Q & A 2 Nanaimo City Hall Blog

Another from Ron Bolin's Blog The following question was sent to all candidates at 9:41pm on Saturday, October 25: Who should foot the bill for the required referendum process on the 60+ year lease of portions of Georgia Park as part of a proposed Front Street hotel?  The cost of a proper off election referendum was last estimated at approximately $100,000.  The cost to the citizens involved in an AAP can be estimated at approximately the same amount.  There are three options available for funding that referendum process at a time when no election is being held, i.e. 1. the City pays for a proper referendum; 2. the Proponent pays for a proper referendum; or 3. citizens are required to fund an AAP (Alternate Approval Process) using their own money and energy. Which of these options do you support? And what are the reasons for your choice?

My response: I believe that anytime a developer wants to do something like a lease of Georgia Park, or other such instances, they should pay the costs of a full referendum.  These costs should also in no way be taken from their community contribution. All responses and non responses can be found here: http://nanaimocityhall.com/2014/10/26/question-referendum-process-costs-who-pays/ Click on the red Results test 3

Q & A Nanaimo City Hall Blog

Question for All Candidates for Nanaimo City Council:

Council agendas are produced by Staff and are distributed to Council and to the public two business days ahead of the respective Council meeting which they define. Does this schedule give sufficient time for Council and the public to read, comprehend, research and discuss with each other, with authorities and with the public, the issues represented in what may be a 300+ page document?
 
Please respond with either YES or NO and, if NO, please give the number of working days – do not include weekends and holidays- which you feel should be available to Council and the Public to consider the issues in an agenda prior to a Council meeting.  (Please give your estimate as a number). Include reason(s) if you feel so inclined.)
 
This question will be open to all candidates until Friday, Oct. 31, at 4:30 pm.  All responses will be recorded and posted on http://www.nanaimocityhall.com.


My answer:

NO; the schedule does not give enough time.

I would like to see the Agenda and Reports for a specific Monday Council or
Committee of the Whole Meeting issued the Monday prior to the Meeting giving one
week for digestion. My rationale for this is so that Council are only dealing with one
Agenda at a time. Any late items added to the Agenda should be posted the Thursday
Prior giving two business days for Council to pose questions they may have to staff.

This would also allow Citizens to meet the criteria of COUNCIL PROCEDURE BYLAW
2007 NO. 7060 when wanting to appear as a delegation for both regular and late
items.
http://www.nanaimo.ca/UploadedFilesPath/Bylaws/B7060cons.pdf

All candidates answers are here:
http://nanaimocityhall.com/2014/10/31/q2-agenda-timing/

Q & A Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

Gord Fuller

1. Leadership

A third generation Nanaimoite, 33 year resident of Nanaimo, I am a long time Community and Social Advocate.

Many see sitting on council as a position of power; I see it as a position of trust, trust that I would work towards the betterment of the ENTIRE community. I have proven through community involvement that I do not just ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the walk’ as well.

Employed in the Social Service Sector with adults and youth for almost 20 years I also have considerable experience working with boards and committees on issues ranging from Homelessness & Affordable Housing, Food Security & Poverty, to Neighbourhood & Community Planning and Downtown Revitalization.
Current Community Involvement:  Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society – Chair (Member Chamber of Commerce, Member Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, Member Volunteer Nanaimo); Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network – Chair; Nanaimo Citizens Advocacy – Director; South End Community Association – Director; Friends of Nanaimo Harbour – Director; SAFER Nanaimo Working Group; Sex Trade Cohort (formed as a result of the Pickton Inquiry - Group of agencies that work with Sex Trade Workers); Nanaimo Social Health Network; Neighbours of Nob Hill – Member; Nanaimo Working Group on Homelessness; Nanaimo Community Advisory Board on Homelessness; Mid Island Coalition for Strong Communities; Vancouver Island Water Watch.
Past Community Involvement:  Nanaimo Old City Association - Treasurer, SECA Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee (2009), Downtown Design Guidelines, Friends of Plan Nanaimo, Official Community Plan Review, Crystal Meth Task Force, Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Coalition, Working Group on Downtown Social Issues, Mental Health Advisory Council, City of Nanaimo Nuisance Property Committee, Nanaimo Social Development Strategy, S.A.F.E.R Downtown Nanaimo Project, Community Food Connection, Food Link Nanaimo, Action for Diversity Team, Nanaimo Food Share Society, 2002 – 2009 DNP - Housing Design Development Subcommittee, Busking Bylaw Committee.

