Objectives:
I share your concerns as a fellow resident. In hearing from you, we all want to live in a community:
- That is clean and safe.
- That respects our open space.
- Where there are opportunities and access to meaningful employment.
- Where there is a healthy mix of residential, commercial and recreational opportunities.
Commitments:
To ensure that we create and maintain a safe, clean and vibrant community that is accessible and meets the needs of all families, I am committed to:
- Ensuring Appropriate Levels of Service are Maintained
- Working with Youths and Supporting Youth Initiatives in our
Community
- Protecting our Employment lands and respecting our open space
- Responsible Use of Your Money
- Being Responsive, accountable and accessible
1. Ensuring Appropriate Levels of Service are Maintained
With the passing of the 2010 Budget, you can be assured that your streets and parks will continue to be maintained at the levels you have come to expect. With Council’s approval of additional staff, snow clearing, waste management and various capital projects will continue, on budget and on schedule. The new Operations Centre, located at Rossland Road and Salem Road just south of the Fire Station Headquarters, is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2010. Council has ensured that this new facility is built on an environment first philosophy. For details on the ‘green’ features associated with this facility click here:
http://www.townofajax.com and select New Operations Centre
To view the 2010 budget, click here: http://www.townofajax.com and select Budget 2010 under Quick Links.
2. Working with Youths and Supporting Youth Initiatives in our Community
A significant part of the last few years have been spent engaging our young people to explore their concerns. Our young people have told me they too want a safe community, mentors, a youth centre where they can get together with other young people to discuss their concerns and share ideas. They have also indicated that they want opportunities for part-time employment within the Town of Ajax.
The Ajax-Pickering Youth Partnership (YPI) is a group of volunteers, representing local, regional & federal government, community social services organizations & faith-based groups, who seek to identify and address the needs of youth who are at risk in the community. As a founding member of the Ajax-Pickering Youth Partnership, I have been working in partnership with our Federal representative (MP Mark Holland) and our Provincial representative (MPP Joe Dickson), to find solutions and respond to the expressed needs of our young people. To date, we have undertaken the following:
- Partner with parents event - Forest Brook Community Church, Ajax
- Youth Forum February 4, 2010
Topics Discussed:
- financial struggles among youth
- vandalism
- gangs
- drugs
- peer pressure
- public transportation
- teenage sex education
- unsafe places for youth
- resources for getting a good job
- juggling sports and school
To augment the work of YPI, Council had approved in October 2008 a Community Safety Strategy, which is an actionable, strategic planning document that provides a sound basis for implementing sustainable solutions to community safety.
Does this initiative interest you? We are always looking for volunteers. Please contact me at info@renrickashby.ca if you are interested in volunteering.
I firmly believe that education provides opportunities. I have shown my support by participating in events at both Notre Dame and J. Clarke. In addition, I have assisted students in various school activities and assignments at both the high school and primary school level. With that in mind, I have founded a scholarship through the Renrick Ashby Ajax Ride 4 Youth. This year we are pleased and excited to hand out the first set of scholarships to one student from Notre Dame and another from J. Clarke Richardson.
New Community Centre and Park
With the tremendous growth in north Ajax, it became apparent that a new recreational facility was needed in response to the needs of our ever expanding community. One of my first priorities was bringing that need to Council and working with my colleagues to gain their support in getting construction of the new facility on the fast track. In 2008, Council approved the Recreation, Parks and Culture Master Plan. The plan identified the need for a multi-use community centre and outdoor park. The community centre is to be located at Audley Road and Taunton Road, just south of Sportsplex.
For more details click here: http://www.townofajax.com (select New Community Centre and park on the right hand side under Quick Links)
3. Protecting our Employment Lands and Respecting our Open Space
In order to attract and encourage businesses to bring meaningful employment to Ajax, it is essential that we are able to accommodate the needs of those companies. Space must be preserved throughout the Town so that we are ready when companies recognize the potential in our community to establish and grow their businesses.
Conversion of employment lands to residential usage increases the burden on residential taxpayers. Since businesses are taxed at a much higher rate, we need to strike a balance which begins by preserving employment lands for current and future businesses. I am committed to ensuring that these designated employment lands are protected from conversion and that they are developed for businesses providing meaningful employment
opportunities for residents.
4. Responsible Use of Your Money
In addition to prudent fiscal planning, fair, equitable and responsible residential taxes can only be achieved by establishing and maintaining a healthy mix of residential and commercial development. In February 2010, Ajax Council approved a 2.75% property tax increase representing a $30.45 increase on the average home assessed at $293,600. Council approved the $39.7 million net operating and $25.5 million capital budget at the February 8th Council meeting. While it is always painful to raise taxes, I believe this increase was responsible and necessary to maintain and in some cases increase the level of service we are currently receiving. When compared to other municipalities, Ajax has one of the lowest residential tax increases in Durham Region. For details on the 2010 Budget click here: http://www.townofajax.com and select Budget 2010 under Quick Links.
5. Being Responsive, Accountable and Accessible
Mistakes are inevitable and part of public service is acknowledging when errors occur so that we can develop strategies to ‘right the ship’. I welcome your input.
Please contact me to discuss your concerns. I am available via email at: info@renrickashby.ca
By phone:905-424-5296
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