Berry Vrbanovic

City/Township Council · Kitchener

All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

Housing & Homelessness 3 questions

Housing & Homelessness

How should municipalities and the Region balance providing permanent housing with the management of encampments in public spaces?select up to 3 per part

A. Pathways to permanent housing

Prioritize rapid acquisition or conversion of existing buildings
Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
Use publicly owned land for permanent or interim housing

B. Interim management of encampments

Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels
Prioritize clearing encampments to maintain public access to shared spaces
Prioritize rapid acquisition and construction of projects

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Assign clear municipal responsibility for public-space management
Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports
Publish ongoing performance metrics (e.g. housing placements, shelter bed access)

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to address both encampments and permanent housing.candidate's own words

Reallocating funding between shelters, outreach and permanent housing. Better outcomes for our most vulnerable residents is contingent on funding, prioritizing outreach and addiction supports; as well as acquiring lands if required, and funding a deeply affordable project.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on housing?candidate's own words

Leadership and Support for Kitchener Housing for All strategy

Getting Around 4 questions

Getting Around

How should municipalities use existing street infrastructure to better prioritize walking, cycling, and public transit?select up to 3

Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes)
Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing
Focus improvements around schools, transit corridors, and commercial areas

What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance

Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth
Use transit to shape land use
Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements
Prioritize expanding coverage area

Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice

No, maintain the current system where property owners clear adjacent sidewalks

Do you support expanding fare-free transit for the Region?single choice

Yes, for specific groups

If you selected "Yes, for specific groups" above, which groups?candidate's own words

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), People with disabilities, Youth (age 12 and under)

Please describe one criterion or principle that should not be compromised when making transit investment decisions.candidate's own words

operational stability

Please name one specific street, corridor, or project where you would prioritize these changes.candidate's own words

An east-west link along Ottawa Street in Kitchener, which has been identified in the ROW transportation stratgy.

Climate & Sustainability 3 questions

Climate & Sustainability

How should municipalities and the Region incorporate climate and sustainability into policy, including development and infrastructure decisions?select up to 3 per part

A. Perspective on climate change

Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making
Our local and regional governments need to renew coordinated action towards implementing the Transform Waterloo Region strategy

B. Building and development standards

No response

C. Infrastructure and capital planning

Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
Prioritize active transportation and transit investment
Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge

Describe one concrete policy, incentive, or decision you would prioritize to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where possible, explain how it balances environmental goals with fiscal responsibility.candidate's own words

Energy performance standards for new municipal or affordable cousin

Food Systems & Security 3 questions

Food Systems & Security

In the context of growing pressure for economic development and the connected loss of farmland, what role do municipalities and the Region hold in promoting local food livelihoods, production, and processing?ranked from highest to lowest importance

Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part

A. Access to food

Partner with local charities, non-profits, and other organizations to strengthen access to food and redistribution of surplus food and produce for low-income residents
Support local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities
Support programs to prepare food for those who are unhoused or unable to cook

B. Access to land for growing food

Make public lands (Regional and municipal) available for sustenance food provisioning, including in urban and peri-urban spaces as cities expand
Enable access to land and resources for local people who want to grow their own food (e.g. the community-garden model)
Encourage and support private landowners to make lots available for food provisioning

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

Making a parcel of public land available for community growing or new farmers

Growth & Planning 4 questions

Growth & Planning

How should councils weigh the long-term cost of maintaining existing infrastructure when making decisions about outward growth and expansion?ranked from highest to lowest importance

Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
Proceed with outward growth to address housing supply

How should councils balance provincial and regional mandates for increased housing density with neighbourhood opposition and local infrastructure constraints?select up to 4 per part

A. Planning & zoning tools

Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
Allow small-scale housing forms city-wide as-of-right (e.g. up to four units per lot)
Maintain existing zoning; manage density primarily through new growth areas

B. Managing neighbourhood opposition

Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
Phase or adjust density in response to neighbourhood concerns about design or servicing capacity
Require demonstrated city-wide benefits to justify local impacts

C. Infrastructure & servicing

Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
Pair density approvals with targeted infrastructure upgrades
Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades

Describe one concrete zoning, planning, or development decision you would support (or oppose) that reflects how you would balance these priorities.candidate's own words

support as-of-right permissions for missing-middle housing in all neighbourhoods

Please describe one concrete example of a growth or infrastructure decision you would support or oppose using this approach.candidate's own words

prioritizing state-of-good-repair over new expansion

What can the municipality/region do, if anything, about land which sits vacant for years because it is being used as an investment (land banking)?candidate's own words

Servicing agreements with construction timelines and lapsing approvals

Budget & Taxes 5 questions

Budget & Taxes

Do you think the Region's or municipality's budget process should be more transparent and accessible to residents?single choice

It is already sufficiently transparent and accessible

Municipal and regional costs have generally risen faster than revenues restricted by property tax rules and limited local revenue tools. How would you balance tax increases against maintaining service levels and long-term financial sustainability?select up to 3 per part

A. Revenue approaches

Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
Align any possible tax increases with Ontario inflation rate

D. Growth & cost recovery

Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
Maintain current growth and cost-sharing approaches

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services

C. Capital & infrastructure

Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure

Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words

rejecting a service fee or user charge

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

Why are you running for this position?candidate's own words

I have been humbled by the trust placed in me four years ago to once again serve as Mayor of the community I love. During this time, together, we have accomplished a great deal. I'm proud of the progress we have achieved together, but these are challenging times, and we need to keep doing everything we can to make life more manageable for Kitchener residents and businesses. I have the skills, experience and proven collaborative approach needed to lead Kitchener through the challenges ahead. There is more work to do, and I have the energy, determination and heart to do it. I feel deeply that our city's best days are ahead. That's why I am asking for your trust and support once again so we can keep building a Kitchener that is affordable and prosperous, compassionate and safe, ambitious about its future and always caring at its heart.

How does the current two-tier structure of municipal and regional government affect the Region's ability to make coherent decisions on housing, planning, and infrastructure?candidate's own words

The structure creates gaps or duplication that lead to worse outcomes, With Planning responsibility having shifted to area municipalities, I would support seeing other areas switching to the area muncipaliities, including roads, water & sewer utilities and possibly others.

Please describe one specific area where you think the governance structure helps or hinders good decision-making.candidate's own words

Transportation Network - roads, trails and sidewalks. Also Economic Development