By Mark Squibb/June 2, 2022
For the first time in over two years, members of the Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce gathered in person for an annual Mayor’s Outlook lunch.
Last Thursday, Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker spoke to members gathered at the Mount Pearl Soccer Hut, highlighting some of the City’s recent achievements and future endeavours.
As was announced in its budget for 2022, the City is moving ahead with a new municipal plan. Aker also doubled down on the City’s commitment to the ‘Find Your Centre’ renewal plan — despite discussion in council chambers earlier this year as to whether certain aspects of the plan, mainly signage, were too large of an upfront cost. The City has contracted Mills & Wright and Fougere Menchenton respectively to design centre city zone-defining signage and multifunctional mobile kiosks. As a part of the renewal plan, Mount Perl hopes to establish a trail network connection point within Donovans.
Asker also restated the City’s commitment to developing Kenmount Hill, a plan that has drawn the ire of some residents along nearby Wyatt Blvd and a multiplicity of side streets of cul-de-sacs, who fear their quiet residential neighborhood will become a bustling mixed-zone.
“Kenmount Hill is the only remaining undeveloped land in Mount Pearl – and we are currently working through infrastructure design and capacity assessments to fully understand the untapped potential of this area, so we can make informed decisions and ensure strong, sustainable development for the future,” Aker said.
The development scheme for Kenmount Hill was announced in 2018, but was largely sidelined by COVID-19.
Looking again to the future, Aker said population growth is a large component of the new economic development strategy Mount Pearl is undertaking. He noted staff are busy participating in diversity and inclusion workshops and completing the Immigration Policies Certificate program to better welcome newcomers — including Ukrainian families – whom the City is extending a warm welcome to, in collaboration with the provincial Department of Immigration, Population Growth, and Skills.
Aker also touched on the City’s recent purchase of accessible playground equipment for St. David’s Park.
“The new equipment being installed this year will ensure youth of all abilities have an equitable opportunity to just be themselves as they play in a safe outdoor space designed to inspire imagination, enhanced with augmented reality features,” said Aker.
Aker also raised hope for a new civic centre.
“With public consultations on possible features of the new facility completed last year, community feedback is being considered and incorporated into plans for a proposed 18,000 square foot facility,” said the mayor. “The City is in the process of selecting an owner’s advisor for this important work, who will help us advance the RFP (request for proposals, or bidding process) for construction – we are hoping to start in 2023.”
Aker anticipates the centre will include theatre/performance space, dedicated space and storage for community groups, and the hottest municipal must-have of recent years — a splash pad, which will also function as a skating rink during the winter months.
Aker added that as a result of recommendations from the City’s Business Advisory Committee, in August Mount Pearl will begin hosting Thursday night events such as dessert nights or 5-kilometre runs.
Aker said the initiatives the City is undertaking to support the business community include video tourism content, Energy Efficiency grants of $5,000 to help businesses go green, and the Upgrade to Mount Pearl initiative, which the City hopes will attract both local and foreign investment.
To the question of climate change, Aker threw the City’s support behind the oil and gas industry, but cautioned that “as oil and gas is changing to adapt, with the industry focused on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, so must we.”
He reminded folks that in 2019, the city adopted a Climate Change Action Plan, with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 per cent by 2025.
“To help achieve that, we have begun the important work of upgrading lighting in city facilities such as the Glacier, Tennis Complex, and City Hall with LED lighting,” said Aker. “We will continue to replace all lighting with LED over time, which lowers our greenhouse gas emissions, and results in long-term cost savings to the City. With respect to the City’s fleet, investments have already been made in electric and hybrid vehicles. The City currently has one electric and five hybrid vehicles in its fleet. We have proactively installed electric vehicle charging stations at several city buildings and facilities including City Hall, the Summit Centre, the Glacier, and the Campia Gymnastics building. And, a free app called PlugShare can be used to check on the status of any of these electric charging stations at any time.”
He added that through a composting pilot program, the City was able to divert 1,100 pounds of waste from landfills last year, and that over 100 residents have expressed interest in the program this year.
Aker closed his address by highlighting upcoming events, including City Days, a City of Mount Pearl Tourism Opportunities Session on June 15, and— though it’s a ways off yet— the return of the Frosty Festival.