2018 Property Tax

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think you can probably find someone who already works for the City to tackle these Herculean tasks.

I'm not sure about the walking coordinator, but we already had a cycle coordinator, this was just a replacement. And having someone not qualified to do a job tends to lead to some of the crap we are stuck with now.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm not sure about the walking coordinator, but we already had a cycle coordinator, this was just a replacement. And having someone not qualified to do a job tends to lead to some of the crap we are stuck with now.

Oh pray tell....enlighten me to the prerequisites of being 'Walking Coordinator.'

"Left, right, left, right....let me whistle so we're all in step!"

Yeah...thats worth $130K a year plus pension and benefits.

[Fuzz]

Not worth the conversation, I already pointed out a few reasons. Do I think it's worth $130k? No, probably not. But that's the high end of the range.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh pray tell....enlighten me to the prerequisites of being 'Walking Coordinator.'

"Left, right, left, right....let me whistle so we're all in step!"

Yeah...thats worth $130K a year plus pension and benefits.

We also have "Eco Mentors" and "Climate Leaders".

(that's not sarcastic, we are actually paying for those)

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Not worth the conversation, I already pointed out a few reasons. Do I think it's worth $130k? No, probably not. But that's the high end of the range.

"Low" range is $88,000/year pension and benefits. An actual "Administrative Lead" for the City of Calgary.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Not worth the conversation, I already pointed out a few reasons. Do I think it's worth $130k? No, probably not. But that's the high end of the range.

Alright, I was being heavily sarcastic, but you get my drift, it seems like something that can be handled by current staff, and furthermore when we're in an economic mess like we are now some luxuries have to be left aside.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm not sure why a "cycling coordinator" is a garbage job for a city of over a million people. People complain about poorly integrate cycle tracks, poor connections, bad spots for bike lanes etc, well I assume those items would be part of the job. I'd also assume they can bring experience form other jurisdiction and look at the research to find what works best.



We also have plenty of bad sidewalks and areas with no sidewalks. I'd assume a walking coordinator makes sure paths are in the right spots along desire lines, making sure crossing are in appropriate spots etc. The city is full of examples of poor decisions made in the past that are sill or non-sensicle, and had we had a person to ensure we are doing the right things, well it probably would save money fixing them. All little things than can improve safety and efficiency.



It's a minuscule amount of money compared to what is spent on interchanges every year. But apparently a great dog whistle.

A buddy of mine who works for the city tells me it costs about $400K to put up a new traffic intersection. That's crazy. But overall, i still agree the city has a spending problem. It's just the nature of public sector. It's always overbloated and inefficient.

[burn_this_city]

Whether or not those positions are necessary, it was bad optics to be mailing out massive tax increases while posting those positions. The province has been in a economic malaise for almost 5 years, the city needed to be tightening the belt a few years ago but they evidently haven't got the memo. I expect to see a lot of restaurants and small businesses fold in the next year, not sure how many can absorb the tax increases with the economy so weak.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Whether or not those positions are necessary, it was bad optics to be mailing out massive tax increases while posting those positions. The province has been in a economic malaise for almost 5 years, the city needed to be tightening the belt a few years ago but they evidently haven't got the memo. I expect to see a lot of restaurants and small businesses fold in the next year, not sure how many can absorb the tax increases with the economy so weak.

And with out civic tax structure the way it is, this is ultimately the point.

The tax base is shrinking, theres only so far you can go with the status quo. The spending has to shrink accordingly.

You dont get luxury positions.

I kind of think Civic structure should have a 'Compliance Buyout' option like the NHL has.

"We need to get rid of some people and you have been deemed extraneous to requirements."

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh pray tell....enlighten me to the prerequisites of being 'Walking Coordinator.'

"Left, right, left, right....let me whistle so we're all in step!"

Yeah...thats worth $130K a year plus pension and benefits.

It would be a person with a planning degree who has knowledge on how to best incorporate walkability into various city designs

Someone picks where pedestrian crossings are used and how they are designed. How many pedestrian overpasses also end up having a fence in the middle of the road to prevent Jay-walking and force people to use the overpass. I would assume a walking coordinator would ensure that these types of projects are done properly. Also probably a lot of work with developers to ensure that walkability is in their designs. So pathways that link between house to significantly shorten walks to services.

To be it is important for the design of walking infrastructure isn’t just put a sidewalk on the side of all of the roads. Have a person responsible for this will lead to it being better.

