2014 Platform + Other Accomplishments

Seize Economic Opportunities

Invest in the Third Crossing
Construction will begin on the new bridge next year
Invest in the Airport Expansion
Construction is slated to be finished by the end of this year
Develop a Youth Employment Strategy
Providing new internships and co-op opportunities for young people, mentorship from retired professionals and data for high school guidance counsellors on where the best job prospects are in the city
Focus on Key Growth Sectors
Attracted large international businesses such as Frulact and Feihe in the agri-food sector
Encourage more Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Launched the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge to give post-secondary students a platform to launch new ideas, facilitated new innovation space at the old Portsmouth Town Hall and encouraged other spaces like Venture Club and the Sanctuary Coworking

Rejuvenate Rideau Heights Neighbourhood
Opened a state of the art community centre in Shannon Park and initiated work to make new investments in Headway Park
Build a New Community Centre in the East End
Design work is underway and scheduled completion for 2020
Redevelop Our Waterfront Parks
Grand re-opening of Breakwater Park and new Gord Edgar Downie Pier this summer
Expand and Link Waterfront Trails
Completed the K&P trail through the urban core of the city right through to the end of Doug Fluhrer Park
Develop Strategy for Kingston Penitentiary and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
Completed visioning exercise with the federal government to ensure preservation of most of the site

Cap Future Tax Rate Increases at the Rate of Inflation
The average annual residential property tax rate increase over the last four years was 2.2%, right at inflation
Grow the Tax Base in Order to Cover Costs of Future Services and Capital Projects
Facilitated growth and new development so that all of the investments of the last four years could be accomplished without raising taxes above inflation

Facilitated the opening of Kingston Penitentiary for Tours
Promoted economic development, so that employment land has been sold more than ever before to provide space for new jobs and businesses
Negotiated study to find alternatives to the Wellington Street Extension to preserve Doug Fluhrer Park
Championed new investments in transit to achieve the fastest growth in transit ridership of any city in Canada
Promoted launch of new technologies to provide better services, such as smartphone apps to follow Kingston Transit buses and to pay for parking at downtown parking lots
Launched monthly newsletter to keep residents better informed about what’s happening at City Hall
Helped to champion Kingston as a leader in addressing youth homelessness
Approved new waterfront plan that will see annual investments to beautify and improve access to the waterfront
Facilitated more affordable housing in the community, such as the new development at Brock and Napier St
Honoured to give out the very first Mayor’s Arts Awards to promote local artists and champion a vibrant culture scene in the community
Championed an innovative bike share program to promote active transportation at almost no cost to the City
Promoted city wide waste diversion to hit our target of 60% diversion, electric vehicle infrastructure and other strategies to put us on track to meet targets to reduce GHG emissions