DRA & DV2020 Election Questions
for a Better Downtown Victoria
Submitted by Robert Randall
www.robertrandall.wordpress.com1. Please list specific initiatives and proposals you will put forward to improve the livability of Downtown for its residents.
-I will continue to urge developers and architects to design buildings that fit more harmoniously and sympathetically in their neighbourhoods.
-I will continue to work with bar and diner operators to solve the late-night rowdyism problem while promoting safe, vibrant late night culture.
-I will keep advocating traffic planning that enhances the pedestrian experience while respecting business and those that rely on automobiles for transportation like the Government Street summer closure pilot program.
2. Please state your opinion about, and a corresponding action you would propose that the City of Victoria adopt, on the following issues:
a. Park planning/green space
There is not enough of it and what we have is often poorly maintained. I will continue to advocate for the creation of new parkland, particularly in the north of Downtown but I will also investigate how we can fund the upkeep of these spaces so they remain welcoming and safe.
b. Late night downtown issues
One of the most contentious issues Downtown lately. Liquor infractions must be punished. Nuisance crimes like urination must be punished with tickets. Late-night takeout establishments must cooperate in reducing rowdyism after midnight.
c. Policing and safety
New officers are needed but they need to be distributed in the most efficient manner. Radio problems must be solved in order to allow single-officer patrols. Beat cops are welcome but they are not the be all and end all of policing nor are they a magic bullet solution to street disorder. Neighbourhood Liaison officers should be deployed in problem areas so that more resources are used in preventing and investigating crime instead of merely attending after the fact. Chiefs should be subject to a semi-annual performance review.
d. Continuing residential development
A wider range of housing options is needed. More rental-only buildings. More subsidized units in new developments. More creativity is needed when it comes to asking for amenities from developers. A more vibrant streetscape with more frontage devoted to residential/retail and less to parking garage entrances, achieved by loosening minimum parking requirements.
e. Additional cultural/social amenities
Investigate triple-bottom-line concepts for key sites suitable for cultural use, ie: The Reid Site on the harbour.
f. Commercial prosperity
Create a City of Victoria Department of Economic Development that will aggressively track down potential business opportunities from elsewhere in order to diversify the economy during the coming economic downturn. Investigate tax relief or other incentives to reinvigorate depressed districts of Downtown.
g. Transportation planning
Continue to work with the other levels of government and the municipalities to improve our transit infrastructure, including rapid transit and commuter train service. Encourage BC Transit to improve service, especially for routes used heavily by seniors, students and late night downtown visitors.
h. Infrastructure improvements
Follow through with the City's plan to upgrade water and stormwater infrastructure over the next several decades. Leverage the use of the Internet to enhance service and communication requirements. The City must do a better job of informing developers of their wastewater infrastructure responsibilities by working more closely with architects and engineers during the design process. The present system is costing us time and money.
i. Budget priorities
Victoria faces a challenge. A world-wide prolonged economic crisis is possible and this would affect our tourism, retail, real estate and technology sectors. The decrease in revenue would make it difficult to pay for the things we said we'd soon implement, like a new central library and an expanded harbour pathway. Yet we cannot allow our city to stagnate by avoiding needed improvements
j. Property taxes
Pressures to reduce taxes in the face of increasing expenditures will continue. Some feel business taxes must be reduced or the Province will do it for us on their own terms. This would further increase the burden on residents. As Councillor I must balance affordability for residents with the need to pay for needed improvements to the City's infrastructure.
3. Please explain your plan to ensure that an effective Good Neighbour Agreement with respect to social service providers is put in place to avoid negative effects in the surrounding area.
As demonstrated by the Cormorant Street exchange, a Good Neighbour Agreement is useless unless it is backed by commitment on the part of clients and operators and the community. The most important factor is sustained funding that allows adequate staffing. Social Service Providers need to break out of the operational silos that restricts their
4. The Social Health of Downtown
• There are 214 Non Profits funded by the United Way in Victoria. Funding Analysis shows that their volunteer base and number of funders is declining. Many of these Non Profits are charged with providing essential services for the social health of Victoria. Now that the economic climate is weakening these services are more important than ever. How would you work to support Non Profits in the community, and what role do you see the City playing in helping keep this sector strong?
