Hello!
Thank you for your support and trust to continue to represent you on Kingston's City Council.

Please, feel free to reach out with anything or visit me at the Kingston Coffee House in the Kingston Centre any Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.

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A Short Biography

In addition to 8 years of experience on City Council, sitting on many of its committees and boards, I have lived and worked in three continents, giving me a diverse cultural experience. With degrees in political science, economics, and philosophy, together with several engineering courses, I have received a well-rounded education. A lifetime spent being in business for myself in a variety of fields, including the trades, education, and property management, have also given me many varied and practical life experiences, helping me see issues from a variety of perspectives. I'm also single father with two young sons, and a volunteer at both Collins Bay Institution and at the Senior's Centre.

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Critical Issues Facing our District & the City

The things I'm hearing at the doors of Meadowbrook-Strathcona revolve around affordability. In particular, housing affordability, property tax affordability, and, tied to that issue, increasing homelessness, housing uncertainty, and inflation. A second concern I've heard a lot about is the condition of our roads. The doctor shortage is also a major issue, followed by environmental values and climate change adaption. Finally, in certain areas, speeding, noise, and litter is also a concern.

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My Priorities for Budget, Strategic Planning, and the Official Plan Update

Budget will be done early in 2023. First in the budget, a commitment to accelerated road repair and more road maintenance. Second, keeping the tax rate as low as possible. Third, building more mixed affordable housing where market rents support non-market rents.

Strategic Planning will be done shortly after the 2023 budget is finalized. In strategic planning I will advocate developing strategies to, first, improving physician recruitment and petitioning the Province to change our service level designation. Second, finding ways to get a more equitable distribution of police costs - I am refiring to Queen's parties costing Kingston too much. Third, develop quiet city policies to limit excessive noise like train whistles, loud modified mufflers, loud parties, and implement a more robust and rigorous noise bylaw which allows all to advance the quiet enjoyment of the city. Fourth, develop clean city policies to beautify the city and reduce litter.

In the Official Plan update which will likely start after the strategic planning process is finalized, I will advocate "Sense of Place" policies to protect stable neighbourhoods from losing their character. Second, improve and add policies to enhance environmental values, especially when it comes to adaptation, extreme weather mitigation, and asset protection.

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The City's Performance in Housing, Economic Development and social Services.

In housing, the city has overcome a major conceptual hurdle: we can build without having to partner with a developer. Most developers want a return on their investment within 10 years. This often makes investing in affordable housing prohibitive. The city can take a longer-term view and finance projects over 40 years, allowing much more financial flexibility in what we can build. The first major housing project under this new paradigm is at 1316 Princess St. which will see mixed housing where market rents subsidize non-market rents. This makes the project sustainable over the long-run and not dependent on the tax base. Additionally, between 2018 and July 2022, this Council approved 4897 new units and 3589 of those have been occupied (through building permits). This is a massive increase over my first term which only saw 1728 units built.

On economic development, we have seen awesome growth. There has been so much economic growth that we are running out of employment lands at a much faster rate than expected. We are growing so fast we are running out of affordable housing for these highly skilled workers (which is why affordability of housing for all income groups is a top priority). Among the biggest names that have either moved here, or expanded operations here, are: Vendde Innovation Centre, IPG Photomics, Modern Niagara, Frulact (major expansion), Canada Royal Milk, Li-Cycle, Spearhead Brewing Company, KOPI Health Campus, Corrections Canada Training Facility, Manitoulin Transport, Local Leaf, Kingston Aluminum Technologies, China Certification and Inspection Corporation (CCIC), ATS (Automation Tooling Systems), Cancoil (expansion into former Lyreco Building), Octane Medical Group, BGM Metalworks, Fab-Cut, Coca-Cola Bottling Facility, SnapCab, and Performance Plants.

On social services the City has been learning a lot recently. The sleeping cabin pilot project has been a tremendous success, helping those who are experiencing homelessness due to hard times get a hand up. Individuals experiencing homelessness due to severe mental health or addictions issues have needs which are far too expensive for the City to handle on its own. We need to partner with higher levels of government to ensure that these social services are funded. The Integrated Care Hub (ICH) is one such initiative. However, there is a flaw with how social service recipients are handled in that it mixes services together. In the past, mixing individuals with severe mental health issues and those with addictions issues has lead to aggravated problems. Separating these streams of service would address that issue. Unfortunately, transportation and physically getting between two separate locations can be prohibitively difficult for those experiencing both mental health and addictions issues at the same time. The City is still working on finding the fine line between helping and enabling.

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Taxation and Services

I am committed to the lowest possible tax rate without a loss of services. The notion that changes in tax rate are proportionally related to changes in services is simply not true. There are a whole range of non-tax revenue strategies that make up about a third of the budget. We can increase these to generate more revenue. Additionally, Kingston's tax base has grown immensely in the last 4 years (4897 new taxable units versus 1728 new taxable units in the previous 4 years before) which means the tax burden is distributed over a greater number thus putting downward pressure on the need for tax increase.

