The Plan

A Future for Waterloo

SHANNON WEBER’S CAMPAING PLAN

Pillar 1

Affordability & Taxes

Taxes have increased a record 27% over the last 4 years, 60% higher than Cambridge and 70% higher than Kitchener. At the same time, the Mayor led the charge for a 33% wage increase and government pension for herself and council. We can't afford 4 more years of this mayor.

1

Taxpayer Value Guarantee

  • Cost, outcome, alternatives and lifecycle cost for significant discretionary proposals.
  • Challenge departments to cut red tape, use technology & innovation for productivity and find efficiencies and lower-priority spending.
2

Multi-Year Affordability Commitment

Goal: keep annual City property-tax increases as close to inflation as possible while protecting essential services.

3

Annual value-for-money reviews

4

Regional Affordability Commitments

33%

Since the last election, Regional taxes have increased by 33%. That is before the City of Waterloo's own increases.

Set the target first

At the start of every regional budget, I will move that council direct staff to bring forward a budget at or near inflation, with the trade-offs laid out in public.

Line-by-line review

I will push for every regional department to justify its budget from the ground up, not simply add a percentage to last year's number.

Measure ourselves against our peers

I will ask that every regional budget be compared publicly with Peel, Durham, Halton and other comparable regions, so residents can see whether we are keeping pace.

Protect the core

Water, roads, paramedics, transit and policing come first. New spending must show its value before it is approved.

No surprises

Major cost changes will come to council as clear, stand-alone decisions, never buried in a routine or housekeeping item.

Report back to you

After every regional budget, I will publish how I voted on each major item and why.

This election, you are not only choosing a mayor for Waterloo. You are choosing Waterloo's voice at the Region, where roughly half of your property tax dollars are decided.

Pillar 2

Getting the Basics Right

Core services are not glamorous. They are the test residents use to judge whether City Hall is working. Residents deserve better delivery of the basic services they pay for.

1

Roads and potholes

  • Infrastructure Before Extras. Infrastructure-first budgeting; maintain existing assets before considering major discretionary projects.
  • Prioritize a fully funded multi-year road resurfacing and pothole-prevention plan.
  • Public Infrastructure Report Card.
2

Snow clearing

  • Neighbourhood Basic Standard. Measurable maintenance standards.
  • Better Winter Service. Performance measures after major winter events; identify chronic problem areas; review routes and service standards.
3

Parks, Trails and Playgrounds

  • Neighbourhood Basics Standard for parks, trails, trees, boulevards and landscaping.
  • Parks and Playground Renewal. A transparent long-term schedule for maintenance and replacement of aging parks and playgrounds.
4

Accountability and Service

  • Trackable requests and accessible summaries of decisions, costs, impacts and alternatives.
  • Earlier meaningful consultation.
  • Public infrastructure report card. An easy-to-understand annual public report card on major City assets, including roads, stormwater, parks, trails, water and wastewater.
Pillar 3

Housing

The goal is not simply more approvals. The goal is more homes people can afford, built with the required infrastructure to support.

Housing for Every Stage of Life

  • Housing Action Plan. Measurable approval timelines, annual targets to reduce delays, with clear public reporting and actual public consultation.
  • Identify and remove unnecessary red tape that creates delays and increases the costs.
  • Broader housing options, including rental, student and seniors options.
  • Review underused municipal land for appropriate housing opportunities with community consultation.
Pillar 4

Safe, Strong & Welcoming Neighbourhoods

Residents should feel safe and comfortable on their street, in parks and trails, in Uptown and in every shared public space. Compassion and public safety are not competing priorities. Good government should pursue better outcomes for vulnerable people while keeping public spaces safe, clean, accessible and welcoming for everyone.

1

Safe Neighbourhoods, Safe Streets

  • Lighting, pedestrian crossings, targeted traffic calming.
  • Maintained public spaces and neighbourhood safety audits.
  • Stronger coordination with Regional Police.
2

Parks & Playgrounds Renewal

A transparent, long-term renewal schedule for neighbourhood parks and playgrounds so residents know when aging facilities are scheduled for maintenance or replacement.

Pillar 5

A Competitive Local Economy for Waterloo

Waterloo competes every day for talent, investment, employers and jobs. Prosperity is not created by government, but good government can create conditions that allow it to grow. That means reliable infrastructure, predictable approvals, competitive costs, strong neighbourhoods and a City Hall that sees employers and entrepreneurs as partners.

1

Waterloo Open for Business

Establish a Small Business Concierge approach at City Hall so businesses navigating permits, zoning, signage, patios, construction and other municipal processes have a clear place to get answers and solve problems.

2

Open During Construction

A construction project should not become a survival test for the businesses beside it.

  • Earlier communication and clearer schedules.
  • Visible wayfinding and signage.
  • Coordinated promotion of affected commercial areas.
  • A designated City contact to resolve emerging concerns.
3

Waterloo Economic Partnership Table

  • Convene regular discussions bringing together the City, local businesses, post-secondary institutions, economic development organizations and community partners.
  • Attract investment. Help businesses grow. Create jobs. Keep talent in Waterloo.
4

Make Waterloo A Place Talent Chooses

Champion Waterloo's quality of life as an economic advantage, connecting attainable housing, vibrant public spaces, arts and culture, recreation, trails, strong neighbourhoods and an exciting Uptown to our economic strategy.

Pillar 6

Waterloo Ready

Recent severe weather has shown why infrastructure resilience matters. Residents experience it through flooded basements, lost business inventory, impassable streets and storm drains that cannot keep up. Waterloo Ready will guide decisions across every priority. We will protect homes, businesses and taxpayer-owned infrastructure by identifying risks early, setting priorities and planning investments responsibly.

1

A Citywide Flood & Climate Vulnerability Review

I will call for a comprehensive review that brings together existing City modelling, recent storm impacts and resident experiences to identify the highest-priority vulnerabilities.

2

A 10-Year Waterloo Resilience Plan

A prioritized, financially responsible infrastructure plan that identifies priorities, timelines, costs and potential funding partners for flooding, extreme rainfall, severe storms, heat, tree canopy, emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience.