We can wonder – what is going on at City Hall with the Blue Bridge process? As we approach the one year anniversary since council received the Delcan Johnson Street Bridge Assessment report, what lessons have been learned? [...]
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Victoria City Council met in a special meeting at 12pm on January 7th 2010 to receive the results of the Alternative Approval Process (counter-petition) against the majority vote to borrow $42 million to replace the Johnson Street Bridge. [...] It is a testament to the volunteers who canvassed for signatures over the Christmas and New Year holiday season, and in all weathers, that the number of signatures far exceeded the requirement. [...] Make a resolution for 2010 that is easy. Sign the Johnson Street Bridge petition and make certain it is delivered to City Hall by 4:30 PM on Monday. [...] Dressed for the weather with a wooly toque and rain jacket, Neils Lind stops by the campaign headquarters to drop off petition forms. Lind is one of the volunteers campaigning to force the city to hold a referendum before borrowing $42 million to replace the Johnson Street Bridge. [...] In the midst of the Blue Bridge counter-petition process, questions arise about information the City is distributing. Sam Williams, a Victoria writer, has dissected the latest ‘information’ sheet provided by the City of Victoria on the Blue Bridge replacement program. [...] During the last few weeks a number of citizens have expressed concerns about the City’s intention to replace the Johnson Street Bridge. Some have signed petitions asking for a referendum. Given the difficulty of obtaining the needed signatures I doubt that Council’s decicion to proceed with a new bridge will be reversed. However, recognizing that a significant number of Victorians continue to express the concern that they need more information before making up their minds, I would ask council to pause the work on the bridge replacement while we re-examine some of the issues that have been raised over the last few weeks. [...] Two weeks after the city was informed there would be no stimulus funding for a Blue Bridge replacement, council has decided to seek further options and opinion from staff, the CRD and other interested groups. Our letter outlined concerns, options and experts who should be contacted – and that as well will be provided to city staff. Councillor Geoff Young noted there is not only increasing and widespread interest within the local region, but from outside as well – and that is reflected in the stats for this website: [...] While council was considering their own questions, maybe seeking alternatives, johnsonstreetbridge.ORG put together a letter to Mayor Dean Fortin and all city councillors outlining not only questions that need answering, but providing reliable information, links and notes from experienced bridge engineers – the expertise that should be recognized and tapped for complete consideration, and due diligence. [...] The hundreds of comments today from numerous online forums are largely due to the Council meeting on the evening of the 24th. The videos are the highlights of deliberations and debate on the funding issue – with the summary of the public consultation process, and the final vote by council to choose the Rolling Bascule Bridge. [...] |
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