Issues Addressed, Accepted, Dismissed -Last Council Meeting of 2012
Ron Bolin: Dec. 19, 2012
Monday’s Council meeting was the last of 2012 –and perhaps the last for eternity if some interpretations of the Maya prophecy are to be believed. For myself, I fear that we will not get off so easily and that we will all be back in the hands of Council in the New Year.
However this turns out, as previously reported the agenda was packed… and so was the Shaw Auditorium. Council made a number of housekeeping decisions and in addition, to their credit, made several policy related decisions which were good (which is code for I am in favour) and rejected one for reasons which in my opinion were not related to the merits of the question.
The meeting opened by Dr. Paul Hasselback, Medical Health Officer for VIHA with a presentation regarding our health profile. In brief we remain a year behind both the Island and BC in life expectancy and the gap is slowly increasing. By 2030 we are anticipated to see an increase of about 50% in people over 85 and 92% in people between the ages of 75-85 with all that this entails. We continue to lose ground in education readiness and success when compared to the rest of VIHA and we remain poorer on all measures of economic wellbeing. What is it that is leading to these recurrent conditions and what, if anything, can our municipality do about it? The presentation, which does show progress in some areas, can be seen, along with the rest of the meeting, on the video recording at:
http://www.nanaimo.ca/meetings/VideoPlayer/Index/C121217V
Fred Taylor raised questions regarding the acquisition of a portion of the CPR’s Wellcox land on the harbour, noting that the report presented little economic information about the costs associated with it. This is an interesting acquisition which can be either a blessing or a curse. It is to be hoped that our City administration has a plan beyond the Bus terminal, though that alone has significant merit. Back in 2005 as part of “ Nanaimo between Past and Future: Critical Perspectives on Growth, Planning and the New Nanaimo Centre”, a book written and published by FPN (the Friends of Plan Nanaimo), a conceptual plan for the Wellcox lands spearheaded by Bill Woldnik and Eric Ricker, was presented and is worthy of re-examination. The book is available at the library.
There was absolutely no discussion of the Disposition of our old City Annex for $1 dollar, along with $40,000 in tax relief on the property to the new “owners”. Owners is in quotes as set conditions must be met before the final transfer of the property.
Of particular interest to most of those who filled the Shaw Auditorium was the matter of reconsideration of the In-Camera decision to remove the amenity value of the lakes and their associated activities while removing the middle and lower Chase River dams in Colliery Dam Park. While there has been no denial of the need to address the problems which the dams potentially represent, there has been a great deal of consternation about both the neglect of options for solving those problems and secrecy of a decision which had no perceivable need to be done in secret. So much so, in fact, that in one of those rare Nanaimo events a group of citizens organized itself around the issue, called a meeting (which was attended by more than 500 citizens), got a sit-down with the City and project proponents, and convinced Council to re-examine its options –which was all that was requested. Several professionals associated themselves with the group and excellent presentations were provided to Council on Monday. To view these discussions go to “Community Services” in the agenda at 8:08 pm
http://www.nanaimo.ca/meetings/VideoPlayer/Index/C121217V
Kudos to all who participated in this effort thus far and the team that has been its inspiration, and to those who will continue to see it through to its end. This is a model of what citizens can do if they are aware and motivated. The Pioneer Park folks similarly took united action and achieved their purpose. With City wide awareness and participation, citizens could take our whole community back.
There were a number of Notices of Motion up for consideration, two primarily housekeeping, and two major policy level decisions. A motion for a vote on a Core Review was defeated in a five to four vote with Councillors Kipp, Bestwick, Anderson and McKay on the losing side. Unfortunately the level of discussion was too often at an exceedingly low level with several Councillors opining that since we are not immediately on the edge of a financial cliff, as were some others who have done core reviews, that we don’t need any independent advice on how to avoid that situation. I trust that none of these folks have independent financial advisors. The daggers drawn among our Councillors on this subject were on display despite their efforts.
This issue keeps coming back as there has, to the best of my knowledge, never been an independent outside review of City efficiency and effectiveness and many continue to believe that there may be better ways to do many of the things that we do that that lead to continually rising taxes and fees and a presentment that with upcoming projects and imminent needs for infrastructure maintenance that this pattern will only get worse. It is to be hoped that the Balanced Scorecard approach to program review will prove that we can evaluate ourselves effectively. An introduction to this approach is due to be presented to COW on Jan. 21. It should mesh with the Budget presentation at Council on Jan. 14, at which time the Asset Management Plan will also be laid out. I await this presentation as the budget as currently presented shows no real signs of the enormity of the problems in this area which has been outlined previously.
