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Page 4 - Watorloo Chronicle. Wodnuday, Novombev 1, 1978 t"kr_'iiiri_, Dorothy Schnarr. f Mary Jane Mewhinneg. City council's response to citizens; city planning; re- gional government Und en- vironmental projects are some of the most important priorities facing the new council, according to Aid. Blake Hull. He cites as an example of citizen participa- tion in municipal affairs the number of Waterloo citizens who offered their time and expertiseonavoluntary basis to assist the city staff in planning the future of the Clair Creek Watershed. The present council voted 4 to 3 during the summer not to Walter McLean, "A lot of people are calling this an elction with- out issues. I don't see it that way," said Ald. Walter McLean. The most impor- tant job facing the new council is the development and enhancement of com- munity pride, said the al- derman - who is also the pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. "We have the goods aild services already within our govem- ment and business sector; we Just have to harness what we have.." Mary Jane Mewhinney, Wa- terloo alderman and repre- sentative on regional council. views city-wide fiscal re- straint as the largest issue facing the incoming munici- pal council. "Most people are happy with the level of services," she says. "It's a matter of deciding on priori- ties." Blake Hull. There are other areas need- ing governmental attention, Ald. Mewhinney says. She has been active in promoting uniform standards in student While the mother of four concedes this is not an election of issues, one of her major concerns is the revivification of the down- town core. Mrs Schnarr doesn't care to see the re- sidential section run down to the pomt where residen- ces. formerly single lami- ly dwellings. are turned Into rooming houses, She would like to see younger families moving into the Dorothy Schnarr be- lieves she has something to offer and she would like to share in the develop- ment of Waterloo. Aid. McLean feels local committee to amitor tuture development in the watershed was never formed. AM. Hull and two (ennui alderman were ratepayers. "We would be foolish not to involve the citizens," he said. The alderman would like to see council get involved in more environmental ism committee, which would have been comprised of a mixture of city staff, portticituts and collections now being con- ducted by Superior Sanitation citizens are justified in being proud of their city, and he sees council as-the "instrument of encourging pride and citizen involve- ment." Citing minor sports as a good example, he says "we could never buy theser- vice these people (the parents and organizers) give. Our minor sports are more personalised than in most other cities; I'd rank them the' finest in the Waterloo authonomy ranks high on the alder- man's list of priorities. He off-campus housing in the city, and through meetings with student groups, boarding house landlords and city offi- cials has recommended a public hearing to try to solve problems. "Since we are a university community, solv- ing the student housing situa- tion will solve a lot of other problems as well," she says. "The water supply problem is no longer a long-range issue" Aid. Mewhinney says."We have to look at the immediate problem." She area and keeping the schools open, Mrs Sehnarr congratu- lated the local fire depart- ment on their recent plans to offer their services to the City She is pleased to see them working with the public in the area of fire prevention. however, she would like to see them ex- “I would like to corWra- tulate the merchants for their revivification of the downtown area," said Mrs. Schnarr. "They have made Waterloo a better place Bq Company in" Waterloo. He, tel: prttleetoftttistypei0ssize or degree of sophistication. Peopteareshrwtosupporta newenvimnmentalideaifit changes the status quo, he says.Ald.l-lullwotudlikethe citytoextendtheprogramto inciudegiasttandotherwaste materials. He points out that everyone benefits in this kind of recycling activity: industry éity saves on girbagé costs and the ratepayer in turn endorses the philosophy that “small is beautiful" and that there is something es. sential in maintaining the present Waterloo identity where citizens have access to government through dele- gations to city council. The stability of the down- town commericiat and mi- dential core is another mat- ter causing concern. “I want to press for a mechanism whereby council can discuss these problems with the McLean. making reference to the controversial closing suggests that a pipeline from Lake Erie might be. the answer. However, "it makes more sense to recycle and conserve the water we now use." The regional councillor points out that Waterloo's water needs match up with Kitchener's. making the city's position more convincing. It becomes obvious, however, that some trade-offs are need- She says lately small neigh- borhood issues are attracting more attention than the The candidate would like to see Waterloo retain its economy. She thinks that in many areas the Twin Cities would co-operate but Waterloo should neirer lose its identity. She sees Waterloo as “a growing progressive city. ', tending their services beyond owners of rooming houses and taking their ad- vice regarding smoke de- tectors, into alt single fa- mily dwellings. In the area of urban ren- ewal. Mrs. Schnarr said there appears to be some Response, recycling and stability needed government has done much to correct its early problems. good deal from the city." Aid. Hull feels too many people have been overly neg- ative in their appraisal of regional government. While he admits that some regional governments have not worked well tor geographical or other region saves on 1gtnttftil site management costs. “I'm more than a little disappoint- ed in Superior Stutitatimt's advertising program for the waste paper collection," he of the kindergarten at Alex- andra Public School. IR the last two years, council's attitude has been one of very careful spend- thé importance of maintain- ing that approach to munici- pal funding. - 7 Ald. McLean also ad- dressed the question of the city's future development saying "we want to define our industrial strategy more clearly to" enable the chamber of commerce to be more effective in the devel- opment and servicing of larger, more general prob- lems. More and more delega- tions are appearing in council chambers to express their views on matters that affect their neighborhood and their standard of living. Aid. Me- whinney recognizes the im- portance of being receptive to citizens' views. "We in com- cil have to be aware of them. We've got to be listening." The controversial question of high-rise accommodation for the elderly in Waterloo prompted Ald. Mewhinney to concern about the amount of housing on the market but this concern should not limit new housing. "We should give people an adequate choice of the kind of housing they require." she said. Mrs. Schnarr said she can appreciate the need for a good industrial base to help keep the taxes at a reasonable level. To keep up with the growing number of senior citizens in our city. Mrs. Schnarr said council will have to work with resi- The election ts not without Issues Downtown core is important Council should be listening just how my sewices they rsxsivetroavttttrmion. "Re. more man'anyotheragency topreserveourtarm1and." AM. Hull says he is not convinced the city has a serious problem with senior citiamhoteaing.Hearuuidiihe to see council preserve the intent of the zoning bylaw throughout the city and try to insure stability. activity in Waterloo that will not be stifled by financial restraint. I operate tas a minister of the church) in a mileu where there are more dreams than money to carry them out." The alderman would also like a wildlife conservation committee to look at Bechtel Park and Sugar Bush with a view to developing habitat wildlife there. Ald. McLean views Water.. loo’s future as an exciting say "we want to look at the city's 35-foot building height policy in the central residen- tial area." She feels that high-rise buildings should go along the major downtown arterial corridors rather than in established residential pockets. "We don’t want to lose senior citizen buildings in Waterloo," she said. "We should listen to individual submissions to the planning department to see if we are being realistic." dents in the downtown core area to make them realize that these proposed senior citizen residences can be attractive as well as an asset to the community. As co-ordinator of the Twin City Meals on Wheels program, Mrs. Schnarr be- lieves she has Ieamed the qualities of a good listener and she is willing to give her time to Waterloo. “I think I can relate to the people of Waterloo as far as their problems and future aspirations are con- cemed." she said. it [i Me