Wise Democracy Victoria

Thoughts from the CIC on Density, both high and low:
- Focus density downtown, old Bay building should be far edge.
- Don't want to block view corridors.
- Keep height further back, not huge.
- Go for a European feeling.
- Build where the land is lowest so as not to ruin skyline.
- Rock bay could be like False Creek, Yaletown without towers, need to work on Selkirk.
- Humboldt valley is good.
- Douglas/Belleville bus depot should be moved.
- Focus medum density around commercial nodes (villages), would help improve amenities in places like Quadra Village, Cook St., etc.
- Want to walk downtown.
- City should be clear on where high rises can go and be strict.
- City could have guidelines for environmental features in new buildings.
- Density reduces the need for personal vehicles, and increases need for good transit, things like car co-ops.
- What about rooftop gardens, parks, geothermal heat, fuel cells, reuse of greywater, on-site sewage treatment, and beautification for new development?
- Vision over profit.
- Worry about leaky condos, need quality development. What was the city's role there?
- Sewage treatment needs to be more efficient with increased density.
- Aesthetic quality should be considered with new buildings.
- Creating communal space with new development, allowing for community.

WDV out.

Infrastructure, Livability, Transportation, Waterfront, Social Services, Diverse/Holistic Community, Governance/Engagement, Growth/Economy.

More on these later.

WDV out.

It's solution time.

- To improve bike lane safety, build a traffic meridian between cars and bikes, create exclusive bike-only lanes.
- Fisherman's wharf - secure it.
- Marina alternatives: Don't allow it! OR: Allow it but with smaller boats. OR: Think Macro, it's just a small port (allow it). OR: Put it in a different place, more out of the way.
- Secure a percentage of revenue from new development for affordable housing.
- Increase density, more tax per sq. ft.
- Get light rapid transit!
- Celebrations should be... Secure and safe, modeled after Montreal/Quebec, done in larger areas (blocked off from cars), more like Luminara, change police training (Vancouver?), need mroe cultural festivals, entertainment-based instead of drinking-based.
- More street lighting.
- Pandora Green, more of that, less parking lots/pavement.

WDV out.

What are our problem statements from page 2? Now you'll know!

- What is the truth about amalgamation?
- What about sense of community vs. efficiencies that come with a larger town?
- How to balance adult-oriented events with family events?
- How would you like to be engaged?

Solutions to come after lunch!

WDV out.

Concerns from today are...
- The Marina. Victoria vs. Monaco - we're different.
- Why do I live here? Approach from this angle.
- Road work. How is it coordinated? Same streets are torn up over and over, is this the best use of taxes?
- Online voting and info about city?
- Homelessness, sleeping in doorways. In USA sidewalks are leased by businesses as private property, could help empower business owners. Some prefer to sleep outside, we should provide facilities for them.
- Need to tailor services to different people.
- Do I feel safe in my city?
- Downtown shelter - Only lip service to public input.
- Police seem to not care about illegal activity, only reactive not proactive. Need a rapid response team.
- Need to view homeless community as members of our community.
- Police chief should advocate for increased services for homeless community.
- Need more funding for homeless services - where to find?
- Need to shift our thinking from short-term to long-term and preventative ideas.
- The law and the city need to protect citizen's interests.

WDV out.

The day begins with conversation about policing, homelessness, and safety on the streets.

From yesterday, concerns continued:
- Social services are cut as we grow more, money going to one group, million goes to bank, rent goes up after renovations.
- Need more affordable housing, rentals.
- Some people live here and don't get into the community.
- Homelessness and mental health.
- Rising property taxes but fewer services, cutting back beacon hill, less flowers, more bark.
- Maintain heritage value, jewel of ocean and the need for sight lines and perspective to preserve what we have.
- Do we need amalgamation? Victorians are paying for services to visitors.
- Do we have enough density for LRT?
- Density = traffic, how do we deal with this?
- Johnson St. bridge public vote.
- We need composting, what are we doing with our soil?
- Green space should be a priority.
- North Shore traffic.
- Need more city celebrations that don't involve alcohol. Need better policing for major events, they are in a difficult position, have to be reactive not proactive, too much drunkenness.
- Police spend too much time in their cars.
- Police are overly gruff.

