Dan Garcea

What are the three most important outcomes you want West St. Paul to achieve during the next four years? What measurable result would tell residents you succeeded?

My priorities are affordable taxes, safe infrastructure, responsible growth, more recreation, housing for every generation, and waste water services. Our children should have the opportunity to stay in West St. Paul, and our seniors should have options that allow them to remain in the community. Council can encourage a broader mix of housing while protecting neighbourhood quality and respecting existing property values. My past accomplishments working together on council are examples of measurable results such as bringing the Access centre, Public works building, Firehall, numerous paved roads, securing of waste water and the grants received and what I expect a councillor to be measured by but always to be available and a voice for the residents first.

How should West St. Paul balance keeping municipal taxes competitive with maintaining and expanding services? Identify one area of municipal spending you would protect and one you would examine most closely for savings or efficiencies.

Property assessments have increased significantly, and residents are feeling the pressure. As assessments rise, I believe Council must carefully review the mill rate and overall tax burden so residents are not asked to carry more than they can reasonably afford. Strong municipal services and responsible taxation must go hand in hand. It is difficult to only select one area but I believe it would always be what affects the residents quality of life the most. Garbage disposal is what should be maintained at the most convenient level possible, since we use it the most. Seems like a service we take for granted but when you hear from communities that do not have it or cut it back, it is appreciated.

When the RM has an operating surplus or significant reserve funds, how should Council balance saving for future infrastructure, paying down debt, funding current projects and limiting future tax increases?

The R.M. should take sufficient time to try and budget as accurate as possible so that they are requesting the most accurate amount of taxes possible. Rate payers should not be paying interest or taking loans simply to pay their tax bill, while the municipality collects additional to put in accounts and collect interest. Yes, we need to plan for tomorrow, and have a rainy day fund, but just as residents need to borrow money, if required for specific projects, so should the rm as opposed to collecting excessive amounts. The R.M. is headed towards a very large increase in commercial assessment so the time is right to payoff loans and plan for new projects today.

West St. Paul continues to experience rapid residential development. What costs should new development be expected to carry, and what costs should reasonably be shared by the municipality as a whole?

Developers should be paying for the entirety of their development. To the extent where they are able to sell their lots ready for new residents to live in. What an RM should be ensuring it follows is the use of fees requested. These fees must be allocated to the purpose they were collected for (see By-law No 2012-01) such as green space levy should be used for Recreational and green space enhancement. A new tax base is a lifelong revenue contract to the RM and this should also be appreciated and not ignored.

What types of businesses and commercial development should West St. Paul actively encourage? How should Council balance expanding the commercial tax base with traffic, infrastructure, nearby neighbourhoods and community character?

Essentially any commercial development that will not be detrimental to the residents lives due to unmanageable traffic and costly services to the RM. If the surrounding infrastructure is not planned or in place to support it then the development should not be forced in to simply deal with later. A short term gain is never worth the long term pain, that can not be easily corrected. Commercial tax base is the best possible method to offset the residential tax base, since it provides an additional 20% assessment (65% vs. 45%) and it does not cost the RM for services such as garbage disposal. Commercial development that residents can use and require to live and have better choices are also best suited.

What are your highest infrastructure priorities for the next term? How should West St. Paul respond to increasing traffic and demands on roads, drainage, wastewater and other infrastructure as the municipality grows?

Growth must be supported by proper roads, intersections and municipal infrastructure. New residential and commercial development brings additional traffic and pressure on existing systems. Infrastructure planning must keep pace with development, so residents are not left dealing with congestion, unsafe conditions and inadequate roads. Highways need some of the most attention with the increased development in and surrounding WSP. More collaboration with the Province and better planning is critical now. My industry experience would be applied directly to making infrastructure planning a priority. I believe we should have a sewer option designed, priced and shovel ready for the existing residents who were promised sewer in Phase B (with holding tanks). This needs to get started now.

As West St. Paul grows, which municipal services need the most attention or investment — such as fire protection, community safety, public works, snow clearing, parks, recreation or bylaw enforcement — and why?

The Access Centre was intended to be the beginning of a broader recreation vision. I believe we should revisit opportunities such as indoor ice, soccer, pickleball, splash pads and other amenities based on community priorities and affordability. Partnerships, including public-private opportunities where appropriate, should also be explored to move worthwhile projects forward sooner. E-W Trails, park upgrades and additional street lighting are required also, which add safety and a healthy lifestyle for residents to be outside and enjoy. Many of the existing neighborhoods have not been kept current on these. Our fire department must also keep up with growth as they attend every call received as a paid on call department. Snow clearing has typically been rated as one of our best services.

What do you believe is the single biggest issue facing Ward 3, and what specific result should residents expect from you by the end of the next term?

Again difficult to only select one but we are facing a different specific issue in both regions. For ex. entering and exiting Emesville has become unsafe at the 2 main intersection (Grassmere-Hwy 8, Pipeline-Perimeter). This must be addressed. In the NW community close to the Main st trunk line I believe Waste water service is. Existing residents were promised sewer in Phase B and are still on holding tanks. By the end of the term, residents should expect a sewer option designed, priced and shovel ready. This needs to get started now.