I work for Mayor Nenshi, ask me anything!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Bunk -- any thoughts on this? No worries if you can't get an answer -- just wanted to double-check

Sorry - actually I don't know much about enforcement on this one. I'll see what I can find out.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by fotze

Although we know what the answer is from that response it is disappointing but really I should not be surprised.

Nah, I wouldn't read into that too much.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The Mayor rarely attempts to count votes prior to Council - and particularly prior to public hearing items almost never lobbies support. That does occur on some issues though.

One of the interesting things about this Council (I'd argue a very good thing) is that although you have contentious debate and plenty of 8-7 or 9-6 votes it's rarely the same 8 and same 7. You have strange bedfellows on many issues. For example Shane Keating and Druh Farrell co-sponsoring a Notice of Motion together recently - and that's indicative of members of Council thoughtfully considering each issue on its merit. And that's what the Mayor has been trying to encourage. The last Council had become a divided one (8-7) along ideological lines in almost a quasi-party system. To me, ugly.

On Shawnee, the Mayor genuinely did not have his mind made up going into the public hearing. He saw both sides of this

Again, thank you for providing the responses. I don't agree with the rationale you are providing, as I think it supports my belief that he is genuinely liking the debate itself more than getting the stuff done. But, nevertheless, I respect your take on this, thanks.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Again, thank you for providing the responses. I don't agree with the rationale you are providing, as I think it supports my belief that he is genuinely liking the debate itself more than getting the stuff done. But, nevertheless, I respect your take on this, thanks.

I'd respectfully disagree - I think your take belies the fact that he's got an incredible amount of his agenda (the "better ideas") advanced in his tenure as Mayor so far. He's resolute. Not only that, he's been accountable to every one of his promises during the campaign by highlighting actual progress against those promises - here's an example from just after year one:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3Yy...it?hl=en&pli=1

http://blog.calgarymayor.ca/2011/10/...-progress.html

As for public hearings, everyone should be convincible, otherwise it's just a waste of everyone's time.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Again, thank you for providing the responses. I don't agree with the rationale you are providing, as I think it supports my belief that he is genuinely liking the debate itself more than getting the stuff done. But, nevertheless, I respect your take on this, thanks.

I don't understand your take on this.

1) the previous Mayor would round up his 7 votes, noting that these are typically the same 7 votes to push through his agenda.
2) There would be no point to meaningful discussion in the previous regime as the vote would already be decided before hand.
3) Now that Nenshi has not followed in this method, there is meaningful discussion that looks at the positives and negatives of each issue. Each voter can vote to what they believe is best for their ward and city.
4) But you see this as "he is genuinely liking the debate itself more than getting the stuff done"?

Doesn't that go hand in hand? Debating to get the best choice completed? Otherwise why even have a council then? Just have the Mayor make all of the decisions and be done with it.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Bunk, it appears you can get Bobbleheads at any ol' Superstore photo lab. Do you know where Stay Golden got his 1000 quote from?

Since i started that whole fiasco and feel it is my responsibility to clean it up. The 1000 figure comes from my firm was wanting to have Bobble Heads created of our company mascot as client and PR giveaways at the Calgary Oil and Gas Expo. As a suggestion to have something different then the usual swag it was based on the suggestion by several employees that this would be kind of a fun idea. Procurement researched into the suggestion and gave the feedback back to my department that the feasible number to have a custom Bobble head made cost efficiently within budget was 1000 piece count. They sourced several Canadian and American promotional agencies.
The idea was shot down because for they same $ figure we have a mixture of 4-5 items done at 5000 pieces with a local agency.
My comment of 1000 bobble heads related to Nenshi should have had this prelude and a simple Question did Nenshi have several of these made and if so what budget was dedicated to this expense? Or was it simply a gift ?
As we found out it was a gift.
Apologies for any confusion.

[moncton golden flames]

any update on the st georges drive situation?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Just have the Mayor make all of the decisions and be done with it.

I gotta admit, I kind of like this idea.

Down with NIMBYs!

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by bomber317

I don't understand your take on this.

1) the previous Mayor would round up his 7 votes, noting that these are typically the same 7 votes to push through his agenda.
2) There would be no point to meaningful discussion in the previous regime as the vote would already be decided before hand.
3) Now that Nenshi has not followed in this method, there is meaningful discussion that looks at the positives and negatives of each issue. Each voter can vote to what they believe is best for their ward and city.
4) But you see this as "he is genuinely liking the debate itself more than getting the stuff done"?

