Gordon Fuller

Council Budget

2012-01-11T08:02:00.001-08:00

The 2012 budget is being discussed and there have been a few good presentations to date. Anyone wishing to speak to it can do so without signing up to appear as a delegation and will be able to do so till around May. Funny story in the Bulletin today, http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/136825268.html, about council hosting some special budget meetings.

All three of the meetings they mention are during working hours, could the unemployment rate in Nanaimo be higher than the 7.5% stated? I'm thinking that because the times were set when they were Council & Staff feel the majority of folk in Nanaimo are unemployed and hence can make these meetings:). No worries though because the discussion will be going on for a few more months and folk can attend regular as well as FPCOW meetings if they wish to learn more.

Lest those of you out there that rent do not feel tax City tax increases do not affect you then think again. With a possible 4% tax increase to homeowners as well as the 5% Water and 6.14% Garbage tax increases you can rest assured that these costs will be passed on to renters.

Also at the meeting last night Council announced the outcome of recent negotiations with CUPE 401 city workers. In each of the next three years CUPE workers will be receiving a 2% pay increase; gee do you think council giving themselves a raise of 8% each of the next three years played a part in this:)?

Lastly of note; a motion was proposed to have In Camera meetings moved to the pm instead of am. During question period http://www.nanaimo.ca/CouncilMeetings/VideoArchive.aspx?clip=C120109V I asked, because during the election many a candidate had espoused transparency and openness, if council would consider no longer holding those ‘In Camera’ meetings of which they have a choice of whether or not to hold ‘In Camera’ under section 90(1) of the Community Charter. If you are just dying to hear their responses, recomended, check out the link above and go to question period :).

One last kick at the council raise can

2012-01-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Been lax again with posting:(

This was my spiel to council on December 19th, the first televised council meeting of the new council. Sadly I feel all hope is lost with regards to council recinding their raise.

Here are links to the Agenda December 19, 2011 Video December 19, 2011

I appeared as a delegation, near the end of the meeting, to speak about the pay raise City council received, and did so despite the fact I could have spoken at the beginning of the agenda as a Delegations Pertaining to the 2012-2016 Financial Plan. My reason for doing so was to separate the issue of council pay out from the financial plan speakers in order that it not get lost in the discussion. I could also have appeared as a delegation at last Mondays 'Finance Policy of the Committee of the Whole (FPCOW)' meeting but chose not to because these meetings are not televised or video taped and so not many people would have been aware of what I was presenting.

Many of us think FPCOW meetings should be televised and taped. My guess is they do not do so in part because these meetings are the ideal place to slip things onto the agenda that they do not wish people to be aware of. In fact it was at the September 19th meeting that council gave themselves, actually th new council, the raise. Very little even made it into the papers about the raise; I did write a letter to the editor at the time and also brought it up during the election.

Anyway the jist of this is that I think council are quite happy to keep their raise and my presentation did little but to hopefully inform more of the public.

Here is a copy of my presentation:

December 19, 2011

When looked at in comparison to the overall budget for Nanaimo of $160,370,000; current
salaries for Mayor and council only equate to .18% and the proposed increase in
salary this year would simply equate to .015%. One could say that of more concern should be Nanaimo’s growing debt load and the over 2.5 million we will be paying in interest on that debt in 2012. This, however, is about mayor & council wage increases.

While the wage increase in monetary terms and looked at as a percent of the overall
budget is not a significant burden it is still a burden on the taxpayer. When one looks at the possible 4% tax increase to homeowners as well as the 5% Water and 6.14% Garbage tax increases
adding the wage increase could be seen as adding insult to injury.

Looked at in comparison to the wages earned by the citizens of Nanaimo, City councillors are already making more than 45% of those citizens and those 6 councillors receiving RDN salaries are making more than 60%. The Mayor, currently earning $79,000 and in the top 19% of wage earners, will over the 3 year life of these 8% yearly increases be earning over $100,000, ultimately moving into the top 4% of wage earners.

I don’t want to get in a huge debate about city councils position being part time. The reality is, based on information from city staffs report of September 14th; councillors are currently required to attend an average of 106 meetings per year. If one looks at these meetings taking an average of 3 hours councils commitment is 6 hours per week. Yes many will put in additional hours, some
more than others, but the reality is this is a part time position.

I would encourage Mayor & Council to, if there really is a need for a raise at all, go back to basing council and mayor raises in pay on cost of living. I hazard to guess that even this will be higher than what will be proposed to city workers when negotiating their contracts and it definitely will be higher than most citizens’ will see if they see a raise at all.

While constantly striving to reach a median of comparable cities councils will continue to see that median increase and will continually, in striving to meet the median, be asking for exorbitant wage increases. To stop this from happening I would encourage council, at the next Union of BC Municipalities meeting, to put forward a motion that increase of city council salaries across the province be limited to cost of living increases only.

Occupy Nanaimo

2011-12-15T05:33:00.000-08:00

A tactic that is commonly used by City Staff and Council is to add late items to the Agenda of Council meetings that do not appear on the City Website until extremely late in the day of the council meeting. This happened on Monday when an Announcement by Mayor Ruttan regarding the Occupy site was added to the agenda.

Why do this? I believe the underlying hope is that if no one knows then no one will speak to the issue. As the regular meeting of council is televised this can seen as a good tactic to use if you do not want to keep the common folk in the loop.

Interesting with the meeting on Monday November 28 is that many from Occupy were on hand at the council meeting and while not appearing as delegations took the opportunity to avail themselves at question period.

The link below will take you to the video of the meeting and if you use the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen to go to i:10 minutes and you will catch the questions asked. Listen to them all and pay particular attention to the behaviour of our Mayor.
Council Meeting November 28, 2011

The following are stories related to Occupy leading up to their having to leave the Krall Space.

Dec 9
Judge gives injunction to dismantle occupy camp
"I was hopeful that we could resolve the matter without involving litigation, but unfortunately that was really the only remaining alternative," From when it was announced by Mayor Ruttan at council on Nov. 30th that the City 'MAY' seek an injunction it was a done deal. This was made abundantly clear by the two 'In Camera' motions made on the 30th that were included in the injunction papers. There was also no time given as the judge said remove forthwith and just to ensure that happened the top brass of the city were there to gloat. Kudos to all those who took part in the Occupy movement, not just in Nanaimo but elsewhere as well.
Editorial: Occupiers no longer welcome downtown

Dec 5
Occupiers issued notices for court appearance
This really came as no surprise and while the Occupiers were hopeful to get a continuance so they could to get afidavits refuting those that were in the City injunction papers the result alas was the above.

Dec 2
Occupiers angry they were blindsided with court action
The Krall space is not a park. Tents are not permanent structures and if they are considered such then every time an event is held at one of the City's parks then it is in violation of the By-Law. A costly injunction was not the way to go. The city could easily have agreed to allow the occupiers to keep their information canopy on site and as they already have the right to picket, protest or demonstrate 24/7 then in all likelihood the tents except for a symbolic few would have been removed peacefully. Wonder if the Mayor even thought of that as an option?

Dec 1
Nanaimo occupiers face fines after ignoring request to vacate plaza
Occupiers won't leave plaza until city provides new site
Activists say occupy camp gives sense of community

Nov 30
Occupy camp turns down city proposal
The picture used by the D/N is misleading in that while it implies the Occupy site is a mess it in reality is not. Between the tents is a pile of stuff that has been donated and is bagged and covered to prevent it from getting wet. Take a picture from the front of the Krall Space and you clearly see that other than the Information canopy and food tent the rest is not visible.
As for cancelled events, Halloween was great, the Santa thing was admittedly by the DNBIA moved indoors due to inclement weather and the use of the big screen to show the Grey Cup was not even advertised and could have been done for the enjoyment of those interested as well asd the occupiers.

The behaviour of our Mayor at the Council meeting on Monday was sad to say the least. People find it hard enough to speak without being denigrated and talked down to. The Mayor not allowing interested councillors to be a part of the negotiations smacks of dictatorship and yelling at the negotiators during these meetings is certainly not behaviour one would expect from civic leadership.

The occupiers are a group of well meaning citizens, many of whom hold down full time jobs, who just want to make the public aware of inequities in our system. Work with them and I am sure a peaceful resolution can be had.

City tells occupiers to vacate by thursday
The reality here is that there has been no ultimatum or specific deadline as the Mayor and Council have only said they MAY apply for an injunction.

There have actually been NO events cancelled. At the DNBIA meet and greet last week it was stated that the move of the Santa fly-in and workshop to the Museum was actually a good idea because of the weather and as for an alleged, at council last night by staff, use of the BIG SCREEN in the Krall Space to show the Grey Cup on Sunday that was the first time it had even been mentioned. Nothing has been cancelled.

As for the notice they received they are not in contravention of any of its points; they have not built a structure; they have not Occupied for Lodging, those spending nights have homes and the homeless that choose on occasion also have elsewhere to go.

The fact is there are no scheduled events and once gone the place will be dead space as it usually is.

Given time and with discussion the folk occupying would eventually leave on there own. Using threats is not the way to go. Business is benefitting from money the occupiers spend and there is absolutely no reason for anyone to fear going to the library because of the occupiers. In actuality more families should bring their kids down to show them what the true face of democracy is about.

News Comments

2011-11-27T11:47:00.001-08:00

26th

Mid Island may see glut of jobs as boomers retire

This is all well and good for the Forestry, Construction and health industries, all well paying jobs, but it should also be noted that more and more seniors have to work after so called retirement because they do not have e

Yes in the mentioned industries retirement may open up jobs but with the increasing number of seniors having to work they will enter other sectors for employment thus negating the above which could have a huge effect have to work somewhere and

City Log: Residents can expect hike in water. garbage rates

And so they raise water rates in part to pay for the new 65 million dollar water treatment plant. Gee and I thought the borrowing of 22 million was supposed to pay for it along with reserves. Wait a minute, I think I get it. The water rate increase will pay for the interest we pay on the 22 million borrowed.

Nov 24
Elections BC wants young people pre-registered to vote
This is a good idea that should have happened ages ago. Youth are the future and if there is anything that can be done to get them involved and better informed then just do it. Enough Talk.

Sampson group converts cash to shares in Harmac
A true Nanaimo success story and model that can be used elsewhere. Let’s hope the next time we hear that the employee-ownership model is still in place and hasn't been co-opted.

Philip Wolf: We can only hope for more from leaders
There are many reasons for poor voter turnout, the one I hear most often being that people just do not feel involved and that their voice means nothing even when they do try to get involved. This council must do more to reach out to the community and ensure people are given a chance to contribute. An ad or two in local papers does not constitute community engagement.
One open house info session on an issue like the Water Treatment Plant does not promote Community Engagement. Use of the Alternate Approval Process to steamroll the passing of certain things does not promote Community involvement. I sincerely hope that this council will do better when it comes to engaging the public, I know if they do not I will be there to remind them.

Debate over barn stirs up Harewood's agricultural past
If Nanaimo loses this building it will be yet another example of how little history is valued in the community. When the Convention Centre was announced we lost the Foundry which was one of the only such style of buildings left in the province. A few years prior the first School House in Nanaimo was torn down. Both were unnecessarily removed, the lots they sat on remain empty, and could have been preserved by the city. Gradually if we do not step up to save some of the more unique buildings Nanaimo’s historic value will be greatly diminished.

Editorial: Election laws uphold system
Well said.

Nov 23
North-end group set to keep up fight
Normally I would say getting people out to vote is a good thing and the CCN certainly got people out to vote. It is when it is done through spreading fear and mis-information, like the CCN did, that I question the rationale.
Perhaps some of those involved with the CCN would like to start up a Neighbouhood Group and get involved on a more positive note. Instead of spreading fear and misinformation look at inclusion and creating a welcoming neighbourhood. The South End Community Association is a good one to emulate.

Putting ideas into action at top of mayors agenda
"....that says to me Nanaimo is supportive of our projects in principal and want to see them continue." Do not take for granted that because you were re-elected the voters agree. Get out and ask them.

Friendship centre official lobbies for off-reserve plan

Nov 22
D/N
Five interesting oddities from the campaign trail
Crap and I thought sure my comment at Oliverwoods when they had the CCN'rs and vote panderers there would have made it into the strange and unusual. Not too often someone will step forward and tell an audience he is not going to kiss their ass for votes:).
That the CCN was able to get so many out by their message of fear and misinformation is but a sad postscript to the election of 2011.

Father questions VIHA on communications procedure
This is simply shameful on the part of VIHA. C’Dif is a highly contagious disease and relatively easy to transfer. “VIHA maintains children and their families were never put at risk.” Ludicrous and a potential disaster waiting to happen.

Its a bad idea to sell our water
This would have huge ramifications if done. As the population grows we will need more water not less.

Bulletin
BC wants teens signed up to vote
A good idea but will doing so increase voter turnout?

Improving communication with residents, establishing consensus key challenges for new council
This is a given but not simply for the North End but in communication throughout the city and on all issues. Currently the policy would seem to be to do the least possible to inform and invite community participation. This must change.

Shelter visits up as weather deteriorates
Unitl the new housing that has been proposed is built a shelter like the Unitarian is but a stop gap measure. It is important to understand that many of those using this shelter likely do not fit the criteria for your standard shelter in that they may be intoxicated or they may simply for whatever reason not choose to go to the Salvation Army or Samaritan House shelters. Yes they are primarily on the street during the day with many making use of the 7-10 Club until 10:00am or the library once it is open.

Editorial: Voters happy with council? Turn out didn't show it
Perhaps another reason for poor voter turnout is that we actually have three less poling stations since the 2005 election and of those we do have they keep changing some of the locations. If we really want to encourage voter turnout then we should have more places to vote and not less.

Nov 21
Ruttan prepares for the future after securing second term
Well said, HERE WE GO AGAIN and CHRIS. Even existing hoteliers are leery of the tax incentive and giving themselves a raise of 8+% per year for the next three years is ludicrous when compared to the raises, if any, for the average person. SHAME!

Our Mayor has mandate and experience
“So, John Ruttan has his mandate. He has the confidence of the electorate to stay the course on matters of taxation, economic development and social planning.”

I would really have to beg to differ with this statement, John Ruttan does not have a mandate at all. The pathetic turnout, no matter the reasons, of 26% of voters could just mean the exact opposite. It could simply mean that people are fed up and do not think their votes count for anything as they see council blindly moving forward with their own agenda and not one for the people.

So, why the poor showing? Perhaps the above is one reason but I would also hazard to guess that the continually moving, and eliminating of polling stations also has something to do with it. The removal of Bayview School in 2008 can be directly attributed to low voter turnout in that area. The distance to polling stations makes it extremely difficult for many seniors and others to make it out to vote.

Looking at the distance in many areas the only option for people is to take a bus, average of 1.5 hours round trip, or cab which many cannot afford. With the latter one would actually have to pay to vote and this is uncontainable. Instead of making it difficult the powers that be need to make voting accessible.

Low voter turnout sad epilogue
No doubt the CCN slate had an effect on the numbers of votes for all of the candidates they chose to support; the fortunate thing is that only two got elected.

Funny that I do not see the fact that there are 3 less polling stations, as compared to 2005, as a possible reason why the voter turnout was so bad. There should be more polling stations so as to make it walkable for the majority of voters.

Then again, like the communication process of the city, do the powers that be really want to encourage citizen participation?

Campaign Q&A's and Links to candidate info

2011-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Elect Your Future
When you open the Councillors section you will likely have to zoom in quite a bit.

Chamber of Commerce Q&A
Chamber of Commerce Successful Cities

South End Votes
South End Votes. Starts with answers to question 3, scroll down for answers to the other questions

Nanaimo Info Blog
This one is a bit difficult as you have to scroll down through all of those that have answered the questions instead of just clicking on a name.

Nanaimo Daily News Election Coverage

Elections Civic Info BC

SHAW TV:

Candidate Interviews
Saturday, November 12th at 6:00pm
Monday, November 14th at Noon and 6:00pm
Wednesday, November 16th at 11:00am and 5:00pm

We are also happy to announce that on November 13th that the completed candidate’s package will be available on our YouTube page for you to share. You will be able to find it at http://www.youtube.com/user/ShawTVCentralVI

Broadcasts of the Coalition for Democratic Nanaimo All-Candidates' meetingIf you were not at the meeting, or want to see it again, you will have several opportunities this week. The video of the meeting, prepared by Manly Media and Mid-Island TV Society will be broadcast on Shaw Cable 4:
Sunday Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m
Tuesday Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

LINK TO VIDEAO of ALL CANDIDATES MEETING All Candidates Video

Green Drinks Nanaimo Q&A (They have a website but nothing posted from candidates)

Should Nanaimo own our source of drinking water, or are we are well-enough served under the present "ownership" by Harmac and Island Timberlands?
Nanaimo should own the watershed.

If the former, how should we or could we gain control?

We would have to look at purchasing it keeping in mind Snuneymuxw claims. It would be ideal if Nanaimo could partner with the Snuneymuxw to do this?

If elected, would you call for a referendum on this question?

Yes.

Should Snuneymuxw First Nation's historical ownership of the Jump Lake and Nanaimo Lakes watershed be recognized?

Yes. If Nanaimo were to support the Snuneymuxw claims then if there was a settlement by the federal and provincial governments we could partner with them to purchase the watershed.

Do you support recent moves toward more urban agriculture?

Yes.

Do you support the ‘backyard chicken’ bylaw and its possible extension?

Yes.

Do you support spin gardening, famer’s markets and other initiatives to support more home gardening?

Yes. What I would propose upon being elected would be to make the allocation for Urban Gardens equal across the board at 75% of the property.

Do you support pesticide use?

No.

The recent Vision Nanaimo rally showed evidence that the municipalities that are creating more sustainable and affordable communities reject the call for an ever-expanding development ("urban sprawl"). Are you in favour of developing such places as the Cable Bay area or "in-filling" existing developed areas?

I am not in favour of developing Cable Bay and would actually like to, if at all possible, see the Urban Containment Boundary rolled back for that and other areas. Infill densification is the way to go and through that we can create environmental benefits such as a more efficient transit system and walkable communities.

A municipality has the mandate to protect it's citizens from potentially hazardous materials and effects. The Union of BC Municipalities and at least 23 individual municipalities have asked B.C. Hydro and the B.C. government to place a moratorium on “Smart meters” installation pending more information and review. They are ignoring this request and installing meters here, right now. What is your position on “Smart meters” and what will you do to deal with this issue more effectively?

I am adamantly opposed to Smart Meters as there is no justification for the replacement of existing meters. I am unsure if there is anything that can be done by the municipality now that they are being installed. People should however have the right to refuse them without fear of their existing meter being replaced regardless of their wants.

Given that Nanaimo City's Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability is working on a plan to target community-wide Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions would you support a moratorium on further development of drive-throughs?

Yes.

What ideas have you for a better transportation system? Your alternatives to big empty buses touring around? Revitalizing and better incorporating the rail system opportunities?

Infill densification, smaller buses on feeder routes, supporting Island Corridor Foundation to create commuter service using the rail system.

As a coastal community right on the Salish Sea what is your position on the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project, the Kinder Morgan planned increase of oil tanker traffic out of the Port of Vancouver, crude oil tanker traffic on our B.C. coast in general and the possible lifting of the informal moratorium on oil and gas exploratory drilling offshore from the B.C. coast?

No pipeline and no oil tanker traffic and no lifting of the moratorium. We need to be looking at cleaner energy.

Currently large log booms are stored in the Nanaimo estuary impacting the bottom at low tide and destroying the eelgrass which is important for the survival of salmon as they adapt to the salt water. Should this practise be disallowed?

There are actually far fewer log booms being allowed in the estuary for that very reason. Ultimately the goal would be to not have them in the area where they do impact the eelgrass.

More in the News (actually posted Nov 18th)

2011-11-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Comments below on stories from both local newspapers.

Nov 18
Hot election issues may be shaking up voter apathy
We do indeed need to attract technology based jobs and work to create better opportunities for employment in Nanaimo. While we cannot rely on “pretty views” to attract business we can hype the assets we have in the community including these pretty views to attract business and people.

Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo will cooperate with police probe into election wrongdoing
True colours emerge from a couple of the candidates. It is never too late to disassociate oneself from something, especially if it is illegal and for Fillmore to call it silly and hype shows he simply has a disregard for the law.

Ron Bolin: Time to move on from housing debate and avoid bigger problems
Another excellent column

Turnout at advance polls in Nanaimo and Parksville well ahead of 2008 election

Opinion: Occupiers must move or be removed
Couldn't disagree more. If they were actually a problem then so be it move, but they are in fact not.

"The attitude of the Nanaimo occupiers seems to be that they are quite willing to share the square with others. The problem with that approach is that the occupiers, not the public through the city, end up controlling a space that belongs to us all."

The Krall Space is one of the most unused public spaces in the community. This group has kept the avenue open to the Library and Credit Union, the only two reasons for folk to even enter the plaza.

They are also responsible for bringing many into the downtown and hence spending money at downtown businesses.

Nov 17
Police will probe election activities of Nanaimo group

The big question is; for a group that pushes for transparency and communication why do the financial backers remain anonymous? There seems to be some hidden agenda by the CCN. I feel for those that are being snowed by this group, they should really be asking themselves who is actually behind this and what are the real motives.

Nanaimo's willingness to vote in civic elections has been waning each year
It is a shame that in an election which has the most potential to affect the population the population seems unwilling to take part. I hope this year we will see more people vote but I fear we will see even less than in 2008.

Editorial: Groups strive to fight apathy
A problem for years it is nice to see so many groups actually trying to encourage people to vote. The one problem I see is are people actually looking at the information on candidates or as is the case with the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo being influenced by a hidden agenda.

Philip Wolf: Earn your right to complain by getting out to vote
Another reasonably good column

Nanaimo ranks third in BC on operational spending
“CFIB did not include capital expenditures in their study.” Had they done so Nanaimo would probably be at the bottom of the heap. It is not just the capital expenditures but the means with which they have gotten approval.

Nov 16
Forum rejigs civic election
This was a lot of fun to participate in. A pleasant change to the standard All Candidates meeting.

Occupiers meet with City and RCMP to discuss concerns on each side

Young Professionals of Nanaimo urge young people to vote
One of a few groups working to encourage voter turnout. Let’s hope it works.

