Credentials

Today I was asked what credentials I hold that make me competent to serve on town council.

First, I am a teacher and lawyer with hard earned experience and training, and currently actively engaged professionally in mediation, facilitation and consensus decision making. I no longer participate in litigation as a lawyer. I am a civic minded person who believes that people should be willing to serve their community. To me, being on council is all about serving you, keeping taxes as low as possible and being available to meet with you to learn about your issues.

Second, I have plenty of experience in both the roles of councillor and mayor. I served Cochrane from 1992-1998 as a councillor under the leadership of former Mayor Lydia Graham. I did not seek a third term as councillor in 1998, but after three years off to article and practice law as an "associate" with a downtown law firm, became mayor in 2001. I served as mayor for three years. During those nine years, I served on almost every board, committee, task force and initiative in one capacity or another. I enjoy hard work, and can multi-task such that everything is completed in a timely way.

Third, I am well connected to local, regional and provincial agencies that work toward improved water and land use planning, and resource conservation and management. I believe that I can add capacity to help Cochrane secure a long term water supply for our growth. I enjoy working alongside provincial agencies to ensure that Cochrane is always on the leading edge of innovation and technology. For example, as a councillor, I was able to introduce storm water public utility fees on our water bills to ensure that we had funds in place to retrofit and improve our storm drainage management systems. Just recently, Calgary has adopted a similar program. Also, with Lydia Graham we pushed for operating and capital reserves to be put in place to ensure funds would be in place when equipment and facilities were required. Now, reserve funds are commonplace.

Fourth, I have the time, energy and inspiration to serve my community by understanding the need for and encouraging public participation, empowering citizenship and stewardship of our resources. I strongly support sustainability, and will be happy to chat with anyone who wants to learn more about how they can implement Cochrane's Sustainability Plan on a daily basis. Most of you already embrace the principles of the plan and are actively engaged without understanding the terminology-I would like to help you understand what a vibrant and exciting community we are building together every day we live here.

Cochrane needs engaged citizens who take responsibility for their community and ensure that all aspects of community building are reflected in local decision making. I am an engaged citizen, and this drives me to collaborate towards open reasoned debate, and effective decision making, and thus serve you better.

Tomorrow, I will discuss the five key points of what I want to achieve if the voters return me to council chambers on October 18.

I will also provide the key information for voters about where to vote and how to vote by special ballots.

Naturescaping in Cochrane's Land Use Bylaw

"Naturescaping" means the modification or enhancement of a lot or development area through the use of natural indigenous vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, hedges, grasses and other ground cover, in conjunction with permeable or pervious surfacing material, such as bricks, stones, wood and other indigenous landscaping materials.

The Table on pages 40-41 of the Land Use Bylaw provides the regulations for naturescaping. Here is the link to the bylaw. This is an office consolidation to 2009, and you cna scroll through to the pages noted for Landscaping Provisions:
http://www.cochrane.ca/municipal/toc/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/46C2489FCE8BB666872573D700659445/$File/LUB%20Office%20Consolidation.pdf?OpenElement

Naturescaping and Xeriscaping in Cochrane

In my last few days, I have been hearing a lot from new residents about Cochrane's Land Use Bylaw and the requirement to have 25% naturescaping of any required landscaped areas in new residential developments in Cochrane. That land use bylaw was passed in 2005, and as such, any new subdivision or development approved after that date is required to include this "naturescaping" component. Naturescaping is defined in the Cochrane Land Use Bylaw, and the materials and methodology for naturescaping are set out within that document.

In many of the conversations I have had, people are confusing "xeriscaping" with naturescaping, as defined and understood by local area naturalists.

The link below is to a Lethbridge area document that promotes xeriscaping in residential developments for the purpose of conserving water and retaining water onsite.

Tomorrow, I will provide some information about the Cochrane Land Use Bylaw re: naturescaping and links to "naturescaping" websites. You can determine the differences between the two landscaping options, and perhaps understand why there is so much confusion about using these landscaping techniques and strategies. You may come to appreciate why a person would deliberately choose natural indigenous landscape materials-"naturescaping"- or instead choose from a variety of landscape materials; both natural and man made synthetics-"xeriscaping" to achieve maximum water conservation and water retention onsite. Generally, Xeriscaping requires a minimal amount of maintenance and irrigation. Generally, Naturescaping uses indigenous landscape materials which require less irrigation, and less maintenance, but provide landscapes that mimic pre-development natural ecosystems for local species.

