Kourtney Penner

Seeing prominent candidates and parties retreat to policies of exclusionary zoning, discrimination, and economic segregation under the guise of "progress" and "compassion" is painful.

Have some courage, it might just inspire people.

#yyccc

Calgarians deserve facts, not manufactured problems. #yyccc

www.instagram.com/reel/DKyKh55...

15 Minute Fridays:

-what’s on the work list (see photo)
-Bills 50, 51, & 54 from the province (some good, mostly bad) and the impact to cities.

www.youtube.com/live/HgHOYk0...

Munis have noted both the benefits and challenges with codes of conduct. To that end there has been advocacy on improvements.

BUT doing away with them was not what was suggested and now we have a big problem.

I discuss:
youtube.com/live/BS14Z7XPN…

#ableg #abpoli #yyccc #yegcc

15 Minute Fridays - Hello Spring! YouTube video by Kourtney Penner

15 Minute Fridays - It's Spring!

I chat about three initiatives to help you prepare for the spring/summer.

🌳 Branching Out - tree giveaway
💚 Compost giveaway
🌧️ Rain barrel rebates/giveaway

www.youtube.com/live/PwkRtT_...

Roadside Naturalization Notice of Motion On Tuesday’s (March 11) Executive Committee, I am brought forward a notice of motion to ask the City to develop a naturalization plan along  roadways and pathways. It will be debated at Council...

Roadside naturalization - why it’s important and why I’m bringing a motion to address it.

www.co11aborate.ca/statements/r...

15 Minute Fridays YouTube video by Kourtney Penner

15 Minute Fridays with special guest Cllr Andrew Knack!

youtube.com/live/q83-1_A...

Low-income transit passes: The hand-up to help in hard times Low-income transit passes: The hand-up to help in hard times

The gap between municipal funding for low income transit and provincial contributions is growing. I was glad to secure and extra $1.6M from the province for seniors, but we need an indexed increase for population growth.

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Calgary is growing and we need leaders who are willing to meet the challenges head on with bold decisions to create a secure future. The absence of bold leadership and the ability to move with intention and action is sorely lacking from my colleagues who continue to stand in the way of progress.

New homes increase property value, and row homes provide the best increase in overall tax growth. My colleagues have just limited our tax uplift potential and future revenues goodbye.

We lost the ability for over 80% of lots in established areas to redevelop and contribute to supply to help stabilize and drive market prices down.

Development permits drive revenue for the City. My colleagues have just limited our ability to increase our revenue stream.

91 applications representing 600 new homes for Calgarians are no longer permissible, where are these people going to live?

The failure of Council to approve policy alignment between the land use bylaw and local area plans has consequences my colleagues continue to ignore in a time where we need homes, revenue, and job creation.

#yyccc

How Jasper's chief planner is re-imagining housing in the rocky mountain town | CBC News Just how to rebuild Jasper — whether it through density or expanding town boundaries — has been a core debate between the municipality, province and Ottawa in the rehabilitation process.

Or perhaps the provincial government could allow for their funding to be used for the kind of housing the municipality has said they need, and that isn’t exclusively single family.

More land isn’t needed, municipal autonomy is.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

15 Minute Fridays YouTube video by Kourtney Penner

15 Minute Fridays (ok 22ish). But some important conversation on being prepared to do the job and showing up (and who isn’t).

www.youtube.com/live/9SiAx2U...

I reference a committee meeting, here’s that link:
pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIS...

Today’s argument against density at #yyccc:

‘They might have electric bikes and those batteries can catch fire’

The classic ‘do more with less’ take cons like to chant.

Expand bus service but with less drivers!
Make the city safer but with less bylaw and peace officers!
Have more swim lessons but with less instructors and lifeguards!

A growing city means we need the staff to serve Calgarians.

#yyccc

NEW: Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek along with Couns. Andre Chabot and Peter Demong have released this joint statement on Green Line.

They're raising concerns over the omission of a "detailed constructability review" and a "structural analysis" from in the AECOM report.

City says province's Green Line project doesn't account for $1.3 billion - LiveWire Calgary Calgary city councillors emerged from an hours-long discussion on Calgary’s Green Line with an evaluation that shows they believe there’s $1.3 billion not included in the province’s work. Behind…

City of Calgary says there's $1.3 billion not accounted for in the provincial consultant's report on the Green Line. #yyc #yyccc #calgary

Yes!

BREAKING: City of Calgary says provincial Green Line alignment doesn't include $1.3B in known costs and risks, and the total price tag is $7.5B. Provincial report remains confidential.

We could be in the ground right now, and we’re not.

We have lost momentum, jobs, and budget security.

I asserted in the fall when the province upended this project that the cost would be more.

Is now the time to say I told you so? #yyccc

A reminder, the City’s costed and 60% designed (including tunnel) option from Eau Claire to Shepard was $7.2B

The math: $300M more for the provincial alignment for less length and stations and a much longer timeline to completion.

Upon analysis, the City estimates that nearly $1.3B in costs have not been accounted for. This means the current shorter provincial alignment (5% designed) from 7th to Shepard is $7.5B

The province is asserting they can do this project within $6.2B. That cost is based on simplistic assumptions. The report is missing critical costing details. If they were so confident in their numbers, they wouldn’t hide the report.

Would Dreeshan allow AECOM to speak to council and answer our questions - not a chance.

The Premier is indicating we must make a decision soon. Disrespectful at best, but simply a reflection of her style of leading. Unlike her, I won’t be making hasty and uninformed decisions.

We got nothing more than a vision board. Not a fulsome report on design, build, and costs for an elevated line through the downtown.

No consultation with business/residents on 10th. No consultation with CPKC. Take it or leave it isn’t how you build good faith with Calgarians.

The province has violated the confidentiality terms of reference of the working group. They are trying to hide a nothing-burger of a report behind ‘commercial sensitivities’.

The Green Line is the worst political football we could be playing with. A game that’s gone on way too long.

The province wants to extend the game yet again to get a win for themselves, not for Calgarians.

#yyccc