How Did They Vote?
Monday, August 19, 2013 @ 3:57 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Something new on the agenda for City Council meetings.The agenda shows not only the minutes of the previous meeting, but a new feature, a record of how everyone on Council voted on each issue at the previous meeting.
The report (available here) outlines the issue, how each person voted, the final tally and if the item was approved or defeated.
This is the first time such a report has been included in an agenda package.
Also on the agenda for this evening, a full report on the proposal for the renovation and renaming of the Civic Centre is on the agenda for this evening’s regular meeting of Prince George City Council.
As was reported earlier on 250News, the project is a $500 thousand dollar renovation that will feature the City’s history with the two rivers. It will also feature public art and include Lheidli T’enneh recognition.
Comments
I think the Civic Center plaza idea is a huge mistake. Its great as it is. Its functional, and as a skate rink during the Games would be great.
Why not spend the half million sprucing up a band stand like medals podium in the square between Kin 1 and CN Center where sporting events will actually take place.
PG is too small to break up the potential spectators between sites for no other reason than to access funding for someones downtown revitalization schemes.
CN Center has parking, the room for a square development, and the legacy for future sporting events, fairs, and expos.
If its going to be Canada Games Square then let it be where future sporting competitors from across Canada will actually compete and congregate.
The downtown people keep robbing PG of progress, rather than allowing opportunity to benefit the city where it will do the greatest good is the recurring theme in PG.
Will be great to have voting records on the City web site. They should have had this for Pine Valley.
We are just spending ourselves deeper in debt for these games.. We can’t afford it but our city and council don’t care. Green knows her legacy will be two things.. Her promise to cut back 10% in city hall, yet she continues to hire over priced people. And her being the worst mayor ever.
“It will also feature pubic art…”
Some typos are funny! Pubic art would attract more attention but public art would be more suitable!
Didnt they use to show who voted for what and if it was passed or not in the newspaper years ago?
They did, but just on selected issues. That was kind of useless because of that. Not everyone thinks the same things are important, so some were left out.
Remember, newspapers have editors, so things are edited, otherwise they would not have a job. :-)
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Two things about the plaza for presentation.
1. It is required to have such a presentation plaza and, I believe, it is required to be in the downtown of the city by the Canada Games group. Remember, the events are all over the place, including Otway and the local ski hills.
2. Because it is required, the cost was included in the budget from day one. We are paying for that with an additional tax levy over a few years. There is no budget decision here.
Supposedly there is a decision about the plaza design. The way I see it is a done deal. Anyone who thinks there will be changes at this late date is kidding themselves. The muckedy mucks have used this to design a square for the people without the people having input.
All the show and tell following this will be is a Q and A indoctrination.
A direct link to the voting summary
http://princegeorge.ca/cityhall/mayorcouncil/councilagendasminutes/agendas/2013/2013_08_19/documents/2013_07_22_voting_summary.pdf
The Civic Centres main purpose is to host Civic activities, and in this case it should be used for the Winter Games, however it should be inside and the presentations should be made on the stage that is already there.
Why do we want these people to all stand outside in the middle of February when it may in fact be -20 degrees?? Building this Plaza is a waste of money and really is not for any other purpose than to fulfill a legal obligation to have one permanent facility named after the Canada Winter Games. This obligation could have been filled by renaming Kin 1.
We shall see who votes to waste this $500,000.00.
Kudos to those involved who are advancing this much needed upgrade to the Civic Center plaza!
“We shall see who votes to waste this $500,000.00.”
They do not have an option to vote it out at this stage. The process was started a long time ago and is nearing completion.
Words from the presentation to Council.
“Project will be designed to leave a permanent physical legacy that would meet the needs of the Games while enhancing the quality of life for the entire community.
“The bid proposal contemplated that the Plaza will be named Canada Games Plaza in perpetuity, and that it would be enhanced as a âcelebrationâ place during the Games and beyond for future community celebrations.
“This project provides an opportunity to reconstruct the Civic Plaza to increase its function and capacity to serve as a gathering place for a variety of outdoor special events and as a common place for daily users.
“The proposed capital project will address certain inadequacies and deficiencies within the existing space and introduce elements of public art, green space, historical and natural components native to the region that will enhance the space both visually and functionally.”
People on here seem to be divided as to the usefulness of the place given the new design.
In my opinion it will be less useful as a celebration space and more useful as a daily use space ……
IF THERE ARE SOME OTHER DRAWING CARDS AND THE CITY PROMOTES ITS DAILY USE ….. without that it will fizzle …..
Votes have always been recorded in the minutes (of all open meetings anyways).
Takes a bit of rocket science to figure it out though as only NEGATIVE votes are recorded. By using advanced algebra, deductive reasoning and wetting your finger and sticking in the air to see which way the wind is blowing you should be able to get it.
Recording how Mayor and Council votes is not that big a deal, we still won’t know how they voted in in-camera meetings.
Most all important and controversial issues could still be moved to in-camera meetings, where the results on who voted for or against are kept in the dark away from the taxpayer scrutiny.
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