JOHN DOOLEY
Experienced.... Proven leadership.... Hard-working.... A name you can trust

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2005-2008

Building strong, productive relationships locally, regionally, provincially and nationally has been a key focus for me.  Many of the accomplishments listed below have come about as a direct result of this focus.

Relationships with city employees:
We have:

• signed contracts with the four of our five employee groups
• implemented a comprehensive health and safety plan
• established a human resources departments. 

Health care
We have:

• completed upgrades to the maternity ward, operating room, laboratory  and laundry services
• worked hard on joint planning: The RDCK, West Kootenay-Boundary  Hospital Board and Interior Health have all identified the main floor upgrades to emergency and the installation of a CT scanner as the number 1 priority for the Kootenays. Strong relationships between the mayors of Nelson, Castlegar and Trail have resulted in joint presentations to the Minister of Health in support of  these upgrades to Kootenay Lake Hospital. Requests for proposals have now gone out for the redevelopment of the first floor, redesign of the emergency room and installation of a CT scanner.
• Provided leadership to see the Meals on Wheels program has been reinstated.

Childcare:
We have:

• worked with child care advocates to raise awareness about childcare needs locally, provincially and nationally.
• Identified space in City Hall to house a child care center for City employees which may be a model for other municipalities
• organized a meeting with Hon Linda Reid, Minister of State for Childcare, for November, 2008, to view the facility and discuss funding possibilities.

Core services:
We have:

• completed a water master plan. A water audit and leak detection study is part of that plan.
• completed a traffic master plan to ensure we have proper traffic flow.
• completed and implemented a sidewalk maintenance plan
• invested in infrastructure ($8.7 million in 2006, $7.5 million in 2007 and $11.8 milllion in 2008)
• improved public transit to encourage reduction in car dependency

Environmental Stewardship:
We have:

• implemented a long-awaited curb-side recycling program
• signed on to the provincial Climate Action Charter
• secured a $500 000. grant from the province to improve water conditions through storm sewer filtration for fish habitat n Cottonwood Creek
• begun working on an energy audit of all our infrastructure and equipment to identify ways to reduce our carbon footprint
• endorsed the provincial targets to reduce current greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020.
• joined the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection
• adopted a bylaw that restricts the use of pesticides within the City of Nelson.

Smart Growth, Development and Planning:
We have:

• completed the Official Community Plan (OCP)
• enhanced our Planning Department to better meet the needs of community and to develop recommendations around smart growth and development
• made application to the Union of B.C. Municipalities for a $265 000. grant .  Part of that grant will be targeted at the completion of a Waterfront master plan, along with an integrated community sustainability plan
• been working on updating our bylaws and zoning requirements  to enable greater density and affordability within our community.
• supported timely and  responsible community planning outcomes (uphill greenhouse condos, Amber Bay, Davies Street Park, Kutenia Landing, Golden Life Seniors Housing, Anderson Street supportive housing project

Arts, Culture and Recreation:
We have:

• opened Touchstones as an integrated museum, archives and art gallery
• implemented a Cultural Development Commission. One of the goals is to enhance the display of art in public places.
• developed an art and culture exchange with Baie-St. Paul, Quebec
• worked with the RDCK to restructure our recreation facilities to achieve greater efficiencies, build up a reserve fund and put in place a 5-year plan to upgrade our facilities and meet some of our climate change targets at the Aquatic Center and arena.
• contributed to the completion of the Lions’ Club spray park
• developed an indoor field house
• attracted and hosted a successful Hockey Day in Canada and the World Junior A Championships.

Services for our seniors:
We have:

• implemented a sidewalk maintenance program in response to input from our seniors
• worked with Golden Life Development to facilitate the construction of 93 new seniors’ housing units.
• worked with the developers of Kutenai Landing to develop a block of seniors’ housing on their site.
• worked with B.C. Housing and the Kiwanis Club to help with planning for a seniors housing development in lower Fairview.
• taken 2 Council meetings per year to Branch 51 to create opportunities for seniors to give feedback to Council.
• worked closely with Interior Health to reinstate the Meals on Wheels program and to improve food quality.

The Norman Stibbs Airport:
We have:

• appointed two councillors to work with the Nelson Pilots’ Association to create a business plan around the future viability of the airport
• put in place an airport manager
• signed contracts with the B.C. Forest Service to use our airport as a depot for firefighting in the region
• created a financial surplus that is helping us build a reserve fund for future maintenance of the airport.
• worked with Interior Health to enhance  air ambulance/MediVac services.