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City of Victoria | 2018-2022 | Mayor and council general discussion


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#11241 marks_28

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Posted 10 May 2022 - 06:14 PM

No influence at all. They can make suggestions, that’s it, and hope people play along.


Sorry, you’re saying that the city council has ZERO impact on climate change?

Sure, they can make suggestions on more high level policy, but they have a big impact on more local policies. The AAA bike network has increased mode share of people commuting by bikes rather than cars. They can increase the amount of homes and density in the city, decreasing the reliance on suburban sprawl, cars commuting and deforestation. Etc, etc..

#11242 Mike K.

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Posted 10 May 2022 - 08:02 PM

All grand ideas, but there is zero evidence to prove their efficacy.

How many trees in Langford has Victoria council spared? That should be easy to quantify. How many cars has Victoria council taken off the roads? That too should be easy to quantify.

But I suspect the reality is more along the lines of whatever measures Victoria takes that it thinks are making a difference, require another muni or munis to step up and absorb the unseen side of the outcome. Like Langford now building more offices, because travel to Victoria has been hindered to a point where workers would prefer to remain on the West Shore to save time and money. Victoria can say fewer cars are community into Victoria because of their policies, but maybe that’s because those workers are no longer commuting into downtown.
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#11243 marks_28

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Posted 10 May 2022 - 08:49 PM

All grand ideas, but there is zero evidence to prove their efficacy.

How many trees in Langford has Victoria council spared? That should be easy to quantify. How many cars has Victoria council taken off the roads? That too should be easy to quantify.

But I suspect the reality is more along the lines of whatever measures Victoria takes that it thinks are making a difference, require another muni or munis to step up and absorb the unseen side of the outcome. Like Langford now building more offices, because travel to Victoria has been hindered to a point where workers would prefer to remain on the West Shore to save time and money. Victoria can say fewer cars are community into Victoria because of their policies, but maybe that’s because those workers are no longer commuting into downtown.

 

Agreed, some of these things are hard to quantify, but does not mean there are still benefits? And we are not looking at things that have happened, all I am saying is that a municipal council has the power to impact climate change. What if a city doubled the amount of housing close to its core? Now there are likely fewer car trips, or a need to commute from further away. And in your example, Langford building office space, that takes away the need to commute to Victoria, again lowering GHGs. And these are decisions made at the municipal level. 



#11244 Harry

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Posted 10 May 2022 - 09:32 PM

Like it or not there has been a continued clamping down on peoples lifestyles that some on the council don't agree with or they dont fall in line with council members lifestyles. There are odd bylaws put through that on their own they don't mean much but in the long run they add up to a fair bit.  More and more "temporary" things are becoming permanent and its little things that start to add up. This is all being paid for through tax dollars its not free. So far we have had a massive amount of ideas that council has not thought out or listened to the people who will be footing the bill for these ideas just fall apart. Then they are on to the next "idea" and they wright a check and see how it goes. How many things off the top of your head has city council come out with that have just fizzled out when they don't work? What was the cost? How much of that money has been wasted that could have been put to better use? While the rest of the world took a pause on spending due to the pandemic the city of Victoria opened the flood gates. We as a city have taken on the unhoused from other municipalities due to a city council trying to "work the higher up government" for funding. And what happened when some funding came in? A city counsel member worked the situation to their own benefit. We have seen crime sky rocket the police force has had to endure a city council trying to shut it down, de fund it and discredit it at every turn then the council trys to hold the police to task for the situation the council created.  All the wile the city council was going on record gaslighting the city that everything was safe while putting out internal reports about how unsafe things in the city actually are. Not to mention all the stuff it voted on about world politics, provincial and federal responsibilities not to mention teh city gifts of money yearly to local first nations in the name of reconciliation that is actually a federal responsibility i highly doubt any councilor is giving out of their own pocket given that most dont even live in the city or own their property  and this is just scraping the surface.
So yes we need a city council and mayor that will stick to what the city is responsible for given that this council seems to have forgot how to do this.


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#11245 On the Level

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Posted 10 May 2022 - 10:18 PM

Sorry, you’re saying that the city council has ZERO impact on climate change?

 

Like Cory Burger, it's all ideological.  He said here on this site he was going to take particulate readings beside the bike lanes to prove how bad cars were. When I asked if he took readings before the bike lanes were introduced to determine decreases or increases, he avoided the logic. It isn't about the difficult analysis required.  It is just a single solution.

 

How much have emissions increased from congestion?  The bike lobby is responsible for that. 

 

How many people have moved to the Westshore these past 8 years because it is almost impossible to build affordably in Victoria?  Many at the table, including those most responsible for rejecting zoning changes or building permits while screaming for cheap rent.

