Doublespeak at City Hall?
Fred Taylor: September 12, 2011
City of Nanaimo
455 Wallace Street
Nanaimo, B.C.
Mayor Ruttan & Council Members:
I ask the Council to ‘table’ the Report “Designation of Park Land – Park Dedication Bylaw No. 7137” for consideration at the next Council meeting.
The public must have the opportunity to review the complete document; as of Monday morning, September 12, 2011 the Agenda has not contained a copy of the Bylaw 7137 either on the city web site or available printed copy.
There are also new parklands under consideration which may be included.
The report does recognize “24 dedicated parks by Bylaw” No.’s 735, 2255, 2671 and 2803.
To date, I can only recall Bylaw 2255 of Public discussion.
Why are these park Dedication Bylaws not on the city web site bylaws page, do we have something to hide ?
The public has the right to know the 24 parks already dedicated item 138 – 161.
Just take a minute to consider tonight’s report under the heading
Fee Simple Park With Conditions
(page 4 of the report, agenda page 42).
“These properties have a legal notation on the title restricting the property to a specific park use.”
and –
Protection by Covenant
(page 3 of the report, page 41 of the agenda).
“On occasion, a property is gifted to the City and the owner places a specific covenant on title to ensure the lands are used for a specific purpose.”
Well, well anybody ever hear of Bowen Park, one of our larger parks within the City?
You appear to abuse these statements with new extra wide sidewalks, a bridge using dedicated parkland, removing trees etcetc; with an established public road right-of-way for the job that should have been used; not gifted, covenanted public park.
Enough said, I believe Council needs time to gather your intentions into a well awaited protection of our parklands.
_______________________________________________________
After some amendments during the vote on this issue, the Dedication of Parkland bylaw was passed by Council. Mr. Taylor’s points regarding the information provided to the Public on the Parks affected, and, perhaps more importantly, the fact that the bylaw is apparently being broken even as it passes, remain unanswered.
RB
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
One of the biggest problems with the City and Council is communicating with its citizens and informing them of what is going on. Two cases in point:
1. The AAP for Borrowing 22million for the Water Treatment Centre, one public meeting held that was a promo for the plant. AAP forms were there but had to be asked for. 3 times I mentioned to Joan Harrison that they should be on the table with the other information. What a literal crock.
2. The recent public hearing for Zoning Bylaw Amendments etc.. The notice was not put on the City Website until 2 days before when I asked about it.
Now we move towards the latest Su[pportive Social Housing Location in the North End. It should have been announced far prior to today but even before hand discussion should have happened with the neighbourhood.