I have also been involved at workshops and giving feedback on numerous of Nanaimo’s City plans ie. Transportation Master Plan, South Nanaimo Waterfront Plan, Zoning Bylaw, Official Community Plan, Strategic Plan etc. etc.

A regular attendee at Council meetings, for over a decade, I have appeared as a delegation to advocate on a wide range of issues. Asked if I think I can accomplish as much as a City Councillor as in my current advocacy role; I see this as a higher level to work towards building a better community for ALL.

When elected I will bring a new level of Trust, Openness, Inclusiveness and Common Sense to the position.

2. Campaign Funding – Are your campaign funds a) personal, b) diverse, or c) mainly from a single source like a union(s) or corporation(s)?

b) diverse - Individual and Business

3. Can you describe your vision of Nanaimo’s future in 100 words or less?

VISION:

A Community valuing & Encouraging Participatory Democracy.

Focus on the preservation of Nanaimo’s heritage and Parks; development Working in harmony with the Environment, maintaining the unique character of neighbourhoods, Citizen Driven Not Developer Driven; recognizing the importance of a healthy diverse economy; providing meaningful employment and the necessary tax base; Smart growth not rapid growth.

Recognizing social, environmental, cultural and economic aspects are intertwined; linking community together. A focus on one without the others detracts from the whole.

A Community recognizing and valuing diversity; the potential of ALL citizens contributing to make Nanaimo a vibrant and INCLUSSIVE community.

4. Do you subscribe to the 12 Guiding Principles of Successful Cities as incorporated in the City’s Corporate Strategic Plan?

Absolutely.

5. Do you support the Chamber of Commerce Election Platform:   Leadership & Teamwork – Set a clear direction for the city and the community then seek consensus through collaboration to get there.

 Seek Efficiencies & Core Services – Don’t spend what we don’t have to! An external core services review can point out ways to achieve the greatest value for goods and services delivered to the taxpayer.

 Transparency & Community Input – Elected leaders need to dedicate themselves to seeking meaningful, ongoing input from residents and adopting strategies to reflect this input in policy-making.

 Be Informed, Engaged, Responsible – Refuse to express an uninformed opinion permitting you to vote on the value of a proposition, not the politics of it in the heat of the moment.

 Strive for Community Prosperity – Initiate policies that promote healthy private, public and not-for-profit business activity. Our community’s economic security is premised on these sectors’ health and growth.

Absolutely.

Q & A Georgia Strait Alliance

 2014 Municipal Candidate Survey from Georgia Strait Alliance

Georgia Strait Alliance is a registered charity with 10,000 supporters that works to protect and restore the marine environment and promote the sustainability of the Georgia Strait and surrounding communities. We are distributing the following brief survey to all registered candidates participating in the 2014 municipal election in selected municipalities in the Georgia Strait region.

We will share the results with our supporters via email prior to general voting day, as well as posting them on our website and social media channels.

Please fill in your responses in this document and return it to alexandra@georgiastrait.org by November 3, 2014.

 

A. Information about you

Your name:                                                 Gordon Fuller

Your email address:                           gorfathome@yahoo.ca

Where you are running for office:     Nanaimo

Position you are running for:             Councillor

 

B. Survey questions

1. If approved, Kinder Morgan’s proposed TransMountain pipeline expansion would result in a six-fold increase in the number of oil tankers travelling through the Strait of Georgia. Do you support the TransMountain expansion project?

☐  YES ☐  NO                                     Absolutely not!

Additional comments, if any:             It is not a question of if but when there would be a spill; the potential impact to the coastal environment would be phenomenal and we ascitizens and municipal officials must do all we can to stop any such incident from happening.

