Communication Plan
As your Mayor I commit to posting weekly videos keeping the community apprised of what Council is working on, what is happening in Renfrew and to address any concerns residents have.
*To develop a Renfrew Mayor social media platform as a means to connected to residents and our community. Providing the opportunity to share important information in real time. Another means to communicate with your Mayor.
* Work with the Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Renfrew BIA to bring back the Mayors Breakfast to increase a strong relationship between local businesses and Mayor and Council.
Growth and Economic Development
*Together with Council and Staff we will work closely with the Planning and Economic Development Department to develop a strategic plan for growth, including discussions with current industries and our neighboring municipalities and the County. We will identify gaps that are currently contributing and impacting our historical slow growth.
* Create a Festival and Special Events Committee with members of the public that will research and develop more festivals to promote tourism. To give people a reason to come here and want to stay here.
*Create a concrete plan to prepare for the highway expansion
*Enhance the Renfrew Brand with an identifiable answer to "What is Renfrew, Who are we?"
*Work with local businesses and make it easier to attract new businesses.
Affordable Housing
*Lobby upper-tier Governments and research grant opportunities to address Renfrew's housing crisis.
*Communicate with developers to see what is needed to provide more housing options.
*Promote and advocate for Renfrew with other developers to come and build in Renfrew.
* Champion the second dwelling and carriage house by-law to address the housing crisis in Renfrew.
Road Repair and infrastructure
*Prioritize the secondary road/entrance into Ma-te-way Park from Opeongo Rd. (for safety, emergency and traffic flow reasons).
*Continue to engage the community to make sure the community has input into the current Transportation Master Plan (TMP) study currently being done.
*Complete a comprehensive review of the speed limits within the Town in conjunction with the TMP.
*Review the current road repair and infrastructure construction plan.
*Make sure we are more focused and determined to come in on budget on future construction projects.
Environmental Responsibility
* Continue to improve and enhance our environmental responsibilities and protection of our landfill site.
* Grow our food waste diversion program. The FoodCycler pilot project (commencing September 2022) is a countertop compost technology that converts all food waste into high nutrient compost for plants and gardens in 4-5 hours.
* Working with the Waste Management Committee and staff to revisit a curbside Green Bin Programing diverting hundreds of pounds of waste from our landfill site.
* Develop an Up-Cycle Program that would see the opportunity to repurpose furniture and materials that would normally be placed in our landfill site.
* Review all related issues with the Towns water and make the proper changes to resolve them and make sure the public is kept informed
Continue to Improve beautification and enhance and add additional features.
* Light up O'Brien Park, the Swinging Bridge and our Water with coloured lighting to attract tourists.
* Add flower boxes to the bridge on Bridge St.
* Add historical and relevant murals by working with property owners and artists.
Arts and Culture
As your Mayor I commit to posting weekly videos keeping the community apprised of what Council is working on, what is happening in Renfrew and to address any concerns residents have.
*To develop a Renfrew Mayor social media platform as a means to connected to residents and our community. Providing the opportunity to share important information in real time. Another means to communicate with your Mayor.
* Work with the Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Renfrew BIA to bring back the Mayors Breakfast to increase a strong relationship between local businesses and Mayor and Council.
Growth and Economic Development
*Together with Council and Staff we will work closely with the Planning and Economic Development Department to develop a strategic plan for growth, including discussions with current industries and our neighboring municipalities and the County. We will identify gaps that are currently contributing and impacting our historical slow growth.
* Create a Festival and Special Events Committee with members of the public that will research and develop more festivals to promote tourism. To give people a reason to come here and want to stay here.
*Create a concrete plan to prepare for the highway expansion
*Enhance the Renfrew Brand with an identifiable answer to "What is Renfrew, Who are we?"
*Work with local businesses and make it easier to attract new businesses.
Affordable Housing
*Lobby upper-tier Governments and research grant opportunities to address Renfrew's housing crisis.
*Communicate with developers to see what is needed to provide more housing options.
*Promote and advocate for Renfrew with other developers to come and build in Renfrew.
* Champion the second dwelling and carriage house by-law to address the housing crisis in Renfrew.
Road Repair and infrastructure
*Prioritize the secondary road/entrance into Ma-te-way Park from Opeongo Rd. (for safety, emergency and traffic flow reasons).
*Continue to engage the community to make sure the community has input into the current Transportation Master Plan (TMP) study currently being done.
*Complete a comprehensive review of the speed limits within the Town in conjunction with the TMP.
*Review the current road repair and infrastructure construction plan.
*Make sure we are more focused and determined to come in on budget on future construction projects.
Environmental Responsibility
* Continue to improve and enhance our environmental responsibilities and protection of our landfill site.
* Grow our food waste diversion program. The FoodCycler pilot project (commencing September 2022) is a countertop compost technology that converts all food waste into high nutrient compost for plants and gardens in 4-5 hours.
* Working with the Waste Management Committee and staff to revisit a curbside Green Bin Programing diverting hundreds of pounds of waste from our landfill site.
* Develop an Up-Cycle Program that would see the opportunity to repurpose furniture and materials that would normally be placed in our landfill site.
* Review all related issues with the Towns water and make the proper changes to resolve them and make sure the public is kept informed
Continue to Improve beautification and enhance and add additional features.
* Light up O'Brien Park, the Swinging Bridge and our Water with coloured lighting to attract tourists.
* Add flower boxes to the bridge on Bridge St.
* Add historical and relevant murals by working with property owners and artists.
Arts and Culture