Council approved New Units. Source: City of Kingston Building Division

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The Real History of Canada

Please watch this video as my experience with Indigenous leaders has been formative in my understanding of Canada's History

Thank you Meadowbrook-Strathcona

For letting me represent you on City Council

I Stand and Work for:

• Fiscal prudency in spending tax dollars
• Increasing sources of non-tax revenue
• Local economic, social, and health development
• Appropriate intensification and tax base expansion
• Openness, transparency and accountability in local government. See my Vote History
• Facing emerging threats to our City early and effectively. See our Emerging Threats
• Continuous improvement of our district. See the District Work done in my first term 2015-2018
• Adding perspective and voices to history
• Regular continuous drop-in public consultations every Sunday From 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Kingston Coffee House in the Kingston Centre

Since my election in 2014 I have been making myself available to hear your concerns, fight for fiscal prudency and support good ideas that benefit our community. Here are some of the highlights:

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Fiscal Prudency in Spending Tax Dollars

Jeff helped review, restructure and redefine Dawn House Women's Shelter, Sustainable Kingston, and KEDCO to be more accountable, transparent and/or effective.

Dawn House Women's Shelter was slated to be closed. Its primary mission in Kingston was deemed not to warrant continued funding. This meant that it was going to have to close its doors. However, Jeff recognized that Dawn House was providing a much needed service. On January 22, 2015, after consulting with many stakeholders, Jeff moved a motion to provide the funds to keep them open in the short term and to direct City staff to facilitate finding sustainable ways to keep them open over the long term. The results were outstanding. City staff in consultation with Dawn House's board and staff repurposed, reorganized and relocated Dawn House so they could continue their mission to help vulnerable women while becoming financially independent and self-sustaining. Jeff believes that this kind of investment that frees up tax dollars and keeps services is a fiscally prudent strategy the can be applied in many fields.

When Jeff first came onto the board of the Sustainable Kingston Plan Corp. the corporation had one volunteer, no staff, and no money to run itself let alone act on its mission. It was a dark time of corporate collapse. Jeff, with the help of the remaining board members, helped reorganize, reprioritize and set the new vision for the organization. One part of the new vision was to become financially independent of the City. the board presented a new services level agreement to the City. Sustainable Kingston Plan Corp. has since taken off and is promoting Kingston's goal of "Becoming Canada's Most Sustainable City." It has drawn into Kingston far more grant money from higher levels of government than the City ever invested in it. This is good because any new income into the local, especially repatriated income tax dollars, supports the local economy more than if the income tax had never returned to Kingston. Today, Sustainable Kingston Plan Corp.'s revenue from services rendered in the green economy has now made it self-sufficient. One of the original goals was to become financially sustainable. Sustainable Kingston Plan Corp. achieved this. Recently, the City of Kingston asked them, in a new service level agreement, to expand and do more. As of 2017, the outstanding new staff at Sustainable Kingston Plan Corp. continue to expand their surpluses as they add additional services and expand to Brockville and Bellville while providing energy saving services, ideas, and programs to business in Kingston and far afield.

When Jeff was first elected in 2014 many questions and concerns were raised about KEDCO. Jeff joined their board of directors and then the KEDCO Review Committee to look into the allegations and to develop better governance. Jeff found two competing old school networks and some questionable practices. Jeff, while co-chairing the Review Committee, made several recommendations to improve, governance, accountability, and transparency. The committee also decide to narrow KEDCO's focus and split them into two organizations. One devoted to tourism the other to economic development. Since then KEDCO has successfully closed the deals to bring two international manufacturing companies to Kingston: Feihe International Inc. and Frulact S.A.

One recent discovery in cities across North America is that often the cost of development is higher in the long term than expected - in some cases greater than the taxes generated from that development. This results in existing development unfairly subsidizing future development. Jeff moved a motion to study capital and operating costs out to 75 years so as to better design guidelines today that minimize maintenance and replacement costs over the next few generations. This puts Kingston on a long term cost savings program that will reduce long term liabilities that will negatively affect future tax payers.

Please see the motion that was passed: Studying and reducing the long term life cycle fiscal costs of development.

In arguing for effective spending and accountability, Jeff supported the expansion of the airport terminal because it was too small for the next generation of planes to embark and disembark. However, Jeff disputed the need for the airport runway lengthening because it was long enough to accommodate all existing and future planes that were likely to come here and because its $9.1 Million cost was debt financed.

A more complete description of the issue can be found at my unpublished opinion piece: Concerns with the Airport Expansion.