2. Most municipalities and citizens do not have official status as a participant in the National Energy Board’s (NEB) review of the TransMountain project, which is ongoing until September 2015. What would you do in office to ensure that the views of your municipality and its residents are communicated to the federal authorities who will ultimately decide the outcome of the TransMountain expansion proposal?

☐   Put forward a motion to your Council/Board

☐   Engage with the federal government on this issue, eg. via a letter or meeting  

☐   Engage with the provincial government on this issue, eg via a letter or meeting

☐   Share information with your community, eg. via hosting an information session  

☐   Solicit the views of residents in your municipality, eg. via a community survey ☐

Other:

Additional comments, if any:             All of the above; all lobbying opportunities for municipalities having official status must be explored.  If a motion has not already been brought forward to the Union of BC Municipalities for inclusion into the process then it should be done as soon as possible.

3. As part of the NEB’s review, on October 23 the NEB overruled the City of Burnaby’s bylaws to allow Kinder Morgan to conduct surveying work in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Do you think the NEB should be able to overrule municipal bylaws?

☐   YES ☐   NO                                  

Additional comments, if any:             Absolutely not and if they attempt  to do so it should be taken to court.

4a. Coastal areas could be affected if an oil spill occurred along the tanker route through the Strait of Georgia. What is your understanding of, and/or views on, the role of your municipality in planning for and responding to the impacts of a potential oil spill on your community and local environment?

                                                          This is not a question of could be affected but will be affected.  I will need to look into what exactly would be the municipalities’ role and if I do not believe it sufficient will work to make it so.

4b. Do you think there should be greater resources and training provided for municipalities to prepare for an oil spill, and/or participate in wider oil spill planning and exercises carried out by other agencies and levels of government?

☐   YES ☐   NO

Additional comments, if any:             Absolutely!        

----------------

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey. Please send your responses to alexandra@georgiastrait.org by November 3, 2014. We welcome any questions or comments about this survey or our work. Please contact:

Alexandra Woodsworth, Energy Campaigner, Georgia Strait Alliance Telephone: 604-633-0530 | Email: alexandra@georgiastrait.org | www.georgiastrait.org

Q & A Ratepayers Association

Nanaimo Ratepayers Association

OUR VISION: To be the leading, Influential voice of residents for responsible spending by the City of Nanaimo.

OUR MISSION: Our mission is to  advocate for sustainable, transparent, accountable and responsible spending by local governments so that taxpayers' interests and voices are represented and heard at Nanaimo City Hall.

Questionnaire:

1. Do you live in Nanaimo? (N)

Yes; for 33 years,

2. Do you own a home and pay property taxes in Nanaimo? (N)

Bank still owns it but I am working on it and yes.

3. What qualifies you to serve as a Nanaimo city councillor?

The information in the next question and my proven commitment to the community

4. What is your community involvement? (Organizations, charities, etc.)

Current Community Involvement:

Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society – Chair (Member Chamber of Commerce, Member Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, Member Volunteer Nanaimo); Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network – Chair; Nanaimo Citizens Advocacy – Director; South End Community Association – Director; Friends of Nanaimo Harbour – Director; SAFER Nanaimo Working Group; Sex Trade Cohort (formed as a result of the Pickton Inquiry - Group of agencies that work with Sex Trade Workers); Nanaimo Social Health Network; Neighbours of Nob Hill – Member; Nanaimo Working Group on Homelessness; Nanaimo Community Advisory Board on Homelessness; Mid Island Coalition for Strong Communities; Vancouver Island Water Watch.

Past Community Involvement:

• Nanaimo Old City Association - Treasurer
• SECA Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee (2009)
• Downtown Design Guidelines
• Friends of Plan Nanaimo
• Official Community Plan Review
• Crystal Meth Task Force
• Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Coalition
• Working Group on Downtown Social Issues
• Mental Health Advisory Council
• City of Nanaimo Nuisance Property Committee
• Nanaimo Social Development Strategy
• S.A.F.E.R Downtown Nanaimo Project
• Community Food Connection
• Food Link Nanaimo
• Action for Diversity Team
• Nanaimo Food Share Society
• 2002 – 2009 DNP - Housing Design Development Subcommittee
• Busking Bylaw Committee

 A regular attendee at Council meetings, for over a decade, I have appeared as a delegation to advocate on a wide range of issues.

