A small selection of the emails received over the past few days. Public engagement does not end with the August 10th feedback deadline – the Mayor and pro-replacement Councillors still must convince a majority of voters to support borrowing an historical amount of money in the November referendum. [...]
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Back in April 2009, the City said rehabilitating the bridge would need 12 days of full closure. Then it was “some” lane closures for an extra year, to minimize full closures. Then, this past June 14, the City’s engineers said rehab would require full closure for 12 months – a claim which has predictably scared some downtown businesses, and rallied them to favour replacement. [...] It is remarkable that in Kingston, the Feds were able to do much of the same work that’s required here – removing pack rust, replacing corroded steel, grit-blasting off old lead-based paint and repainting the entire bridge – all while keeping the bridge open to car traffic, and at 1/26th of the rehab cost quoted by City of Victoria engineers. [...] In stark contrast to Victoria, Portland is high lighting its historic bridges with a summer festival full of music, picnics, tours, galleries, fireworks, cycling events, films, poetry, talks and bridge lighting events. The entire city is historic bridge themed for the festival, which is drawing locals and tourists alike. [...] I actually laughed out loud while reading the mailer I received from the City of Victoria entitled “The Future of the Johnson Street Bridge.” It was a political document pretending to be a call for public input. The publication is replete with threats and fear-mongering. “If nothing is done to address the Johnson Street Bridge within in the next two years it will face closure,” the city threatens. Write back to city council if you want, but you should know the decision’s already been made. [...] The City must receive responses by August 3. Please complete the City’s survey, and the supplementary survey, put them together in the same envelope, and get them in the mail right away! [...] Delay has nothing to do with the dramatic rise in costs, in fact according to the Vancouver Island Construction Association, labour and material costs have fallen 15-20% since 2008, and the strengthening Canadian Dollar means materials purchased in the US are cheaper. [...] Despite a spirited debate on including rail as the base refurbishment or replacement projects for the public to consider over the next six weeks, council has ratified a motion which excludes the rail option from the public engagement consideration – but they reserve the right to re-include a rail path if other funding is forthcoming by December 31st 2010 (well after the referendum) [...] What was not presented, or discussed, were the potential outcomes of any council decision in regard to a borrowing bylaw – which will be presented as a question in the November referendum. Most council members appear to be in favour of retaining rail for either option which means considering borrowing either $68 million for replacement, or $82 million for refurbishment [...] johnsonstreetbridge.org and concerned citizens felt it imperative to address council as this would be the final opportunity to speak directly to all City Councillors and the Mayor before a Blue Bridge report on June 14th, and a potential decision on refurbishment options on June 17th. [...] |
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