DRA & DV2020 Election Questions
for a Better Downtown Victoria
Submitted by Dean Fortin, Pam Madoff & Lynn Hunter

www.deanfortin.ca

www.deanfortin.ca/PamMadoff

www.lynnhunter.ca

1) Specific initiatives to improve downtown livability.

•  more residential density

•  improved late night transportation out of downtown after bars close

•  enhanced arts opportunities (new gallery, new library, etc)

•  renewed downtown library as centre of Centennial Square

.

2) a) Park planning/green space

- complete Parks Master Plan

- complete Urban Forest Management Plan

- park zone bylaw to protect park space

- encourage developers to provide green space

- park space acquisition plan

- new park for north end of downtown

b) Late night downtown

- increase bar seat license fees to pay for more police

- initiate Transit late night routes out of downtown

- electronic ID of bar patrons

c) Policing

- we have supported the addition of 20 new officers for the Victoria Police. We will bring greater enforcement on behaviour and prosecute on drug dealing, gang activity and street crime.

d) Continuing residential development

- heritage and planning development incentives

- utilize Bill 27 to create more market rental

e) Additional cultural/social amenities

- new library

- new Art Gallery

- cultural precinct at Rock Bay

f) Commercial prosperity

- address homelessness and downtown safety

- let business do its thing to attract investment and create wealth and employment

g) Transportation Planning

- light rail transit from West Shore

- Regional Transit Authority

h) Infrastructure Improvement

- keep them public

- get infrastructure improvement $$ from Feds for sewer, water needs

I) Budget Priorities

- need to reflect our strategic priorities. We will manage the budget responsibly, be prudent on spending and be accountable to residents.

J) Property Taxes

- see I above

3) Ensuring good neighbor agreements

- We have created effective good neighbor agreements with business establishments and look forward to the same effective approach to social services. All stakeholders must be represented and the province has the responsibility of ensuring adequate funding to prevent the social disorder often experienced.

4) The Social Health of Downtown

a) Strong Non Profits

-The City provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and property tax exemptions to non profit and charitable agencies each year.  We recently granted $600,000 over 5 years to the Coalition to End Homelessness. 

- The city needs to focus its attention on efforts around homelessness and affordable housing – investments there will bring the most gains.   And talk to non profits – they provide great support services, but the lack of housing interferes with the ability to have sustainable gains with clients.  We can not solve every problem – we need to stay focused and get the biggest gains from our social investments.

- Support umbrella organizations like Cool Aid, Our Place, Coalition to End Homelessness.

- Integration/cooperation of services encouraged.

b) Supporting Coalition to End Homelessness

- I am not sure I accept your premise of duplication and waste among the 214 agencies. We will support the Coalition to End Homelessness to provide strong coordination leadership especially from those at the funding table such as the United Way.

5) Community Plan

a) The Downtown Plan – is a priority and will be completed as soon as possible – a few months at most.

b) Harbourfront Walkway – redevelopment will drive this plan's timelines.

c) Beautification Strategy – I'm unaware of this I will look into it

d) Greenways Plan – annual funding commitment in the budget provide ongoing opportunities for incremental improvements.

I am aware of all these initiatives. I will be seeking cooperative, innovative opportunities to move these plans forward with funding partners: CRD, DBVA, Chamber, senior levels of government and development funding.

6) Monitoring the Well- Being of Downtown

Have we made enough progress to sustain ourselves over the coming times?

No – this past period of unprecedented growth & development has not resulted in adequate “return and enhancement” of public amenities and services.

•  Diligence – use existing Community Council, Cool Aid, United Way and other such research/reporting mechanisms

•  More residential Density downtown – Yes, but downtown must also be the heart of business, office and retail in the Capital region.

•  More Cultural and Education resources appropriate for Capital – Yes

•  Library, Art Gallery, UVic Downtown – fully support, work with developers, business, senior levels of government to acquire appropriate funding/zoning to move forward.

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