With growth around the city comes the inevitable menace of traffic and Ward 3 is feeling those pressures.
The incumbent, Doug Shipley, has been representing the ward for the last two council terms and is looking for a third against two hopefuls in Tanya Saari and Lynn-Anne Hill.
The ward is home to many residential homes and schools as well as the Barrie police station and RioCan Georgian Mall.
Traffic-calming areas and residential safety have been the main topics for the candidates as they campaign through the ward.
BarrieToday spoke to all three council-hopefuls to find out what they want to see for their ward and what residents can expect from them should they be elected.
Hill said that her conversations with Ward 3 residents have revealed a couple concerns and she hopes to be elected to help correct them.
“Not one but two common issues were expressed by Ward 3 residents that included desire for enhanced traffic calming and additional public transportation options,” Hill told BarrieToday.
“Residents shared that aggressive driving and speeding has noticeably escalated and needs to be mitigated by increased monitoring by Barrie Police Services," she added. "Residents also expressed concern for unreliable schedule adherence by Barrie Transit and suggested that the city consider adding express shuttle services to conventional bus routes to enhance its network and ease ridership stress.”
Hill maintains that she will not only be a great choice for the people in Ward 3, but also for those who expect her to be co-operative with other councillors for the good of the city.
“My vision for Ward 3 aligns with the City of Barrie's vision to be progressive, diverse and prosperous with opportunities for all citizens to build a healthy and vibrant community,” said Hill. “I believe that productive, vibrant and economically prosperous communities are built by a healthy population, and that decisions made by city council in regards to policies and provision of services and programs impacts all aspects of our lives, including our physical and mental health.
"As a team member at the council table, I will carefully consider the political, economic, social, environmental and wellness implications of each decision for the greater good of our community," she added.
Saari has been a resident of her ward for 13 years with her family and has her real-estate office in the area as well.
While speaking with residents, Saari has learned that while different neighbourhoods have different needs, one theme that seems consistent is parking.
“Although each neighbourhood has things that vary slightly, the one consistent issue is street parking,” Saari said. “Residents are concerned with having vehicles parked on both sides of the street and on some narrower neighbourhood streets it would be difficult for an emergency vehicle to navigate through.
"Residents are consistently asking for parking on one side of the street only," she added.
Saari has thought of the population boom that is set to hit Barrie in the next few years and wants to be the person who helps to make sure that the needs of her ward are not lost in the shuffle.
“As the city continues to grow, it is important to ensure that the needs of Ward 3 are not overlooked or left behind,” said Saari. “I feel that anyone who sits on Barrie city council should be doing it because they love Barrie and want to ensure that we continue to grow and thrive for years to come.
"Working together for one common goal should be a top priority and my vision is a strong ward with residents that look out for one another and provide input on how to improve our community," she said.
Shipley has lived in Barrie for 30 years and has seen many issues come and go with the city. The Ward 3 incumbent believes constituents in the ward are happy with the progress over the last eight years he has been on council and hopes to continue the course for his area, which is located in the city's north end.
“When I am going door to door the residents are, for the most part, satisfied and pleased with the direction that the city has been going over the past few years,” said Shipley. “Some residents have concerns about neighbourhood traffic safety and I am always trying to help out with this issue.
"When re-elected, my residents can be assured they will get the same detailed attention to every inquiry they present to me and will get a prompt response from a proven, knowledgeable councillor for Ward 3," he added.
Shipley has been involved in many committees and boards over the last few years and knows the importance of an elected councillor to not only represent the ward that elected him, but also keep the city as a whole in mind as well.
“When making decisions at council it is imperative that the overall best interest of the city be taken into account while also keeping the local ward issues always in mind,” said Shipley. “I have proven over the past eight years that I work well with the current team at city hall.”
There is currently no debate set for Ward 3, though all three candidates said they would welcome one should they be asked.
The municipal election is on Oct. 22.