Thankfully Councillor Pattje’s motion to continue COW meetings at the VICC and to continue to video record them for availability to citizens on the City’s web site passed unanimously. Many, if not most, discussions of finance and policy take place in this venue despite the fact that these descriptors were removed from the Committee’s name and the possibility of public viewing by all is a requirement of modern democracy.
No more Council meetings until Jan. 14, but I suspect that there will continue to be a lively discussion of political affairs in Nanaimo in the meantime.
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
No Core review..
Perhaps the Mayans are correct!; we are F****d.
It might also be noted that in close questioning of the what degree, when, where, sub-area of expertise,qualifications, etc. of one of the Colliery Dam reconsideration proponents, Mr. Lorne Gale, an engineer, Councillor Anderson opened the door for the questioning of the qualifications of all who put forward points of view at Council, including Staff, and yes, even Council.
He also appeared to question his own role at Council as he expressed the view that he need only listen to Staff as they are his experts. If this is so, then why is he there? I trust that he will rethink his position on this subject.
It would appear that a couple of other councilors are asking their own questions regarding Mr. Gale; I would not be surprised if in the new year a motion isn’t made to squash the decision around a rehab study.
Bottom line from the get go of this one is that a ‘professional’ would have insisted the consultant look at all options for the dams.
Gordon: Can you be a little more specific. What has the one thing to do wish the other? All three options should have been examined before any contract was let.
Since Mr. Anderson has claimed it necessary to determine the credentials of the engineer making the presentation as he is obligated to make ‘evidence based decisions’ I have asked him to provide what credentials of Mr. Hickey, Mr. Sims and Mr. Kenning have led him to trust their expertise in making dam decisions. I am still waiting for his answer.
Like you Ron, I pointed out to Mr. Anderson that he had made an excellent case for the abolition of council, if their function is to rubber stamp staff decisions, which of course absolves staff of any future responsibility.
In all fairness to Mr. Anderson the whole concept presented by the engineer about the rehab of the dams seemed beyond his understanding. As Councilor Brennan also indicated when asking which professional opinion to believe. She seemed to miss the point the facts being presented were taken from the engineers report which the city commissioned in 2009.
For reasons understood only by city staff, rehabilitation at a much lower cost was never on the table, and council was never asked to make that policy decision, but I suspect staff figured they could pull their usual ‘beyond scrutiny, in secret meeting’ routine and just steam roll another decision past a council of questionable value.
I am still waiting for an answer from the Mayor as to why the in-camera meeting minutes have not been brought out of in-camera, since the supposed reason for secrecy no longer exists.
Stay tuned……. it will be very interesting to see how staff presented this whole issue to council.
It will be interesting -if the minutes are released. In my opinion City Hall has been playing fast and loose in defining both In-Camera and sole sourcing rationales. I can find no purpose that was served in an In-Camera decision on the Dams. Was the public who were in danger served any more quickly than could have been done without an In-Camera decision? I don’t believe so. We will look forward to the response which you receive, Jim.
Ron,
Do you know if the concept plan in the FPN book took into account existing tenancies, perpetual rights of way, trestle costs etc. etc. Did they also base their plan on the lot as the city is proposing to purchase it?
Jim:
It was a purely conceptual plan, i.e. a drawing of a possible configuration of the property, much like the plan which is presented to the public in an application for major area rezonings such as Cable Bay or Sandstone. It did not take into account such factors as existing tenancies, perpetual rights of way, trestle costs, etc. If you would like to see the conceptual plan, see the book. If you would like to know more, you can talk to Bill Woldnik.
Ron: In your column, you say: “Unfortunately the level of discussion was too often at an exceedingly low level with several Councillors opining that since we are not immediately on the edge of a financial cliff, as were some others who have done core reviews, that we don’t need any independent advice on how to avoid that situation.”
Further to the above, here is a link to story published in the NDN today, Thursday, December 20th, which quotes Regional District Chair, Joe Stanhope, and reports that the City of Nanaimo could see a property tax increase of 6.2%.
“Proposed RDN tax hike ‘too high’ says chairman”
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=2340636e-a08b-4274-98bd-7ad18e838bba&k=60834
Regarding the City’s 2013 budget, its website reports that:
The total 2013 budget is $175.7 million ($123.2 million for operating and $52.5 million for capital); and
The total amount of estimated wages and benefits for City employees for 2013 is $56.4 million.