Grants in-lieu from province top up city with $371K
With all the downloading onto municipalities by the Province far more monies should be coming our way.

Ruttan seeking second term to finish business
"With the recession over," Tell that to the majority of those in Nanaimo who struggle daily to make ends meet. Drop the issue of a hotel for the conference centre. We tried to give away part of Maffeo Sutton Park to get this going and that didn't work, if a hotel is not happy with the city giving them the property on which to build then so be it let it go.

Nov 15
Graduation rate on the rise in Nanaimo-Ladysmith District

This is indeed good news. All graduates deserve kudos for their hard work. Keep it up and let’s see these numbers increase even higher.
BC Child advocate reappointed
It is all well and good that the Child Advocate wants to expand her mandate but what should really happen is she should be given more power to actually implement change.
Child poverty on the rise (related story from July)
It is a sad state that Child Poverty in BC has been the highest in Canada since the Liberal government came to power in 2001.

Nanaimo is particularly hard hit with high unemployment and a service based industry that pays little and often only offers part time employment. While the recent raise of the minimum wage will help I have my doubts that it will have that great of an impact.

Nov 14

Job creation among the topics in Nanaimo election
Councillors cannot create jobs but what they can do is work to make things better towards creating a more diversified work force. Limited Tax incentives, not at all like those proposed in an attempt to attract a Hotel for the conference centre, and a smoother process for development that benefits the community are things that can be done.

I constantly hear how difficult getting permits can be and how if you speak to more than one person the answers you get will more often than not be different. A smoother process is necessary so that we don't have things like the 5 months that it took just to get a permit to raise the height of the storage space at the food bank.

Walter Cordery: Department aids community
Our parks are one of Nanaimo's greatest assets and the more we can do to protect and enhance them the better. Some thought now needs to go into how we can purchase a large part of the undeveloped privately owned land in West Linley Valley.

Not only will our parks benefit the citizens of Nanaimo into the future they will also be an attractor for tourism and people moving to Nanaimo for the quality of life it has to offer. Our Parks need to be part of the new Economic Development Corporations overall agenda to create jobs by bringing business and tourism into the community..

Green light group emerges in support of low-barrier housing
Finally a group that is willing to put out actual information.

Council candidates debate issues among groups
As stated above, a lot of fun. Video of the event can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/midislandtv?feature=mhsn#p/u/0/Y-bdgLZcgZ4

Addiction treatment in strong demand
Treatment and detox for all kinds of addiction issues are much needed in BC. Expanded from the original 42 days operated by Surfside; Nanaimo John Howard has taken the program to 4 months which should give people accessing the program a far better chance of success.
When we look at the issue of Housing the Homeless and Low-Barrier housing we also have to put in place programs that will help those accessing the housing who have addictions. This one will be a big help but more and varied programs are needed.

Nanaimo Council Candidates
Not very in depth information for people looking at the candidates and trying to choose whom to vote for. Probably said this number of times but it behoves folk to look at all aspects of a candidate and make an informed decision.

If one has a few council candidates they particularly like for the position then they should limit their votes to just those candidates. Picking more, or all 8 in Nanaimo, could result in those one is iffy on actually beating out the candidates they person likes.

Column: Homelessness is everyone's problem
An excellent column by Rachel Stern of the Bulletin. She has an excellent grasp of the situation of homelessness and the many needs t address it. Rachel is one of my favourite reporters and has done some excellent stories in the past on homelessness and poverty.

North end residents need a wake up call
http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/opinion/letters/133832263.html

Perhaps the best letter I have seen on the housing of the homeless issue. This from a student at Dover Bay who had also wanted his opinion published in the school paper and was denied.

Supporters need to follow rules
Citizen group acts from a place of fear
Couple of good letters from the bulletin re the CCN groups illegal endorsement of candidates. Re the latter I believe the group knows exactly what they are doing and there is an underlying motive. If in fact, as rumours have it, Roger McKinnon and Norad Development are indeed funding the fear promoting ads and misleading the public as to why they should vote for their slate of candidates then charges should be laid by the RCMP.

Nov 12
A democratic lesson in misstep by CCN
There will be more on this issue as I have been in contact with a person who will be pushing for an investigation.

Nov 10
Concerned Citizens agree they are now campaign organizers

"Some city council hopefuls endorsed by the group say they did not give permission for their names to be used in campaign, but are unconcerned the group may have over-stepped the law." “But they also say they're unconcerned about any potential missteps made the group previously as unregistered campaign organizers.”
So let me get this straight; it is okay for some people to break the law and not others? Something is very wrong with this picture.

“Inglis said he has been involved in election campaigns at all government levels..."
One group with previous experience at all level was not aware and another with no experience was; something fishy here.

For a group that espouse to value transparency and open communication they have still not released the names of those funding their campaign.

This story has garnered more comments than any other; they are well worth the read.

Lobby groups may have crossed line into campaigning
No may here they did.
Election Promises: new council may find it difficult to cut taxes
Difficult but not impossible:)

Groups election efforts under fire as campaigning
As well they should be and charges should be laid.

Agriculture issue demands action
Solution should have been simple
A couple of well written letters on the Lantzville Urban Farming issue. As Municipal elections draw near, on November 19th, I hope that those living in the District of Lantzville will elect some progressive candidates to bring in a progressive bylaw.

9th
Occupy group says they won't leave downtown plaza
Good for them.

Two candidates clarify stance on Uplands housing
Doesn’t surprise me that Jeet has flipped but Brunie on the other hand does.

Battle over low-barrier housing could have implications for candidates
It would be really sad if people simply choose one issue on which to base their vote. Really sad indeed.

Nov 8
Controversial project has industry officials at odds with politicians
A lot of coulds and maybes involved here. This Tax Break is a bad idea and if even the hoteliers in Nanaimo are saying so then it should not happen. Even if, big if, there were to be a new hotel it would not provide the rooms that are needed for what has been said to attract bigger conventions.

More updates on various issues

2011-11-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Nov 3
D/N
Get to know the 26 people running for seats on Nanaimo City Council
Interesting take on providing information about the candidates. You click the name of the person then get a bio and video link to the 5 questions asked.

They did however get my age wrong, I am actually 53.

Sisterhood contemplates sale of lakeshore grove

Great idea for a city purchase though if the Tennis Club is allowed to make their member only restaurant into a open restaurant club there will be no more tranquility.

City will force smokers to butt out in parks
This is one of those things where I think the City has gone too far. For one it is unenforceable unless of course the City proposes to hire quite a number of police. Most smokers are respectful of others and tend to smoke downwind or far enough away that the rising smoke does not go near others. If the city wanted to ban something around parks it should be vehicles as they cause far more harm than a few smokers.

Smoking as an addiction is extremely hard to quit but it is something most smokers contemplate doing.

Bus service aims to attract more patrons to downtown bars
Good idea. Not only will it bring them in it will also take them out. should see a bit iof a drop in the petty crime in the area and less garbage not to mention the potential to save lives.

Letter: Tax relief the start of headaches for taxpayers
An excellent letter regarding the tax break for hotels, especially related to the convention centre. How will these tax incentives be paid for? By you the Taxpayer, that’s how. Dumb move on the part of the current council; it will make it even harder to keep taxes down in the future.

Bulletin
Council votes down motion to freeze Uplands project.
Believe I commented enough on an earlier story from the Daily News. Good news and good on council.

D/N
Nov 2
Taxbreak proposed for hotel project
A lot of BS going on here. What is the current vacancy rate for hotels and motels in and around downtown? Is not giving them the property to build on enough of an incentive? How much will
the "apply to any development or re-development" end up costing
taxpayers?

Hotel or no hotel the convention centre will always need to be subsidized. Has the license been changed yet from food primary to liquor primary? Instead of focusing on conventions lets get on with utilizing and encouraging its use for
other things.

Minimumwage hike draws mixed reaction from Nanaimo businesses and workers
It seemsthat every time the minimum wage is raised the same concerns are
expressed.

By increasing the minimum wage it could help lift some out of abject poverty to just plain and simple poverty and the added benefit of the raise will mean that some have a bit more money to spend at city businesses.

What is also needed is to increase assistance rates and provide those on assistance with a bus pass so that they can look for work instead of spending all of their time just trying to survive.

Opinion: Raising minimum wage a balancing act
Not a bad column.

Bestwick says he's sorry if fellow councillors were offended by remarks on housing strategy

"dishonest at best and deceitful at worst." Not true.

I have stated often, and despite being in support of Supportive Housing and Nanaimo's action plan on homelessness, that the communication process has been flawed. This said it is flawed when it comes to most issues and that primarily because what communication is done is
to the bare minimum required.

When the Homeless Strategy was in development community was invited to get involved in
the process, very few chose to do so. It is the same with much else and it is only when something is believed to have a direct effect that citizens get up in arms. A direct result of the current
processes used by the City to inform the public.

A sad aspect of the whole housing thing is that a few people through fear and misinformation can galvanize so many. On a positive note the city can learn from it.

Information whether fact or fear can be gotten to the public relatively easily and doing so
well before the issue becomes an ISSUE is paramount

Nov 1
Proposed delay for low-barrier housing turfed by council
"I am not convinced there was any great flaw in the procedure and process and I certainly think we should carry through with the commitments we've made,"

Yes, it is about time that we moved forward as this will now allow us to work on the other aspects of housing proposed in the Homelessness Strategy. On the first part of Councillor Holdom's
comment I have to disagree.

The great flaw is exactly how the City communicates in order to get community involvement, not just on this issue but on all issues. Sadly a couple of notices in newspapers does not exactly encourage community participation in the Civic Planning.

Was there communication? Yes, but only to the minimum required. This has to change so that the City actually works to encourage community participation.

The blatant threat by the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo to actively seek to have people not vote for candidates that support the issue of Housing the Homeless is sad to say the least. To not vote for someone simply because they disagree with you on one issue is of great concern.

Sitting on City Council is no easy process because at times it does require compromise. Voters need to look beyond a single issue and look at what those running have done in and for the
community. Take off the blinders, research the candidates, and when you vote make it an informed choice and not one out of anger.

Businesses take differing views on Occupy Nanaimo's impact
I think the predominant view is that the occupiers are working well towards maintaining
the site to the mutual benefit to all in the Downtown. Kudos to the businesses that are actually
contributing.

Bulletin
Nov 1
City can't afford to save west Linley Valley
Certainly the City could afford to save some if not all of the property. How much will the 10 year Tax deferment the City just gave to Hotels that choose to renovate cost us? What about City Park reserve funds?

There are growing questions being asked about the New City Annex and other City expenditures such as borrowing $22 million for the proposed $65 million Water Treatment Plant.

When choosing to spend the taxpayer’s money better choices need to be made. Choosing to purchase all or the majority of land in Linely Valley would actually benefit the City, its people and the potential for tourism.

Let’s protect the assets we have instead of focusing on grandiose schemes destined for failure.

Bulletin

Oct 28
Lantzville aims to clarify urban farming issue
I think a lot of clarifying will be done by the vote in the upcoming election and if they really want to clarify they will reform the committee that worked on the bylaw, making it more balanced, and rewrite the bylaw so that it is less discriminatory. At a minimum the allowed usage per lot should be 60% though 75% would make them more viable.

Election candidates featured at meetings
Two interesting links to sites mentioned in this story, http://democraticnanaimo.blogspot.com/ & http://www.nanaimochamber.bc.ca/ . The first requests input for its All Candidates meeting the second will link through sustainable cities to the answers to questions posed to the candidates.

Oct 31
Editorial: Mixed message worth hearing
One of the best editorials I have seen dealing with the occupy movement.

Reality demands public participation
Many years ago I chose the red pill; sometimes wonder if it was the right choice? In reality I do
believe my choice, well over a decade ago, to get involved was right; I have much more fun than I ever did back in the days of choosing other options.

D/N
Oct 31
Lantzville Council delays implementation of cotroversial urban farming bylaw
Probably the best move they could have made. The bylaw as it stood was literally a piece of crap.

And More

2011-10-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Oct 30
BC minimum wage to increase
This will be a huge benefit to lower income earners and while businesses are concerned about bottom line it will actually allow more disposable income to be spent in those businesses.

Oct 29
Majority of council oppose idea of delaying project
I have learned, after attending on a regular basis over the years, that one should assume nothing when it comes to council making a decision. While I hope that the majority of council stand fast on the housing on uplands they must also as a block agree not to second Bill Bestwick’s motion. If they do this then it will not even be up for discussion/debate.

Yes the communication for this and much f what the city does has not been the best but with a new council we can assure this changes. To put this on hold will be to take a step backwards and who knows whom this might help but who will die while waiting.

Morally they must move forward and once they have then and only then will we be able to look at the other aspects of Nanaimo’s Homeless strategy.

Parksville-Qualicum MLA in hospital after heart attack
I may not always, and of late more often than not, agree with Mr. Cantelon’s politics but I wish him no ill will and a speedy recovery.

Jobs creation emerges as key municipal election issue
Job creation in the city with one of the highest unemployment rates should be at the top of issues in this community but sadly is not. It is unfortunate that a few individuals through spreading fear and misinformation have galvanized so many people into making housing the homeless the real top issue.

Cale Cowan: Time for real discussion on 'wet' houses
Cale, I may not agree at all times with what is said but I do find balance in the editorials and opinions. This is a complex issue that unfortunately gets hijacked by a few to galvanize the many with fear and misinformation. Bottom line for me is I know the housing will save lives.

More updates in the news

2011-10-30T08:34:00.001-07:00

Oct 28
Bestwick calls on council to delay housing plans for uplands

This site should move forward and if I in anyway thought that there would be a rampant increase in crime or threat to the area I would not be speaking so adamantly for this type of housing. This area like all in Nanaimo currently has issues with drugs and alcoholism, it is sad but a fact. The people accessing this type of housing will at a minimum be at least contemplating change. The housing is low-barrier, not NO barrier and if a tenant brings violence or criminal activity to the building they will be evicted.

It is unfortunate that communication has not gone as those opposing would have liked but it is more unfortunate that the style used has predominated in the City for years and not just on this issue. This does have to change and the means to do so are readily available.

Tenth street housing project not a problem for residents
This was one of the 5 original projects. Despite trying to get it out to those opposed to Supportive Housing only 2 were originally proposed as low-barrier and this was not one. It is low-barrier in a sense in that while in their apartments the tenants can do their thing; then again they can do the same in any residence in Nanaimo. That said and the same goes for the proposed low-barrier sites the are low not NO barrier. Violence and drug dealing will not be tolerated and folk can be evicted.

Social media an effective tool leading up to election

Efforts to save Linley nature park not high on city's priorities
We must save what we can of this area. It would be a priority on my list and should be on the city's as features like our great parks, trails and harbour front are what will attract people and tourism to the community. The money that is being spent on the City Hall Annex would have covered the purchase of this area as well as paid for upgrades to the current city annex and had a few million left over to pay down taxes.

Happiness can't be measured by money
TOO true.

Oct. 27

Costs of Occupy Nanaimo encampment begin to build
By the headline I was expecting to see these huge charges being incurred by the city. When weighed against ones right to FREEDOM of EXPRESSION these costs are minimal.

City staff members embrace social media
"We were one of the first com-munities in B.C. to grasp the fact that this opens a new way to dialogue with our citizens." If only they would use it to do so. This could be a great means of getting information out to people about public open houses and other opportunities to take part in municipal process.

Owner of motorcycle shop happy with progress at Balmoral property housing project
Most people do not get the fact that the proposed housing projects, through-out Nanaimo are Low-Barrier and not NO-Barrier. Nice to hear from a neighbour of the project, he was not always supportive.

Oct 26
Time for occupiers to negotiate with city
It is the constitutional right of all too peaceful political protest. The group is causing no harm and are actually contributing to the economy of the downtown core.

Was at the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association coffee meeting today and Occupy Nanaimo came up. There is nothing in the wind yet as to when they would like to see it end though it appears they would. I had a chance to speak, as a candidate in the upcoming municipal election, and stated that the powers that be should allow it to go on and if it ends up being the last in Canada then that would bring attention to Nanaimo and show it a caring City. I also mentioned that it is an economic driver in that many people are coming into the Downtown to see what it is about and that those people are als spending money in the Downtown. It actually caught the attention of a few as they now can look at the Occupancy as a benefit to Nanaimo. Keep up the good work everyone:)that would bring it to the attention to Nanaimo and show it as a caring city.

I also mentioned that it is an economic driver in that many people are coming into the Downtown to see what it is about and that those people are als spending money in the Downtown. It actually caught the attention of a few as they now can look at the Occupancy as a benefit to Nanaimo.I also mentioned that it is actually an economic driver in that it is bring more people into the downtown core and in turn they are spending money Downtown. My comment actually piqued the interest of a few because they had not looked at this positive aspect. They can now view the Occupy Nanaimo site as a benefitJ.

Bulletin Oct 20
Editorial: New avenues inform voters
Somehow missed this one; t’is absolutely true there are new avenues that should make it even easier for people to get informed about elections and participate on all levels. While not into the twitter aspect I do have a FaceBook group Elect Gordon Fuller to Nanaimo Council

More STUFF IN THE NEWS

2011-10-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Oct 26
Nanaimo dragon boaters battle at AGM
Let folk become members and vote last year and didn't this year? I would want to check the Society's Constitution and bylaws on this one because if they cannot do this according to their bylaws those members that got in at the AGM last year’s should not have voted on anything and on the off chance someone just given membership was elected it was done illegally.
Explosive Lantzville land issue back before council
Will lay odds that the District of Lantzville Council will pass this one. It is sad relly because the issue has become personal. The bylaw proposed is flawed on counts, see my comments to story on 25th, and should be tabled until a new council is chose.

Oct 25

Lantzville Urban Farm bylaw is hotly debated
I went to this and despite being a Nanaimo Resident spoke to the fact that the bylaw is discriminatory. Those not wishing to farm can grow their own food and spread as much raw manure as they like where-as those looking to do small scale farming have to use composted manure. Only one non-resident would be able to work on these farms but yet the same does not apply to any other business and the list goes on.

The proposed bylaw is even more restrictive than Nanaimo's in that it states the land under cultivation for sale "shall not exceed the greater of 600 square metres or 30% of the parcel area." This is all well and good for lots under a quarter of an acre, 600square metres is roughly 15% of an acre, as for these lots the percentage would be far greater than 30% of parcel area. Many smaller lots could actually be entitled to utilize 100% of their properties.

For bigger lots of an acre or more the percentage drops to 15% or lower as the parcel areas grows. Even in Nanaimo lots larger than .6 of an acre can have 25% coverage and this percentage does not reduce as the lot size increase. One would think that in a largely rural area, with larger lot sizes, Lantzville’s bylaw would allow for greater growing area than that of a largely urban area like Nanaimo.

Bottom line; this once again discriminates against those with larger lot sizes. A fairer way of doing this would be to allow larger lots up to 75% for cultivation and sale. This is something I will be bringing up for Nanaimo’s bylaw once I am elected to council.

New CEO reveals ambitious strategy for Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation
“The plan is "very ambitious," according to Mayor John Ruttan.” Details John, details. Don’t get the rationale of the Conference Centre Kiosk. It is located in the dead-zone at the back of the Conference Centre and as for dispensing information about Nanaimo the joint is running at less than 3% capacity. This really aught to attract a lot of tourism, yes I am being sarcastic.

Opinion: Economic Development Plan a necessity
“Priorities addressed during the announcement Monday include finding a builder for a hotel to complement the downtown conference centre and luring a company to the city to run a foot passenger ferry service between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver. Plans include everything from attracting new investment to retaining and expanding local business, increasing tourism and generating jobs.” Wonder how much they are paying for the CEO position? All sounds a lot like what has been tried already and if this is the best they can come up with perhaps I should try and get that job and screw being a City Councilor.
Paul Walton: Money isn't only election issue
It is not about having the money in a vault it is about spending what we do have wisely and in so doing also choosing wisely the things to subsidize. It is about taking much of the excess in that vault and using it to pay down taxes rather than to build facilities that could be refurbished. It is about engaging the public in a real way on the choices we make.

Occupy Nanaimo protesters have no plans to leave downtown
The folks doing this should be proud no matter how long it lasts; they are a part of history in the making.

Bulletin

Coalition puts twist on all candidates meeting
The more All Candidates meetings the better and I have it on good authority that this one in particular will be unlike any other in the past. The site they mention http://democraticnanaimo.blogspot.com/ has potential though as a candidate it will be tough remembering to check it out on a regular basis.

Opinion: Scare tactics don't foster solution

This article does illustrate that homelessness is in all areas of the city. I too have seen the person mentioned as I expect most who have driven in North Nanaimo. He has been in the area for a few years now and I have never heard of him causing any problems.

“Does one portion of society deserve to be given a home courtesy of the taxpayer while others must struggle to make ends meet all on their own?” Giving them a home will actually save the taxpayers money as once housed the person will utilize other services, paid for by the taxpayer, less often. a savings of up to $18,000plus per year.

Oct 24
Newcastle Island serves economic and cultural role
Newcastle Island is one of the jewels in a box of many that Nanaimo has. The cultural history alone, both pre and post colonization, is well worth learning about. When we look at attracting tourism to the city this and the other jewels in the box need to be the focus.

Women's centre supports low barrier housing
As one of those that worked on the ad talked about in this story I sincerely hope that this story will spur the many other organization and citizens in the community to publicly state their support. We cannot allow a few people to spread fear and misinformation gathering others into their misguided endeavours.

Oct 21
Ron Bolin: Pay attention, then get out and vote
Ron is one f the smartest people I know when it comes to city issues and digging for information. Ron attends most council meetings and has since 2002. He is one of only a few, myself included, that take the time to follow what is happening in the city and the processes used by council to make decisions. He will be someone I keep in touch with when I am elected too council

Westwood residents’ concerned restaurant will upset quiet lives
This is a huge issue in the Westwood Lake area involving the Nanaimo Tennis Club wanting to scrap a land use contract in order to open their member only restaurant to the public. While they say it has been so for decades by allowing them to do this the city could open the door for an influx of people coming to the restaurant and the resultant noise there-of. Directly adjacent to the tennis club is Bethlehem Retreat, a place where people come to get away from it all. In my opinion the city should have been monitoring and enforcing this and any other land use contracts. Too often there is disregard on the part of owners simply for added profit.

