Newsletter - June 18, 2018
♫ Where Have All the Task Forces Gone? Long Time Passing ♫
A number of Mayor’s Task Forces have been formed since 2012, three of which were to make recommendations for public engagement in Oak Bay. The latest 2017 $10,000 version is mainly concerned with asking the public “exactly” how they want to be engaged. The final results will be published after a year-long process, and by coincidence, with the end of this Council term.
♫ Where Have All the Task Forces Gone? Long Time Ago♫
The Oak Bay News June 8, 2018 reports the current Task Force is “one step closer to a public engagement framework”, but fails to mention that in past years there has been a “two steps back part”. They also reported that a total of 300 residents had participated in eight pop-ups and 189 residents had responded to a municipal online survey - on the website for a month. The article’s spin seems to suggest that an average of 36 participants per pop-up and under two-hundred survey respondents, in such a short timeline, was a positive result. It further states, “many (residents) had not been engaged with the district in the past”.
This would not have been difficult to achieve as the District’s transparency record these past two terms has been abysmal.
The District says the public input information provided to the current “Task Force of the Day”, “will help to guide the Municipality’s public engagement efforts” – What Oak Bay Watch wants to know is, “Yes, But when?
♫Where Have All the Recommendations Gone? Long Time Passing ♫
Since 2012 there have been many many different complaints and submissions to Council requesting adequate public engagement and pointing out the lack thereof. Over the years the response has been to strike three different Public Engagement Task Forces? Had there had been satisfactory public engagement opportunities as many other communities provide, the time and energy devoted to these task force initiatives would not have been needed. The question is: what happened to all of the resident input and recommendations from the 2012 and 2015 Public Engagement Task Forces – were these unacceptable?
The facts are:
“Good Governance terminology”
“Good Governance” is referenced time and time again in Council reports, the Mayor’s periodic addresses, and in Annual Strategic Plans, as if just repeating the term many times will make it so.
The recent fire at 57 Beach Drive is yet another example about how the District is being governed. The Mayor informs us, after the fact, that action is now being taken to expedite a demolition permit for the property. Residents have been complaining to the District for years about the problems this house has caused being allowed to sit empty so long. This is the second time it has caught fire.
If “Good Governance” had been in the picture before this we would have expected an “expediting” of a Standards of Maintenance Bylaw and local government demolition legislation with a rebuilding time-line, as enacted in other jurisdictions.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Oak Bay Watch and even the Oak Bay News (see Attachment #1) find it a stretch defining Public Engagement as asking a small sample of residents how they want to be consulted.
The Mayor’s Demolition Task Force did nothing to slow demolitions; in fact recently two developers didn’t even bother to get permits. If striking task forces, hiring expensive consultants and administrative staff and overspending on development were the sole criteria for “Good Governance”, there would be no reason for all the concern.
Time for a Change
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*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot tbe made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Attachment #1
♫ Where Have All the Task Forces Gone? Long Time Passing ♫
A number of Mayor’s Task Forces have been formed since 2012, three of which were to make recommendations for public engagement in Oak Bay. The latest 2017 $10,000 version is mainly concerned with asking the public “exactly” how they want to be engaged. The final results will be published after a year-long process, and by coincidence, with the end of this Council term.
♫ Where Have All the Task Forces Gone? Long Time Ago♫
The Oak Bay News June 8, 2018 reports the current Task Force is “one step closer to a public engagement framework”, but fails to mention that in past years there has been a “two steps back part”. They also reported that a total of 300 residents had participated in eight pop-ups and 189 residents had responded to a municipal online survey - on the website for a month. The article’s spin seems to suggest that an average of 36 participants per pop-up and under two-hundred survey respondents, in such a short timeline, was a positive result. It further states, “many (residents) had not been engaged with the district in the past”.
This would not have been difficult to achieve as the District’s transparency record these past two terms has been abysmal.
The District says the public input information provided to the current “Task Force of the Day”, “will help to guide the Municipality’s public engagement efforts” – What Oak Bay Watch wants to know is, “Yes, But when?
♫Where Have All the Recommendations Gone? Long Time Passing ♫
Since 2012 there have been many many different complaints and submissions to Council requesting adequate public engagement and pointing out the lack thereof. Over the years the response has been to strike three different Public Engagement Task Forces? Had there had been satisfactory public engagement opportunities as many other communities provide, the time and energy devoted to these task force initiatives would not have been needed. The question is: what happened to all of the resident input and recommendations from the 2012 and 2015 Public Engagement Task Forces – were these unacceptable?
The facts are:
- As a result of the disastrous 2016 consultant-run public meetings with resident backlash against infill and basement suite development, Council wanted no part of facing the public in town hall meetings – none to date has been held.
- Councillor Braithwaite’s long-standing 2017 resolution (approved by Council – suggested topic: basement suite legalization) is still awaiting “a starter motor”.
- Although Council has shied away from such public encounters, some Council members have attended Town Hall meetings sponsored by Community Groups.
“Good Governance terminology”
“Good Governance” is referenced time and time again in Council reports, the Mayor’s periodic addresses, and in Annual Strategic Plans, as if just repeating the term many times will make it so.
The recent fire at 57 Beach Drive is yet another example about how the District is being governed. The Mayor informs us, after the fact, that action is now being taken to expedite a demolition permit for the property. Residents have been complaining to the District for years about the problems this house has caused being allowed to sit empty so long. This is the second time it has caught fire.
If “Good Governance” had been in the picture before this we would have expected an “expediting” of a Standards of Maintenance Bylaw and local government demolition legislation with a rebuilding time-line, as enacted in other jurisdictions.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Oak Bay Watch and even the Oak Bay News (see Attachment #1) find it a stretch defining Public Engagement as asking a small sample of residents how they want to be consulted.
The Mayor’s Demolition Task Force did nothing to slow demolitions; in fact recently two developers didn’t even bother to get permits. If striking task forces, hiring expensive consultants and administrative staff and overspending on development were the sole criteria for “Good Governance”, there would be no reason for all the concern.
Time for a Change
------------------------------------------------------------------
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot tbe made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Attachment #1
