11779 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

First rule of Apex Club is don't talk about Apex club.

[LJ]

I will be in Dubai in March/April, just have the send me any questions she would like answered on conventions and I will get them for her. I will expect a per diem and a "free lunch."

[Midnightly]

you would think it would be much more realistic for her to head to Vegas, i'm sure they have a very high turn over on trade show and conference and she might even be able to catch a direct flight out of Victoria... there is no way this city can compete for the HUGE market... and it's not like a whole ton of events are lining up to use the conference center.. most trade fairs end up at Pearkes and if they need a larger venue they end up at SOFMC

 

this sounds much  much more like a want and whim on her behalf then something the city needs her to do.. heck of the what 3 different  environmental crisis conferences she attended last year have we seen any value for the money it cost? to me it seems she just continuing with the same crap she was doing before

[Sparky]

Why is the city in the conference business anyway? Back in the day when the world was flat, there was a fellow by the name of Titterton that did a pretty good job of filling up the building. He probably got too old for the job and the "Go to Meeting" app most likely helped push him out the door.

This type of business is probably better off being run by a contractor that specializes in this sort of thing, but what the heck do I know?

But hey.....if the gang on the socialist left think it's a great idea to send the chief, who has stated that she doesn't want the job anymore, to Dubai in hopes of finding the secret to "conference success", it's probably a smart idea. Right?

[spanky123]

^ From what I understand, conference management is run by a team at Tourism Victoria. The City owns Crystal Gardens which is why they are carrying the bag on operating costs, but the day to day is handled by TV. TV participates in regular events designed to draw tourists and conferences to Victoria but perhaps the Mayor has lost confidence in that team and has decided that she needs to take that on herself. 

[Torrontes]

this sounds much  much more like a want and whim on her behalf then something the city needs her to do.. heck of the what 3 different  environmental crisis conferences she attended last year have we seen any value for the money it cost? to me it seems she just continuing with the same crap she was doing before

 Come on, this is networking and raising awareness of the continued existence of the last bastion of the British Empire (sans a few statues) on the left coast of North America. Organizations will be beating down the CoVs virtual doors to schedule an event, and thousands of jobs will be created recycling the paper plates and bamboo utensils they use.

[VIResident]

 Come on, this is networking and raising awareness of the continued existence of the last bastion of the British Empire (sans a few statues) on the left coast of North America. Organizations will be beating down the CoVs virtual doors to schedule an event, and thousands of jobs will be created recycling the paper plates and bamboo utensils they use.

 Spot on. 

(the UN-convention needs to be invented for this venue with killer sales staff and social media program)

[DavidL]

Nice to see that public hearings at other city councils on development projects sound the same as ours...https://twitter.com/...0034665473?s=21

[Mike K.]

Did anyone catch the latest Saanich discussion in regards to rentals? I can't recall if it was another councillor or a member of the public, but a woman lashed out at council's rhetoric towards landlords and homeowners, and told them to stop vilifying hardworking, honest and reputable people who own homes. Order had to be restored in the chamber.

[Awaiting Juno]

So apparently council was wanting to Turf the artificial turf plans for Topaz park but has since thought better of that (whew) - I'm hoping that they realized that flip flopping so hard would cast doubts on the ability to make plans and rely on the word of council....

Edited by Awaiting Juno, 23 January 2020 - 12:20 PM.

[Nparker]

Artificial Turf: 1
Ben Isitt: 0

...Victoria city councillors voted against the idea of putting grass fields into Topaz Park...Councillor Ben Isitt argued putting plastic into the park was the wrong direction. “In light of the environmental harm, and the financial impact, I think the city should aspire to do natural turf fields,” Isitt said in a council meeting last week...

https://www.cheknews...az-park-639727/

 

[Nparker]

I mean really? 

Victoria council will discuss a motion to support no-cost birth control in B.C. at the next council meeting. Councillors Jeremy Loveday and Sarah Potts have put forward a motion for the Jan. 23 committee of the whole meeting. They are asking Victoria council to endorse the AccessBC campaign calling on the B.C. government to cover the costs of prescription contraception in the 2020 provincial budget...Potts feels the campaign will save residents and the B.C. government money...

https://www.vicnews....-birth-control/

[Rob Randall]

Now staff have to drop everything and research and draft this proposal.

 

There is no longer a line between municipal and provincial/federal issues.

[Nparker]

Meanwhile, counsellors claim to be overworked, while spending my tax dollars on issues that have no business at the municipal level.

[Nparker]

If only this were true.

...Isitt remained opposed.“It often feels like I’m an outlier on this council and I think today I’m going to be again,” he said...

https://www.timescol...vour-1.24059649

 

[rmpeers]

Meanwhile, counsellors claim to be overworked, while spending my tax dollars on issues that have no business at the municipal level.

They're just pulling things out of thin air that have nothing to do with local government. If they're not careful, Loveday and Potts might give people the impression that they have literally no idea what their job is. Like, why don't they table a motion to end all wars forever, or a motion that all diseases should be cured immediately?

[Nparker]

You know what's really tragic? Most of the TV voting base probably thinks these are exactly the sort of issues that municipal politicians should be tackling. We live in a strange city.

[Bernard]

Birth control on no level is no way under municipal jurisdiction.   No one voted for them to have an opinion on this and frankly, their opinion on the issue is no more relevant than any other average person.   It is this sort of thing that causes council meetings to expand in time.   

 

I elect MLAs and MPs to deal with healthcare issues.   Frankly, the province should step in and make it illegal for councils to consider any issues that are not part of their legislated mandate.   Municipalities only govern what the province has given some jurisdiction over.

[Jackerbie]

You know what's really tragic? Most of the TV voting base probably thinks these are exactly the sort of issues that municipal politicians should be tackling. We live in a strange city.

 

It's hardly just Victoria, just take a look at the proposed endorsements that make their way to the Union of BC Municipalities convention each year. Here's the 256-page 2019 resolution book: https://www.ubcm.ca/...UTIONS BOOK.pdf

[Nparker]

It's hardly just Victoria, just take a look at the proposed endorsements that make their way to the Union of BC Municipalities convention...

These were Victoria's UBCM motions:

• Provincial Universal School Food Program 
• Youth Voting in Local Government Elections 
• Recovering Municipal Costs Arising from Climate Change 
• Subsidies to Fossil Fuel Companies
• Promoting and Enabling GHG Reductions
• Shifting Investment to Low-Emission Transportation
• Safer Drug Supply to Save Lives
• Observed Inhalation Sites for Overdose Prevention
• Safer Speed Zones in Residential Areas
• Allow Permanent Residents to Vote in Municipal Elections