Oct 19

City looks for feedback with culture strategy
This is an opportunity for the community and groups to get involved in working towards the benefit of Nanaimo. I hope many turn out to give their input.

Regional District hosting open houses to discuss agriculture plans
And yet the District of Lantzville chooses not to be progressive.

Much more on the Supportive Housing debate

2011-10-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Below are links to a number of news storys and letter on the Suppotive Social Housing debate. Many I have commented on and in a couple of the storys I am mentioned. PS; this may be a bit long for some tastes:)

Oct 24
Women's centre supports low barrier housing
As one of those that worked on the ad talked about in this story I sincerely hope that this story will spur the many other organization and citizens in the community to publicly state their support. We cannot allow a few people to spread fear and misinformation gathering others into their misguided endeavours.

Letter: Comments from meeting very discouraging
Letter: Fear mongering must not ruin opportunity
A couple other well written and informative letters about Supportive Housing; it is heartening to see many more of Nanaimo’s citizens writing in support of Nanaimo’s Homeless Plan.

Letter: Seniors also in need of affordable housing
This letter is right in that affordable housing is needed for seniors, it is also need for all ages. Where he does miss the mark is that many of the homeless are seniors with addictions and they will be helped through low barrier housing. There are many other seniors that suffer from addiction to prescription meds as well and they to need to be housed in an environment supportive of their needs.

Oct 22
D/N
Uplands site was the most suitable for low barrier housing says city planner

North-end residents vent at meeting about low barrier housing
This was the one where I lost it a little and did some venting of my own. The following is posted on my Elect Gordon Fuller to Nanaimo Council facebook page.
When I went to the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo Friday night I should probably have stuck with my original idea and just observed. Alas after listening to MLA Cantelon spout off, then Councilor Bestwick and a few other choice candidates in the election blatantly sucking up to the crowd for votes, the final straw came when prospective councilor Brian Fillmore came up and opened his mouth about the housing issue.
The meeting, I would guess three hundred in attendance, started with members of the CCN. One talked about how this wasn’t about pictures or spreading fear but about process. If that was the case why the photo shopped pictures, one of a family scene with a young girl in the background shooting up and obviously photo shopped into the scene? Why the rhetoric about crime and violence being brought to the area because of the housing when there is absolutely no proof of supportive housing doing so?

If this was simply about communication then I would have to agree with them; yes the process was not the best and sadly the same happens all the time and not just on the housing issue. I will talk more about communication at a later date because it is one of my pet peeves and a reason I am running for council.
Ron Cantelon got up and it was so obvious that he was vote pandering, at one point even asking how many people in the room lived in his riding. He mentioned how he had spoken with Rich Coleman and was assured that if the uplands location was put on hold the government would not withdraw the money. Yeah right, how many lies has this government told and should we trust them?
Councilor Bestwick got up and spouted on for at least 10 minutes. He has always been in opposition of the housing. About the only thing I can say I agreed with him on was when he mentioned too much of councils time was spent in camera; for those not in the know this means no public input and no need to release what the meeting was about or the decisions made there-in.
There were then a few other speakers, most talking about crime, drug addicts coming into their neighbourhoods as well as a couple council candidates. Their was also talk about research showing that smaller works better, abstinence based, and how pathways in New York place people in individual units and research showing smaller was better.
The reality is that while I do not disagree with this research there is also research that shows larger facilities work as well. There is one organization in Seattle where they have 9 low-barrier units housing 800 people and within a few months almost 100% are working with supports brought to the buildings.
If one were to actually look at Nanaimo's Response to Homelessness Action Plan page ES2 (more on pages 14 thru 20) they would see that in it is not just the 160 units of new builds for 5 locations but also creating 75 rent subsidies and 70 acquisitions of existing housing.
Personally I have always thought that the rent subsidies should have been implemented immediately in conjunction with the new build and housing acquisitions as outlined on page ES2. Rent subsidies would have allowed for almost immediate access to housing. Alas when the monies were put forward by the Province they were for new builds and have led to where we are at today.
Okay now we get to the losing it part. So, up until Brian Fillmore got up to speak, and after listening to rhetoric and vote pandering for at least 45 minutes, I was still just planning to listen. It was only during Fillmore’s spiel about drug addicts and how he had personally went to visit Warmlands Low-Barrier Housing in Duncan, found it not to his liking, and spoke with a business person and neighbour who allegedly told him that problems of crime and drug use in the area had gotten worse that I decided I had to get up and speak.
I found much of what he was saying to be so much bullshit that I was infuriated. Especially since we had previously heard from the school district about how well Warmlands, located next to two schools was working well and that Warmlands actually had a community garden where they were teaching school children about healthy eating. We had also heard from business and neighbours that since Warmlands had opened crime and drug use had actually decreased in the area.
As Fillmore was leaving the podium and walking by me I called him scum to his face. I have thought about this comment a lot since then and while I likely should not have said it, better I say it to his face then behind his back.
When I got to the mike the first words out of my mouth were, “I AM NOT HERE TO KISS YOUR ASS FOR VOTES.” I then said something to the effect that I stand by my views on Supportive Housing and am not ashamed to say so. One person in the front said well you are not getting my vote to which I replied if this is the only reason I am not getting your vote then I don’t want it.
I then went on to say that I agreed about the communication process but it goes deeper than just this one issue and I brought up the recent borrowing of 22 million for the Water Treatment Plant as an example, only one public meeting only about the borrowing.
I also went on to mention that when these public meetings were announced, and set up in the community, there was very little participation by the public. It is only when something was perceived to affect them directly that people got upset and banded together wanting the very input they could have actually given earlier on. The Homeless strategy is a perfect example in that when the community was invited to give input very few chose to do so.
I then talked briefly about the fact that the homeless strategy was more than the 160 units, also encompassing acquisitions and rent subsidies. At this point I was being nudged to stop speaking as my three minutes were up, though oddly enough others had been given more, and still pissed off as a wrap up stated that Brian Fillmore was a liar. I then promptly exited stage left, last thing I saw was Fillmore storming back up to the line for the mike looked like he wanted to hit me, with a few people thanking me as I left the building and a few thanking me outside as well.
The reality is that the only thing I specifically regret was accusing Fillmore of being a liar. I have to honestly say that I do not know this for a fact but then I also do not know that he actually went down to Warmlands in Duncan and talked to anyone.
Bulletin
Letter:

D/N
Oct 21
Cantelon says city had other options for north end housing for homeless
Talk about intentionally inflaming the issue. He had told me on a number of occasions that he had been going out in the North End area with a few others speaking in support of the planned housing.
Our view: Cantelon has inflamed the housing issue
Extremely well written editorial, couldn’t agree more.
PS; I keep hearing about this 1400 strong petition. If getting people to sign it involved any of the blatant fear mongering tactics and false information put out by the Mythical CCN group then no wonder so many signed.

Oct 20 DN
Letter: Counter misinformation with factual information
It is unfortunate that when a few people spread fear and misinformation they gather many to their cause which makes giving accurate information even harder. Months ago I had mentioned to a couple of councillors and the social planner that they should be going out to the North End and speaking to people about the issues of Homelessness and Addiction; educate them about all the details of the Homeless Strategy. Had this happened the uproar in North End area would have been far less that it is now.

Oct 20
Bulletin
Social Housing debate continues
A sitting councillor or candidate would have to be nuts to attend this as it will very likely be a bitch fest extraordinaire. Hmm, perhaps I might just attend.

Oct 19
Bulletin
Letter: Residents campaign fails on several fronts
Letter: University women's group advocates inclusive community
A huge thanks to CFUW-Nanaimo for this letter.

Oct 18
D/N
Group continues fight against low-barrier housing project
Our View: Lies about low-barrier facility unhelpful

Oct 18
Bulletin
North End residents rally against low-barrier housing (Published as ‘Social housing opponents voice concerns)
I attended this council meeting and spoke in favour of the housing as well as thanking council for their ongoing support. Interesting to note that one of the delegations, the only person yet to admit to being part of the group Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo, refused to answer councils questions after her presentation. Amusing as one of their primary beefs has been a lack of communication and consultation.

If you check this link out Council Meeting October 17 2011 you may want to skip over the delegations prior to the ones regarding housing. I did not get to speak until after 10:00pm, 3 hours after the start of the meeting.

Letter: Are we a welcoming inclusive community
An excellent letter and something we need to work on.

Letter: Ad is a tasteless joke if sponsors are unknown
The ads can be viewed on this website http://www.whatswrongwiththispicture.ca/

Letter: Many things wrong when looking at this picture
This letter speaks to the above

Oct 14
Citizens band together in effort to scuttle city's housing project
Oct 13
Bulletin
Opposition and support emerge on low barrier housing
Editorial: Resident takes leadership role
D/N Letters
Letter: Inflammatory pamphlet only spurs negativity
Letter: Lack of consultation for low-barrier housing
A very good quote at the end of this letter.

Oct 11
Letter: Residents must not exclude other people

Oct 8
Bulletin
Uplands land required lift on restrictions
This explains how the Uplands site came to be chosen. It is in essence a close to perfect site and in my opinion City Council could have done this in the open instead of in camera.

D/N
Letter: Dump low barrier idea for a workable solution

Cold Weather Shelter

2011-10-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Nanaimo's former Extreme now Cold Weather Shelter will be opening soon which will have a huge impact on the absolute homeless in the community. I was integral again this year in steering funding their way and when I look at accomplishments I have achieved it is this and other issues of homelessness that I am most proud.

Bulletin
Oct 20

Shelter offers comfort during cold weather
I have been in contact with the shelter to discuss the following. It would be better for the following reason if the homeless if the Shelter were to open on November 1st with a tentative closing March 1st.
1. November is far colder traditionally than March.
2. Extreme Weather Criteria, days that BC Housing will kick in funding to augment that already in place, has been lowered to 4 degrees with rain or wind. With colder weather expected this year these Extreme days will expand the amount of time the shelter can stay open into March and perhaps through to the end of March.
3. Opening at an earlier date will allow more time to secure the needed funding for March in the event extreme days are less than expected.

Oct 18
DN
Shelter gets grant to operate for colder winter months
This is good news indeed, but as I have said , they should have kept the start date on the 1st of November with a tentative closing date of March 1st. November has a tendency to be far worse than March weather wise and it is also when Extreme Weather Shelter days funded by BC Housing kick in across the province. These extreme days will as it stands be balancing out the City Grant to allow a Cold Weather shelter and as the weather is expected to be far worse could contribute over the months allowing the shelter to stay open through March. In the event they do not then it would also give time to raise funds from the community to do so.

Oct 12 D/N
Housing shelter faces funding crunch

Supportive Social Housing heats up again

2011-10-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

It’s been a busy few weeks what with running in the upcoming election, dealing with work and all of my other commitments. Sadly it looks like the Supportive Social Housing will be one of the main issues.

With the announcement of the North End location things have really been heating up. A particularly nasty little group calling themselves the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo has a website up, What’s Wrong with this Picture where a lot of misinformation and fear is being spread. They have a lot of money behind them and have sent out a card, with some of this misinformation, which people can send to their MLA and City Council. The group has also placed a number of full page adds, seen at the bottom of their home page, in the papers in order to galvanize and misinform the community.

As a response to this the Working Group on Homelessness decided to do an ad of their own thanking council for their steadfast support of housing the Homeless. On Monday the 17th I also appeared at council, council video Nov 17 2011, to reiterate that support personally. Go to the first delegation after Cathy Davis, 917pm, for delegations from the North End as well as my own.
Below are copies of the ad we put out, spent many hours pulling it all together with the help of Lynn Burrows and we still have more than 100 names that came in that we were unable to put in the ad, as well as my delegation. Have to head out soon to do some of my regular pickups for the 7-10 Club but wwill hopefully be able to spend the afternoon wwith more updates to the blog, things are pilling up. You can also find out more about what I have been doing by checking my facebook page for the election Elect Gordon Fuller to Nanaimo Council

Delegation to Council:

October 17, 2011

Gordon Fuller
604 Nicol St.
Nanaimo, BC

I want to keep this simple and to the point so as not to take up any more of your time than needed.

I personally want to thank the Mayor and all on Council who have steadfastly supported Nanaimo’s Homelessness & Harm Reduction Strategy.

The housing first concept, used throughout North America, has proven itself in alleviating homelessness and by attaching supports to meet the need of the individual has allowed many to move forward in their fight against addiction.

Some would like to see Nanaimo revisit its strategy a strategy based on the success of the Housing First concept. I and many others in the community spent years to develop this plan and to gain support of the province towards its funding. Should we start over? No, we need to keep moving forward with a proven strategy.

As an Advocate for Social Change on Homelessness and poverty issues in Nanaimo, for well over a decade, I have attended memorial services for far too many in the community who, I have no doubt whatsoever, would still be here had the strategy been implemented sooner. It is on their behalf, and the many this will save, that I so adamantly believe Nanaimo’s Homelessness & Harm Reduction Strategy must continue to move forward.

Again I wish to thank you and the many others in the community for your continued support of this valuable initiative.

Cost of Poverty

2011-10-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

The article below is interesting in that it weighs the cost of poverty against the cost of a plan to tackle poverty and the political will to actually do so. In my opinion it is political will that has hindered and contributed to the problem of poverty not just in BC but across Canada.

I also believe that to a degree Municipalities can also have an impact in how they design their own social policy initiatives. An example is the current debate about Supportive Social Housing and Nanaimo's plan to spread out housing to all areas. This for me is a no brainer simply for the fact that spreading out housing and services does not allow for the creation of ghettoized areas. It will take all levels of government to solve the issue.
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Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Poverty comes with a high price tag
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/

It’s no secret that British Columbia has a problem with poverty. Many of us do our part and contribute to food drives and other worthy causes. But how many British Columbians realize that poverty is costing us – all of us – a lot more than a few cans of non-perishable food and a new toy donated at Christmas? A new study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has, for the first time, quantified the economic cost of poverty in BC. We estimate that poverty costs the average man, woman and child in BC as much as $2,100 each and every year.

The economic cost of poverty to society as a whole adds up to between $8.1 and $9.2 billion per year. That’s a lot of money –close to 5% of the total value of our economy. Our analysis shows that failing to address the root causes of poverty is very expensive, both in terms of current and future costs. Study after study has linked poverty to poorer health, lower literacy, more crime, poor school performance for children, and greater stress for families. Poverty takes an enormous toll on the people who struggle with it, no question about it. But at the end of the day, it’s society at large that is paying a very high price. British Columbians pay approximately $1.2 billion per year in higher. Public health care costs linked to poverty. We spend another $745 million annually on policing and criminal justice costs driven by poverty-related crime. Higher costs of income supports and lost tax revenues that come with inadequate earnings account for over $900 million per year.

Poverty also acts as a significant drag on our economy. BC’s prosperity is undermined when people are excluded from the workforce because they don’t have access to the supports or training they need to do better, or when they are stuck in low wage jobs in our polarized labour market. Underutilizing all the talents and human potential of poor British Columbians to contribute to society and to our economy is among the biggest costs of poverty ($6.3 to $7.2 billion per year). This is a conservative assessment of the cost of poverty in BC, as our estimates do not capture all of the costs. Notably, we exclude the costs that child poverty imposes on future generations by perpetuating the cycle of poverty. We also do not measure many of the less tangible costs, such as the impact of high poverty levels on social cohesion and our feelings of safety in our communities. Nor do we include the direct cost of providing frontline social services to those in poverty.

The BC government’s current approach to poverty is to deal with negative consequences as they arise. This is akin to handling a leaky roof problem by repeatedly mopping the floor. It makes things look passable when the guests arrive, but it does nothing to address the root causes of the problem. And like a leaky roof, poverty’s consequences only get harder and more expensive to fix the more we put off dealing with them. The high costs of poverty in BC gives us a purely economic reason to be concerned about our poverty levels, which are the highest in Canada. Seven Canadian provinces and two territories have recognized this and implemented poverty reduction strategies (or are in the process of developing them). In fact, poverty reduction has emerged as an issue that transcends party politics and ideology to receive all-party agreement in most provinces. It’s time for the BC government to rise up to the challenge and commit to a comprehensive plan to systematically tackle the root causes of poverty in BC. We estimate that once fully implemented, such a plan for BC would cost between $3 and $4 billion per year. That’s less than half of what poverty is costing us now.

Making poverty reduction a priority is the right thing to do. And our report shows that it’s also the fiscally responsible thing to do. The biggest challenge that lies ahead is that upfront investments are needed to bring savings down the line. The four-year election cycle hardly encourages long term thinking or investments. What’s needed is leadership, vision and a willingness to do the right thing for BC’s future.

Iglika Ivanova is an economist and public interest researcher at the CCPA-BC.

In the News

2011-10-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Oct 8
D/N
Letter: Objective measure for council pay is required Nice letter. Interesting that Councillor Greeves, who receives a lot of support from unions, voted for the raise when even unions are receiving 2% or less. Even former councillor Brennan, running again this year after a failed attempt at the mayors’ position in 2008, also supported by unions is in agreement with the raise.

Oct 7
Bulletin
City takes possession of Oceanview properties in tax sale One can only hope that Canadian Property Investments neglects to pay within the one year allowable; the City of Nanaimo must not even give them one day extra. We have seen how well extending contracts for developers has worked in the past for the city; no hotel at the convention centre.

Council to reassess Maffeo Sutton Park plan Citizens of Nanaimo must get involved in this. If not we could see it developed towards being a private entertainment venue. The park must remain public and entertainment in the park must be accessible to everyone.

Oct 4 D/N Council will review plans for Maffeo Sutton Park
Maffeo Sutton Park improvements Jan 2009 This link to a copy of the brochure on the City website. In it it talks about a referendum but that referendum was actually about borrowing money for the convention centre. Just a tad misleading.

Oct 7 D/N: Volunteers continue battle to save Linely Valley While the title is a bit misleading, part of the valley Cottle Lake is already park, it is a cause that is worth getting behind. I once walked my dog through the forested lands between Rutherford Rd. and Hammond Bay Rd., phenomenal and an experience that should be enjoyed by all. If this group is successful many will be as able to enjoy it as I have and we will have another jewel in the city of Nanaimo.

Bulletin Oct 2: Moorecroft Regional Park planning
This is one of those things that irks me. The first open house for public input is between noon and 4:00, right when most folk are working. Despite an online survey, not yet available, I have to ask just how much they want your input?

D/N
Oct 7
Windley Contracting earns contract to build city hall annex Yeah right, as far as I know this contract was never put to tender and was simply given to Windley. “could crumble at even the slightest quake” What a crock. We have had many ‘slightest’ quakes over the years and the building is still standing. Another $16million of the taxpayer’s money well spent. Damn right I am being facetious.

Oct 6
Bulletin
Lantzville urban farming recommendations contested This has been an ongoing and vindictive attack on Dirk Becker & Nicole Shaw of Compassion Farm by the Mayor and a few Councillors of the District of Lantzville as well as their immediate neighbour. The goal, in my and others opinions has always been to shut down what is a prime example of Urban Agriculture on the Island.

Lantzvilles bylaw, as is Nanaimo’s is a tad unfair in that smaller residentially zoned lots are allowed 600 square metres of urban garden and larger lots 30% of the property. In many most cases, in particular in Nanaimo, the 600 square metres for smaller lots is far higher a percentage than the 30% for larger lots.

Personally I would like to see 50% for lots of one acre with that percentage rising incrementally for lots larger than an acre. For lots larger than 2 acres I believe 75% would not be be out of line.

It is also my opinion that the District of Lantzville is trying to pass their so called bylaw before the upcoming election. People in that community need to get out and vote for those friendly to urban agriculture, Andrew Mostad and Jaime Wallace for example..

D/N:
Oct 5
North End housing concerns addressed by city A group or person, with money behind them, opposed to the Supportive Housing going into the North End recently put a full page ad in the Daily News. The ad, essentially a copy of the front page of a nasty little website that has been developed Whats wrong with this picture . They also have a facebook page Concerned citizens of Nanaimo .

I am reminded of a few years ago when the 7-10 Club was looking at rezoning the Harewood Fire Hall for its new location. A website was set up that put out all kinds of misinformation and actually bordered on hate. As usual it was a very small vocal group that had no qualms about spreading disinformation and lies.

Oct 4
Neighbourhood moms mobilizing in response to social housing plan
The idea of starting up a neighbourhood group is a good one. Usually these groups are started in response to real or perceived threats to the community but the challenge is to keep them going when things die down. These groups can be a great way to build interaction with neighbours and create a true sense of belonging as long as they are not simply reactionary. This can cause the opposite effect and divide the community if the group is not careful.

Canada.com links to stories and letters about the Supportive Housing issue

Community Vision

2011-10-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

D/N Oct 7
Big community vision rally could spark larger strategy
Vision Rally is starting point for the future
Oct 6: Residents urged to take control of their future during rally
Bulletin: Vision will come from residents

I attended the Nanaimo Community Vision Rally on the 5th and was quite impressed with the turnout, 250 plus. While primarily a business oriented group there were also representatives of a diverse number of interests as well as curious citizens. The speakers were quite good and the message that comes across, to me, in looking at a vision for Nanaimo is INCLUSIVENESS and how we can get past the barriers of Left and Right, Corporate and Social, have and have not.

I was not overly surprised in that I knew many of the folks, from all walks, that were at there. I am also quite sure that many of those that I didn’t know recognized me. I have after all been quite active in the community for more than a decade. While there are some that may not like me because of my beliefs that has never stopped me from getting involved; in fact there are times when it has spurred me on. I would hope a good challenge would spur others on as well.

I was asked if this was simply another effort on the part of the Chamber of Commerce to push certain candidates in the upcoming election and I have to say that I did not see it thus. I was informed that the funds from the evet would be going to the chamber but I was also informed by a chamber member that while they would be urging members to get their staff out to vote they would not be endorsing specific candidates. Truth? we will see.

I have been involved with the old Downtown Nanaimo Partnership, now the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association since around 2002. Part of getting involved was to bring forward and educate about the social agenda in a non confrontational manner which I believe has to some degree been a success. Let’s just say that it is a work in progress, one I am more than willing to continue.

Ivo Beitsma says it well in a post on the Nanaimo Community Vision Rally facebook page “It’s challenging to move a community forward in the face of doubt, skepticism and a spectrum of entrenched ideas.” In his Daily News article Paul Walton: Ideology of the right has failed my favourite quote would be “Democratic socialism is about creating wealth for all; but that depends on a shared ethic of being willing to forsake greed for a greater good.”

