Those of you who know me well, know that I firmly believe in the idea that the public (taxpayers') must be consulted on any new service(s) that either the City of WL or the Cariboo Regional District has been requested to establish and you will recall my previous posts on my opposition to the newly established Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function
In the business plan for 2009 for the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function, a Service Delivery Plan is to be created to provide for the operation of this Function over the next few years. The contractor has now been selected to write the Service Delivery Plan and it is Brownfield Consulting, which is partially owned by David/Sam Zirnhelt. They have already begun initial consultation with local communities in Areas D to F of the CRD and the City to get input. No word on when the general public will get to provide input and where these sessions will take place, although I have mentioned to Director Deb Bischoff (Area 'D' CRD Director) the need to ensure that Public Consultation takes place in each of Electoral Areas D, E, F and the City of WL and with only 5 weeks to go until the Service Delivery Plan must be done for September, when this plan goes before the CRD Board of Directors' for Budget Discussions for 2010, I fear that the Public Consultation that is done will be rushed, as was the case last fall to get public approval for the establishment of the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function
Meanwhile, at City Hall, Council gave 3 readings to Bylaw #2092 of 2009 which, if adopted, would dissolve the Downtown Parking Commission, which in previous years, has managed funds for the operation/purchasing of lots in the downtown core for businesses that have challenges in providing parking for their staff/customers. Council also received a letter from the local BIA expressing a concern around the dissolution of the Downtown Parking Commission. Councillor Rathor (City of WL Deputy Mayor), as Chair of the Public Works Portfolio, will now meet with the local BIA to discuss their concerns, prior to Council adopting Bylaw #2092
Now, had Council did a little homework and wished to be proactive, it should have asked for a meeting with the local BIA on this subject, prior to introducing 3 readings to Bylaw #2092. Doing so would have ensured that the local BIA's concerns would be taken into consideration prior to Council deciding whether or not Bylaw #2092 be read a 1st, 2nd, 3rd time.
Over at the CRD, I believe the CRD is making a mockery of the ideals behind Public Consultation and its' own policies on this subject. Had the Board set a timeline for when/how public consultation be completed on the Service Delivery Plan for the Arts and Culture Function, the public would have taken ownership in how this Function should proceed. But because no dates have been set for meetings on a vision/future direction for this Function, it would not surprise me if the public said - why bother, the politicians won't listen anyways.
If there is no public consultation prior to September 1st or the Public Consultation Meetings' are not done in a way that is reflective of the principles of how the Public should be consulted on any matter (evening meetings after 7pm and ensure that the meeting format allows for the public to provide genuine input and not City/CRD + Community Arts Council Staff to promote the idea that it knows what the vision is for this Function and the public's role is to comment on that vision, then I'll be writing Director Bischoff formally and requesting that she consider withdrawing Area 'D' out of the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function.
I believe that rural residents should be taxed for services that they have specifically asked for, at Town Hall meetings, and if politicians have an idea for a new service, they should bring it up during the Annual CRD Town Hall Meetings and if the local residents' don't object, then engage in the usual practices for establishing a Regional District Function, including adhering to the principles of Public Consultation (reasonable opportunities for public input - time a meeting is to start and locations close to rural/City residents')
By doing this, those of us who are politicians or want to be one, will ensure that we are truly serving the public by responding to expressly desired needs/wants by local taxpayers
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