That's pages 2, 3, and 4 of concerns. CIC number one continues with briefing and questions about the OCP.

WDV out.

Wrapping up for 9:00, gearing up for tomorrow, when we will be live blogging from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Final thoughts:
- At the highest level, it's about how decisions are made. Does it match the aesthetic value and need of the city. For example, the Save on Foods arena, ugly public art, and the Songhees. Uptown the gray box, Victoria could learn. Are the right people informing the City? Are they hiring the right people? Are those people enabled to do good work, or blocked by politics? Why are decisions taking so long, are they made hastily just to save too much talking?
- Victoria needs pedestrian corridors, open developments/landscaping.
- More off-leash dog areas.
- More availability of pet-friendly rentals, kid-friendly rentals.
- What is the plan for commercial nodes? Villages? More downtown density?
- Childcare is hard to find. Is that a planning issue? Working people need their kids near work?
- Protection of wildlife/habitat.
- Harm reduction services.
- Sewage treatment!

The End (for tonight)

WDV out.

So far we have 5 full flip chart pages of conversation! Things are just getting started.

Our problem statements (Page 1) are:
- How do we balance service to $elite and keep it affordable for for others (tourists too).
- What does CRD have to do with marina? A = CRD is not involved in zoning or water regulation (in harbour). Parties involved are proponent, transport Canada (federal) and the Province.
- Where will Marina revenues go? What are the legal issues, really?
- What is the city doing about affordable housing for people who LIVE here?
- How do we balance local affordable living with landlords rights to make money, also other services and inflation (personal control).
- What is the truth re: density?

More to come!

WDV out.

10 People are attending tonight, the conversation is surging on, the ideas are great.

Our "Concerns" flip chart (page 1) says:

- How can we plan for the City of Victoria when we still haven't amalgamated?
- Lots of 55+ housing, where are the kids?
- Need safe bike lanes, separators, Shelbourne street is too narrow to be safe.
- Marina, owner has threatened a lawsuit, means money for a few, do we need another one, do we need a parking lot for wealthy people from out of province, takes away from beauty, already lots of condos (not attractive), doesn't serve Victorians, illusion of two sides to debate.
- We have to live with decisions from previous Councils (threat of lawsuit).
- Waterfront is poorly developed, given all our water, is it that bad?, need balance of bike/walk/water, Rock bay needs work like False Creek.

Ideas are flowing like water through a marina! Stay tuned for more...

WDV out.

Wise Democracy had an interview with Murray Langdon on CFAX radio this morning. We covered the importance of meaningful engagement, a citizen's role in the OCP, and all of the great stuff happening in Austria!

This interview brings to mind the importance of getting ourselves and this project out into the open for the success of these two Citizen Insight Councils. The more people hear about this project, the easier it is for the results of these Councils to ripple out and really affect perceptions and ideas jostling around in this great city. So if you like this process, get the word out! Know somebody who got a letter? Tell them how important you think that is, and what a unique opportunity this is for them to have their voice heard as part of the community.

As always, you can help us get the word out by following us on Twitter or joining us on Facebook and encouraging others to do the same. Social networking need not be passive!

Sincerely,
Wise Democracy

We're getting ready to do a press release, so keep an eye out for us in the papers or on your favorite local news radio show!

Wise Democracy Victoria has been sending info about our work on the Victoria OCP to our allies in the U.S., Ireland, and Austria. All eyes are on Victoria in the coming weeks to see what becomes of this public engagement pioneering.

How can you learn more and keep up to date?

Follow us, wdvictoria, on twitter!

Join us, Wise Democracy Victoria, on Facebook!

Check our blog for news, information, links to similar projects, and notes on the process.

Wise Democracy is moving into the 21st century! Facebook, twitter, and now a blog! Stay tuned for some real live updates from the WDV crew!