I am the eternal optimist in that I believe these barriers can be crossed. I look forward to the next steps in working towards the Vision that could be Nanaimo but that vision, I repeat, must be INCLUSIVE.

PS; peruse the comments on stories from local media reporting the event.
Here is a link to the Whistler 2020 plan that the Mayor of Whistler spoke of.

Nanaimo Parks Dedication Bylaw

2011-10-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

It would appear that Nanaimo now has a bylaw that will better protect our city parks, passed at Monday’s council meeting. I have been pushing for something like this for a few years, every time parks would come up at council, as prior to this bylaw a simple rezoning application could have been approved by council to rezone an area from park allowing use for development purposes. This bylaw is especially good for some of our largest parks, in general all parks, but there is one flaw.

According to the community charter, section 30, a motion could be moved to remove a dedication if adopted with approval of the electors. Approval of electors, that’s you and me folk, sounds good doesn’t it. The flaw, I’m getting to it, arises through how this approval is handled.

There are two means to gain this approval (see sections 85/86 of community charter);
1) Through referendum, which requires a majority of those voting;
2) Through alternative Approval Process (AAP), the number of elector responses received is less than 10% of the number of electors of the area to which the approval process applies.

The FLAW; in short 10% of voters would have to sign the approved form to have the rezoning squashed.

Governments use the AAP because it requires a huge amount of work and vast number of committed volunteers to gather the approx 6600 signatures, in Nanaimo, to defeat what is being proposed. The most recent example being the proposal to borrow $22million for the $65million dollar Water Treatment Plant in Nanaimo, only 3 people, me included, actually signed the approved petition form.

Why only three? Simply because the onus is not on government to spread the word about the process but on those opposed, resulting by and large in the failure of the opposition. The AAP, I have written other posts regarding the AAP, is in short the most likely means for government to pass things without the voice of the people being heard.

When elected to council I will be looking into the possibility of eliminating the AAP as a means of “Elector Approval”.

October 3rd Agenda City Council pgs 165 - 176
Community Charter Table of Contents
Section 30 Reservation and Dedication of Municipal Property Division 2 sections 84 - 86 pertain Approval of Electors

Environment: Green Bins

2011-09-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Massive green bin program aims to take pressure off Cedar landfill

I have been participating in this program since it started in Nanaimo and am amazed at how much it has cut down on my garbage, usually have only one smallish bag every two weeks.

We need far more programs like this that will in the longrun protect the environment and build a better community for all..

Again with the Raise

2011-09-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

As with all Daily News stories the comments are often better than the story

Sept 28 D/N
Darrell Bellaart:City councillors deserve raise Have to say that Darrell should be writting for rags like the National Enquirer or such as he really misses the boat on most stories and his main agenda seems to be creating conflict and spouting gibberish.

When he interviewed me he asked if I thought education should be a qualifier for siting on council and I stated no, life experience is just as valid a qualifier. When I mentioned that council wages were already more than 44% of the population of Nanaimo makes he asked, "how do you know that." My answer, go on the city website and pull up the Community Profile put out by the Economic Development Committee, the numbers are there. Sadly doing research is not Darrell's strong point and he, like many other reporters, would prefer the subject to do the research. Even then he has a knack for twisting it.

This raise that council has given themselves needs to be an election issue. So far of the comments by councillors and known candidates I am the only one who has stated I would make a motion to have the raise recinded.

My comment on the above story: "how many people on income assistance have experience running an ice cream stand," Nice Darrell, glad to know where you are coming from. Many people living on Income Assistance are there as a result of injuries suffered working or because of the 15% unemployment etc, etc.. People living on fixed income, including seniors, are far better at budgeting and keeping costs down. We need balance on council and not just those with a business background. Now I know why you said that my plan to keep my current job and donate half my council salary to charity didn't fit with your story. I have mentioned and will again that even at the current part time salary Councillors make more than 44% of those working in Nanaimo, with RDN pay more than 59%. I ask, are these folk not worthy of running for council because they may not have managed an Ice Cream Stand?

Sept 27
Citizens want a new vision for Nanaimo after November 19
The city needs an injection of new vision

Paul Walton: Ideology of right has failed I have added this one because in a way it also touches on Municipal Government. I love this comment about Democratic Socialism, “Democratic socialism is about creating wealth for all; but that depends on a shared ethic of being willing to forsake greed for a greater good.” I couldn’t agree more, puts into words my beliefs but one has to also realize that wealth does not just apply to money.

These stories and letters regarding the council raise from the Nanaimo News Bulletin

Sept 26
Council raise too extravagant Ron Bolin
Part time job paying more than most make Me
Councillors ignorant of financial realities Terrance Wagstaff

Sept 22
Editorial: Timing of raise inappropriate
Sept 20
24 percent raise in store for council

More on North End Housing

2011-09-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Below a few more stories on the Supportive Housing Debate. Not going to say much as if other posts re this subject are checked you will get my views. You can also see them in the comments section of the stories as well.

Sept 24
Housing debate highlights city's north south divide
Sept 23
Nanaimo's homeless getting much needed help when Wesley St. facility opens
Darrell Bellaart: Anti housing debate stale

City Park Protection

2011-09-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Have wanted to post something around the issue of Parks in Nanaimo for a bit.

Recently, during the debate on the new Zoning Bylaw in Nanaimo one amendment was to return properties by Pearson Bridge that had been offered as an incentive to a hotel developer for the conference centre at a bargain basement price. I say bargain basement due to the fact the City had agreed to purchase 150 parking spaces to the tune of $50,000.00 per spot, do the math.

Anywho the properties that were to be developed for 2 - 26 story condo towers were recently re-designated park when an amendment was made to the zoning bylaw. After the council meeting I put to council, also the public, that these and any other park properties could still in reality be rezoned if the powers that be wished do so and that there needed to be stronger security for our parks. My suggestion, to in the park zoning that a referendum be held if any park property were to be slated for rezoning. At that point councilor Sherry mentioned using the Alternate Approval Process and shaking my head I left the podium.

For those that may be unaware the Alternate Approval Process (AAP) means 10% of the electorate would have to sign an approved petition in order to stop a process. Those that do not sign the petition are deemed to be in support of whatever is being proposed

The AAP is a typical move by government as they know far more often than not, unless the issue has significant meaning and backing of volunteers to gather signatures, AAP’s will fail. A referendum would be a far fairer means as it gives the voting population a chance to have a say, an honest say where in if you vote YES or NO both count and if you chose not to vote it does not mean either or.

Shortly after this council meeting I was heartened to hear that council was planning to take steps to protect the parks. While the two stories below mention Referendum they do not mention whether or not the Alternate Approval Process would also be a means to change the designation. The Community Charter allows municipalities either/or. What we need to do as citizens is demand that in the language of the bylaw a referendum would be the only means of ever changing Park Zoning.

Sept 16
Walter Cordery: Parks are worth saving
Sept 15
City takes steps to protect its parks from development

Council Raise Pure Bullshit

2011-09-21T08:25:00.001-07:00

Ya gotta love the story below and especially some of the comments. I, of course, was not interviewed which doesn't surprise me as I am the only one it seems who does not support the increase in pay. Then again it might be because I made a comment on a story Derek Spalding wrote saying how our failed convention Centre was responsible for the increase in visitors to the downtown and its revitalization; said it was the worst story he has ever written.

The story below reveals a lot. Brian Filmore does not have a high opinion of Seniors, "it's a small price to pay if it may help to attract strong leadership that's not currently collecting CPP." Saw him yesterday and he tried to backpeddle his comment.

Ted Greeves, strongly supported by unions, gives himself a 24% raise over 3 years and yet those very union workers that support him get a paltry 5% over the same time period. Council does not agree parity should be used in negotiations with workers andd yet choose parity when deciding there own salary; wondering if Greeves voted for parity.

Diane Brennan agrees with the increase, "recognizing the work load that most councillors take on." It's still part time work Diane and councilors make more than half of workers city wide.

Anyway check it out and my letter to the editor also posted in the D/N

Candidates support city council pay hike
Letter Council pay raise more than what poor will get

Council Remunerates Selves

2011-09-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

And so they went ahead and gave themselves a raise. With the majority of Nanaimo Citizens making less yearly than council does at a part time position giving themselves a yearly pay increase of 8% a year over the next three years spits in the face of those that pay their salary.

This should be an election issue this November but will it be? It is unfortunate but Nanaimo has traditionally proven to be somewhat apathetic when it comes to certain issues. Will this be one?

I believe a large part of the problem is a reall lack of communication with its citizens on the part of council and to a degree this can be compounded by the upper echelons of city staff. More to follow on thecommunication issue.

Below is a letter I sent in regarding the raise as well as the Daily News story and Editorial. I have also posted a story printed the same day from the nearby community of Parksville, their councillors also giving themselves raises.

Sept 21
Letter Council pay raise more than what poor will get

Sept 20
Raise in pay for council given the OK
Editorial: Modest wage hike for council sensible

Parksville: Council members vote to increase pay

Nanaimo City Council Remuneration

2011-09-19T06:22:00.000-07:00

City Council is once again looking at how much it gets paid and if some of the ideas are passed, at the Finance Policy Committee of the Whole(FPCOW) meeting on the 18th, they could ultimately see hefty increases to their pay checks.

As someone who has and is running for council I am adamantly opposed to this, in my opinion cost of living increases should be quite adequate.

Supporters of raises cite a better wage would result in more qualified and younger people running for council. I personally tend to not look at it as a job and believe it shouldn't be looked at as a job. Personally I look at it as a privilege to serve my community and I also believe that one should not be allowed to serve more than two or three consecutive terms. With a maximum term limit you would always get some new councillors with fresh ideas.

I look at this issue and think of the widespread poverty & unemployment in Nanaimo and I have to say; what the hell are they thinking. Even at the base rate of $26,414.00 this PART TIME position pays more than what 44% of the citizens in Nanaimo earn yearly.

When you consider that 7 members of council also receive between $10,000.00 & $11,000.00 from a position on the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) they then earn more than 59% of the population, not too bad for part time work. If looked at it from the point of median incomes throughout the City council salaries, including RDN, would be the highest and again this only for a part time position.

In looking at the information provided on the agenda for tonight’s Finance Policy Committee of the Whole a councillor attends approximately 34.5 council and committee meetings, per year, as per their role as city councillor. This breaks down to approximately $746.00 per meeting, a heck of a wage when you consider each meeting might run 3 hours.

Yes they may attend other functions but even then, in my opinion, they are more than adequately compensated and as I say in these economic times a cost of living increase is adequate.

Saying that the raise is needed to attract quality people, when the salary is already more than the majority of people make, is simply denigrating those that already make less with fulltime work than councillors do part time and states they are unworthy. Giving themselves any more than a cost of living increase is a slap in the face to the citizens of Nanaimo.
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Median income 5 postal areas. $23,135 Downtown, $26,294 Central, $30,933 North, $35,594 North, $30,643 South

D/N Sept 17: Council salaries may see drastic increase to reach parity
FPCOW Agenda re Council Remuneration pgs 20 - 26
Nanaimo Community Profile 2010
Nanaimo Economic Development Research & Statistics

Supportive Social Housing enters Nanaimo's North End

2011-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Post started as draft on 14th posted on 17th

The issue of Supportive Social Housing has reared its ugly head once again with the recent announcement of the location for housing in the North End of Nanaimo. I'm not going to go into a long diatribe about why I support this type of housing, my views can be seen on previous posts on the subject. Below are news stories to date, September 17th as well as a letter to the editor by me and a couple against the concept of Supportive Social Housing.

At the end of this post are comments from a housing provider in Seattle. They have 9 housing projects that house 800 with no conditions about sobriety and almost 100% accept services within 3 months. Very enlightening Comment.

When folk comment about abstinence based and a will to get clean they neglect to mention that Nanaimo has a number of small abstinence based houses, with more in the works, for people that have gone through treatment. What we need is a place to house people whom may at some point wish to access Detox and Treatment services. The Social Suppotive Housing ( Low Barrier) being built in Nanaimo will address this.

Bulletin
Sept 17 Invitation goes out to meet social housing clients
Sept 13 Uplands Drive identified for social housing
Sept 15 Editorial: Social housing needs open minds
Sept 16 Letter by me Social Housing needed city wide

Daily News
Sept. 15
Nanaimo housing strategy leaves city residents divided
Philip Wolf: Responsibility must be shared
Letter as published City must keep moving forward with housing
Sept 14
Government announces location of low barrier housing project
Editorial: North Nanaimo needs low-barrier project
Sept 13
Government refuses to say when it will announce location for new Nanimo low-barrier housing project

Letters against
Sept 17
Low-barrier housing does not belong in north end
Housing strategy about economics not people

This comment from a provider of Supportive Social Housing in Seattle seems to address what the above letters speak about;

"I would say that chronically homeless people are often mis-perceived as being dangerous when in actuality people who are living with major mental illnesses are no more assaultive than all the rest of us. Indeed, they are the victims of predatory crime, not the perpetrators. Your second question goes to the heart of the housing first concept, that being its services are not coerced. No one is forced to accept them. In our 9 housing projects with over 800 residents nearly 100% of the residents voluntarily accept services within 3 months of moving in. The reason is simple. Service providers in our housing projects are useful resources for residents helping them secure entitlement benefits, food, clothing and other life necessities as well as offering clinical treatment services."

Korpan Shenannigans

2011-09-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Also on the public hearing agenda tonight for rezoning are properties at the head of Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo. When the whole conference centre process was started they were offered to the developer as enticement to build the centre. Prime waterfront real-estate they were slotted for the development of 2 26 story Condominium towers and resulted in the demolition of the well loved Civic Arena as well as the Foundry, a one of a kind heritage building.

If approved; City councils return of these properties to park designation at Maffeo Sutton Park will be in my opinion one of the best moves they have made in the last three years. While the news is good the property could still be at risk in the future and it would be nice to see some sort of covenant that would make it impossible for them to be taken away in the future.

This letter to the editor Not building condos will cost taxpayers dearly written by our former mayor. What he does not mention in it is that while the properties were being 'sold" to the developer the City had agreed to purchase 150 parking spaces from said developer at the cost of $50,000 per space or $7,500,000.00. If I am not mistaken this was far more than the city would have received for the purchase of the property so in effect we would have ended up giving it away.

Our ex mayor seems to have nothing better to do these days than continue his law suit against citizens Tony Parkin and Angela Negrin with regards to the infamous FREE NANAIMO FROM KORRUPTION bumper sticker and write the odd, very ‘odd’, letter to the editor.

I was given permission to print Mr. Ricker’s letter, below, in response to Korpan with the following proviso: “Feel free to put it on your blog with an appropriate notation that the Daily News continues to operate with a blacklist despite the prescriptive advice of the BC Press Council, which was rendered after I lodged a formal complaint against the admitted blacklisting policy of the current editor of the DN.”

Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 10:57 PMSubject: Gary Korpan, Philip Wolf and the final (?) bathos of the 2004 referendum plan

To the Editor:Perhaps it is merely a coincidence that defeated mayor Gary Korpan's angry letter in response to city council's decision to preserve as park land the area beside the Pearson Bridge, previously designated as part of the gift package to would-be hotel developers Triarc/Suro/Millennium, appeared the same day as another instalment of Philip Wolf's prolonged and amusing send-up of Mr. Korpan's downtown hotel/conference centre dream (August 25).

Mr. Korpan has no credentials as a city planner, yet he prattles on about high rises overlooking Maffeo Sutton Park as essential to achieving the city's population target for the downtown. Lewis Villegas, a reputable planner of some considerable experience, came to the city late in the 2004 referendum campaign and effectively demonstrated that this population target could be achieved by means of low-rise construction supported by a sensible overall plan for the downtown.

Mr. Korpan also continues to believe in offering gifts to would-be developers, even though all there is to show for his previous efforts is his spectacular failure to deliver the goods.

News story: Plans for towers adjacent to Maffeo-Sutton park could soon be shelved

Conference Centre in the News

2011-09-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Nanaimo's illustrious fiasco the Vancouver Island Conference Centre has been in the news a fair bit lately. On one hand you have a reporter talking about how it has been responsible for a positive impact on the Downtown PNC changed the downtown, "People have criticized the decision to build the $75million Port of Nanaimo Centre, calling it a giant waste of money, but when you look at the impact this facility has had on the downtown and this city, the skeptics don't have much of an argument anymore." " Without a doubt, the number of pedestrians in the downtown has increased with the opening of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre."

On the other hand you have reporters not so supportive, see links at end of post.

When I read the above story I was blown away by the bullshit and so sent in the following letter;

I strongly disagree with Derek Spalding’s synopsis of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre effect on the Downtown of Nanaimo.

He states “the number of pedestrians in the downtown has increased with the opening of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. And every year this award-winning facility has shown growth in the number of delegates coming to the city,” ludicrous to say the least.

While it has suffered growing pains since changing from the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership to the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association it is the many people and businesses involved in the downtown that have contributed to increased foot traffic. More open businesses on weekends and the ever increasing number of events have far more to do with increased pedestrian use than the VICC, it also being there is just mere coincidence.

Recently it was announced that conference centre usage was down 20% from last year and an earlier story in the Daily News mentioned a 68% decrease. Based on projected delegate numbers, when compared to delegate space, the VICC will only be operating at less than 2,5% capacity. How this equates to growth I do not know.

Certainly while the VICC now sits empty there are more and more people coming into the downtown; yes if/when uses for the centre are broadened then and only then will the VICC have an impact.

Above as published August 31st, PNC has not had an impact on downtown . Another letter I had published a few days prior also touches on the conference centre City has great potential to create prosperity

It is time that the truth was told and the folly admitted to by those responsible for the huge expenditures that taxpayers of Nanaimo are paying, and will for years to come, for the Conference Centre. Blame it on the lack of a hotel or the recession but the reality is and always was that these types of large facilities will always be a drain on the citizens of the communities they are in. The only way to mitigate this drain is to allow for other uses and make it possible for those uses to take place.

This in and of itself is another issue that the city and management of the conference centre have failed at doing, Liquor licence delay cancels body painting

August 31: Letter: Dan Appell Many reasons are behind downtown revitalization
Sept 7Taxpayers dole out big bucks to operate public facilities
August 25Unlikely profits mean conference centre hotel a long way off
Philip Wolf: No hotel, no big surprise

Water Treatment Plant Borrowing Outcome

2011-09-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

Below links to the result of the process for borrowing 22m for the water treatment plant. This was an A1 farce on nthe part of Council and the City.

Despite saying they would get the information to the public only one info session was held, approx 40 people showed up. I had asked at a council meeting if they would do a mail out and was told no. A couple of Councillors stated they would ensure that the community was well informed.

At the public meeting I asked the head of the legislative services why the Alternate Approval petition forms were not with the rest of the information and 3 times encouraged they be put there, they were not. The whole info session reminded me of the Conference Centre in that it was decidedly pro Water Treatment Facility.

It is no wonder that there were only 3 of us that signed the petition and the way the AAP is set up that means the balance of the population approx. 64,000, voting age, were in favour.

Sept. 3: 65 million dollar water treatment plant targeted for 2015 completion date
September 2: Only five opposed borrowing 22 M

Zoning Public Hearing & Lobbying

2011-09-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

Busy, busy with this one trying to rally the Neigbourhoods to speak up. The following was sent out to Neighbourhood contacts with a couple of developer letters, opposed, and a couple of Citizen letters, in favour. My latest submission follows with the submission of the developer it refers to following it.

Public Hearing September 8, 2011

Please be advised that ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 2011 4500.004 received first and second readings on Monday’s August 22nd Special Council meeting. This bylaw now goes forward to Public Hearing on September 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the Shaw Auditorium, 80 Commercial Street.

Public Hearing Notice Scroll down to ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 2011 4500.004

Those that support 8.25 metres in established neighbourhoods need to tell the mayor and council, otherwise there is risk that developers will get their 9 meters. What is fair, is to allow a new height of 9 metres in new developments outside of established neighbourhoods where all properties on the same and adjacent streets will be built to the same scale. .

For those of you who may not be aware, the construction industry is planning to have a large delegation at that public meeting seeking to have council increase the height restriction for single family residential houses from 8.25 metres to 9 metres throughout the city.

If you are in favour of the proposed Amendment to retain the height of the previous Zoning Bylaw 4000 at 8.25 metres, it is important that your opinions be expressed.

This can be done by:
Clicking on the Public Hearing link below and indicating you are "in favour of the proposed Amendment to retain the 8.25 metre Height Restriction"
http://www.nanaimo.ca/PublicHearing/Default.aspx

OR
Sending an electronic submission (email letter to Mayor and Council) at:
mayor.council@nanaimo.ca

OR

You may wish to attend the public hearing in person.

It is important for residents to be heard.
------
My submission:

Honourable Mayor and Council

I am writing this submission in support of ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 2011 4500.004

It has been said that the most important purchase an individual or family will make in their lifetime is their home. People purchase for many reasons the most important being the ambiance of the neighbourhood and views.

On reading Ken Connolly's submission I have to say that quite frankly, I was appalled.

Mr. Connolly has referred to the citizens of Nanaimo, who do not support his position, as being "a handful of bullies", he has also stated these citizens "own self-interests blind them to the realities of the world around them".

Pretty strong language, if I do say so. Seems to me if there's a 'bully' in the group he might like to take a look in the mirror and if those self interests are the very reasons they purchased a home in the first place then should it not be so?

As to realities of the world, perhaps Mr. Connolly has been absorbing too much of Donald Trump, on the TV.

The following is the essence of Mr. Connolly's submission, with the position's reversed, from the position of one whose ‘interests’ might be affected if this zoning bylaw were not to pass. It read's as follows;

With utmost respect regarding the complexities of the decisions you are required to make, I urge council to serve ALL members of our community by accepting the arguments of local citizens who wish to roll back the building height increase allowed for in Bylaw 4500.

You are elected to serve the entire community, and not just a few individuals. You are expected to act with due consideration and a vision for the future well being of our community and its citizens.

Evidence abounds that Bylaw 4500, with the proposed amendments, is well reasoned and will help our community to develop in a financially sustainable fashion for years to come. As stewards of public policy in this community you MUST vote for the benefit of the entire city and approve the amendment.