Jeff opposed the third crossing because experts admitted that it would not solve the congestion problem - not even in the immediate area. Jeff believes that more effective spending of tax dollars would have occurred by taking a fraction of the $180 Million third crossing cost and spending it on a city wide smart grid that would reduce congestion and improve travel across the whole city. (A smart grid, involves monitoring traffic patterns in real time and adjusting traffic lights in real time to minimize congestion, travel times, and idling times across the whole city.)

Additionally, Jeff opposed the third crossing because it would require 15% increase in taxes (or more precisely, the temporary existing yearly 1% capital levy will be extended by 5 years) and because we are taking $30 Million out of the Development Charges fund for road reconstruction which should have been better spent on updating our existing pothole filled road network.

A deeper and more thorough explanation for the greater problems that result from this can be read at: Notes on My 7 Reasons Against the Third Crossing.

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Increasing Sources of Non-Tax Revenue

In 2015 Jeff added "Pursue new and innovative non-tax revenue opportunities" to our strategic plan. In 2016 City staff found $4.1 million; in 2017 staff found $2.9 million more; and in 2018 staff are projected to attain $11 million worth of new non-tax revenue. City staff found a total of $18 Million in new non-tax revenue that gives tax relief. This removes the need to raise our taxes by about 8.5% over three years. Jeff believes that with non-tax revenue it is possible to increase the quality and quantity of services without a massive tax increases. Jeff has committed to continue to fight to keep tax increase low while delivering continuously improving services.

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Local Economic, Social, and Health Development

Local Economic Development

Jeff have pushed to develop the right conditions to facilitate and encourage economic development. From a local City perspective economic development is first about increasing the aggregate and the average income to the residents of the city. We do this by facilitating export oriented industries and attracting disposable income spending in Kingston. Jeff, while serving as co-chair on the KEDCO Review Committee produced a report recommending splitting KEDCO into two organizations to focus on these two types of economic development.

Economic development is secondly about, what economists call, increasing the velocity of money in and around residents in the city. This means local residents buying local. Shopping at farmer's markets, locally owned and/or locally sourced business is the best way to increase the local velocity of money.

Often, what is needed is just the right amount of support and facilitation. Our Economic Development Organization, KEDCO, was troubled four years ago. Kedco Issues Need Creative Solutions. Since being elected Jeff has served on the KEDCO board of directors and co-chaired the KEDCO Review Committee. Jeff worked to get KEDCO and Tourism Kingston refocused on their specific tasks.

KEDCO has successfully attracted two international export oriented manufacturing companies to Kingston: Feihe International Inc. and Frulact S.A. Tourism Kingston has successfully convinced all local hoteliers to contribute to a marketing fund that will promote Kingston as a destination for tourists.

Another aspect of facilitating the right conditions to support economic development involves creating jobs and attracting people to move to Kingston. To help facilitate this we have created a youth employment strategy and an in-migration strategy.

A third aspect of facilitating the right conditions to support economic development is the introduction of incubator space and the facilitation of angel investor networks. Usually new business fail 80% to 90% of the time in the first five years. A major factor is lack of money. Incubator space helps lower the cost of doing business for new startups for a number of years and a network of angel investors will help the most promising new startups take off.

However more needs to be done. Often times those with great and viable product or services ideas are lacking in necessary business skills like accounting, law, and marketing. Jeff believes that the City can help in facilitating that on a purely cost recovery basis with economies of scale to further increase the chances of new startups being successful.

Local Social Development

Perceived excessive social inequality has been positively correlated with a whole range of detriments to society which include: loss of community life and social relations, increases in mental health and drug use, reduced physical health and life expectancy, obesity, lower educational performance, more teenage births, more violence, more imprisonment and harsher punishments, reduced social mobility and more unequal opportunities. Greater equality reverses these directions. (see references in "The Spirit Level, Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett).

Perceived excessive social inequality can also affect our democratic institutions and our system of rule of law. (see "The Price of Inequality" by Joseph E. Stigltz)

Three causes that Jeff has championed at City Council that reduce social inequality are his motions 1) in support for Dawn House Women's Shelter, 2) to review and revise anti-racism polices, and 3) to review the City's commemorations policy to include space for marginalized groups.

When Dawn House Women's Shelter was about to lose funding, Jeff moved a motion to keep them open and to formulate a plan to keep them open in the long term. City Staff successful expanded their mandate and made them financially self-sufficient and independent of the City of Kingston. They continue to support vulnerable women and children while also providing long term housing and support services.

A recent case of a racist tirade directed at a visible minority in Kingston was the inspiration for Jeff to move a motion to review our anti-racism policies and to ask all affiliated institutions to do so to. The goal is to improve the condition and experience of populations vulnerable to racism in Kingston.

As part of the City's commitment to truth and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in the area Jeff moved a motion to make room at public commemorations for the voices and viewpoints of marginalized peoples because there is not ever just one historical and correct narrative just like there is never just one side to a true story.

