The Politico Calendar for January 2018

Whether you're looking to get back to business as usual, or are looking for something different to do, there's no shortage of events, meetings, and gatherings for you to indulge in with this first month of 2018. Here's this month's Politico Calendar. 

The Year of Transit: A ReView from the Bus

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... That line from A Tale of Two Cities seems apt to describe this year of Guelph Transit news. There seemed to be a renewed focus and urgency on improving Transit services, but the results seemed to leave a lot to be desired according to the people on the ground, or in the bus.

Remember: The Election Doesn't Really Start for a Few More Months

It was a cold and snowy day on January 2, 2014 when then Councillor Cam Guthrie announced his intention to ask voters for a promotion to mayor. For Mayor Guthrie, and all other people considering a run in the 2018 Municipal Election, be advised that nominations don't open until conditions are a little better for an outdoor announcement.

GUELPH POLITICAST #106 - Guelph's Crooked Media

Before we wrap up 2017, let's review the year that was at city council. That's 12 months of decisions and debates on all matters of local governance from big items like merging hydro, to smaller items like approving sign bylaw variances. To take this one on, I needed a team. A group of people that observe city hall as closely as I do. Let's assemble Guelph's Crooked Media.

This Week in Press Releases - December 18-22, 2017

Every week, the City of Guelph and other groups send out notices to announce new events, imperatives, and information that you need to know. Here is this week in press releases.

Changes to Guelph Politico Coming in 2018

In the interest of taking stock, as usual, at the end of the year, let us now look ahead to the coming year, and what changes you might expect on your favourite local political site. No! I mean Guelph Politico. Here are seven goals that we can all look forward to in the coming 12 months.

Top 10 Guelph Political Stories of 2017

It's the end of the year, and that means that it's time for lists. Lists and more lists. Top 10s on every conceivable subject. Guelph Politico also likes to do lists this time of year, and the subject we chose is the Top 10 Guelph Political Stories of the Year. From retirements to mergers, from reviews stalled and reviews achieved, and from one renovation project nearing completion to another finally making it on the books, it was another busy year in the Royal City. Let's countdown the hits in order...

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for December 18, 2017

Only a couple of items are on the agenda for council's consideration before the Christmas break. You can click here for the agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

MANGEZ! Dine Safe Guide for December 1-15, 2017

Twice-monthly, Guelph Politico posts the latest inspection results from the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit inspection of local restaurants, hotels, cafes, grocery stores and other businesses that handle food. We call it "Mangez!", and this column highlights the latest inspections done by WDGPH, and the results they've posted.

GUELPH POLITICAST #105 - Sarah Wilmer, Women's Community Development Co-ordinator, ARCH

Let's get the obvious out of the way: Yes, there are sex workers in Guelph. Any time the topic is bridged in the corporate media, it comes with this strain of shock that such a thing is happening in our own backyards. Of course it is. Perhaps that's why sex workers find themselves particularly vulnerable to violence. Hear no evil, see no evil, right?

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for December 13, 2017

Tonight City Council will decide whether or not to repaint these trucks to the Alectra colours, or leave them just as they are under the Guelph Hydro banner. You can click here for the agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

The Alectra Merger: How's it Going Elsewhere?

On Wednesday, Guelph City Council will meet to discuss whether or not to merge Guelph Hydro with Alectra Utilities, a publicly-owned conglomerate of several Ontario local distribution companies. We know what's in it for Guelph if they sign on to the deal, but what about Alectra itself? How is their expansion project going thus far?

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for December 11, 2017

Council meets to plan again one last time before the end of the year. You can click here for the agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

Council, Committee and Election Calendar for 2018

The council year is almost over with just three more meetings before the Christmas break, but when do we get back to business as usual at City Hall. That date, and every date after, for the 2018 Council calendar is below with every Committee date and important election-related date as well.

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the December 18 Meeting?

It's the end of the year for council as we take one last meeting before the Christmas break. Tying up loose ends from this month's committee, and the start of a commercial policy review is all that's got to be taken care of before it's egg nog and good cheer time!

Transit Announces "Tweaks" to Several Routes for the New Year.

It's been a tough couple of month for Transit with the realignment of routes and schedules not going exactly as planned, so they've announced some tweaks for January that might try and alleviate the pressure, or might create some new issues.

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the December 13 Meeting?

In a move that surprises no one, it is being recommended that the City of Guelph as the shareholder of Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc., move forward with a merger of Guelph Hydro and Alectra Utilities. So what does Guelph get out of the deal? What does it stand to lose? And what's the deadline to make it all happen?

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for December 5, 2017

The 2018 budget process wraps up today! (Unless it doesn't, in which case it will begin again tomorrow and then be decided.) You can click here for the agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

LIVE BLOG: Committee of the Whole for December 4, 2017

Get ready for the final Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of 2017! You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here to read Politico's preview of today's meeting. For the complete blow-by-blow of today's committee meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

#GuelphBudget: Messages from the Message Board

Throughout the entire budget process we've heard council ask questions, and staff suggesting that these questions might be better answered, or resolved, on the budget message board. So let's take a look at what's been talked about on the message board as we look forward to Tuesday's passage of the Tax-Supported Operating Budget.

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the December 11 Meeting?

The final planning meeting of 2017 will definitely not have a "senior week" vibe as some big items come due including a plan to intensify Gordon Street, some new mid-rise standards, and a path forward for a big piece of land off York Road with some big expectations.