How tragic it would be if we all looked back on this issue and recalled that this council bowed to the pressure from a handful of developers self-focused arguments at this crucial juncture. Please vote now to serve the citizens of the City of Nanaimo, not a handful of people whose own self-interests and quest for profit blind them to the realities of the world around them.

In closing, this is a matter of fairness and in my opinion that’s an issue you have to address by approving the amendment before you.
------

Developer Submission:

Ken Connolly has sent a Public Hearing Submission Online.
Address: 2664 Willow Grouse Rd, Nanaimo
Bylaw Number or Subject Property Address to Which they Are Addressing Your Comments: 4500.004

Comments: Council and Mayor:
With all due respect and with regard for the complexities of the decisions you are required to make, I urge council to serve ALL members of our community by rejecting the self-focused arguments of a very few vocal citizens who wish to roll back the building height increase allowed for in Bylaw 4500. You are elected to serve the entire community, and not just a few individuals. You are expected to act with due consideration and a vision for the future well being of our community. Evidence abounds that Bylaw 4500 is well reasoned and will help our community to develop in a financially sustainable fashion for years to come. As stewards of public policy in this community you MUST vote for the benefit of the entire city. How tragic it would be if we all looked back on this issue and recalled that this council bowed to the pressure from a handful of bullies at this crucial juncture. To have done so will be to have betrayed your entire constituency by saddling present and future taxpayers with yet higher taxation. Please vote now to serve the City of Nanaimo, not a handful of people whose own self-interests blind them to the realities of the world around them.
Sincerely:
Ken Connolly

Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw presentation

2011-08-29T06:45:00.002-07:00

Below is a copy of my presentation to council. On the 22nd three people spoke all opposed to the Height increase in the New Zoning Bylaw. The outcome was that council approved the amendment and actually added a few more of the single family zones. The public hearing is set for September 8th.

More to follow in the next couple of days.

Presentation to Council
August 22, 2011

Tonight I am speaking in support of the three Council Directed Amendments to City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500

Amendment 1
With regards to height; this is one of those properties that I believe would allow for greater height and density with minimal impact on the surrounding area. The fact that the property immediately across the highway and subject of the 2nd amendment, 150 Comox Rd., allowed at one point I believe 26 stories and # 1 Terminal Avenue was limited to approximately six stories has always struck me as not making sense.

Amendment 2
Many people will be overjoyed with this amendment seeing the return of 150 Comox Avenue to park designation though personally I would like to see some stronger means of ensuring it remains a part of Maffeo Sutton Park in perpetuity.

Amendment 3
While far less complex than the previous zoning bylaw, Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500 is still a complicated document. To believe that a few public open houses constitutes significant discussion especially since that significance would have been even less had not an open house been scheduled in Chase River is inaccurate. Those of us that are aware know just how few people tend to show up for these open houses.

Admittedly, in regards to the South End Community Association, we were more informed as our recent neighbourhood plan involved discussion, beyond the public open house, on a number of occasions with City staff regarding the new zoning bylaw. That said, and despite me knowing far more about zoning than I ever thought I would, average citizens are not experts and cannot be expected to be aware of everything within the document.

A simple illustration of the depth and complexity of the bylaw are the revisions, “to correct minor errors within the newly adopted bylaw,” coming up next on councils agenda. If minor errors can be made by those whose job it is to create the bylaw then it is not safe to assume that communication through the open house process will in any way adequately inform the public.

I ask do council and staff really believe the one open house regarding the water treatment plant to be significant discussion with the citizens of Nanaimo on that subject.

Last week I became aware of an e-mail that was circulating encouraging the development community to lobby council to retain the proposed new 9m height designation for R1/R1a zones. As chair of the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network, and in an effort to bring even more discussion to the issue, I thought it imperative that Nanaimo’s existing neighbourhoods become aware of this and if they so choose lobby council in support of the amendment to, “ensure that the maximum allowable building height within these zones is the same as what was previously permitted.”

Don’t get me wrong, I do not oppose development in general but do believe that in existing neighbourhoods it fit with the form and character of those neighbourhoods. I believe the existing development variance process will serve those needs by allowing neighbourhoods say in the choice of whether to approve or disapprove.

In the realm of communication we all need to look for ways to better encourage citizen participation and awareness.

Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw Lobbying

2011-08-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Many of us have always thought developers have had an upper hand when it comes to lobbying council to get their agendas met. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with this, if the opportunity is there then use it. The reality is Neighbourhood Groups and individual Citizens also have that same opportunity, if they so choose to use it. The sad reality is that more often than not they either don’t or wait until it is too late.

A couple weeks ago received the e-mail below, the names of the innocent or not so innocent have been removed, from a friend who thought it would be nice if the neighbourhoods were aware of the context of the e-mail and call to action by the development community. As you can see from perusing this e-mail was sent out as a result of council’s decision to put forward an amendment to the new zoning bylaw to keep maximum height in single family residential to the old standard 8.25m as opposed to the new 9m standard.

I then forwarded the e-mail, without names, to neighbourhood representatives in hopes that they would be willing to pass it on to their lists and galvanize folk, on an equal footing to those the original was sent to, to speak out. I encouraged people to e-mail council and appear at the council meeting on August 22nd if they wish to retain the old 8.25m height restriction, speak out.

I also offered, as chair of the Neighbourhood Network, to take their concerns and appear as a delegation to speak to the issue. As a result I received a number of e-mails back thanking me for the information, the Brechin Group planned to meet to discuss and, as can be seen on the agenda for the meeting, NOCA have already put forward items including this that they would like to see amended in the zoning bylaw. August 22nd Council Agenda

One other concern sent to me was council’s predisposition for “flip flopping” on items brought before them. Examples being, the Westwood Lake R.V. park, the 7-11 in the South End, and also recently moving the borrowing of funds for the Water Treatment Plant to referendum and then at the next council meeting waffling and taking it to the Alternate Approval Process.

It seems too often that citizens do nothing when informed but complain openly once council has gone in a direction they do not wish. The information on this was sent out to Neighbourhoods and it will be interesting to see how this one ultimately plays out.

The following are excerpts from the Staff Report on Monday’s agenda:
———--------------
“Staff does not support the amendments respecting reducing residential building Heights….. “ “The height issue, in particular, was debated at length by the community as part of the Zoning Bylaw review. It is acknowledged that a review of this nature usually is not inclusive of all neighbourhoods in the community, however, there were significant discussions surrounding the changes.”

“At the Public Hearing of 2011-JUN-23, two people spoke in favour of the height increase. Since the close of the Public Hearing, residents opposed to the height increase have sent emails to Council on the topic. Since Council passed its motion directing the height change be rescinded, Staff has received numerous inquiries from the development industry questioning why the change is being rescinded. Given the process that was undertaken to develop the new height restrictions, Staff does not support the proposed change back to the height restrictions found in Zoning Bylaw 4000..”
———---------
Admittedly there were public open houses on the new Zoning Bylaw. This though, because of the sporadic citizen attendance usually accompanying open houses, cannot be considered debated at length. It also has to be admitted that a couple neighbourhoods did have more contact with City Staff on the Zoning Bylaw.

During the work to complete the bylaw the South End Community Association(SECA) did have city staff contact on a number of occasions as they were also in the process of developing their Neighbourhood Plan. As part of SECA developing their plan I learned far more about zoning than I ever thought I would but because of the complexity of the bylaw I would in no way say I became an expert in all its many parts.

This said it cannot be expected that a mere citizen attending an open house is going to pick up on all the nuances of a plan. After all even the City which developed the bylaw is proposing 19 general text and mapping revisions at Mondays Council meeting. If those that developed the bylaw can’t catch everything then how can they expect ordinary citizens to?

Another amendment to the bylaw of note on the agenda:
——---------
“Rezone the property located at150 Comox Roadfrom the Comprehensive Development Three (CD3) Zone to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Three (PRC3) Zone in order to reflect the existing park use of the property and clarify that the City no longer intends to construct high density multiple family dwellings on the property.”
---------——
This is something many of us have been waiting for as these properties were originally used to bait a developer into building a hotel for the convention centre.

The following is the e-mail, developer driven, I spoke of at the beginning of this post that was put out to a list to galvanize the development community to try and get the following amendment squashed:
3. Amend the maximum allowable height of the principal building within the Single Dwelling Residential (R1/R1a) Zone to ensure that the maximum allowable building height within these zones is the same as what was previously permitted within the Single Family Residential (RS-1/RS-1a)) Zone.

——
E-mail:
Sent:Friday, August 12, 2011 11:36 AM
Subject: URGENT..... New Zoning Bylaw Height Reversal

Hello everyone,Last Monday Aug 15th the City of Nanaimo adopted their new Zoning Bylaw 4500.Included in the bylaw is a new 9m (29.53') height restriction....which we've been fighting for years to have done. A group of us worked with city staff to come up with a 9m height and city staff fully supports this increase.HOWEVER....seconds after being adopted, City Council immediately voted in favour to proceed with an amendement to Bylaw 4500, reducing the height restriction back to 8.25m (27.06').

This absurd motion came as a result of one or two people who complained to council that the view from their homes would be affected by a higher height restriction.Councillor Bill Holdom, in his motion, stated that individuals seeking a higher height can simply apply for a variance.

The Amendement is going to 1st & 2nd reading on Mon. Aug 22nd thenPublic Hearing on Thurs. Sept 8th at 7:00pm at the Shaw Aud. in the Conference Center.We must all attend to fight this and also send emails to the council.

WARNING....As a compromise, some are now asking that the new 9m height apply only to future subdivisions. I feel it would be very impractical to establish a zone for just the new lots to take advantage of a 9m height restriction. There are many areas of Nanaimo that have vacant lots and lots with very old (knock down) houses on them that would not afford the opportunity to take advantage of a higher height.

Some background....Years ago we looked at the possibility implementing an increased height restriction for new lots which resulted in the Schedule "H" area using steeper roofs. Unfortunately, this was not effective and rarely was it possible to take advantage of the higher heights. The new bylaw (4500) has abolished this and a 9m height was implemented.

As for "views being protected", it should not be the City's responsibility to protect views...it should be done (and is done) by the Developers. This is the rationale other cities who defend their increase in height restriction. See the doc enclosed that lists the heights of comparable cities in BC (and NOTE: some of these cities measure to the mid-point of the roof which can easily add more than 1.2m to the heights shown).

Most existing subdivisions in Nanaimo, including many older ones have Building Schemes (by developers) with reduced height restrictions to protect view corridors. These would not be affected by a new 9m height restriction.

The height restriction in Nanaimo was 30' (9.14m) up until 1980 when it was reduced to 27' (8.25), where it has remained until the present. Progressively since the 1970's, the size of houses have continued to increase. Ceiling heights have jumped from 8' to 9' (& higher). Also, the architectural styles of buildings have resulted in steeper roof lines. Secondary Suites have made houses bigger too. All of this has resulted in buildings that are practically impossible to keep at, or under 27'. The building industry has been crying out for an increased height restriction for years and it's time for change.

As for the argument that individuals can apply for a height variance if their house is higher than 27'.... as we all know, this is not accurate because to get a variance the applicant must prove "hardship". Size of the building or architectural style of a building can not be used as an argument and will not be granted a variance for height. I'm a home plan designer and been designing plans for 30 years and I've had many clients get rejected in this exact situation even when they weren't in view corridor areas. Therefore the Board of Variance argument is not valid.

I strongly suggest you all look at the Doc enclosed to see how other municipalities have progressed to work with the building industry to adapt to the change in architecture that has resulted over the years. You will notice that even a 9m (29.53') height restriction will still be lower than most on the list. I view Kelowna as a similar city to Nanaimo with respect to size, terrain and view corridors. Kelowna has a 9.5m (31.17') restriction which is also measured to the Midpoint of the roof. This can result in maximum roof peak heights in the area of 10.7m (35'). Kamloops is 15m (49.21').

When the members of our industry along with City staff discussed an increased height restriction we decided on a fair height restriction of 9m, even though there were many in our industry that wanted an even higher height restriction.

Many of us in the construction industry have fought for a higher height restriction for years...always getting rejected by council who sided with the neighbourhood committees.This must now be OUR TIME! We must band together and fight to keep the 9m (29.53') and pressure council to reject the proposed amendment. This could be our last chance to finally get a higher height restriction...let's not blow it.

If you're in favour of a 9m height restriction make your voice heard...don't take it for granted that there will be enough support.Also, forward this email to everyone you know to get as much support as possible.

I recommend you send emails to the Mayor & Council AND also, click on the Public Hearing link to strongly voice your support.....click on BOTH links.We are "supporting the 9m height restriction as outlined in Bylaw4500 AND rejecting the proposed amendment to reduce the height to 8.25m"
Mayor&Council@nanaimo.ca http://www.nanaimo.ca/PublicHearing/Default.aspxAlso,

I am looking for volunteers to be part of a small delegation to attend the Mon. Aug 22nd meeting (where it will go to 1st & 2nd reading)....if you're interested, please contact me. NOTE: I would still like everyone to attend the public hearing on Thurs. Sept 8th.If you have any questions or need any clarification please contact me.

Sincerely,
Kevin Krastel
Krastel Design Group Inc.
Jenish Home Plans
250-756-1110

Poverty in BC

2011-07-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

The two links below are to recent reports on Poverty in BC. When you look at the stats try and imagine how Nanaimo's stats would be at least double the overall stats for BC. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and if one goes by some existing poverty measures easily half the population would have the distinction of living in poverty.

Click on the link below to access the 2010 BC Child Poverty Report Card. The Stats are from 2009, the latest available, and show that BC has had the highest Child Poverty rates in Canada for 8 years in a row, from the year the Liberal Government took power 2001. If 2010 & 2011 stats were available I have no doubt what-so-ever that this would be the 10th year in a row.
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
http://www.firstcallbc.org/
“Children and youth must receive a first call on society's resources because we value them as children and youth and because they are our future.”

Click on the link below to access a video and the written report regarding the cost of poverty in BC.
BC Poverty Reduction
http://www.bcpovertyreduction.ca/

BC Federation of Labour - HST

2011-07-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

From the BC Fed. "Last week we released a simple and clear video: Stickman Explains the HST Honestly "

HST Stick Cartoons

2011-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Ya gotta check these out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfABlfLqdyM&feature=BFa&list=ULVGwYU5y9GRU&index=1

I am totally amused by the government ads that are on the radio, while they are not really outright lying the way they are framed seems to imply people are stupid enough to believe them. The latest goes something like this; Vote YES to go back to 12% GST plus PST, Vote NO for 10% HST. Actually stupidity aside I think many will believe the ads simply because they do not want to actually check out the facts.

HST shenanigans

2011-07-05T10:27:00.001-07:00

July 6 Daily News:
Fight HST organizer says signs have been sabotaged

I actually had a couple YES signs in my yard much like the one below, also below are pictures of the doctored sign, and on Saturday while mowing the lawn noticed thay had gone missing. The next day I e-mailed for more signs and got a call explaining that the person who had placed them had driven by on Saturday and saw that the sign on Nocol St. had been doctored so he stopped and took it down, the one on Needham was not even there.

He had originally thought I might have done it but after talking to me we figured that whomever is doctoring the signs likely took the one off Needham and doctored it then replaced the one on Nicol St. with it. As can be seen this was not a hack job but professionally made decals used to replace specific sections of Yes Extinguiosh the HST signs. While one has to admire the initiative on their part they should be aware that the RCMP are investigating.

Again in case it is not clear where I stand:

MORE on HST:

It's tough to find anyone in Nanaimo voting to keep the tax
Walter Cordery, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, July 07, 2011
Sentiment towards HST, referendum is largely negative

EDITORIAL
Don't waste HST ballot on protest vote

If you wish to read the many letters etc. published in the Daily News regarding the HST go to: Canada.com search HST Nanaimo

For letters and stories in the Nanaimo News Bulletin go to: Nanaimo News Bulletin search HST

Non-Referendum

2011-07-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Another letter in the D/N today Offer residents choice in water treatment issue . This is really an issue people should latch on to but I am afraid that there is a lack of interest in pursuing the Alternate Approval requirement of gathering over 6 thousand signatures on petitions to defeat it.

The bulletin printed my last letter Referendum needed on water borrowing on Saturday and did a pretty good job with editing. Attaching link as well as text as for some reason, at least I believe it is still so, after a while the link no longer works. Text:

Re: No referendum on water borrowing, June 30.
OK, so it would appear the City of Nanaimo will likely be forced by VIHA and the province to move forward with a water treatment facility.

If, in fact, this is a given, and it is provincially mandated, then shouldn’t the province contribute at a minimum one-third of the costs?

A referendum on the long-term borrowing of more than $20 million by the taxpayers of Nanaimo is necessary and steamrolling borrowing through by the alternate approval process is not an option.

Why is a referendum necessary? For the simple fact that it gives all voting citizens the right to choose if borrowing is the best way to pay for the treatment plant.
Reserve funds in city coffers certainly exist and if also taken from other department streams should be able to pay for this without borrowing.

Instead of putting $16 million to a new City Hall annex, used by a few hundred employees, put that money toward the treatment plant which serves our more than 80,000 citizens.

Let the citizens decide through referendum whether we borrow.
If they say no, then look at other options and get it done. After all, 60,000 voters must carry some weight with the provincial and federal government and they would certainly carry weight municipally.

Here also are a couple of stories from the Bulletin
Council reverses water referendum plans, approves alternate approval process
Editorial: Referendum a better option

Letters July 5th:

Council has no trust in publics decision Jim Taylor
Referendum would allow for democracy Ron Bolin
Taxpayers deserve say on spending Gary Korpan Interesting seeing our former mayor writting about this. It was he who after all tried the same alternate approval process, which did fail, to acquire a parcel of land from the RDN to be brought into City limits for the Cable Bay project.

City Staff Wages

2011-06-29T13:47:00.001-07:00

The letter to the editor below should give one pause to think. Have also added links to the storys it was in response to. I am of the belief that we need to pay fair wages but if Jim Taylor is correct in his letter then we really do need a core review in Nanaimo.

Letter
Review of city salaries is absolutely necessary
News Articles
Review would determine if salaries justified
Top city staffers earn more than 175k per year

Referendum reversal

2011-06-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Letter to editor below from Ron Bolin re the reversal of the referendum. Ron is well known for his letters which dig for and present the facts. Lately he has been getting a tad bit more descriptive, coming from the heart, and put out some pretty good stuff.

Reversing referendum sign of weak council

Treatment Plant bullshit

2011-06-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

In one of the most asinine decisions Nanaimo City council has made, the convention centre ranks right up there, a majority of council chose to reverse the decision for a referendum on borrowing millions for its proposed water treatment plant in favour of a process that is almost guaranteed to ensure their wish that the city go further in hock to money lenders than it already is.

For those who are unaware the process chosen is the Alternate Approval Process, a process where if you do not specifically vote no you are deemed to be voting yes. In order for a no vote to win 10% of voters, approx. 6600, must vote no. This is by means no easy task as it takes a huge commitment of time and energy and volunteers to collect that many signatures. A referendum on the other hand is won by a simple majority of those choosing to vote, those that don't so choose simply do not count.

Councillor Holdom and Mayor Ruttan keep reiterating that because we are being mandated to build the plant then we need to move forward with this. What they are not saying is that a referendum would in no way impact the building of the plant just how we go about accessing the money to do so.

After the news stories and letters below I have included a link to the council meeting. Unfortunately a fair part of my comment during question period was cut off when SHAW stopped recording. To hear my comment scroll to the end and then back a couple of minutes.

June 28, 2011
Daily News
Loan referendum on Nanaimo water plant reversed

Paul Walton: VIHAs the risk not our water

Letters
Let citizens decide on borrowing in referendum

Risks to life and limb are costing taxpayers a lot

Council meeting Video.
http://www.nanaimo.ca/CouncilMeetings/VideoArchive.aspx?clip=C110627V

HST Referendum

2011-06-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

The time for the referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax draws closer and soon folk will have to make a choice. All I know is that for me this tax seems to have taken any disposable income, which I have always had little, and leaves me living paycheck to paycheck. For lower income folk the rebate might be enticing but think about it, when has the government, any government given back more than you paid. Yes for people on Income assistance this might be true, but for the vast majority it isn't.

This pretty much says it as to where I stand.

Have added a pile of links to news stories and letters below.

Letter D/N
June 25
HST will not help business create jobs

Bulletin
June 11
HST forums wrap up in Nanaimo
Scroll down in the story and you will notice links to other HST related storeys.

Province
June 7
BC Government risks backlash from HST ads

The following links are from a simple search, HST Nanaimo, on www.Canada.com
For any of the news storeys copy and paste the title into Google and click on the result that has daily news in the URL, that way you will get to see the comments made on the story.

The HST will cost us plenty if it is rescinded

Vote call should have frozen HST rebate

High-profile ads are used to push B.C. HST plan

Liberal's HST 'bribe' isn't fooling anyone

More questions than answers about the HST

Use head, not heart to vote

Common sense can be dictated by dollars

Restaurant owners claim the HST is hurting business

HST helps big and small business

Consumption tax beats income tax every time

Get rid of the Liberals along with the HST

Nanaimo posties still on picket line

Developers say the HST causing construction dip
Taxes are the price we pay for civilized society

HST is a beneficial and modern tax policy

Seniors weigh pros and cons of HST

HST forces 'little guys' to bail out B.C. business

Misinformation clouds tax issue

More on Water Treatment in Nanaimo

2011-06-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

More links to storys and letters below as well as to the City of Nanaimo's Water information page. Just sent the following letter to the editor in;

Okay, so it would appear that the City of Nanaimo will likely be forced by VIHA, a.k.a. the province, to move forward with a Water Treatment facility. If in fact this is a given, and it is provincially mandated, then shouldn't the Province contribute at a minimum one third of the costs?

Despite what Councillor Holdom and Mayor Ruttan say, a referendum on the long term borrowing of over 20 million dollars by the taxpayers of Nanaimo is necessary and steamrolling borrowing through by the Alternate Approval process is not an option. Why is a referendum necessary? For the simple fact that it gives all voting citizens the right to choose if borrowing is the best way to pay for the treatment plant.

Reserve funds in City coffers certainly exist and if also taken from other department streams should be able to pay for this without borrowing. Instead of putting 16 million to a new City Hall Annex, used by a few hundred employees, put that money towards the treatment plant which serves our over 80,000 citizens.

