DouglasGlen News

Hi all!

Please drop into the Sobey's if you have a moment to sign the petition, if you haven't already. I tried to get a table set up but it was too late. This weekend Stars will be representing. Please spread the word if you share our sense that it's time to escalate Douglas Glen's aesthetics. We have to get our signatures into the City no later than the 10th of October to get our winter maintenance program in place.

Take good care!

Capsule of DG Maintenance Program – October 05, 2011 Budget

• $50K – DGMA < - what we added with present enhanced levy
• $40K – Parks <- their share
• $90K – Total <- what we had to spend

Total Costs To Date $128,687 <- what we actually spent after Parks gifted us with more $

Further Parks contribution not listed as of October 7th - 10 new planters and Parks will be continuing our service levels at their cost 'til the end of the year until the new budget.

This does not include a winter program of snow shovelling for this season. If the petition is successful we will be able to include it for this year.

As years pass our Community continues to lose its curb appeal directly affecting our resale value and aesthetic. In order to reverse this negative trend we need to increase the levy dollars that go directly into the beautification of our Community. Currently the amount is set at $53.50 per year, per household, the level set when the community was developed some 15 years ago. (Other communities levies are about $200.00/yr on average.) Even with the very generous $40,000.00 additional program dollars donated by Parks to Douglas Glen over and above our budget this year we are three to four years behind in our upgrading plan and clearly fall short of our identified need. We have exhausted our budget this year and as such the City has committed to continuing with our service levels at their cost over and above their previous donation.

At present we cannot implement a winter program and cannot afford snow shoveling to keep the pathways to public transit clear. We cannot afford to remediate the cul-de-sac islands, plant new trees, re-create our entrance, or even afford a proper sign at the entrance and exits of Douglas Glen. The present levy dollars maintain status quo and will take years to make a real difference. We are asking each of you to help us raise the levy to $150.00 per year to this end.

The DGMA is comprised of Community Volunteers who are not compensated in any way for their time and energy spent improving the neighborhood. The website hosting service and work on the website are also donated. We have spent zero dollars in administration. Every dollar of the levy is spent at remediating the neighborhood.

Help us raise the standard of our beautiful community and sign the petition that will be coming to you this week.