I have also been involved at workshops and giving feedback on numerous of Nanaimo’s City plans ie. Transportation Master Plan, South Nanaimo Waterfront Plan, Zoning Bylaw, Official Community Plan, Strategic Plan etc. etc.

Asked if I think I can accomplish as much as a City Councillor as in my current advocacy role; I see this as a higher level to work towards building a better community for ALL

5. Have you ever owned or managed a business? (N)

Yes. As the Chair of the Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society, effectively volunteer Executive Director, the responsibilities are much like that of a business owner though this is a not for profit business

6. Who are your major financial backers? (Check one: Individuals, Businesses, Unions)

Individuals

 7. Are you in favour of an independent Core Review of city services? (N)

Damn right I am.

 

8. What is your vision for Nanaimo?

A Council that values public input – Participatory Democracy.

Focus on the preservation of Nanaimo’s heritage and Parks; development that works in harmony with the waterfront and mountain vistas, maintaining the unique character of neighbourhoods and the community, Citizen Driven and Not Developer Driven; recognizing the importance of a healthy diverse economy in providing meaningful employment and the necessary tax base. Smart growth not rapid growth should determine Nanaimo’s future.

It is imperative that we, as a community, recognize and value diversity and the potential of ALL citizens in contributing to make Nanaimo a vibrant and INCLUSSIVE community.

 

9. Would you accept the public endorsement of the Nanaimo Ratepayers Association: (N)

Yes; but under the understanding that I am beholding to none but the Citizens of Nanaimo.

 

 

Happy City

Got an e-mail today that sent chills up my spine:

Dear Mr. Fuller,

 

I have been told by another candidate who came to my door that the attachment I sent a few days ago was not included in my email.  In case that is what happened with the one I sent to you, I have typed the content and include it below so that there is no problem with attachments.  I would be very interested in your response to the quote.

 

Sincerely,

 

Beth Skala

------
Excerpt from Happy City:  Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery (page 43):

"I propose a basic recipe for urban happiness drawn from the insights of philosophers, psychologists, brain scientists, and happiness economists.  What should a city accomplish after it meets our basic needs of food, shelter, and security?

 

*The city should strive to maximize joy and minimize hardship.

 

*It should lead us toward health rather than sickness.

 

*It should offer us real freedom to live, move, and build our lives as we wish.

 

*It should build resilience against economic or environmental shocks.

 

*it should be fair in the way it apportions space, services, mobility, joys, hardships, and costs.

 

*Most of all, it should enable us to build and strengthen the bonds between friends, families, and strangers that give life meaning, bonds that represent the city's greatest achievement and opportunity.

 

*The city that acknowledges and celebrates our common fate, that opens doors to empathy and cooperation, will help us tackle the great challenges of this century.

 

None of these goals are radical.  The challenge now is to see just how the shapes and systems of our cities contribute to meeting them.  How are today's cities performing?  How would we build differently, and live differently, if we could chart the connection between the designs of our cities and the map of happiness?  What would we change if we could?

 

It is audacious to believe that the city might build happiness just by changing its shape.

 

But it is foolish not to chase the thought, because around the world, and especially amid the sprawlscapes of modern North America, the evidence shows that cities do indeed design our lives."

--------------

 

My reply to Beth:

 

Beth; Thank you for this; it literally sent chills up and down my spine as it so eloquently espouses what I believe and have worked for over the years. I am going to post it on my Facebook Group; Gord Fuller Municipally (A)MUSING.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/112340092206683/  

 

I draw your attention to my BIO thingy on the Daily News website Profile: Gordon Fuller  http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/news/profile-gordon-fuller-1.1433478  and ask if you might agree that in not so eloquent words I am trying to reach the same goal.

 

Huge THANX and all the best.

UPDATES

Just updated pages accessible to the left:

VISION
About Me
Election Platform