The point I am trying to make is let the citizens decide through referendum whether we borrow. If they say no then look at other options and get it done. After all 60,000 voters must carry some weight with the provincial and federal government and they would certainly carry weight municipally.

Letters D/N:

Dr. Murray Fyfe, The Daily News
Published: Friday, June 24, 2011
Water quality rules apply to entire province

By Dan Appell, The Daily News June 23, 2011
First save the money then build the plant

Editorial:

The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Water project referendum is just absurd

News Storys:

Council must comply with regulations
Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Friday, June 24, 2011
Nanaimo drinking water may not be as safe as people think

Pair absent from decision to approve public vote on borrowing $22.5 million want to reconsider decision
Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Councillor condemns water referendum as nonsensical

Water treatment plant makes up biggest chunk of Nanaimo's construction costs

By Derek Spalding, The Daily News June 21, 2011
New buildings will cost city 85 million
This story seems to be inaccessible through the daily news website so any comments made cannot be seem.

City of Nanaimo – Water Treatment info
http://www.nanaimo.ca/EN/main/departments/Engineering-Public-Works/13038/WaterQualityTreatment.html

Water Treatment: To Be or Not To Be

2011-06-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

Letters and newspaper storys regarding the Water Treatment Plant and upcoming referendum during the municipal election in November.

The biggest question is do we really need a 65 Million Dollar Water Treatment Plant? Also what would VIHA really do if the city decided not to build one? If VIHA revokes the city's water permit would that mean the City no longer can provide water to its citizens? I personally think not and council should have the cohones to say NO and accept the consequences.

Another pertinent issue in this is why did the Feds and Province not commit to a three way split on the costs and how can we get them to do so if we go forward with the project.

I belong to a group called Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition and will endeavour to gather more information. www.vancouverislandwaterwatchcoalition.ca

Couple comments of mine below in red.

LETTERS

Ron Bolin, The Daily News
Published: Friday, June 17, 2011
Council was right to choose referendum

Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Saturday, June 18, 2011
People need answers about treatment plant

Gary Joseph Chandler, The Daily News
Published: Saturday, June 18, 2011
Pay for water plant now, not in future

Don’t really know what to make of this one. On the one hand it seems like he is for the borrowing and then states he will be voting no to the borrowing.

NEWS STORIES

Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, June 16, 2011
Not borrowing for water plan will mean much higher rates

Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Health authority is forcing the city to upgrade water treatment; council must decide how to pay for it
Voters will decide on $22.5million loan for new water plant

EDITORIAL

The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Water project referendum not necessary

BULLETIN

By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News BulletinPublished: June 14, 2011 5:00 PM
Nanaimo plans referendum on 22.5 million loan for water treatment facility

Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News BulletinPublished: June 18, 2011 6:00 AM
More expensive projects loom for Nanaimo

An interesting story considering Oliver Woods Community Centre, briefly mentioned, is just a couple years old. If I recall correctly it has already had to have some deficiencies with leaky windows dealt with.

Published: June 16, 2011 8:00 AM
Editorial: City spending need thought

Referendum: Borrowing to build Water Treatment Facility

2011-06-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

This issue just cropped up at a recent council meeting. Originally City Staff wanted to use the Alternative Approval Process; 10% of voters, over 6000, would have to vote against the borrowing in order for it to be defeated. This process sucks as even if one were not to vote either way it would be assumed as a vote for.

Fortunately council voted in favour of sending it to Referendum: simple majority of those voting on the issue determines whether the City borrows tyhe money or not.

Sent the following letter today:

I really have to question not only the rationale of borrowing money for but of the water treatment plant itself. Do we really need this plant; is a water treatment plant really the only option? Is it in fact a necessary piece of infrastructure? Is the city only proposing the building of a water treatment plant because the Vancouver Island Health Authority has told us we must?

How many other cities have been TOLD to build water treatment plants by VIHA and how many of these are complying? In the last 10 or 20 years how many water advisory notices have gone out to residents of the City of Nanaimo and how many of these have been boil water advisories?

If these plants are so necessary then why are higher levels of government not funding the total package instead of expecting the citizens of Nanaimo to come up with 73% of the cost? What is the penalty if we do not follow the mandate of VIHA?

I will readily admit to being an activist but ‘Cranky’ I think not. I believe there are many questions that need answers. I also believe the taxpayers of Nanaimo deserve straight answers to these questions and not the bafflegab we are used to getting from the powers that be.

Re: Just plain nasty

2011-06-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

I sent the following letter to the editor off regarding the letter linked to in Just Plain Nasty. It has not been published which surprises me. Perhaps because it has actual information in it and maybe the press do not want to have people know more regarding Nanaimo's Homeless Strategy. This way they can continue to have the Hosuing issue remain contentious so that it is news worthy.

June 11, 2011

Initially on reading Larry Mashinter’s recent letter to the editor, Using tax money to give homeless comfort wrong, I thought to address his ludicrous comment stating the homeless and those with addiction are vermin. Given more thought I realized that some comments do not dignify a response and so will leave that one to public opinion alone. What I will do is give Mr Mashinter credit in that he did, despite his asinine comment, use his real name; at least I am assuming the newspaper did establish that as a fact.

I do want to briefly address his concerns on costs. It has been a well researched and established fact that it actually costs less to house the homeless than not. While initial expenses towards housing may be expensive the savings over the long run far outweigh the costs of the status quo. If you, the reader, are at all interested I have included the following three studies that can be easily found on the internet.

Housing and Support for Adults with Severe Addictions and/or Mental Illness in British Columbia ; Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University , February 2008. (CARHMA study)

Calgary Homeless Foundation Report on the Cost of Homelessness in
the City of Calgary ; RSM Richter & Associates Inc. Business Valuations & Litigation Support Calgary, January, 2008. (Calgary study)

The Costs of Homelessness in British Columbia ; Province of British Columbia, 2001
(Cost of Homelessness BC)

Just found this one when getting links for above Homelessness-costs-BC-taxpayers-1-billion-a-year

Just plain nasty

2011-06-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

I had to put the following letter in here simply because of its sheer nastiness. I will however give him credit for using his real name, at least I am assuming so.

Using tax money to give homeless comfort wrong

Putting aside Mashinter's reference to the homeless as vermin I will however touch very briefly on his comments about costs of housing the homeless. This link, http://www.streetohome.org/ , will take you to a page where you can access a couple of studies that show there is actually a savings to the taxpayer by housing the homeless.

"It costs $55,000 a year to leave a homeless person on the streetcompared to only $37,000 a year to provide housing with support services- Calgary study and Carmha study."

Correction, Sort Of

2011-06-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

As pointed out in a brief letter to the editor in the todays Nanaimo Daily News Housing project 18 units, not 10 as letter claimed , the Building that was built on 10th St. is 18 units. T'wasn't that I had misinformation in my letter to the editor it was simply that the information I had posted was cut and pasted from the MOU and there have been some changes. Changes also include,as noted in my earlier post, those of the Hillside and Townsite (Dufferin) developments.

Supportive Housing Bowen Rd.

2011-06-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

News Stories:
June 3
Still playing the blame game
June 1
City council voted to postpone controversial housing
May 31
Council delays controversial social housing project

Couple Recent Letters:
June 3
Social housing for north end not likely

June 6 (Me)
Housing facts may lift some of the confusion

The following is long but hopefully helpful.

Supportive Social Housing Redux:

Alrighty then. So on May 30th a motion was made by Councillor Bill Holdom to approve the rezoning of the proposed Supportive Housing location on Bowen Rd. but put any development on hold until the others have been built and the need for more is determined. Also the property could be sold. Once moved and seconded the motion passed with only Councillors Bestwick and Sherry dissenting.

This, in my personal opinion, was a good move on the part of council and close to what I had proposed, that of approving the rezoning and selling the property then purchasing one or two others in other locations for Supportive Social Housing. The added benefit is that there will be a cooling down period and an opportunity, providing council and staff take it and the community is willing to get involved, to get some real information out and have some meaningful communication.

A lack of communication and too much misinformation, on both sides, has been part of the problem with the process for creating supportive social housing in Nanaimo. Much of the misinformation came out in the over 12 hours of public hearings spanning 4 nights Public Hearing submissions , not to mention numerous news stories and letters to the editor.

To add to that fear has been used and spread by those initially opposed to galvanize the greater community. Talk of pedophiles, criminal activity, prostitution and increased activity by drug dealers has taken away from the original intent of providing this housing for the homeless in our community.

Street drug use, crack/crystal meth was predominantly mentioned as a concern by those opposed, very seldom was alcohol the topic of discussion. It did come out at the public hearing that the Hospital/Bowen area already sees the drug trade on their streets as do most areas of Nanaimo. The reality is most crack cocaine and crystal meth users want nothing to do with any level of supervision and will not access housing where they know that supervision exists. Most are ambivalent about their drug use and have housing, of a sort, already.

This said, when one does start to contemplate change and a wish to remove their selves from the street drug culture this housing will be in place to provide safety and if needed referrals and help accessing detox and treatment programs. The people the low barrier supportive units will help out the most, potentially saving lives, would be the street entrenched individuals with alcohol addictions.

Focusing on the misnomer of ‘Wet Housing’ has muddied the original intent and uses suggested for all the proposed sites. ‘Wet Housing’ has been attached by the community to all the proposed housing when in fact only two of the original housing locations were proposed as Low Barrier. Low barrier simply means that there would be no conditions attached to getting into the housing.

In an effort to provide some information and if one actually reads the Memorandum of Understanding, wonder how many folk have, it outlines a few important things folk should know. For those not willing or too lazy to read the whole thing below offers some guidance towards sections and content pertinent;

Sec 1 - last sentence
Sec 3 - last paragraph
Sec 4 - last three sentences
Sec 8
Sec 10 (my comment - implies not all units will be supportive)
Sec 26 (my comment - would give this one a fail on the part of all involved)

The (MOU) between the Province and the City of Nanaimo commits to the construction of up to 160 units of new supportive housing on five sites. The total number of units is approximate and is likely to change through the design and development process.

For all sites, the Province will arrange for funding to build and operate the buildings. The City will lease its sites to non-profit partners (to be selected through a proposal call over the next few months) at a nominal cost, and the City will exempt all the developments from property taxes as long as the Province continues to provide operating subsidies.

1598 Townsite Road (Dufferin)
Owned by the City and located immediately adjacent to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Approximately 70 units of apartment-style housing are envisioned for the site.
Given the proximity to the hospital and associated services, this site may be suitable for tenants with mental health and addictions issues.
1402-1590 Bowen Road
Owned by the City and located northwest of downtown, these properties could accommodate commercial or service uses at ground level and apartment-style housing above.
The property provides multiple transportation options and could serve more independent tenants in about 30 units.
437-445 Wesley Road and 421 Franklyn Street
Owned by the City and located downtown, the site can support approximately 40 apartment-style units. Given the proximity of a range of services and resources, the development could be conducive to bachelor suites for homeless singles and those in need of higher levels of support services.
3515 Hillside Avenue
Owned by the Province, this property is the location of a group home.
A new home will be built next to it on the site. The tenants would then move into the new home, and the old home will be torn down and replaced with a new building. In total, 10 housing units will be created on the site.
477 10th Street
Owned by the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre, this property will be developed into an innovative 10-unit housing development for youth and elders.

As can be seen by the above, only the Wesley and Dufferin sites would be considered low barrier. An unannounced, as yet, site in the North End is in response to cutting back the 70 units on Dufferin by half because of the objections of the neighbourhood.

It should also be noted that to the best of my knowledge the Hillside Avenue site has been withdrawn by the province. While not mentioned above the 10 units on this site would if I recall have been for couples or single parent families. Personally I hope to see this one resurface in the future.

Also the 10th street project changed from the proposed 10 to 18 units of housing for youth and elders.

Supportive Housing Bowen Rd. Public hearing stuff

2011-05-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Council Agenda Supportive Housing pgs 43 - 87

Supportive Housing Submissions to Public Hearings

A lot of interesting reading.

Empire Days

2011-05-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

This will likely be the last for this year though there may be another letter or two which I will post here if they come in.

Philip Wolf: Hard to make real change Comments following the column are once again interesting.

Convention Centre usage plummets

2011-05-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

The story below, from a few weeks back, shows how bad things are with the NNC and simply reinforces the information I put out in the last post on this subject

Conference Centre usage plunges a whopping 68%

Empire Days 144 years

2011-05-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

So another Empire Days has come and gone with very little fanfare. Some of the comments on the DN story of the 19th are very amusing though and worth a read. Three letters at this point have been published including mine in response to Diane Denton's of the 21st. I think it but just a matter of time before there is a change to the naming of the weekend in Nanaimo though it will not come soon enough for me.

Time to rename long weekend celebration
Philip Wolf, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, May 19, 2011

Letter: May 21, 2011
Empire days volunteers deserve more praise

May 24

Gord Fuller
Wanting new name is no dishonour to volunteers

Dave Cutts
Honouring Victoria at least gives us a day off

Supportive Housing letters May 17 - 20

2011-05-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

May 20
Me
More civilized debate needed on housing issue

May 19
People have a right to preserve their safety

May 18
Opposition to social housing discriminatory

Bulletin May 18
Me
Earlier discussion needed on proposal

May 17
Me
Fear is weapon used to oppose social housing

Mistrust breeds fear and anger on important issue

Couple Letters - Supportive Housing

2011-05-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Just sent these off:

To Bulletin May 16, 2011-05-16

The fact that so many people, on both sides of the supportive housing issue, took time to attend and speak at the 12 plus hours of public hearings illustrates a few things. People are passionate about their community and there has been a lack of open communication and accurate information, not totally attributable to city staff, about the issue of supportive social housing.

Much research has been presented by both sides of the debate, some blatantly false and some not even pertinent to what Nanaimo is doing. Many letters to the editor actually push the bounds of reality. Fact is no matter what your opinion you can find something on the internet to support it but as can be the case in this process the way the information is used leads too much of it being half truths.

What has been the worst is the downright nastiness and use of fear that has galvanized many. A simple question, how well do you really know your existing neighbours?

Threats and fear tactics are not conducive to a meaningful discussion and cloud the issue of housing to help the homeless. Discussion should have happened far earlier and perhaps to a large degree some of the vitriolic comments and innuendo could have been avoided.

To Daily News May 16, 2011

While I very much appreciate the Daily News attempts to clarify the issues I think it may actually have had the opposite effect.

We know, from local examples, that Warmlands in Duncan and the Balmoral in Nanaimo have helped alleviate preexisting problems in their respective areas. RCMP and school officials have sited no problems in Duncan and the RCMP in Nanaimo are in favour of supportive housing.

Up to 40 units will be built on Wesley St. and 36 to 40 are proposed for both Dufferin and Bowen Rd. sites. Numbers at these two sites are not set in stone and could be changed. There is also the potential to sell the Bowen Rd. site towards the purchase of other sites in the city.

While many spoke about smaller scale abstinence or treatment based housing the funding available is for the use of low barrier housing. Funding for these other types will be sought in the future.

Fear has been the weapon of many of those opposed; i.e. supportive housing will bring an influx of drug dealers and prostitutes to the area; there will be needles left all over the place and crime will increase. None of this is borne out by fact.

As stated by many, much of the problems they fear the supportive housing will bring are already in existence in the area as in most areas of the city. Will implementation of Supportive Social Housing eliminate the existing problems? I doubt it but I also doubt, as has been the case with both Warmlands and the Balmoral, they will contribute to more of the same.

The latest supportive housing

2011-05-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Stories
May 14
After explosive public meetings social housing likely an election issue
Setting the record straight on a few of the housing facts
Letter
Community must look after most vulnerable
May 16

Walking A Mile In Her Shoes

2011-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

I participated in this event on Saturday Men slip on stilettos to fight violence a lot of fun and I managed to raise almost $900.00 in pledges. T'was also a lot of pain for me as I had agreed to wear stilettoes and within 100ft after starting the walk I fell down twice, didn't feel the pain till the following day. It was fortunate that I had, as a spare, the shoes I wore last year, wedges with a substantial heal. Finished the walk wearing them and am looking forward to doing it again next year. When I do I will try the shoes first, want to do stilletos again, making sure they are more of a proper fit. I think part of the problem with the ones I tried was that they were too tight and also closed toe.

2011 Attempt

The back ups

Dead On

2011-05-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while and editorial will come out in a Nanaimo paper that is dead on. If you have any idea about the happenings in Nanaimo you need to read this, they don't get much better

Nanaimo politicians might want to aim a little higher

More Supportive Again

2011-05-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Below is the second presentation I made on the Bowen Rd. Rezoning follwed by more news stories and letters, from both sides. If the link is directly to a story from the daily news you can read comments made about the story otherwise I ended up taking the links from Canada.Com. Was just the easiest way. One really should read the comments, a great feature of many web based newspapers, they can be both enlightening and scary.

Re: Rezoning
BYLAW NO. 4000.506

Gordon W. Fuller
604 Nicol St.
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 4T9

To clarify earlier comments from earlier presenters:
Columbian Centre Society does have a 10 person capacity but they also have 5 such buildings on the same site.
Warmlands is I believe 20 – 24 supportive housing units plus an additional low barrier shelter.
Through a Blue Lens (documentary) and the comment “is this the type of neighbourhood you want to create?” This is about the Downtown Eastside, an area even former mayor Larry Campbell has stated was in a large part created b the concentration of social services of all kinds. This is in no way related to what Nanaimo’s Homeless Action Plan proposes.
Addiction or the use/abuse of drugs & alcohol is a complicated issue. You heard earlier from Wallace Malay, myself and others that have experienced it and moved forward. There is not one simple solution that fits all. We need a variety of services to meet the need of a variety of people. This is proposed in Nanaimo’s Action Plan.

Honourable Mayor and Council.

I am in support of the rezoning for reasons that will become clear.

In over a decade of paying attention to council issues I do not recall ever having seen an instance where a public hearing has spanned 4 sessions. This is in my opinion not a bad thing as I believe everyone, no matter their opinion, has a right to be heard. It does however illustrate the failings in the communication process with the neighbourhood about the importance of Supportive Social Housing and Nanaimo’s Response to Homelessness Action Plan. I am reminded of the saying “you reap what you sow” and council certainly has been bearing the brunt of what one could consider a bad harvest.

Key to Nanaimo’s strategy is Action 6 of its plan; FACILITATE COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE.
I quote, “Facilitating community acceptance will be key to the effective implementation of the Action Plan.
Examples of proposed steps include:
• Early engagement, in advance of any announcements of sites or funding;
• Developing a locational plan that disperses housing and services;
• Communication with the public, neighbours, businesses, agencies and service
providers on aspects of plan implementation on an ongoing basis; and
• Establishing good neighbour agreements.
Sure we had a public open house when the Homeless Action Plan was developed but we all know that these types of open houses do not draw a huge crowd. Yes in 2010 the proposed site on Dufferin was brought to a meeting in the Hospital area but it was couched within a meeting publicized to be primarily around parking issues, the housing only being brought up at the meeting. Had the public known what was actually on the agenda I am sure far more people would have attended.

Were these “communication with the public, neighbours, businesses, agencies and service providers on aspects of plan implementation on an ongoing basis? “ Technically yes, in reality not. If council and city staff has not already started to sow the seeds with the proposed housing for the North End then I fear you will continue to reap an unsavoury harvest.

Tonight I am not going to bombard you, or creator forbid bore you, with a lot of research. Much has been said, and research provided, by those on both sides of this issue. Some is accurate, anyone can find results on the inter web to support their particular opinion, and some information is outright false. An example of the latter being the alleged stabbing by one resident of another at Warmlands in Duncan. This did not happen.

Fear has been the weapon of many of those opposed; i.e. supportive housing will bring an influx of drug dealers and prostitutes to the area; there will be needles left all over the place and crime will increase. None of this is borne out by fact. The reality is that to some degree, as has been stated by numerous of those opposed, much of this is already in existence in the area as it is in most areas of the city. I feel for the young lady who spoke last week about finding a syringe but it does illustrate what I just said.

Will the implementation of the proposed Supportive Social Housing put a stop to it? I doubt it but I also doubt that it will contribute to more of the same. Using the Balmoral Hotel as an example I can categorically state that it has contributed to an improvement of the area since CMHA took it over. Yes there are still problems in the neighbourhood but they are in no way attributable to the Balmoral and are in no way of the extent they were when the Balmoral was an unsupervised SRO building.

Most street level drug users are ambivalent and want nothing to do with any perceived authority such as the 24 hour staffing and ongoing support that will be in place in the proposed housing. Building this housing will however give some of these folk a safe option when they do start to contemplate change.

From my personal experiences, 25 years, with homelessness as well as alcohol & drug abuse and from my experience of the last 15 years working with people currently facing these issues I know that the supportive housing being proposed in Nanaimo has the potential to save lives. The reality is also that this housing will not be strictly used by tenants with mental illness and addictions, but will house a mix of tenants as mentioned in the Homeless Action Plan and I quote “A mix or balance of tenant characteristics improves the fit into the building and community”

One comment made to council last week in the realm of a veiled threat, others more blatant have been given, is this. “Political will is followed by peoples will and you should remember that.” All I ask is that you remember that each and every one of you also represents the disenfranchised; the homeless and those with addictions.

The ideas being brought forward about abstinence based housing and treatment centres are certainly needed, not just in Nanaimo but elsewhere as well. Some of this is already taking place and more is in the works. What we have now is funding for supportive housing, not these other things. I can guarantee to those in the audience that once this housing is built we will be looking for funding for many of these other services.

I encourage people to read A Response to Homelessness in Nanaimo: A Housing First Approach Relevant Best Practices as well as Nanaimo’s Response to Homelessness Action Plan, both available on the City of Nanaimo website.

In my last presentation I offered an option that I hope will be seriously considered by council and that I believe can meet the needs of all sides in the debate. Rezone this property and then sell it to a developer for mixed use commercial and housing. Take the proceeds and purchase one or two properties in other areas of Nanaimo for Supportive Housing and make sure that communication is started immediately with the public, neighbours, and businesses in these areas.

I also want to offer one more suggestion limit the sizes of the buildings on all properties, including the one already proposed on Dufferin Crescent, to 26 units. 26 units is more manageable and in line with many other Supportive Housing initiatives in other cities across North America including Vancouver and Toronto. It works. As a community we share responsibility for all those in the community and collectively we need to move forward with the provision of safe housing to those most in need.

