Stephanie Goertz

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

I would support a coordinated program that looks at what each person needs not only to leave an encampment, but to become stable and remain housed. People become homeless for very different reasons. Some may need long-term supportive housing, mental-health or addiction services. Others may have previously been financially stable but experienced job loss, high bills, illness, family breakdown or other circumstances that caused them to lose their housing. Their pathway back may look very different. Social connection can be an important part of stability. We should be building partnerships with community organizations, service clubs, faith communities, nonprofits and others that can help people rebuild connections to their community. That could include opportunities for employment, volunteering, recreation, mentorship and simply developing relationships with other people.

• Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing
• Focus improvements around schools, transit corridors, and commercial areas, Ensure there is consistent transit routes. Many times sidewalks, bike lanes end and people can not get safely between key destinations.

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

Improve existing subsidies and discounts, but maintain fares for most riders

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

I support targeted fare assistance rather than making transit free for everyone. I selected seniors, low-income residents and youth because reducing transportation costs for these groups can improve independence and access to employment, school, services and community activities. I also support ensuring transit is accessible for people with disabilities, but I don't believe disability alone should automatically determine someone's ability to pay. Where disability creates a financial or transportation barrier, appropriate supports should be available. I would like to support municipal sidewalk snow removal, but I cannot responsibly commit to a new municipal expense without first understanding the cost and the options for delivering the service.

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

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), Low-income residents, 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

Wilmot is growing, but our transit options have not kept pace with the needs of our residents. Young adults should be able to access jobs without having to move to the city, and seniors should not become isolated when they can no longer drive. Bus services should be increased to include evenings and weekends.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Reliable access.

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

A safe transit corridor for all ages between New Hamburg and Baden.

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

I would prioritize implementing the High-Performance Development Initiatives proposed in Wilmot’s Community Official Plan. These would establish energy-performance measures for new developments going through site-plan and subdivision approval, using a tiered approach with mandatory and voluntary standards. We would not offer a financial incentive to do this but instead, where legally permitted, support planning flexibility for developments such as setbacks, lot coverage, parking, and landscaping requirements. As well, as priority processing and flexibility in design requirements. Developers have already been receiving many of these approvals without the requirements.

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

My experience and views of sustainability come from over 10 years volunteering on the boards or organizing committees for 50by30WR, Food Systems Roundtable of Waterloo Region, Nith Valley Ecoboosters, Let's Tree Wilmot, Citizens for Safe Groundwater, Wilmot Horticultural Society, Gravel Watch Ontario, and Greens WR. As well as volunteering with Climate Caucus, Climate Interactive, and Faith Climate Justice. For me, sustainability is not a separate environmental issue.

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

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

Wilmot’s zoning and municipal bylaws should be reviewed to remove barriers to small-scale local food production and sales. This would include rules affecting farm-gate and roadside stands, small-scale food-producing animals, and other ways residents and farmers can grow, produce and sell food locally.

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

My views on food systems come from years of hands-on community and environmental work. I have served as Chair of the Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region and have been involved with Citizens for Safe Ground Water, Gravel Watch Ontario, 50by30WR, Nith Valley EcoBoosters, Let’s Tree Wilmot and the Wilmot Horticultural Society. I have been involved in conversations and advocacy around farmland protection, groundwater, aggregate extraction, climate change, local food and the health of our rural communities.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Support small-scale local food production and protect farmland. I would review our zoning and bylaws to identify unnecessary barriers to agriculture and small-scale local food production. This includes supporting agri-tourism, making it easier for farmers and residents to sell food and other products at roadside stands, and reviewing our rules around backyard chickens and other small-scale animals. I also want to look at opportunities for local food processing and farm-related businesses so that more of the economic value created by agriculture can remain in our community. At the same time, we should track how much farmland is rezoned or developed, recognize the value of the ecosystem services farmland provides—including carbon sequestration, water cycling and green space—and explore the role conservation land trusts can play in protecting farmland.

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

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

Before adding more land for development, we need to understand our existing and planned capacity for water and wastewater, schools, roads, emergency services and municipal finances, as well as how much land is already zoned or approved for development and how many homes that land can accommodate. Wilmot is already facing a significant infrastructure funding gap. We have already approved growth that expands onto farmland, requiring new roads, water and wastewater infrastructure that will need to be maintained and eventually replaced. Our asset management planning should account for this planned new infrastructure as well as what we already own.

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

I would support amending Wilmot's new Official Plan policy that directs the Township to work with the Region, other levels of government and partners to identify strategic sites for small, medium and large-scale employment opportunities. I support economic development, but I don't think Wilmot should be actively identifying additional sites for large-scale development until we understand the growth we have already planned. The Regional mega-site demonstrates why this matters.

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

Growth decisions in Wilmot are not made by Wilmot Council alone. Regional decisions about water, wastewater, transportation and growth can have significant and sometimes very different impacts in our rural townships. I believe we need to do more to ensure Regional Councillors from Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge have opportunities to understand those impacts firsthand. That means getting out into the townships, meeting residents and farmers, seeing the land and water systems affected by major decisions, and hearing directly from the communities that will live with the consequences. There is significant distrust in Wilmot about how some major Regional decisions affecting our community have been made. Rebuilding that trust will require more than better communication after a decision has been made. It requires transparency, meaningful engagement and a willingness to understand local conditions before decisions are made. Regional Councillors are elected from different municipalities, but when they sit at Regional Council they are making decisions for the Region as a whole.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Development charges may help pay for construction of growth-related infrastructure, but new infrastructure becomes a long-term municipal responsibility. Council should understand what today's expansion means 10, 20, 30+ years from now.

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

Rural municipalities should ensure that employment lands are actually available to create diverse employment opportunities for residents. This is particularly important for youth, young adults and people without vehicles, who benefit from having jobs available within their own community. Wilmot has employment lands that have remained undeveloped for many years, while additional land has now been designated for employment growth. Before continually adding more employment land, we should understand why existing designated lands are not developing and consider appropriate tools to encourage them to be put into productive use. With water allocation being a major concern across Waterloo Region, I would advocate for time-limited servicing allocations

It should be more transparent and accessible

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

Reforming a policy affecting long-term costs

If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words

A budget isn't truly transparent simply because the documents are posted online. Residents should also be involved before the major budget decisions have effectively been made. Instead of presenting a largely completed budget and asking for comments, we should engage residents earlier about priorities, trade-offs and what they are willing to pay for.