Doesn't that go hand in hand? Debating to get the best choice completed? Otherwise why even have a council then? Just have the Mayor make all of the decisions and be done with it.

Well, as much as I love musing about municipal politics this is more of a questions & answers thread; we shouldn't hijack it by discussing side topics. I will respond to your post, but let's cut it out after that or move it to a different thread, if you wish to continue.

Yes, to your points 1, 2 & 4. See, I resent dealing with extreme views on any side of any issue. That is, if it's not 100% positive, it is 100% negative and so on. As I pointed out earlier, I genuinely disliked Bronco's way of ruling this City for the similar reasons you, probably, didn't like them; it was too authoritarian, clandestine and, possibly, corrupt. But he got the stuff he wanted done, done. Good or bad, he had it. On the contrary, Duerr was a "consensus seeker" on all issues and practically nothing got done in his days, because you can hardly get a solid consensus on all contentious issues. Duerr was not as vocal, as Nenshi is, so the impression conveyed from the City Hall in those days was total lack of leadership. Nenshi is vocal, so he is no Duerr. But is he a doer? So far, it only looks like a whole bunch of initiatives to me...

Regardless, my question to Bunk was not about some old beater house scheduled for demolition that is near and dear to the hearts of three grandmas leaving next to it. This was about a major re-development that had huge amount of controversy, serious red flags and unresolved issues. If the Mayor felt strongly about not letting it pass, he could have shown real leadership and stopped it by lobbying those Council members that were seemingly soft on it (Macleod, Pootmans, Pincott, Keating). He could have introduced and requested revisions that would have send the application back to address at least some of the community concerns. Instead, he just left it to a vote by Council that had already been skewed by heavy lobbying in favour of approval. You might say it would have been unfair and undemocratic. But so is legal lobbying, in general.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Sorry - actually I don't know much about enforcement on this one. I'll see what I can find out.

Sorry, I should also clarify -- the HOV lane is apparently limited to 7:00 to 8:30 (which I believe is the same times as the AM lane reversal); I've never seen any one police it (i.e. at the bottom of the hill), and judging by the number of cars with only one occupant, I don't think anyone actually follows it (resulting in many buses jockeying around in the second and third lanes, which usually move faster)

[bizaro86]

never mind

[polak]

Please for the love of God show him the 17th ave thread.

[Canehdianman]

Would it be possible to have the 5th avenue connector hours be extended to 10 or 11am instead of the current 9am?

[Mccree]

When is the "COMING SOON" coming down on the 96th connector to Deerfoot. That sign was be on for what seems like a year!!

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Mccree

When is the "COMING SOON" coming down on the 96th connector to Deerfoot. That sign was be on for what seems like a year!!

I believe they had weather and quality issues delaying it from opening last year.

[rayne008]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I believe they had weather and quality issues delaying it from opening last year.

Didn't they have to replace half of the bridge girders?

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by fotze

Where is the hillbilly neighbourhood?

Its in the "This word hasnt been beaten to death so while it is racist, its not considered racist by a vocal enough minority so its allowed to be said without fear from the Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson's of the "hillbilly" community" suburb.

Do a google map search, any suburb with more than 1 truck for every 3 residence would be very close. From my limited viewing, Evergreen in the SW seems very close - at least the group of 6 neighbours next to the house I visit down there.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

any update on the st georges drive situation?

On my list of things for this week. I'll let you know.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Sorry, I should also clarify -- the HOV lane is apparently limited to 7:00 to 8:30 (which I believe is the same times as the AM lane reversal); I've never seen any one police it (i.e. at the bottom of the hill), and judging by the number of cars with only one occupant, I don't think anyone actually follows it (resulting in many buses jockeying around in the second and third lanes, which usually move faster)

As a former resident of Crescent Heights in the 7 years I lived there I never saw 1 police operation at the bottom of the hill in the AM.

However I did see I would say at least once a month at the top of the hill. It usually is a 3-4 person operation with a cop standing say 400M down and radioing in those cars in violation.

I mostly walked to work but did occasionally drive so take this info from someone who wasnt a daily car commuter.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

As a former resident of Crescent Heights in the 7 years I lived there I never saw 1 police operation at the bottom of the hill in the AM.

However I did see I would say at least once a month at the top of the hill. It usually is a 3-4 person operation with a cop standing say 400M down and radioing in those cars in violation.

I mostly walked to work but did occasionally drive so take this info from someone who wasnt a daily car commuter.

Thanks, I also have an inquiry in about this HOV lane.