Posts
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Election Endorsements
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.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bestwicks Legal Opinion & LED Signs
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.
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.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Cold Wet Weather Shelter
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.
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
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
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Leopard & the Mouse
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
It poses an interesting analogy and is amusing to boot..
http://nanaimocityhall.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the-leopard-and-the-mouse.pdf
Friday, January 28, 2011
Zoning Bylaw
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
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
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
City - Public Open Houses
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
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
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