• We have a Coalition to end Homelessness, we have a plan, but we don't have all of the organizations working together yet. The new mayor and council will be charged in ensuring that this is resolved or the Coalition will not be successful and the problems will only get worse. How do you propose getting all 214 non-profits to come to the table and work together under the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness to provide a more seamless provision of services to those in need and stop providing a duplication of services and therefore a waste of valuable funding?
We must identify service overlap and eliminate waste and redundancy so that less is spent on administration and clients are not bounced around the system with one service provider ignorant of the work of another provider. The system must be streamlined with a goal of moving people capable of reintegration back into mainstream society by ensuring they have shelter and employment. We should not use shelters as long-term housing. We can keep the non-profits strong by integrating their funding stream into the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness program so citizens and businesses have an easy and well publicized “one stop shopping” place to donate their time and money. This would ensure resources are used where they are needed most while greatly increasing the revenue piexd.
5. Making Plans become Realities
The City planning department, in cooperation with community associations and other stakeholder groups has created some excellent plans to ensure the success and vitality of downtown. Unfortunately some of these plans have been "in the works" for many years without much tangible progress on the ground. In particular we are concerned about the following four plans:
a. The Downtown Plan – The City needs not just to adopt this plan but also to consider how to activate it, fund it, and make sure things come to pass.
b. The Harbourfront Walkway Plan , which would connect the harbour from Ogden Point all the way up to the Selkirk trestle. Two key areas are the Belleville Terminal and the Blue Bridge.
c. An excellent plan adopted in 1992 entitled the Downtown Beautification Strategy which seems to have fallen into disuse.
d. The Greenways Plan which will make our city a more sustainable, walkable and liveable place.
Are you aware of all these initiatives? How will you move these ideas out of the "plans and incentives stage" and towards action and results?
I am aware of them and have in some cases participated in their creation or implementation. We must continue to implement them by not second-guessing their intent as they have already been vetted by City Hall and the community at large. While incorporating new ideas will keep the plans relevant we must not let the plans be muddled or watered down. The City must show leadership in this area.
6. Monitoring the Well-being of Downtown
Much of the progress downtown Victoria has made over the last few years has been the result of a very strong economic climate. There are signs that this climate is weakening, and the question on our minds is, “Have we made enough progress to sustain ourselves over the coming times?”
• How would you provide diligence in monitoring the health of downtown retail and services?
The DVBA has been great at taking the pulse of Downtown by interacting with businesses, solving problems and taking initiative. When I was on the Downtown Advisory Committee it was helpful to hear their updates and suggestions. Council has many opportunities to liaise with businesses so that trends can be anticipated and problems averted. Other groups with their ear to the ground are the Chamber of Commerce and the various commercial real estate companies that track vacancies and other trends. Getting these people around a table once a month will pay dividends.
• Are you willing to take a stand in supporting more residential density downtown as part of ensuring environmental, social and economic sustainability in our region?
Yes, I have done this. I have spoken on this topic in front of the Urban Development Institute, in front of Council and in the media. It will revitalize Downtown and help preserve the character of our outlying residential neighbourhoods.
• Are you prepared to take leadership in ensuring that downtown provides the cultural and educational resources appropriate to it's role as the hub of the provincial capital?
Yes. We are a capital city and our cultural infrastructure should reflect this.
• What kind of priority will you give issues such as building a new and up-to-date Central Library, encouraging institutions such as the Art Gallery, or University to come downtown?
I support a new Centennial Square Library. It's been ten years, we need to set things in motion soon. The art gallery has been fighting for a Downtown location for years now as well. We need a wide range of private and public partners to make this happen and to show that Downtown would benefit from a new gallery as other cities around the world know very well. It's good for residents, visitors and business.
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