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) [...]
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Residents are also open minded about bridge options, and feel the City should take in a wide assessment of variables to determine the best options. That is somewhat at variance with the need to ‘get on with the job’, but clearly suggests the public is concerned City Engineering, and the bridge consultants, have not thoroughly explored all possibilities. Rail and historical consideration were also low on the list of priority considerations. [...]  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? [...]  John Luton says the engineering department told him it was 4000. The engineering department is now saying it’s 3000. My rough survey suggests it is probably only half of that in good weather in mid-February. Counting cyclists is easy. If City councillors are confused or poorly informed about this number, is there any reason to trust they’ve got the more critical numbers right? Numbers like the probability of a structurally damaging earthquake occurring in the next 50 years, or the cost to fix the bridge, or the cost to build a new, bicycle-friendly bridge. [...] As expected, council has chosen the second option – previous meetings and statements (plus nearly 10 000 petition signatures) made it clear the public wants in depth examination of repairing the bridge, to balance that against the information already known about the chosen replacement bridge, and make a decision. [...] 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. [...] Rob Woodland, manager of Legislative Services for the City of Victoria, presented a report to Council on the final petition count, and the details on a referendum should they choose to go ahead with the $42 million borrowing bylaw – No. 09-057. A referendum must be held by March 20th 2010, and he indicated a possible date of March 6th. Mr Woodland also noted that should council choose to introduce another borrowing bylaw, for either replacement or refurbishment, it will require the approval of the Provincial Inspector of Municipalities and the assent of the electors through a referendum. [...] 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. [...] 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. [...] 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. [...] |
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