Ron Bolin: Nov. 20, 2010
The pithy quote above comes from a treatise on “honest graft” and other political insights by an early 2oth century Tammany Hall political operative by the name of George Washington Plunkitt. The opening paragraphs of the book are as follows:
“EVERYBODY is talkin’ these days about Tammany men growin’ rich on graft, but nobody thinks of drawin’ the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft. Read the rest of this entry »
Jim Galloway: Nov. 7, 2010
Mayor John Ruttan,
I’m concerned! Why?
For both Single Family and Multi Family (2 – 4 units) the proposed Bylaw would allow one Realtor sign up to 4′ X4′;
Ron Bolin: Nov.7, 2010
Why is it that our Planning Department and our Council seem so anxious to sell off the most precious feature that our municipal environment has to offer? The choice is both short sighted and maladaptive. Read the rest of this entry »
Ron Bolin: Dec. 1, 2010
The judges decision in the case of the City of Nanaimo vs. Millennium Nanaimo Properties Ltd. and Suro Development Corporation is in. Millennium’s right to go to arbitration is upheld. This means several things for Nanaimo’s citizens: 1) higher legal costs in this matter; 2) that arguments will take place behind closed doors and the public will be kept in the dark; and 3) that the need for Council and Staff to advise citizens on whether Millennium actually has any skin in the game is now imperative. If, as many have held, neither ever had any risk in their agreements with the City, then certainly we should not throw good money after bad. And I must apologize for my stance that the City would not proceed to any costly action if there were no assets to be attached. Read the rest of this entry »
Ron Bolin — September, 29, 2010
Darrell Bellart’s story in today’s Daily News: “Tax sale policy well conceived” fails to make its case. While embroidering the concept, the fundamental nature of the obligations which the city has taken on is absent. For example:
Ron Bolin — September 6, 2010
att. Ms. Kim Carter September 6, 2010
Ms. Carter: I have attached below the email exchange which I believe covers the requirements outlined on your web page for launching a complaint, in this case against the City of Nanaimo. My complaint focuses on the negligence which I feel has been perpetrated against the citizens of Nanaimo due to a decision taken in camera by City Council to advise Staff to ignore the city’s Sign bylaw on behalf of some transgressors. The issues which I find to be raised in this matter are as follows:
Accordingly I request that your office, using the powers granted to you in the Ombudspersons Act:
Ron Bolin — July 26, 2010
What have we been told about the final total cost of the Conference Centre? What have we been told about the reasons why we paid some $600,000 to our former City Manager to go away? What have we been told about our suit against the Millennium and Suro development companies to collect over $3 million in payments for services not rendered? What have we been told about city agreements with shell companies? What have we been told about the dreams of our City Council for the development of our city and how they propose to bring these dreams to fruition? How many bylaws go unenforced due to tacit or active decisions by Council? What opinions do our Councillors hold about what is happening in our city and our Province which will affect our lives in Read the rest of this entry »
email from NanaimoCityHall blog reader Gordon Scott
to nanaimocityhall@gmail.com
date Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 9:57 PM
subject: accommodation for plug-in hybrids?
I live in the Yellow Point area and frequently drive into the city of Nanaimo to shop and do business. I believe that in approximately 18 months we will see the roll out of plug-in hybrid cars and I would very much like to purchase one. But, once into Nanaimo where would I be able to plug-in? Without any ability to plug-in I would probably have to fall back onto the gasoline powered motor…has the City done any planning for a future with plug-in vehicles?
Thanks,
Gordon Scott
Reply from Nanaimo Environmental Planner Rob Lawrance:
Subject: RE: PLUG-IN FOR HYBRID CARS
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:47:43 -0700
From: Rob Lawrance <Rob.Lawrance@nanaimo.ca>
To: Frank Murphy
Hi Frank
Yes the City has been discussing the emergence of pure electric vehicles on the market and the need to place charge stations at convenient, accessible locations.
At this point I am involved in developing a Read the rest of this entry »
Mayor Ruttan and Council:
At the Council meeting of May 10, a $5 million contract came before you (RFP 1003) which appeared to be passed in large part because Staff reported that they had obtained legal advice that if it were not awarded, the City might be open to litigation. Councillor Sherry, late in the discussion, reminded all present that no contract larger than $250,000 could be awarded without approval from Council.
I would like to know whether the authority to inform bidders of the results of a bidding process was open to Staff without Council’s prior approval given that this apparently leads to legal obligations which override existing city signing authority bylaws and apparently supersedes Council’s authority. Has Council allowed Staff practices to trump Council’s obligations to govern under the bylaws of this city? Was legal advice sought regarding this specific problem?
I await your response and ask that you also consider this question: Have you ever found a lawyer who is willing to stipulate that there is no risk of litigation from any action that might be taken? In other words, is it ever reasonable to anticipate a legal response which does not reflect a possible risk? And if it is not, then how are we to measure the magnitude of the risk so that the response is of value in the real world?
Ron Bolin
I am an enthusiastic fan of your award winning document Downtown Design Guidelines. (The Planning Institute of BC’s 2009 highest honour) This plan and its guidelines approved and adopted by Council were to serve as a “living” document that was to be implemented when redevelopment was initiated in the downtown core.
I’ve been following with interest the opportunity that’s arisen to work with the property owner (First Capital Realty Inc.) on the redevelopment of the Port Place Mall property. I appreciate the fact that this property owner has made a considerable investment in our city, having purchased the strata ownership of the commercial space in the Port of Nanaimo Centre and holds other Nanaimo commercial properties including Longwood Station and a portion of the Terminal Park shopping plaza. I’m sure you agree that the chance to redevelop a site of this key importance to the City might come along once in 25 years. It’s so important for all concerned, including of course the developer, that we get it right.
I recently inquired as to the status and timelines of the redevelopment and rezoning applications and Director, Planning Andrew Tucker informed me that they are on hold as the proponent wishes to make alterations to both sets of plans already submitted. I also asked if Victoria architect Franc D’Ambrosio whose firm authored the Downtown Design Guidelines had been brought into the process of these redevelopment and rezoning applications. Andrew replied that Mr. D’Ambrosio was not currently under contract with the City and had not been consulted.
It occurred to me that I could approach Mr. D’Ambrosio and ask his thoughts. To my great pleasure Mr. D’Ambrosio was willing to discuss this. I found him to have a sincere and knowledgeable interest in the success of our downtown and a unique and detailed appreciation of both its problems and its potential. He wondered if, given the delay in these applications, it isn’t time for a sober Read the rest of this entry »
nanaimocityhall
Ron Bolin
gordfuller
sunnydan