Predictions for 2018

There are a number of “unfinished” projects in Cobourg.  Some will be mentioned in the Mayor’s speech at the Levee on New Years’ Day (2:00 pm in Victoria Hall) but some won’t.  In addition, 2018 is an election year for Council and that will mean more attention to some of the projects plus uncertainty with potentially new councillors.  My predictions are not simply a guessing game but more an extrapolation of what’s in the pipeline for the Council plus knowing what’s coming in other areas.  But don’t take my predictions as gospel, remember that they are based on the way things are going now – and that could change. And since no-one can truly know the future, I’m sure my audience will add their own predictions or disagreements with mine. 

Council projects for 2018

Possible Trailer Park compromise plan suggested by Consultant but opposed by Trailer Park supporters
Possible Trailer Park compromise plan suggested by Consultant but opposed by Trailer Park supporters

Waterfront Project – the final report was originally scheduled for September 2017 but will now be issued in March 2018. (Most recent post here) It will recommend that 1) the Trailer Park be left unchanged – the idea proposed in image at right will be rejected and 2) that the Marina invest in a Travel Lift despite public opposition.  Maybe I’ll be proved wrong on these.  However,  I’d predict that its implementation will wait until after the Council election when the 2019 budget will be set.

Tannery Project – there will be some movement on the project to “do something” with the Tannery land at the top of George Street near the rail line.  A consultant’s report on this is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2018.

YMCA merging with the Cobourg Community Centre.  (Background here) A report by an Ad hoc committee was released in August 2017 but then withdrawn.  This report said that the merger would not proceed but it was then announced that there was “new information” but this was not provided.  There is no information on when clarification will be finally released.

Downtown Vitalization – After years of trying to spruce up Cobourg’s Downtown, the latest effort is a marketing effort initiated by the Downtown Coalition and called The Business Attraction Marketing Plan   It’s hard to see how this differs significantly from previous efforts which went nowhere.  It’s due to be completed in 9 months – that makes it August 2018.

Venture 13 – this project primarily managed by the Northumberland CFDC, Cobourg Police and the Town is due for a Grand Opening in May 2018.  It will assist entrepreneurs.  Most reports are favourable. (Progress Report)

Urban Forestry Plan –  A consultant was hired to spell this out (Most recent post here).  A Final report is expected in the Spring of 2018.

Victoria Square –  Plans have been drawn up to create a public square behind Victoria Hall.  Each year, the Town will look for opportunities to apply for a Provincial or Federal grant to pay for a large portion of this.  The total cost is estimated at $1.5M.  Until such a grant is received, the project will be on hold.

Provincial Election

Scheduled for June 7, 2018, campaigning has already started – especially by the Conservatives who nominated David Piccini.  Incumbent MPP Lou Rinaldi has announced he will run – as will Derek Sharp who will run for the newly founded Trillium Party.  The NDP and Greens have not yet selected candidates.  There is a page on Cobourg Internet here that shows all current info available on candidates.

Council Election

There will be an election for Council on 22 October, 2018.  It is not known who will run but of the incumbents, most have not announced their intentions.  Gil says he is still considering; Suzanne Séguin will run – the question is will it be for Councillor or another position; Debra McCarthy has said she will not run; Aaron Burchat has said he will run.  Judging by the applications to fill the vacancy created when Larry Sherwin resigned, there are a number of people who may run.  Those who applied were: Mark Burgess, Randy Curtis, Carla Grucela, Dean Jenkins, Bryan Lambert, Gudrun Ludorf-Weaver, Bruce Moore, Donald Owen, Charles Sammut, Marcia Whelan.  The first date to file as a candidate is May 1, 2018 and the last date is July 27, 2018 so we won’t know who has filed until then.

Northumberland Mall

Rainbow Cinema has said that they will add screens to their current three.  The extra screens will be located on the ground floor in the vacant space at the foot of the escalator.  No plans are available on how this will be done.

Entertainment

Most of the regular events will return but there are also some notable events that were new in 2017 that will return:

  • Les Amis Concerts  – Classical performances by major names.  Held in St Peter’s and managed by Michael Pepa.
  • Country Wild Music Festival – Canadian Country Music in Victoria Park 

2018 looks to be a busy year with two elections and a number of major Council items that will hopefully be completed.

 

20 Comments
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Eastender
6 years ago

I believe you forgot about the much needed new sidewalk on
Abbott Boulevard, and the much needed completion of D’Arcy Street from Spencer East to the southern rotary.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Eastender
6 years ago

Good points. The Town has repaired the sidewalks on the west side of D’Arcy for mobility vehicles. I was advised by Public Works that they hope the budget will be able to pave the west-side gravel shoulder at the D’Arcy railway crossing for 2018.

manfred s
6 years ago

with respect to the Downtown Vitalization Action Plan, I am somewhat surprised that the business people of Downtown seem to simply go along with a plan to “attract” desireable businesses as if that is a viable strategy and as if that has any reasonable chance of bearing fruit at a useful level. Of all people, they should and likely do know that the ONLY thing that attracts small businesses is the presence of a sustained and actively purchasing customer base. Few small businesses have the resources or the waiting time to set out on and depend on a plan to “attract” other businesses to arrive at a critical mass that hopefully WILL, at some point, provide such an active and sustained customer base where one does not currently exist. I suppose the logic is that if the “government” is willing to spend SOMEONE ELSE’S money to try it, might as well go along, but that seems rather futile and wasteful. The only productive solution is to permanently repopulate the area with active consumers; make it attractive to live in the immediate area and provide the infrastructure that will support such an expanded and active customer base. Prove to businesses that may be looking to expand into such an area, that there is a sustained purchasing power at hand and they will climb over each other to get a piece of it. Of course, one absolutely vital element is a place for that population to park their vehicles, and no matter how lofty the ideal of a non-car based population may be, it’s simply not viable in an area the size of our downtown; at least not today or in the next number of years anyway. Unless these small businesses are willing or even able to withstand the punishing effects of an extremely weak customer base for a good number of years, we’ll see an endless and cripling turnover of fragile businesses for some time to come. Therer are people out there who know this and yet they avoid doing the things that need to be done to actually take things in the right direction.

Walter Luedtke
6 years ago

Looking forward to seeing the names of the permanently aggrieved posters on the municipal ballot.
This is your big chance to show Cobourg the way to the sunlit uplands of enlightened governance.
Especially, since vast numbers of angry taxpayers are looking to you for deliverance.
Happy New Year!

Frenchy
Reply to  Walter Luedtke
6 years ago

You won’t see my name there, Wally says you can’t run under a pseudonym.

Walter Luedtke
Reply to  Frenchy
6 years ago

And here I thought this was your real name! Happy New Year anyway!

Frenchy
Reply to  Walter Luedtke
6 years ago

bonne année !

Frenchy
6 years ago

The travel lift row should be entertaining.
Happy New Year!

ben
Reply to  Frenchy
6 years ago

And the fact that the top two recommendations for the marina projects were not the top two public choices should be an election issue – someone has a lot to answer for on that one!!

Dubious
Reply to  ben
6 years ago

Plus, every elected Councillor is on record as being opposed to any harbour expansion.

Walter Luedtke
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago

At the levee, will you be checking out the Mayor’s chain of office again?
I seem to recall something about wasteful spending at this year’s levee.

Dubious
Reply to  Walter Luedtke
6 years ago

Are you suggesting that I should pull his chain?

ben
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago

You don’t need harbour expansion to give the CYC their boat lift, just make them pay for it!!

Frenchy
Reply to  ben
6 years ago

I’m not sure it is the CYC clamoring for the boat lift. It might just be the marina administration and some town officials. Why, I’m not sure.

Dubious
Reply to  Frenchy
6 years ago

I’m not sure it is the CYC clamoring for the boat lift. It might just be the marina administration and some town officials.

I believe that you are correct about the CYC but I would love to know who and why. It seems incredible that an unimportant mid-level bureaucrat such as Gauthier would wield such power. Who else would benefit?

Bill Thompson
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago

Elementary my dear Watson…..the CAO the puppeteer behind the screen.

Dubious
Reply to  Bill Thompson
6 years ago

I’ll bite. Is the CAO a boater? How does he benefit?

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago
Duke
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago

Political debts will be paid one way or another. With a municipal campaign looming earning the favour of the local liberal machine to get you elected is all important. If they want harbour expansion, guess what is going to happen.

Bill Thompson
Reply to  Dubious
6 years ago

However the CAO ,the puppeteer behind the screen ,isn’t elected.