 

Are we at zero or worse?


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#11246 Sparky

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 04:08 AM

daj1.jpg


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#11247 Mike K.

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 06:33 AM

And in your example, Langford building office space, that takes away the need to commute to Victoria, again lowering GHGs. And these are decisions made at the municipal level.

Not if your job is now in Langford.

That’s why these municipal pursuits are almost always follies. Like Victoria’s bridge idea. They replaced the bridge and touted how 50% of the span would accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, to mitigate the effects of climate change.

But they removed the rail span, which now makes a commuter rail line into downtown impossible via the E & N, and an entire line no longer reasonably viable without that last 300m extension.
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#11248 spanky123

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 06:42 AM

candidate watch ... another entrant

 

https://www.kristaloughton.ca/

 

Noted that Krista's campaign manager backed Sarah Potts in the last municipal election. The remainder of the team are UVIC and Green activists.


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#11249 Awaiting Juno

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 10:03 AM

No influence at all. They can make suggestions, that’s it, and hope people play along.

 

Step code. Requiring deconstruction rather than demolition. Tree bylaw requirements.

 

Note - all of which add significant expenses to new construction and indirectly contribute to the high cost of housing in Victoria.


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#11250 Hotel Mike

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 10:15 AM

Much of the problem stems from unintended consequences. Council thinks that making speed limits 30k for example, is good for the city. But their manipulation of the streets to favour bikes causes congestion in a domino fashion on other routes. Most standard transmission cars have to run at higher revs at 30 than at 50. It's not a win for the environment.

 

When you act in a dogmatic way, you are convinced you know what's right. Better to study the science, make sure those data are wide-ranging, and make a decision based on that.


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Don't be so sure.:cool:

#11251 Nparker

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 10:41 AM

Also make sure the "science" isn't being manipulated to support a particular agenda.


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#11252 Mike K.

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 10:42 AM

Step code. Requiring deconstruction rather than demolition. Tree bylaw requirements.

Note - all of which add significant expenses to new construction and indirectly contribute to the high cost of housing in Victoria.


Step code is a provincial construct, and the deconstruction thing isn’t solving anything of measurable significance as far as climate change goes. Tree bylaw requirements are also not of any significance. You just replant what you took down.
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#11253 spanky123

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 10:47 AM

Much of the problem stems from unintended consequences. 

 

I think a lot of the problem stems from having people who are more concerned about their next job than they are the one they have. 



#11254 Awaiting Juno

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 11:16 AM

Step code is a provincial construct, and the deconstruction thing isn’t solving anything of measurable significance as far as climate change goes. Tree bylaw requirements are also not of any significance. You just replant what you took down.

 

But adoption of level 3 or 4 before it's required by the province is a city thing. Tree bylaw - arborists are making mittfuls providing services to get permits and protected trees are required to be replaced at a 2 to 1 level...

 

Point is: there's no pragmatic or systematic thought on how policies work together to meet (or work against) stated goals. They're pro-housing AND pro-environment but have failed to really consider how the set of policies impact both comprehensively.


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#11255 JimV

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 01:22 PM

 Tree bylaw - arborists are making mittfuls providing services to get permits and protected trees are required to be replaced at a 2 to 1 level...

 

The 2 for 1 thing is wildly inappropriate and unworkable on many properties in the older sections of town.  Your only other option is to pay the city $2,000 for each tree removed.  As a result there are a lot of weakened and diseased trees that could fall any time during a windstorm.  One more example, as if we needed any, of the routinely idiotic decisions made by council.  On the other hand, they have no problem cutting down healthy flowering plum trees along Menzies street to make a wider sidewalk.


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#11256 Mike K.

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 01:33 PM

Or to build bike lanes.
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#11257 Nparker

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 02:06 PM

Or to build bike lanes.

#environmentalirony


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#11258 mbjj

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Posted 11 May 2022 - 02:57 PM

I won't be voting for anyone in favour of paid street parking. There are tons of people around us who live in small apts. or houses that have been divided up that have no parking. We are ok as we have a driveway, but for others it would be  a real problem. And I won't be voting for anyone like that Loughton dame. Time to spread the word. 


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#11259 Hotel Mike

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Posted 12 May 2022 - 10:06 AM

I do know that in areas of Vancouver, where the signs say "residential parking only", the local residents have to display a pass. I believe they have to pay annually. 


Don't be so sure.:cool:

#11260 sebberry

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Posted 12 May 2022 - 10:25 AM

I do know that in areas of Vancouver, where the signs say "residential parking only", the local residents have to display a pass. I believe they have to pay annually. 

 

Perhaps Ismo can chime in, but there's a difference between Residential Parking Only and Residential Permit Parking Only zones.


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