Both are "good" alternatives to Kentucky Bluegrass sod and one tree per lot, which landscaping creates "cookie-cutter" residential streetscapes where maximum storm drainage flows as quickly as possible offsite. Traditional landscaping treats storm drainage as nuisance water and not as the wonderful water resource it is!

Check it out:
http://www.lethbridge.ca/NR/rdonlyres/0A45A58D-FD3A-4A1E-A0EA-443E360FF7D6/11566/XeriscapeBrochure_CityofLethbridge.pdf

Link to Sustainability Newsletter

I am honoured to be a Sustainability Ambassador, and am posting a link to their website where I was profiled this month:
http://cochranesustainability.ca/take-action/ambassadors-judy/?utm_source=SPUR+Sustainability+List&utm_campaign=04187a603f-August_Cochrane_Sustainability_E_News7_3_2010&utm_medium=email

Link to Town Resources

I was asked today about the date of the election, and a number of other questions that can be answered quickly and efficiently but clicking on to the Town website.

Election date is October 18, 2010

Here is the link to the Town's website about the election:

http://www.cochrane.ca/municipal/toc/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/71A87BC573EDBA9C8725772F0077CD00?OpenDocument




If you can't find your answers in the materials provided, let me know and I will seek them out for you.

August 18, 2010-About Town

Yesterday was an interesting day. I talked with several people as I went about incidental chores about town. At the bank, a cashier I have known for many years commented at how pleased she is that Domtar lands are being cleaned up. The old derelict buildings have been demolished and there are a number of heavy equipment on site working at site preparation before bioremediation can commence. She is impressed that finally, after decades of the lands sitting idle, something is getting done. I say ditto to that!

Shortly after hearing this comment, I ran into Jack. As usual, we exchanged pleasantries and the discussion quickly turned to the Domtar lands. Jack advised that he was unable to locate the details of the tax relief that will be provided to Springwood with respect to the contractual agreements between the company cleaning up and eventually developing the Domtar lands and the Town. I was sure the documents were public documents, and I was able to obtain a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding and have now reviewed it in depth. Very interesting. I should be able to answer Jack's questions today.

Other people congratulated me on running and I hope to run an open and honest campaign. I refuse to be drawn into idle gossip and inneundo about certain people. As far as I am concerned, every single person who enters the race seeking a seat on council is to be respected and listened to during the campaign. Every candidate has strengths and weaknesses, and it is up to the public to determine who will be best to form the next council. I hope that we focus on candidates' strengths. I hope we notice the talents, the energy and commitment and spend a lot less time finding ways to downplay or undermine one another. If we all focus on what we offer that is unique and useful to a functioning council, we will provide the public with clear choices. I was told yesterday that is what the public wants to see and hear

Signs and Preparations

Today I retrieved my election signs from "storage". I was amazed that they are is such good condition-only two were destroyed last campaign by vandals, although many went missing. This is a risk every candidate takes during an election to have signs go missing. Signs are very expensive, and they are private property. If you want to learn more about where signs can be legally put up during a campaign, the Town's website has all that information.

People sometimes ask me about the point of a sign campaign -well it is just advertising. It is a quick way to let people know you are running and want to be considered for the position you advertise-for example, my signs simply say "Elect Judy Stewart for Council".

I don't have a catchy campaign slogan, but if I did it would be "Getting Things Done for You"; of "Your Voice on Council" or maybe "Let's Make Things Happen". Really, my campaign is an opportunity for me to get to know people in my community, and offers a chance for people to get to know me better-at their doors. I simply want to serve my community, and I believe I have plenty of skills and experience to do a great job for you.

If I could run a campaign without election signs, I surely would. But, some folks say that election signs are important. If anyone out there wants to advertise for me with a sign on your lawn, let me know. My email address for the campaign is stewart.jmm@gmail.com. I would be honoured to hand deliver you a sign. If you send me an email about anything, I will answer it as soon as I can.