Lastly I just want to say that the neighbourhood has certainly espoused some very colourful and negative opinions of the disenfranchised. I would urge them to recognize that these are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. Very likely to the very residents, your neigbours, who already live in the area. Some may even have been students at Quarterway. None were likely influenced by housing except in that which they grew up.

I also want to restate my invitation for anyone wishing to come down to the 7-10 Club. I will be more than happy to introduce you to some of those who will benefit from this housing.

Links

May 14
Low barrier housing stance is principled

By Derek Spalding, The Daily News May 12, 2011
Misinformation fuels opposition to housing plan

The Daily News May 12, 2011
Council can't waiver on low barrier plan

By Sandra Shaw, The Daily News May 12, 2011
'11th hour' consultation on housing is not enough

By Derek Spalding, Daily News May 7, 2011
Public hearing shut down after going well into the night another round set for Wednesday

Published: Saturday, May 07, 2011
Time to dispel confusion about housing plan

The Daily News May 6, 2011
Real dialogueneeded over social housing

By Bob Winkler, The Daily News May 4, 2011
Housing plan doesn't put Nanaimo families first

Published: Friday, April 29, 2011
Sell one city property to upport housing plan

By Derek Spalding, Daily News April 23, 2011
Gruelling debate over social housing plan goes to third night

Endangered Species?

2011-05-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

My comments are below this brief story.

Port Authority Officially Opens New Cruise Ship Terminal

The Nanaimo Port Authority, politicians of every stripe and more than 170 invited guests were on hand last Friday to officially open the stunning new $24 million Nanaimo Cruise Ship Terminal.The facility took 10 months to build, on the northeast corner of the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf terminal, near the Gabriola Island ferry terminal. It has a 350-foot floating dock capable of berthing 1,050-foot vessels and a 13,775 square foot welcome centre that will have a Canadian Border Service Agency office. The port authority administration office will relocate there this summer. Improved access, new roadways, parking and a pick-up and drop-off for coaches are also included in the design.

Question? Why was I not invited? It was my and your taxes that paid for this so it should have been open to the public. Sure they say there will be a general opening but what makes these folk any more special than you or I.

The Picture entitled Endangered Species is something I wanted to show in part due to the fact that there are only four cruise ships scheduled this year to land at the new facility. The number of cruises that have been stopping in the harbour prior to this year has been on the decline and there is no gaurantee they will not stop altogether. If I recall Disney no longer has criuise ships stopping in Vancouver favouring Seattle instead.

I hope I am wrong but fear I am not and we will be paying for this, as we already do the Convention Centre, for years to come.

Supportive Saga & Stuff

2011-05-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Another public hearing tonight, the third on the rezoning issue for Supportive Housing at the Bowen Rd. location in Nanaimo. These have been packed events, largely by those opposed, and there could be another scheduled next week. I have heard through the grapevine that City Staff have been consulting with city lawyers as to how many public hearings are required. For me it would be as many as it takes to have everyone interested heard. If they were to stop them after tonight and there were more people wanting to speak then the shit would really hit the fan.

Below two letters, one on the 26th April mentioning me and the other my response.
Sell one city property to support housing plan
April 29, 2011
Wet house opponents will not give up the fight
April 26, 2011

Events:
The 7-10 Club http://www.nanaimo710club.com/ an organization which I chair, though am in reality an unpaid executive director, is having its AGM shortly.

Haven Society http://www.havensociety.com/ is having its now annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes on May 14th. I will be participating and am seeking pledges. . If you would like to make a pledge, via credit card, in my name you can do it by clicking on the following http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1864&AID=1574&PID=202603 and scrolling down then clicking on sponsor me . If you would like to make a cash donation let me know and I can pick it up.

More on Supportive Social Housing, Nanaimo

2011-04-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Okay been a while again but am getting to it. With the rezoning of a property on Bowen Rd. for low barrier housing the debate for/against has reached a whole new level. So far the public hearing aaround the rezoning has lasted two sessions with another scheduled for May 5th.

Below are some links to news stories as well as a letter to the editor I wrote. I have also put a couple links to existing supportive housing in Kelowna and Prince George. The against side has been saying supportive husing initiatives in these communities have been squashed but these links, found in just five minutes on the interweb, show different. One of the presenters, opposed, at the last public hearing mentioned a stabbing at Warmlands Housing & Shelter in Duncan, After much searching I have been unable to find anything about this.

There is no doubt that the city's communication re this housing has been lacking but it appears mis-information on the whole is indemic in the debate. Also below is a transcript of my presentation at the public hearing last Wednesday.

Unfortunately I have not been keeping links to all the letters to the editor that have been written, many extremely derogatory towards those this type of housing would help.

April 25, 2011 Nanaimo Daily News (Letter)
Housing strategy will benefit this community

April 22, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
Housing Plan continues to stir emotions

April 21 Daily News
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=8a327a9f-d60b-4330-aa4d-0ab8560f5411

April 16, 2011 Daily News
Housing project foes have to wait

April 16, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
Nanaimo residents address council on low barrier housing

April 13th, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
Social Housing proposals a win-win for everyone (Letter)

April 6, 2011
We can't revisit this

April 6
Bestwick alone won't nix plan

March 31, 2011
Housing Plan needs support from council

March 31st
Councillors waffle on housing plan

Some links to Low Barrier Housing

Kelowna
Cardington Apartments

Vivian House

Prince George
Bridget Moran Place

Presentation to Council
April 20, 2011
BYLAW NO. 4000.506

Gordon W. Fuller
604 Nicol St.
Nanaimo, BC V9R 4T9

Each and everyone in this room have, or will have, the right to get wasted in their own home. I am not saying it is right to do so but it is a fact and provided it is not done in a way that attracts the attention of the authorities can go on for years.

I grew up in a wet home. There was no influence from outside the home that led me to the streets at 13 and subsequently to 24 years of off and on homelessness as well as the use and abuse of pretty much every substance available. The influence came from home, a wet home, and an abusive alcoholic father.

Had there been supportive social housing available, like that which is being proposed for this and other sites, it likely would not have taken me 24 years to come to the realization that my time was being wasted, literally. It was only after meeting my then future wife, also abused in a wet home, and her son that I realized I wanted more not just for me but for us.

Since then I have gotten a degree in Child and Youth Care from VIU, I have worked in and run an emergency shelter as well as currently coordinating a housing unit for at risk youth. I am also the chair of the 7-10 Club, a community breakfast program for anyone in need, and involved with a number of other community and neighbourhood organizations. I am a staunch and outspoken advocate for the disenfranchised.

Over the years I have attended far too many memorial services for people on and from the street. Had many of these folk had a safe supportive and non judging environment in which to live, such as the supportive social housing being proposed, I haven’t the slightest doubt that many would still be with us and many would no longer be a slave to the behaviours that ultimately led to their passing.

A case in point is that of Cheryl Lynn Simm, murdered and dumped in an empty lot last year. Cheryl, or Cherri as most of us new her, had lived in a series of run down rooms and motels. After many years of on and off homelessness she had come to a point where she wanted to change but that was unfortunately cut short by her death on the streets. Had safe supportive housing been available I believe she would still be with us.

I am in full support of this rezoning and Nanaimo’s Homelessness Housing strategy; it is in my opinion a no brainer and a win/win for all.

Despite differing beliefs no one should fear speaking out. While we may not agree we must respect the rights of everyone to their opinions on this issue and not denigrate them for expressing them publicly.

Opposition to the proposed supportive social housing often state fears that this type of housing will draw criminal behaviour to the neighbourhood, many believe that because the proposed two locations in the Hospital Area will be located close to an elementary school it could unduly influence or cause harm to children.

Those opposed to the housing in the Hospital area have most often compared it with that of Warmlands low barrier housing and shelter in Duncan which itself is close to two schools. They often site many problems.

Recently some comments from a story in the Nanaimo News Bulletin have shown the exact opposite. “Cowichan school board chairwoman Candace Spilsbury confirmed there hasn't been any instances of unwanted contact between residents of Warmland and students despite the close proximity, RCMP reports back that up.’ “The schools are using Warmland as a resource. Residents at the facility have a garden and some of the food grown is taken into the schools to teach children about food security.” “The opportunity has been ‘a very positive experience’ for those involved and Warmland is viewed by many as a community resource.“ “The students who attend the schools – they and their families are also neighbours, ‘It's all tied together.’

An example of successful supportive housing closer to home would be the old Balmoral Hotel. Approximately 3 blocks from my own home this was an area rife with many problems but has seen great improvement since the Canadian Mental Health Association decided to purchase the hotel and convert it to supportive housing. Prior to this it was un-supervised single room occupancy and yes, because there was no supervision, it did attract an unsavoury element.

I have spoken with a number of residents in the Hospital Area, both for and against the proposed supportive housing, which have all told me that the people many fear this type of housing will attract are already living in or doing business in the area.

The bottom line is that these, your street level crack or crystal meth users, will not be the ones accessing the supportive housing or hanging around near it. Most are ambivalent about their drug use being a problem and want nothing to do with any type of actual or perceived authority and especially the possibility of being arrested.

This being said, when those using drugs reach a stage of at least contemplating there might be a problem the housing will be in place which they can access and have supports available to move them in a direction of change.

The people we are talking about housing are the chronic homeless, those that have been on and off the street for years. They were all children once. Did they come to be where they are now because of low barrier housing being near their schools? I think not.

Most came from wet homes, from situations of abuse and neglect. In the case of many first nations these behaviours are traceable to past abuse in residential schools and transferred down through the generations.

Many also have some form of mental illness as well as drug or alcohol use. The vast majority are not criminals but abuse alcohol and drugs as a means to cope.

Supportive social housing is one part of many housing first strategies that have seen a significant drop in chronic homelessness in many cities across Canada and the United States. Housing First is a strategy that the province has adopted and is in the process of funding in cities throughout BC. The funding in place now for Nanaimo is funding specifically geared towards building social supportive housing.

Other components consist of rent supplements, giving workers the ability to place an individual or family immediately into existing rental accommodation, as well as purchasing existing housing that could be used for both medium and high barrier abstinence based housing. Exactly the types of housing many opposed to these initial projects have mentioned and for which advocates will be seeking funding in the future.

Even when people want to move forward there is a lack of both detox and treatment beds available. It is also a fact that the recidivism rate for those going through detox and treatment will be far higher than the immediate successes. This makes it even more important that supportive housing is in place for when the choice of change is made again.

As for the cost to the taxpayer, research clearly shows that providing housing to the homeless will drastically reduce costs in health, justice and other services routinely accessed by the homeless. Costs saved that will ultimately pay for the housing itself.

Regarding the rezoning before you tonight I want to pose something, something which I have already posed to a few.

The Bowen Road property is valuable and likely a desirable property for mixed use commercial/residential development. Rezone this property and once done sell it to a developer for just such a use. We could put a 5 year covenant on the housing to allocate 50% to be rented to low income individuals and families based on 30% income. After the 5 years 10% could be covenanted in perpetuity.

Take the proceeds from the sale and purchase 2 other locations for supportive housing in other areas of the community. This would not only provide one to meet the current funding stream but another for future use as well.

I have heard that we must use this site but I have not seen specific site use set out in the memorandum of understanding, only that the city provide sites for use. I am sure that through discussion the above would be possible.

If, after an honest effort, I am wrong then as I said before, I am in full support of this rezoning and Nanaimo’s Homelessness Housing strategy; it is in my opinion a no brainer and a win/win for all.

On a final note I would like to invite anyone who is opposed to this housing to give me a call, come down to the 7-10 Club and I will introduce you to some of those who will benefit from the housing.

Cost of food increasing (originally meant to be posted a while back)

2011-03-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

This story in the Daily News on the 21st followed by a letter to the editor from my boss at NYSA .
Low income earners will be first to feel squeeze of 5% food increase
It's wrong to link poverty with crime

My comment, "there's a probability crime could increase because of the rising cost of food," which was misquoted in the letter "there is a probability of crime increasing due to rising food prices." was in no way meant to imply people living in poverty are more likely to commit crime in order to survive. In fact I think jumping to that conclusion is more of a leap than a jump.

7-11 Hopes dashed

2011-03-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

I am a bit pissed but having dealt with Nanaimo's City Council for over a decade I really shouldn't have been surprised.

On March 14th in a complete reversal from a majority of councillors asking city staff, on the 28th of February,to prepare an amendment to the Business License Bylaw to allow retail hour restrictions in the South End Community city council, in a vote of 6 to 2, voted against the bylaw amendment brought forward at the council meeting on the 14th. This effectively has squashed any hope of 7-11, when and if constructed, not being open 24/7.

The City's website has apparently caught a bug, Unknown virus shuts down city of Nanaimo's computer systems . More to follow as soon as the City Website is de-virused as I want to post the Videos of the two council meetings etc..

Conference Centre Cop Out (re-edited March 11th)

2011-03-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

Updated, on 11th, and corrected some figures.

This in the Dailey News. Conference Centre could get another helping hand

These particular comments pissme off; "Incessant criticism, however, will only hurt the facility and is ultimately a self-fulling prophecy, should more people subscribe to such a way of thinking, according to VICC manager Denise Tacon." "We have a much stronger momentum coming out of this recession and this community needs to embrace where we're going," she said. "Negativity breeds negativity and we will be deciding our own future, if that's the approach we take."

What a cop out and utter bullshit, blaming those that were against the NNC in the first place for its continued drain on the Taxpayers of the city.

The reality is that it is Denise Tacon’s job to get bookings and if it is not happening then it is her failure and not that of the citizens of Nanaimo. The other bit of smoke and mirrors in this story is when they talk about delegate days.

Below is what has happened and is estimated in terms of delegate days. Even were they to reach the 16,000 expected for 2011 that is roughly only 2.5% of the total possible. This is by no means anything to ber proud of and one can expect with numbers like this that we will again be subsidizing to the tune of over $1million.

Yes we need to figure out means to increase the numbers of events and conferences, yes we need to look at means to bring in local folk, we are paying for the damned thing so it is a no brainer that something needs to be done. To blame those who criticize this for its ongoing failure is ludicrous.

First on my list of improvements would be to make eliminate a little waste in the administration department of the NNC, first being Denise Tacon. Heads should roll and hopefully come the next general election folk will remember just whose heads those should be.

Delegate seats (and future bookings) at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 2008-2013:
2008 (sixth months): 9,800
2009: 15,900 = 2.5%
2010: 12,400 = 2.0%
2011: 16,000 = 2.5%
2012: 28,000 = 4.5%
2013: 24,000 = 3.8%
SOURCE: CITY OF NANAIMO

Percentages based on a maximum capacity of 1720 persons, excluding the 400 from the Newcastle Lobby and 143 from Museum Level, per day utilizing available conference rooms. Total yearly 627,800 in rooms, 146,000 Newcastle Lobby, 52,195 in museum meeting space.

7-Eleven "Oh thank heaven"

2011-03-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

On Monday February 14th, Valentines Day, the proponents for a 7/11 at the corners of Nicol & Milton came before council, Council Agenda 7-11 pages 107 – 118 to have their development permit approved by council.

Recognizing that they were proposing the 7/11 be a 24/7 operation, efforts were made by SECA directors, Douglas Hardie and !, to inform council that SECA had proposed, through a letter to city staff on April 13 2010, not having the store open 24hrs and that until we heard about the development comming before council on the 24th had had no contact since that initial meeting almost a year ago.

Flash back to April 2010 when the proponents for the 7/11 had come to the SECA General meeting with their proposed development. The general consensus was that we thought the proposed 7/11 could be an asset in the community. The layout was quite pleasing and the fact that a suite would be built above the store also appealed to members. It was also recognized by many at the meeting that when a 7/11 had been in operation on that very site in the past it had become a “focal point of loitering and disorder associated with mental health and addiction issues in the neighbourhood (quote from letter to city staff).”

As this had been a sensitive issue in the past our primary concerns were:
1). 24/7 operation
2). the possibility of a payphone being placed outside of the 7/11.

In the letter to city staff it was also stated that we looked forward to further discussion.

Flash forward to Monday’s Council meeting on the 14th. No further discussion had happened with the 7/11 proponent and they were proposing 24/7 operation. Due to our concerns expressed by phone and e-mail prior to the council meeting council decided to recommend that the proponent, city staff and SECA meet to further discuss the issue with the outcome of the discussion to come to the following council meeting.

From discussion at the council meeting it would appear that the easiest way to accomplish the non 24/7 operations would be to have been for the proponent to agree voluntarily. The reason for this being that otherwise a bylaw would have to be written that would not allow any 24/7 retail operations in the area.

A meeting was set for February 24th with 7/11, a couple of SECA Directors, City Staff and a representative of the Nob Hill group, whom we invited as they who would also be directly impacted. The Nob Hill group had never until then been invited to give feedback.

At the meeting on the 24th we made no real headway in getting the proponents for 7-Eleven to look at voluntarily reducing their hours. In fact what they did say was that if it couldn't be 24/7 then it wouldn't happen. At the meeting on the 25th Ken Ridell stated that we were projecting what might happen. I say that past experience speaks volumes and that it is more a concern of history repeating itself than that of projection.

And so we come to the Feb. 28th Council meeting, Feb 28, 2011 Council Meeting Video , at which both Douglas Hardie & I appeared as delegations. Council did decide our concerns have merit and as such have asked City Staff to look at acreating a bylaw for the area that would restrict retail service hours, this will in no way affect restaurants. Council also, at the meeting, approved the development permit variances which would allow Ken Ridell and 7-Eleven to start building if they so choose.

Since Mondays council meeting we have heard nothing more about the development.

News Story's:

Bulletin
March 3
Editorial: Store proposal worth discussion
March 2
Debate over 24 hour openings not new
March 1
South End unhappy with proposed 24 hr store

Daily News
March 2
Neighbours feel snubbed by 7-Eleven silence over proposed store
March 1
New 7-Eleven ok'd but may not be able to open 24hrs
Feb 25
Neighbours fear 24-hour store will defeat efforts

By-election

2011-02-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

Been a couple of weeks since I pulled out of the by-election, sorry for the delay in posting this. As I said in one of the stories below it had absolutely nothing to do with not receiving labour council endorsement. When making the decision to support Darcy Olsen I chose her because she seems to have the most well rounded experience needed to be effective on council. What with all the crap from Mark Robinson, links to stories below, I could in no way endorse Ted Greves as despite an e-mail from him saying Mark was not a part of his campaign there is still lingering doubt in my mind.

Feb 19 2011
Byelection:field of candidates seeking powerful 9th council seat less crowded on final day

Feb 19 2011
Fuller withdraws from race and supports Olsen

My decision was based on commitments I have made to expand the 7-10 Club to 7 day a week service as well as work to secure funding for the Unitarian Fellowship Shelter for the next couple of years. If elected, it was to me looking like it was a distinct possibility, I would have had to remove myself as Chair of the 7-10 Club and the likelihood of the 7 day a week service not happening would have been almost certain. If I am unable to meet these commitments how could I justify being elected to council and the commitment to a public, in that capacity, I had already failed.

The next general election will come soon enough and by then I will have accomplished the above goals. I will most certainly be running in the General Election.

Feb 18 2011
Influential unions tell members to support Olsen in byelection

Feb 18 2011
candidate is publicizing private correspondence

Feb 17 2011
Byelection candidates asked to get out of race to create strong labour support

Election Endorsements

2011-02-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

Was invited to a selection process by the Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council for who they will endorse in the Nanaimo Byelection. Looked for a website but was only able to find a facebook page, FACEBOOK Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council . Will write more on this soon and let folk know the outcome. Bottom line is that while it would be nice to get their and other groups support I firmly believe that ultimately the member will, while taking the groups recomendation into consideration, make their own decision on whom to vote for.

Bestwicks Legal Opinion & LED Signs

2011-02-09T10:04:00.001-08:00

My opinion on both of these is quite simple

Bestwick's legal opinion not released As taxpayers we are footing the bill, or a portion there-of, for Bestwick's legal opinion and so should be entitled to see exactly what that opinion was. It would be interesting to know which councilors voted not to release the information.

The original reqest for a variance by Boston Pizza to put up an LED sign should have been flatly denied or referred to a later date. Every councilor knew that City Staff were revizing the sign bylaw to include LED signage guidlines and as such should have waited until this was done before hearing anything to do with this type of sign.

I attended every council meeting to do with this issue and let me tell you it was probably one of the most painful issues I have ever had the pleasure of sitting through.

Cold Wet Weather Shelter

2011-02-07T14:57:00.001-08:00

First Unitarian Fellowship asked by council to keep shelter doors open

It is for this reason that I am vocal on homeless and social issues in the community. Getting council, with the help of Wallace Malay, to approve and put forward the monies needed to see this happen has been a highlight of this year and if the only highlight will have been well worth the effort.

I have known Orville Drake, profiled in the above story, for many years and while he does drink a bit, too much some would say, he has always been a respectful and courteous individual and someone I am proud to call friend. He and his perenial companion Carol are exactly the type of people who will benefit from the supportive housing that will be built in the community.

Stories such as this in the Daily News put a human face on those that the community fear will eat their kids and steal their pets, or vica versa, and if the community were to get to know them they would see first hand why Supportive Social Housing is needed and that many of their fears are unfounded.

Valentines Day

2011-02-07T14:29:00.001-08:00

As I say in the story from the Bulletin, “We want to see anybody in the community who wants to come down and have a good time. This is not strictly for homeless – this is a community dinner.”

I believe that if a lot of those who are fearful of the Supportive Housing being proposed in the community were to come to this event, or simply drop down to the 7-10 Club community breakfast program, they would see exactly who will benefit not just from this type of housing but other social housing as well.

Group offers meals on Valentines Day Daily News

Working Group serves dinner to the community Nanaimo News Bulletin

The Leopard & the Mouse

2011-02-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

This amusing little piece below inserted in a post Speaking about the Upcoming Municipal Elections by Ron Bolin on the blog http://nanaimocityhall.com/ which I sometimes post to.