Janet, re..
Further to the above, here is a link to story published in the NDN today, Thursday, December 20th, which quotes Regional District Chair, Joe Stanhope, and reports that the City of Nanaimo could see a property tax increase of 6.2%.
Part of this tax increase within the RDN is because of the decision to bail out the E & N Railroad.
Part has to do with an incamera decision that basically offloads some of the City’s taxburden onto the RDN; with no explanation to the taxpayer!
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=1401f379-f854-4a19-9344-7fffc24cafe1
This will increase RDN taxes!
Trailblazer:
What the *&%*!!! Had no idea that the Harbourfront Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library was just a tenant of that building.
City of Nanaimo Residential Property Tax Notices indicate that one of the taxes levied by the City goes to the VI Regional Library and there are also various levies collected on behalf of the Regional District, as well as other levies, of course.
Trailblazer 21 December 2012 at 6pm … “Part of this tax increase within the RDN is because of the decision to bail out the E & N Railroad.”
In addition to the recent RDN grant of $950,000 to Island Corridor Foundation, it has been on Nanaimo’s permissive tax exemption list (property taxes) for several years, and I believe, the City of Nanaimo also recently exempted municipal taxes for up to ten years on the rail station, which is a pub/restaurant business.
Trailblazer:
The NDN story that you referred to: “Library bid hinges on funding from RDN”, December 21, 2012, reports that, “VIRL has spent $6.8 million in lease payments since it opened the downtown library in 1997 and $1.8 million in property taxes.” Wonder if VIRL branches are also on Nanaimo’s permissive tax exemption list?
(Understand that the owners of the Harbourfront Library premises, Windley Investments Ltd. of Nanaimo and ICI Developments Ltd. of Victoria, built the City’s new Service and Resource Centre on Dunsmuir Street.)
A very interesting observation, Janet. If one looks at the property, 51 Gordon Street, using NanaimoMap on the City’s web site, one finds that yes, It appears that the entire site is exempt from property tax (including the credit union???). Another interesting turn of events is that while the improvement assessment only dropped a bit from 2011 to 2012 ($4,763,000 to $4,587,000), the assessment on land dropped from $2,196,000 in 2011 to $1,226,000 in 2012 a huge drop in what is typically an appreciating factor. There has to be more to this story, but it is now the weekend, the start of holiday season, and on Jan. 2 of the 2013 assessments for the province will be introduced. But we will see…..
Ron; “All three options should have been examined before any contract was let.” That is exactly what I was trying so ineloquently to say. The whole Dam issue to date smacks so much of being handled in an unprofessional way and now there are a few on council, as well as higher echelon staff, that are too stubborn to admit they were wrong. Now they will, through attempting to denigrate the credentials of anyone opposing them, do their damned best to get their way, which happens to be removing the dams.
Ron Bolin 22 December 2012 at 8am says:
“There has to be more to this story, but it is now the weekend, the start of holiday season, and on Jan. 2 of the 2013 assessments for the province will be introduced. But we will see…..”
Season’s Greetings and Happy Christmas to you and your family, Ron, and to all those who participate in this blog.
Gord;
One point you are overlooking, if city staff are going to attempt to discredit Mr. Gale, (which they can’t), they will also have to discredit their own engineer and his report, as that is the basis for Mr. Gale’s presentation. You will not see anyone on city staff, arguing with the logic behind Mr. Gales conclusions, as they agree with the engineer the city hired.
The decision to remove the dams was not an engineers recommendation but a staff decision they made without asking council for a policy decision. They never intended to do anything but remove the dams. Their own engineer, in the seismic report said it would cost about one million to rehab both dams, which would satisfy safety concerns vis a vis a seismic event. Mr. Gale adds to that number to increase spillway capacity which is where his $3 million number comes from.
Staff totally overstated both probability of failure and cost to replace, all, one could argue to simply make ‘their’ decision seem a no brainer. Which as usual, flew past council with flying colours.
If staff and council do not take a sober, serious second look at what Mr. Gale is proposing, they have virtually NO credibility.
Not sure how Mr. Gales qualifications stand up against Mr. Kenning, Hickey and Sims, when it comes to being able to give good advice on dams, but I have a guess.
And A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT………
UNTIL NEXT YEAR…
DITTO :) :) :)
“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.” – Cicero , 55 BC
So evidently, we’ve learned nothing in the past 2,067 years. Happy New Year 2013 everyone