Special Council Meeting on Johnson Street Bridge Petition – 12 PM Thursday January 7th

City of Victoria Council Meeting – 12 PM Thursday January 7th

Petitions Delivered

Council will meet in a special session to receive the report from city staff (Legislative Services) on the results of the Alternative Approval Process. It is expected the report will conclude the total amount of petitions received against the bylaw to borrow $42 million to replace Victoria’s Johnson Street Bridge, and the number deemed valid under the petition guidelines.

A threshold of 6343, or 10% of the voters within the City of Victoria, is required for council to reconsider the borrowing bylaw, or go to a referendum. On Monday January 4th organizers and volunteers of johnsonstreetbridge.org delivered over 10,700 collected petitions, of which 9105 should be considered valid under the conditions set by City of Victoria Legislative Services. That does not include petitions submitted directly by the community to Victoria City Hall.

Times Colonist Editorial

“The voters have sent Victoria city council a message on the $63-million plan to replace the Johnson Street Bridge. Councillors and the mayor should heed the concerns.

It appears the petition campaign to deny the city authority to borrow $42 million for the project — the remainder is to come from the federal government — was successful. Proponents claim more than 9,000 signatures from eligible city voters. The threshold to force a referendum on the borrowing was 6,343 or 10 per cent of eligible voters.

Council has mishandled the bridge issue. Replacing or repairing the Blue Bridge was not a priority on any city capital spending list. It was not mentioned by any candidates in the municipal election campaign in November 2008.”

and

“The extent of public dissatisfaction should not be underestimated. Obtaining that many signatures in 45 days is extraordinary. If the count remains near 9,000, then six of eight councillors and Mayor Dean Fortin were elected with less support.

Council is now in a difficult position. Voters don’t support its current plans and public confidence has been lost. A referendum on borrowing for bridge replacement at this point would certainly be defeated.

The appropriate response is to return to the starting point. All options, including repair of the existing bridge, must be examined fully. Councillors will have to convince the public that they have heeded the message from the petition process and demonstrate an open, thorough review of the alternatives.”

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