11779 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Isitt is also the only elected official to have a "misc meal expenses" category totalling $434, in addition to his travel budgets and subsequent costs (in addition to his trips to Harrison Hot Springs, Powell River and Quebec City).

[Mike K.]

Didn't Helps shoehorn an extra stop into the schedule? I recall multiple events.

 

There certainly was something, but that does not explain Isitt's and Loveday's budgets ballooning as well, plus Isitt's $434 in meals on top of his trips.

[Love the rock]

There certainly was something, but that does not explain Isitt's and Loveday's budgets ballooning as well, plus Isitt's $434 in meals on top of his trips.

Should this be moved to the crime thread because putting up with City Council nonsense over and over again is criminal. I have relatives over on the mainland who often commented on what Victoria city council is up to .
If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.

[mbjj]

They should take a racing yacht and have no carbon expense.

[A Girl is No one]

What I'm curious about is why Isitt's flight to Quebec City cost $93 in carbon fees (which the City billed itself and paid itself ) but Helps' carbon fees for a flight to Montreal totalled $177.

The City will also be sending five elected officials to the UBCM annual conference in Vancouver, at a budgeted price of $11,500.

Also of note are these projected vs. actual costs for a Quebec City sojourn (not including can carbon fees):

Isitt - Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Quebec City | Budgeted: $2,700 Actual: $3,870
Helps - Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Quebec City | Budgeted: $2,406 Actual: $4,529
Loveday - Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Quebec City | Budgeted: $3,145 Actual: $3,583

The anticipated budgets spanned from $2,406 to $3,145, and not one landed anywhere near that budgeted price. What happened there? How did Helps' budget go from $2,406 to $4,529?

In that report it also shows that the travel budget is $2,999 in the red for the year.

I sure hope they do better at budgeting for the whole city. A single trip is the absolute easiest expense to forecast.

[Mike K.]

This is what it has come to:

 

Victoria, BC – The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board have released the Victoria Police Department Transformation Report. This report outlines anticipated changes to our service delivery in Victoria and Esquimalt. These service changes are being made in efforts to meet our statutory duties to protect life, property and enforce the law with the resources we have.

 

The Victoria Police Department has been unsuccessful in securing the required resources through both Victoria and Esquimalt councils to ensure long-term sustainability. We are facing a number of challenges broadly described as:

 

• Investigative requirements and case law changes

• Inability to meet community expectations

• Financial constraints

• Lack of internal resources

 

These challenges have, and will, require VicPD to make significant adjustments to our deployment model, call response provisions, and develop financial and human resource strategies to ensure effective and sustainable policing that responds to the needs of the residents in the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt.

 

Adjustments include:

· Shifting additional officers to front-line positions

· Utilizing officers, including light duties officers, in an Investigation and Support Unit to take on Patrol calls where non-in-person attendance is possible

· Not responding to some call types

· Adjusting Patrol shifts

· Creation of Special Constable roles to free up Police officers for priority response

· Temporary re-allocation of resources to fund Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) officers

· Non-renewal of the School Liaison Officers

 

The Transformation Report outlines these and other adjustments that are either already in place or in process. The Victoria Police Department and the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board continue to work with both Victoria and Esquimalt councils as we work to find innovative solutions to balance resource needs with community safety.

[shoeflack]

Poor Saanich...now they're going to have to respond to Victoria/Esquimalt like they do in Oak Bay!

[Victoria Watcher]

how about just don’t work on some type of cases? property crime / theft can be pretty much left alone. you didn’t secure your goods? sorry. if they turn up we’ll let you know. traffic can be left alone. storekeepers can deal with shoplifters civilly. put a cap on the number of times you’ll respond to “unwanted person” calls unless the complainant seeks peace bonds etc.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 July 2019 - 08:46 AM.

[Mike K.]

^all of the hallmarks of a functioning society.

[aastra]

 

how about just don’t work on some type of cases? property crime / theft can be pretty much left alone. you didn’t secure your goods? sorry. if they turn up we’ll let you know.

 

That's been the M.O. of Vic PD and every city police force for a few decades at least. Are we seriously suggesting that city police departments devote much time and effort to that sort of stuff? Beyond simply taking the report? 

[Victoria Watcher]

when you have 3% of the population causing 90% of the calls you have to ration it.

[spanky123]

when you have 3% of the population causing 90% of the calls you have to ration it.

 

And stop inviting more of the 3% to take up residence in the City.

[LJ]

Take away narcan and the problems will fix themselves.

[DustMagnet]

how about just don’t work on some type of cases? property crime / theft can be pretty much left alone. you didn’t secure your goods? sorry. if they turn up we’ll let you know. traffic can be left alone. storekeepers can deal with shoplifters civilly. put a cap on the number of times you’ll respond to “unwanted person” calls unless the complainant seeks peace bonds etc.

On our roads there are no rules.  Get into an accident?  Drivers, if able to*, exit their vehicles and fight it out bare-knuckled in the street.

 

Note that this also is the cost savings that ICBC is desperately seeking.  "Losers always whine about their claims.  Winners go home and something something the prom queen."

 

* In the event you are stuck/too injured/dead please make sure you have a Second on file so they may be called down to fight on your behalf.

[Tom Braybrook]

Take away narcan and the problems will fix themselves.

...i am reminded of a scene in the 2000 movie Michael Douglas vehicle "Traffic" when he asks the Mexican drug czar what they do about the heroin overdose problem and he replies..."problem? They overdose and there is no problem"... (paraphrase)...

[Belleprincess]

Geez! How many kale salads & tofu dogs is he eating? The hypocrisy is astounding

Isitt is also the only elected official to have a "misc meal expenses" category totalling $434, in addition to his travel budgets and subsequent costs (in addition to his trips to Harrison Hot Springs, Powell River and Quebec City).

[Mike K.]

Mayor Helps has been invited to be a speaker at the Future Cities Canada Summit in Toronto on November 7-8th. The only cost to the City of Victoria will be the City of Victoria's $166.50 carbon fee.

[Mike K.]

Also, today's council meeting scheduled after the CoTW will be closed to the public.

[spanky123]

Mayor Helps has been invited to be a speaker at the Future Cities Canada Summit in Toronto on November 7-8th. The only cost to the City of Victoria will be the City of Victoria's $166.50 carbon fee.

 

Yes and she is so valued as a speaker that they don't even list her on the agenda!

 

https://futurecities...ummit/speakers/

 

Noticed that Suncor Energy is one of the event sponsors.

Edited by spanky123, 06 August 2019 - 08:24 AM.

[Mike K.]

I suspect it's a little too early to include the mayor as council has yet to vote on the trip.