Local Environmental Development

Climate change is very likely the biggest environmental issue of our time. To fight it locally Jeff has championed or supported the Sustainable Kingston Corp, the Right to a Health Environment, Carbon Costing, doubling the City's tree canopy, turtle fencing, EV charging stations, electric busses, and reducing one time use plastics.

Local Public Health Development

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Appropriate Intensification and Tax Base Expansion

Intensification, defined as: expanding the tax base by adding more tax paying units to the city without expanding the service area, allows the tax burden to be spread out over more people. Council has worked with developers to ensure that new development fits in with the neighbourhood needs and concerns. Since being inaugurated to council and appointed to the planning committee in Dec 2014 Jeff and his council colleagues have approved 1,728 new homes that sought relief from existing zoning bylaws or Official Plan designations in Kingston. After many modifications Council eventually approved all applications that came before us except two which raised serious concerns and/or did not fit with the area.

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Regular Continuous Drop-in Public Consultations Every Sunday From 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Kingston Coffee House in the Kingston Centre

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Jeff is always available to hear and act on your issues, concerns and ideas. Please call Jeff at 613-888-4327 or email him at jmclaren@cityofkingston.ca or visit him during his "office hours" at the Kingston Coffee House every Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.

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Jeff has made a lot of moneyed and special interest groups angry with his stances, votes, and questions. These groups would love to see him replaced. Jeff will continue standing up against big money and special interest groups who would like to bilk the taxpayer. Jeff stands by his record and his work.

Some of the events that made some people angry are:

Concerns Jeff heard about questionable discretionary spending by KEDCO led him to get on the KEDCO Review Committee. On his time on the KEDCO Review Committee Jeff discovered a feud between an out group and the in group for control over KEDCO. Both of these groups are moneyed and politically connected. The questions Jeff raised, the policies introduced and the outcome of the Review Committee's work kept both groups from regaining control and the new recommendations eliminated any possible questionable spending by the new EDOs. Naturally both sides are upset with Jeff. Please see an opinion piece Jeff wrote in the Whig Standard: Kedco Issues Need Creative Solutions.

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Jeff also opposed paying a huge amount, $850 000, for 25.5 acres of undevelopable swamp land from the Cataraqui West Land Owners Group. Which include: Braebury Homes, Tamarack Corporation, CARFA Group, and HTH Realties Inc. The better price, the price paid for such land in other municipalities, should have been around $68 000. This deal was rejected by previous councils and struck Jeff as tax payers funding private wealth. These corporations did not like Jeff opposing the purchase. Please see two stories about this in the Whig Standard: Council Faces Million Dollar Question, and The Vote Itself Was Moot.

Please see the motion that should seemed to have failed but actually passed at council: Purchasing 25.5 acres of useless undevelopable swamp land for $850 000 plus HST

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Jeff opposed having the city take on the financial and material costs of a Frontenac Condominium Corp. This waterfront condo corporation promised, as a condition of building in the first place, to look after and light a pathway with its own lighting system. Jeff saw the issue as the public tax payers assuming the liability, responsibilities, and costs of a private corporation. Jeff believes this was not fiscally responsible for the City. Here is a transcript of the speach Jeff gave at that Council meeting: Speech on the issue of the Commodore's Cove Lighting.

Two articles that appeared in the Whig Stadard that look at this issue can be found at: these links: City of Kingston Urged to Pay for Condos Lighting and what Jeff believe to be the unfortunately shameful results City to Assume Costs Maintenance of Lighting Around Condo.

Please see the motion that allowed this to happen: Having the City take on some private legal requirements and financial costs from a condo corporation.

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Jeff introduced a Life Cycle Impact Studies into land use planning to help better design planning guildlines, policies, and to help make better long term decisions so as to minimize the long term costs to the City of any new development. Here is a precis of a policy study that initially got Jeff thinking about this problem: Suburban Sprawl: Exposing Hidden Costs, Identifying Innovations. It may introduce small new costs to developers but it cumulatively could save taxpayers billions of dollars over the next 100 years by making new development more cost effective for the City. One can also read an opinion piece Jeff wrote in the Whig Standard further explaining the concept. It can be found at: Prudent development required. Jeff received considerable backlash from several sources for raising the question. There is a brief mention of this motion near the end of another Whig Standard article: How Much is Urban Sprawl Costing City Taxpayers

Please see the motion that was passed: Studying and reducing the long term life cycle fiscal costs of development.

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Thank you

Map of Meadowbrook-Strathcona

Meadowbrook-Strathcona includes seven neighbourhoods: Strathcona Park, Hillendale, Grenville Park, Valleyview, Balsam Grove, Waterloo Village and Meadowbrook East of Centennial Dr.