If you just titled this position as planner no one would blink. That is what the city is adding. One more planner to the planning department.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Whether or not those positions are necessary, it was bad optics to be mailing out massive tax increases while posting those positions. The province has been in a economic malaise for almost 5 years, the city needed to be tightening the belt a few years ago but they evidently haven't got the memo. I expect to see a lot of restaurants and small businesses fold in the next year, not sure how many can absorb the tax increases with the economy so weak.

Its just baffling that these bills with really significant increases went out and the reports of angry business owners and the flood of phonecalls etc are what spurred City Council into action. It also bafflings me that the mayor is in any way surprised that going to province that's running massive deficits and a financial mess were just going to write him a check as they'd have to so that for everyone.


I don't know how they could be so oblivious to this. Its almost like this city council has been running on some kind of weird auto pilot for a long time.


And of course business owners are going to be pissed. They were forewarned that there would be increases, but when they opened their envelopes etc and it was crazing nonsensical increases, what did anyone expect to happen.


And yeah, we're going to see a lot of businesses go away and an eroding of the small business space in this city especially in the restaurant and bar businesses when the relief isn't much of a relief at all.


And yeah, I get why people are looking at 130 k walk and bike coordinator roles and losing their poop when they're staring at crippling taxes.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Locke

The tax base is shrinking, theres only so far you can go with the status quo. The spending has to shrink accordingly.

You dont get luxury positions.

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

And yeah, I get why people are looking at 130 k walk and bike coordinator roles and losing their poop when they're staring at crippling taxes.

They need to be cutting positions and their spending. Not adding more positions (no matter what they are called) when you've had years to see the obvious problem coming down the tracks.

That being said, I can see why the same idiots who actually thought that a "1000% return on investment" was real can push a city into such a financial mess.

[Vedder]

I'm sure some value that could be added with these positions. However, the postings are a symptom of a bigger problem. The city under this iteration of council, and more generally every council under this mayor, has shown ZERO ability to control costs and make tough decisions with scarce resources.

Some members probably just don't have the political will, but a lot of them just think that the city should be everything to everyone, and that cutting services is an unacceptable outcome in any scenario. It's only now that they are trying to draw blood from a stone that they actually have to deal with the consequences of this mentality.

[Engine09]

I have friends that work for the city in low level management positions. They work 4 day weeks with the included benefits/pension and make mid $90k with zero education, no degree. You shouldn't count anyone's money or covet but holy #### it's hard not to get annoyed.

Then there's the stories they tell of employees working the system, drawing full salary while sitting home making false claims, all sorts of BS. Makes me furious.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Engine09

I have friends that work for the city in low level management positions. They work 4 day weeks with the included benefits/pension and make mid $90k with zero education, no degree. You shouldn't count anyone's money or covet but holy #### it's hard not to get annoyed.

Then there's the stories they tell of employees working the system, drawing full salary while sitting home making false claims, all sorts of BS. Makes me furious.

Unions baby!

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by GGG

It would be a person with a planning degree who has knowledge on how to best incorporate walkability into various city designs

How many pedestrian overpasses also end up having a fence in the middle of the road to prevent Jay-walking and force people to use the overpass. I would assume a walking coordinator would ensure that these types of projects are done properly.

Somebody needs to be fired(or hired). The new fence on 18th st in Riverbend is fantastic except they stopped the fence right where the bus stop is and where people will actually jay walk.

[DiNaMo]

It goes beyond just employees as well. A couple years ago I remember browsing the City of Calgary Merx website and there was a RFQ for 400 ipads, accessories, and warranty to be used by the door to door Census people.

My initial thought was the absurdity of the city needing 400 ipads and secondly everyone knows Apple maintains tight control of their pricing.

My back of the envelope math worked out to it costing something like $400k and instead of having someone from the city take half an hour to order from Apple, it goes through the whole RFQ process and not sure what margins are like for this type of contract but I assume it ends up costing atleast another $100k.

............

Just had a look and I see theres an RFP for "Supply and delivery of pet food to be used for the cats and dogs at The City of Calgary Community Standards Animal Services Centre." You really mean theres no capable employee with a cargo van that can make a quarterly run to petland?

[White Out 403]

So as it turns out my tax went up but only by about 7 dollars a month. I'm being charged by TIPPS the differential for moving to a house with a higher tax rate 2 months into the year

[Locke]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

So as it turns out my tax went up but only by about 7 dollars a month. I'm being charged by TIPPS the differential for moving to a house with a higher tax rate 2 months into the year

So you were maybe a little quick in hitting AZ5?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Locke

So you were maybe a little quick in hitting AZ5?

While it is true I was responsible for the conditions leading to AZ-5, I couldn't have known that it was a detonator.