From impact fees to ride-hailing: Mayor looks back at a turbulent 2017

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This article was published 19/12/2017 (3046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a tumultuous and busy year for Mayor Brian Bowman.

It began with the local homebuilding industry making good on its promise to challenge city hall over its controversial impact fee, and it ended with Bowman fighting with the taxi industry over his promise to introduce ride-hailing services to the city.

In between, Bowman fought with the provincial government over its funding decisions and coped with the impacts on police and transit budgets and threatened to get out of the ambulance business.

And, he also found time to build and open a downtown, off-leash dog park (even if it did annoy the developer of the adjacent highrise apartment building), he supported a review of the governance model at city hall and initiated plans to demolish the old Public Safety Building and replace it with a public meeting space.

He continually spars with opposition councillors who question his claim of bringing transparency and openness to city hall, and has managed to build a coalition of nine to 11 councillors who have supported a long list of initiatives.

Through it all, Bowman said he has enjoyed every minute as mayor.

“I’m really enjoying my time in office,” Bowman told the Free Press during the traditional end-of-year interview. “It’s not an easy job, but it’s one that I feel humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve the city that I love.”

Bowman, who was elected to office in 2014, still won’t say if he plans to run again, but the videographer/photographer that seems to accompany him everywhere — capturing those images that would be ideal for a re-election brochure — suggests his name will appear on the October 2018 ballot.

‘I’ve worked really hard at being a much more open and accessible mayor to Winnipeggers than they’ve seen in the past’

The 46-year-old vowed never to become a career politician and said he fully expects to resume practising law when his time in office is up.

“There are a number of career politicians at various levels of government. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some people choose to make it their career. I have no aspirations to make it my career. I have a career (as a lawyer) and this is public service. Sooner or later, I’ll be back in my career,” he said.

“I’m not looking to be here for ­decades and decades, that’s for sure. And, even if I wanted that, I’m not sure Winnipeggers would be well served by having someone here for decades.”

Despite what seems like a very long year fighting with everyone, Bowman said he believes he’s changed the tone at city hall.

“What I’m trying to achieve here at city hall is a little more civility, a little more pragmatism and collaboration. I’m doing my best to effect that kind of change.”

Bowman said his priority issues for 2018 include: rolling out legal cannabis sales and ensuring city hall receives its fair share of tax revenue to cover policing costs; introducing ride-hailing services, including Uber and Lyft; implementing new rules banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios; and demolishing the old Public Safety Building on Princess Street and transforming the area into a link between the east and west Exchange districts.

He said he has a long list of accomplishments from the past three years, but what he has really enjoyed the most was the time spent away from the nitty-gritty of politics.

“I’ve worked really hard at being a much more open and accessible mayor to Winnipeggers than they’ve seen in the past. I really enjoy being out in the community and engaging with Winnipeggers,” the mayor said. “It’s a different view when you’re outside the bubble at city hall. It’s beautiful. Winnipeggers are amazing people. That’s the part of the job I enjoy the most.”

Bowman said he’s tried to build on the success of previous mayors when it comes to promoting the city — to its residents, the rest of Canada and the world.

“I’ve worked really hard to enhance our pride in who we are as a community and how Canadians and international observers are viewing Winnipeg,” Bowman said. “The reason why the Indigenous Accord is so important, and reconciliation efforts, the (2017) Canada Summer Games, FIFA (2015 women’s World Cup games), (2015) Grey Cup, all these things are part of how we celebrate who we are, enhance our pride, but also build our reputation nationally and internationally as a city.

“We’re making really good strides there.”

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca