gord Krantz (12pm-1pm) councillors Zeeshan Hamid (3pm-5pm) Rick Di Lorenzo (4pm-6pm) and Colin Best (4pm-6pm) and Milton’s own SCOTT FOX at McDonalds today (4:30pm-5:30pm)and support McHappy Day.
One dollar from every Big Mac, Coffee or Tea and Happy Meal sold in McDonalds Milton will be donated to Milton District Hospital Foundation and to Ronald McDonald’s House in Toronto.
I will be there from 3pm to 5pm supporting these great organizations. If you drop by to say HI, and please don’t laugh at me. Growing up I never held a job at McDonalds, but I promise to do my best NOT to embarrass myself.
Many thanks to McDonalds staff and volunteers who give so freely of their time and to the residents of Milton who come out in droves every year to McDonald’s to support Milton District Hospital Foundation!
If you are interested in making a donation to the Milton District Hospital Foundation, you can click here for a one time donation. Our hospital needs the support of the community and every dollar counts. From the MDHF website….
Your single gift donation is an important way to become a part of Milton District Hospital Foundation and to have an impact on patient care for you, your family and our community.
Every gift to Milton District Hospital Foundation, regardless of amount will make a difference. Your contribution will help us pay for essential equipment purchases and help ensure a strong future for Milton District Hospital Foundation – one that our children and grandchildren will benefit from in the decades to come.
So please, take some time to go to McDonalds today or if you cant, make a donation to the MDHF and / or Ronald McDonald House. It all goes a very long way.
