Survey Responses:

Question 1.1:

Do you think municipal taxes should:

a) Reduce in absolute terms
b) Reduce in real terms (grow, but slower than inflation)
c) Reduce in relative terms (grow, but slower than inflation plus population growth)
d) Stay the same (grow, but only in line with inflation plus population growth)
e) Increase a bit (grow in line with the city’s Municipal Price Index)
f) Increase more (grow faster than the city’s Municipal Price Index)

Answer 1.1 [Choose One]:

c) Reduce in relative terms (grow, but slower than inflation plus population growth)

Question 1.2:

Comments?

Answer/Comments 1.2:

This way a sense of LEAN and efficiency is imbued into city functioning.

Question 2.1:

Would you vote in favour of allocating any tax dollars or giving any subsidy towards a new stadium/arena?

Answer 2.1 [Yes/No Only]:

No.

Question 2.2:

If yes, how much and in what form would these taxes take (direct cash, land, subsidy, indirect, etc), and why do you support public dollars being directed towards a corporation?

Answer/Comments 2.2:

Committing tax $ to professional sports is not optimal use of $. But to give a fillip to the Calgary economy, I will support a new modern arena, If the deal is structured right.

Question 3.1:

Recent research on Calgary’s City Council found that council spends nearly a quarter of its’ time meeting in private (in camera). Do you agree that this is too much time spent in private?

Answer 3.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes.

Question 3.2:

If so, what would you do to fix this? Which topics do you believe should be discussed behind closed doors and why?

Answer/Comments 3.2:

They should spend time in camera only to discuss financial, personnel & contractual matters. Ideally these matters should not consume 25% of council time. That this is happening implies Councillors are having a tough time wrapping their head around massive amounts of information.

Question 4.1:

From the $470,000 Blue Ring, to the $236,000 for a “Poop Palace”, and now another $500,000 for Bowfort Towers, council has consistently failed to engage with Calgarians about which public Art projects their tax dollars are spent on. Do you support continuing to use taxpayer dollars to fund art projects for the city?

Answer 4.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes. 

Question 4.2:

If yes, why do you think council and administration have repeatedly failed on this issue, and what guidelines should be used to ensure Calgarians are happy with the results in future?

Answer/Comments 4.2:

Public Art is the hallmark of a lively & progressive city. I would commission smaller art projects that can leverage local talent and simultaneously not attract NAFTA provisions.

Question 5:

How can council support small businesses?

Answer 5:

By adopting an entrepreneurial approach to city hall functioning. Cutting red tape. Thinking LEAN.

Question 6.1:

Do you support the current plan for construction of the Green Line?

Answer 6.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes.

Question 6.2:

The construction of the Green Line was approved based on a cost-benefit analysis that assumed the project would be completed two years earlier than now projected, and at a lower construction cost for the entire line than is now estimated for half of the line. If the costs increase again or the project is further delayed, would you continue to support it, and why?

Answer/Comment 6.2:

If we don't manage the construction costs aggressively, The current budget will likely increase by another 25% (based on my experience) or may be more. Supporting it central to the long range needs of the city, It is an intermediate goal in the direction of Calgary becoming a modern metropolis. I suggest, we all read the book “An Introduction to the Impossible” to learn the kind of leadership we need to make the impossible happen.

Question 7.1:

In July, City Council voted against a motion to hold a referendum/plebiscite on whether Calgary should bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics bid. Do you support holding a referendum / plebiscite on whether Calgary should bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics bid?

Answer 7.1 [Yes/No Only]:

No.

Question 7.2:

Why do you support/oppose a public vote? Should the results of a vote should be binding?

Answer/Comment 7.2:

Just reviewing the experience of other large cities that have hosted olympics and research published by reputed organizations is sufficient to conclude that spending $ on olympics will enslave calgarians. Those $ are better spent on renewing city's infrastructure.