It poses an interesting analogy and is amusing to boot..
http://nanaimocityhall.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the-leopard-and-the-mouse.pdf

Zoning Bylaw

2011-01-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

The power of speaking out. The city has graciously decided to set up a meeting in the South of Nanaimo;

All locations:

Tuesday, 2011-FEB-08
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Nanaimo Ice Centre (Lounge #2)
750 Third Street

Thursday, 2011-FEB-10
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Beban Park (Lounge)
2300 Bowen Road

Wednesday, 2011-FEB-16
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Dover Bay School
(Multi Purpose Room)
6135 McGirr Road

Thursday, 2011-FEB-17
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Fire Hall #4
1425 Cranberry Avenue

City - Public Open Houses

2011-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

As someone who lives and has lived in the South End for a number of years I have often been curious when it comes to the location of City run Public Open Houses around issues like the OCP Review, Parks Bylaw and most recently the Zoning Bylaw re-write. I for one like to participate when possible towards the betterment of my community but I also want accessibility in doing so. I am assuming that many in the community are also like minded

Regarding the Zoning Bylaw rewrite, I have been at a few things where it was discussed so was curious when it was announced at a PNAC (Plan Nanaimo Advisory Committee) meeting that there would be some open houses for the public to view the progress to date. What got me even more curiouser, if that is even a word, were the locations of the open houses (see below). Once again there seemed to be a lack of any venue south of Third Street and while one might expect the Ice Centre to serve most of Harewood what about the South End, Chase River as well as other points south? Why?

What follows is a result of my inquiry.

Question to: Al Kenning- City Manager as well as cc’d to Mayor & Council.

Good day Al et al. I was at the PNAC Meeting when the open houses were mentioned for the New Zoning Bylaw, also noticed on council agenda (below), and it struck me as curious as to why there was no scheduled open house in the South End Area of Nanaimo. Is there some rational for this or is it just an oversight? It strikes me that a considerable portion of Nanaimo's population lives in the southern portions of the City and that an open house, say perhaps at the Chase River School, would benefit the area.

(a) New Zoning Bylaw – Public Open House Dates
Mayor Ruttan to announce the following New Zoning Bylaw Public Open
House Meetings:
• 2011-FEB-08 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre
• 2011-FEB-10 at the Beban Park Social Centre
• 2011-FEB-16 at the Dover Bay Secondary School (Multi-Purpose
Room)
All Open Houses will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Answer

Hi Gord,
When we booked the venues for the Open Houses, we considered the event at the NIC as being in the south end, the Beban event to cover the central area and the event at Dover as covering the north. I guess it’s a matter of perception.
We have used Chase River School in the past, notably for public meetings during the Sandstone OCP application process, and the School District always put us in the library which was totally unsatisfactory. Given the number of display panels and the number of residents we hope to attend, we needed to find larger venues, preferably in City facilities (as you can see, we were unable to book Oliver Woods for the north end session).
The draft zoning bylaw (text and map) is available on the City’s website and Planning staff have made presentations to neighbourhood groups, as well as other interested parties, upon request. The new zoning bylaw is a standing item on the planNANAIMO Advisory Committee agenda and a display on the new bylaw is available in the lobby of the Development Services department in the City Hall Annex. As you can see, while the public open houses are very important to seek input on the proposed bylaw, they are just one element of a much more comprehensive public consultation program. A second round of public open houses are scheduled for the late spring (dates and locations TBA). We’ll look at moving one of those events further south.
Thank you for your suggestion and interest in the new zoning bylaw. I hope you are able to attend one of the scheduled events.

Andrew Tucker
Director of Planning
City of Nanaimo

My Reply

Thanks for the prompt reply Andrew.

Interesting, I never thought of the NIC or really even the Aquatic Centre as being in the south end.

Part of the problem is that many in the areas south of the Ice Centre are seniors as well as low income people who may not have computers and also be at the mercy of transit. While the South End Neighbourhood association is fairly well attended and we do have an extensive e-mail list to get information out even this only accounts for a very small number of people in the area. While I recognize it may be too late at this point in time, though late February could be an option, to schedule something for Chase River or even Bayview Schools I do hope that in the future this area will be better served towards accessing these types of events.

Regards;

City Council Meeting: January 24, 2011

Likely because of my initial inquiry, when the locations were brought up at the council meeting it promoted discussion. The result being that a location such as the Moose Hall, Chase River Firehall or some other venue in the area will be looked at to hold a Public Open House in February like the others.

What this shows is that sometimes one person can make a difference by asking questions of the right people, it never hurts to ask. It also helps that I showed up at the council meeting, they all know me, as a reminder to them.

Why should you care about the Zoning Re-write?

Really that is a subjective question in that if you rent it will have little or no impact but if you own property it likely will. Will the impact be positive or negative? That will be for the land owner to decide. It will also prove useful to developers to be able to locate potential projects in areas that would not require rezoning. So if you are interested here are some links and if you are able I encourage you to attend a Public Open House to give feedback.

Proposed New Zoning Bylaw explanation and links to Draft Zoning By-law and Draft Zoning Land Use Map

More Cold/Wet again

2011-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Quick update; Peoples First Radio on CHLY yesterday had a segment on the Shelter CHLY Radio PFR re Cold Weather Shelter . Kudoes to Councillor Fred Pattje for mentioning Wallace and I as well as for his support and efforts to secure the funding..

This in the Daily today First Unitarian church congregation will decide ............ Public meetings set for Wednesday the 26th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Sunday Jan. 30 from 2-4 p.m.

I hope a lot of folk show up and let the people representing the Unitarian Church, as well as staff and volunteers at the shelter, know what a great and hugely important service they are doing for the community.

7-10 Club

2011-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

Most people associate me with the 7-10 Club http://www.nanaimo710club.com/ thinking that that is my paid job. Alas it is not, I work for Nanaimo Youth Services http://www.nysa.bc.ca/ as their housing coordinator , but it is something I care about passionately.

I have been on the Board of Directors for the past 6 years and Chair for 4. Last weekend was the first weekend in 26 years that the club was open 7-10 Club will offer breakfast ......., a partnership between the John Howard Society, and we hope to have more partnerships in place so that it will be able to open every weekend.

Anyway just wanted to add something brief and if folks are interested in learning more about what I do in the community the can check the new page, About Me. I'm also very open to questions and comments positive or negative.

Cold/Wet human perspective

2011-01-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

The following was a good story written on Monday in the Daily News. It puts a human perspective, I have known the person mentioned for 13 yerars, on the issue of homelessness and addiction. Also of use are the comments by the Vancouver Island Health Authority's chief medical officer.

As my letter, also below, says it is really a no brainer to have Winter Shelters accessable every night and not just when the weather is deemed extreme. I have sent the D/N story to other communities in hopes that they can also make changes to their winter shelter criteria.

It's the wet, not the cold, that's brutal during a Nanaimo winter
Despite our moderate climate, shelter for homeless popultion is vital
Lise Billingsley and Krista Bryce, Daily News
Published: Saturday, January 15, 2011
It's the wet, not the cold, that's brutal during a Nanaimo winter

Letter:

Costs for not having shelter are much higher
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Costs for not having shelter are much higher

And away we go. By-election 2011

2011-01-14T22:12:00.000-08:00

Here are the first few stories from the Daily News regarding the upcoming by-election. I love the D/N for the comments you can make, and ease in doing so, on certain of their stories. In the event you check these out read the comments, some are simply hilarious.

Korpan considers running for open council slot, others announce candidacy
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=7049db35-9ab8-413d-a242-18eddff27422
Mark MacDonald: Council needs forward-thinkers
Mark MacDonald, Special to The Daily News
Published: Friday, January 14, 2011
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=48d9c83a-0c8e-48f4-a445-6d0fb2ccf70a
Nanaimo's chamber of commerce fights poor voter turnout
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=ae3fb15d-bd01-4c53-b5ed-61fb5e2ef152
Pair of candidates ready to fill seat on Nanaimo council
Byelection set for March 26; McKay and Fillmore among those vying for empty position
Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, January 12, 2011
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=cbc19541-0d03-42e3-a860-4cf3fab6dcca
Diane Brennan: McNabb meant so much to community
Diane Brennan, Special to The Daily News
Published: Friday, January 07, 2011
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=945f68a3-6a28-4142-94ce-8b1a235ff20d
Nanaimo must hold byelection to replace McNabb
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Nanaimo must hold byelection to replace McNabb

Cold Wet Shelter Finally

2011-01-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

A Victory for the people.

After months of lobbying, City Council approved on Monday a grant of grant of $35,000 to have the extreme weather shelter open daily instead of just when the weather is deemed extreme. Shelter staying open for rest of winter. A huge thanx to mayor & council for seeing the benefit of this and acting upon it.

Kinda makes my last letter to the editor, Cold/wet weather facility needed for city published the same day, a bit moot but nice to see it anyway.

This is the culmination of a long effort, overall four years, and would not have happened without a coordinated approach this year by both Wallace Malay and myself. Wallace's in your face approach along with my skills in networking, lobbying etc. worked well together and as can be seen resulted in the desired outcome.

You will notice if you peruse the video, video council January 10 2011 (when it starts scroll to 3hrs14min10sec), of the meeting that the work Wallace and I did is not mentioned. I don't have a problem with that, don't get credit for many of the things I do and that is not why I do them regardless.

What I do have a problem with is certain council members patting themselves on the back and misleading the public when knowing full well that if Wallace and I had not made this a very public issue it would have been status quo. John Horn, our social planner is given kudoes by Merv Unger for the excellent work and extra hours he put in on this and yet he on a number of occasions was not overly enthusiastic about the Cold Weather format being implemented and in fact stated in an e-mail that council did not have a voice on this as it was not a rezoning issue.

It has certainly had its amusing moments, the above being one. Another; when what Wallace and I were trying to do was brought up at the last working group on Homelessness Meeting it was suggested by Allison Millward, former social planner now with VIHA's housing department, that a committee be formed to discuss the issue.

I really had to laugh at that as both Wallace and I could see the outcome being meeting upon meeting with nothing being accomplished. We told her and the working group sure no problem even though we fully intended to keep the pressure on the city to come up with the funding. We knew this to be the easiest and quickest way for funding to become available almost immediately and once secured the plan would be to work over the summer to get BC Housing to fund the shelter next year in a winter format as opposed to extreme weather format.

Intensly frustrating at times the success of our efforts on behalf of the homeless make doing this sort of thing worthwhile.

Extreme/Cold Weather Shelter.

2011-01-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

This in the D/N on the 6th,Cold-weather facility has lowered criteria ..... , criteria be damned the only criteria should be that it is open 7 to 7 daily from November through March; a letter in response by Wallace on the 7th .Community should not leave anyone out in cold.

This letter sent by me but unpublished as yet;

I find it interesting the print story “Shelter offers homeless a warm, dry place for the night” is different than originally published on the website as “Cold-weather facility has lowered criteria for opening this year to deal with wet weather.” In fact when originally published on the inter-web the great work that Re/Max is doing was a standalone article.
This is an issue, not about lowered criteria but, of both choice and what is right.
A law was passed in 2009 gave the police the right, when weather was deemed hazardous enough to cause death, to transport the homeless to shelters. Despite this the person still had the choice whether to remain at the shelter or not, they were not legally obligated to stay.
Whether there is a “crowd,” I would say more appropriately a few, who choose not to use shelters it is their choice. The Extreme Weather philosophy, no matter the criteria to determine extreme, effectively removes any choice if shelter is not available due to the determination of someone who has a warm bed every night.
If this were truly, as it should be, a Cold/Wet weather shelter it would be open from November through March not simply when deemed appropriate. If one person contracts pneumonia, from the damp and cold weather, and dies because their choice is removed someone must be held accountable. We need to do what is right and see that this facility is open daily from 7pm to 7am November through March.

There has been some movement on this issue.

Both Walace Malay and I have and continue to lobby council to provide the funding to have the shelter open daily from 7 to 7 as opposed to only when the Social Planner, John Horn, deems the weather to be extreme.

I have put together a cost analysis and met with Councilor Jim Kipp prior to Christmas. As things progressed I then sent it to some of our other city council members, Fred Pattje and Merv Unger, who met with John Horn and Randy Churchil (by-laws) on the 7th. The following day both Wallace and I received this cryptic message from Councilor Unger; "Gord, Wallace, Would the two of you be prepared to serve in a volunteer role if we were to extend shelter at higher temperature levels? Supervisory assistance is one of the biggest challenges. MU"

Wanting some expansion, and e-mailing, re the would you be prepared to serve in a volunteer role we received the following from Fred Pattje, Morning Gord, We hop'e to have Unitarian Church, as well as that institution's neighbours', concurrence early Monday, at which time John Horn will have a clearer idea of what/who is needed to temporarily (till the end of March ) shift to a seven day operation. I'd suggest we wait till then. Cheers, Fred."

Any way both Wallace and I are willing to help out but not to the extent, at least on my part, of volunteering to staff the extra shifts. When the expansion happen it will require at least two more full time employees as well as a part time coordinator to schedule volunteers do payroll etc..

Me I already have one full time paid job and my volunteer commitments equal at least another onwe and a half. I also want to see this create some employment for the balance of this year and for the next one or two that the shelter would be eeded.

Soooo things are looking up and we could see this happen as early as this week. Will keep you all posted.

Election & Core Services Review

2011-01-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Both of these issues are on the agenda at council tonight Council Agenda January 10, 2011. Pgs 31 & 32 election and pgs 33 - 39.

If council gives the go ahead for an election it could be as soon as March 26th. I am pretty much ready in the event an election is called, have my signs from my last trys and have a commitment from someone to do some small newspaper ads. It will be interesting to see who runs. Will update, soon, the results of the discussion from tonights meeting.

The core review should also provide for some interesting discussion. My guess is that there are a lot of City Staff that would prefer this not to happen, might not portray their work in a good light.

Will provide a link to the video of the meeting tonight as soon as it gets posted.

2011 early by-election?

2010-12-31T21:05:00.000-08:00

I was really saddened to hear that Larry McNabb passed away on the 24th. My wife Gayle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late March of 2003 and passed away after a 5 month fight on August 26th. Our 10th anniversary would have been the following day, I still think of her every day. My sincere and deepest condolences go out to Larry's family, he will be remembered by the many people he touched in life.

Larry was in a way part of what got me involved in the political climate of the city. When I first started attending council meetings he would come out prior to the start and bum a smoke off me and we would chat. I may not have agreed with every decission he made but I had a huge amount of respect for him and unlike others, though he did call me a liar at one meeting, he never lied to me.

So now that he is gone the news comes that we will likely have a by-election in the spring of 2011, Nanaimo must hold byelection to replace McNabb . I had to chuckle because I made a comment, see the comments to the story, that I had heard a rumour I might be running. This comment is followed by three others supporting me if I do.

The liklihood is about 99.9% that I will run and then of course have to run again in November. It is a good thing I have a lot of signs left from my last three shots, will really cut down cost I can little afford. Guess I will have to go through my other posted stuff re the last election. I believe most of what I posted then is pertinent today so my platform, updated, has changed but little.

Seems many of the issues affecting the community have a tendancy to drag on. With me what you see is what you get; HONESTY, INTEGRITY & above all NO BULLSHIT!

Anyway would appreciate any feedback that comes my way

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

More Cold/Wet

2010-12-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

Below is a story published in the Nanaimo News Bulletin as well as a letter from me, also published, in response.

Nanaimo's Social Planner, John Horn, is simply trying to cloud the issue by talking about a fulltime shelter for men. We do not need such and are in no way even talking about a full time shelter. His comparrison of Nanaimo with Edmonton is also ludicrous but spin he knows will influence those not aware of what the issue really is. What is really unethical is Mr. Horns attempts at smokescreening the real issue in the community, that of people having a warm bed during the months of November thru March.

Wallce has been great during this process as he is constantly bombarding numerous people with e-mails in an effort to shame them into doing something. His efforts have worked to a degree in that Mr. Horn is moving into territory that may slap himself in the face. In a recent e-mail reply to one of Wallace's he paints a condesending picture of what he thinks Nanaimo's Mayor and Council role will be in these discussions. Will have to wait and see what they think as they were forwarded these conversations.

Anyway I have been working on this with one local councilor and speaking about it to others. I have drafted up a plan with costs and funding source and the plan is to have city staff peruse and then perhaps early in January Wallace and I will appear as a delegation to council. The means to provide Cold/Wet weather funding for a temporary shelter are there and through partnerships we can make this happen.

Advocates push for more shelter
Nanaimo News Bulletin
By Rachel Stern - Nanaimo News BulletinPublished: December 19, 2010 12:00 PM
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/112093869.html
Social advocates in Nanaimo are pushing for changes to the extreme weather shelter policy, saying it isn’t adequate to protect the community’s most vulnerable citizens.

The 24-bed extreme weather shelter is operated by the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo on Townsite Road, but the call to open the facility remains with the city.

“I love this community and want to see everyone in this community taken care of,” said advocate Wallace Malay.

Malay and Gord Fuller, a social advocate and chairman of the Nanaimo 7-10 Club, are pushing for the shelter to become a cold weather shelter open October to March from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Malay said the cold weather shelter would be short-term assistance to bridge the gap until the planned 160 units of supportive housing are built.

John Horn, social planner for the city, said turning the extreme weather shelter into a full winter shelter would be unfair to the neighbourhood. “Changing that is unethical,” said Horn. “We won’t support turning the existing extreme weather shelter into a full-time winter shelter.”

However, he said the city recognizes there is a need for more shelter space for men. The Samaritan House, operated by Island Crisis Care Society, for women and children is underutilized, but places that house men are consistently full. Horn says he would like to see advocates who want a cold-weather shelter take the initiative and find a location and with which organizations to partner.

Malay questions whether the criteria for opening the extreme weather shelter is adequate.
“There’s a push for social housing, yet they will allow people to suffer in our community. The criteria is inadequate at best,” said Malay. He’s concerned about inconsistencies in shelter openings and that information isn’t getting out in time to inform people who would use it.
“It’s not only the physical harm, but when you are out there it affects you psychologically and emotionally,” said Malay. “You’re not placing any hope in the community if this is the way you are being treated.”

Conditions for opening the extreme shelter aren’t as stringent this year, with criteria specific to Island extreme weather.

Horn said in places like Edmonton the shelter is open at –10 C, but here it can be opened above freezing if there is heavy rainfall and wind. “That can be just as bad as snow because you get soaked to the skin,” he said.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

City requires temporary shelter
Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: December 22, 2010 2:00 PM Updated: December 22, 2010 2:25 PM
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/opinion/letters/112341124.html

To the Editor,

Re: Advocates push for more shelter, Dec. 18.

Comparing Nanaimo to Edmonton stretches the bounds of imagination and confuses the issue. A far better comparison would be with places like Vancouver and Victoria, both of which have received funding for temporary shelters 24/7 during the cold/wet months of November through March.

Like Nanaimo, both of these cities have comprehensive action plans around homelessness and it is expected that once the new housing, rent subsidies and other components are in place these types of shelters would no longer be needed.

Nanaimo is well on the way in the process with committed funding to build 160 new units of supportive housing. Securing rent subsidies to get people off the street and into existing rental accommodation and purchasing existing properties, which could in fact be used for abstinence based housing, will complete the package.

Nanaimo in no way needs another permanent shelter. What I and other advocates are looking for is not even a full-time winter shelter. We would like to see the existing extreme weather shelter open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the cold/wet weather months of November through March. Rather than being opened at the whim of a few who deem the weather to be extreme, the choice then is that of those living on the street, far more empowering.

Rather than flat out stating, “we won’t support turning the existing extreme weather shelter into a full-time winter shelter,” by the way not what was asked for, are we not morally and ethically responsible to at least explore the possibility of an initiative that can prevent illness and perhaps even death?

Gordon W. Fuller
Nanaimo

Extreme or Cold/Wet

2010-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is my latest letter published in both our local papers.

Efforts to aid homeless in Nanaimo falling short
Gordon W. Fuller, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, December 09, 2010
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/upfront/story.html?id=c1542897-f067-412f-b088-2e3002b13bd1

The extreme weather shelter is an issue I have been working on for the past 4 years and it just keeps on going. It is ludicrous that we allow those with warm beds and homes to go to to determine just what is too extreme for those living on the streets.

Despite the lower numbers of people needing the space and the change in the criteria, see below, the word is not getting out to the people and those that make the decision to open the shelter are also not being consistent. There have been many days that the weather when the shelter is closed is equal to or worse than the weather when open.

The bottom line for me is to see the space/beds available from November thru March eliminating the need for others to choose the fate of those outdoors. This would in fact make the choice to come in out of the cold/wet that of the homeless themselves.

I am hopeful that, through the work I am doing, Wallace Mallay's outspokeness on the issue, and with the help of a few other integral links in the community, that this will be the year progress gets made.

Extreme Weather Definition
Extreme weather is defined as a prolonged period during which it is much colder than the average for our locale. In addition, the presence of considerable precipitation in the form of snow, sleet or rain or high winds would be incorporated into a decision to open.

"Implementation of the Extreme Weather Response plan will be called when weather conditions are deemed severe enough to present a substantial threat to the life or health of homeless persons.

Factors taken into account include:

temperatures at or below 2 Celsius with rainfall that makes it difficult or impossible for homeless people to remain dry; and/or
sleet/freezing rain; and /or
snow accumulation; and/or
sustained high winds; and/or
temperatures at or below 0 degrees Celsius”

MORE ON THIS TO FOLLOW

Tardy again

2010-12-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

Okay so nothing for a bit again. Been asked why I do not put more on the blog and I think I have come up with a rationalle. What I tend to put on the blog is stuff around Homelessness and Poverty with a smattering of Civic and other issues. Many bloggers will do daily updates with a lot of persoanal stuff, me not so. I mean really who in there right mind wants to know whether I piss sitting down or enjoy watching reality programs, if thats the case then call me.

Part of why I post so seldom is that I live what I am talking about. I have a full time job working with youth, coordinate the 7-10 Club Societies Breakfast Program, sit on a number of Boards and Committees (including the Working Group on Homelessness) and am involved with a few neighbourhood groups (currently chairing the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network). All this towards making Nanaimo a Community that is ONEforALL.

I also, on weekends, will take a walk Downtown to see who is out and about and how things are going. I do not discriminate and while my intent is to talk to the street folk (buskers, homeless, etc.) will even take time for the mayor and others I may run across.

So, and here is a bit of personal, when I do have free time I like to rent DVD's, the gorier the better. The pretty colours help me to turn off the brain.

So the upshot is; with this blog you get what you get.