a. criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions

b. criticism performed with a compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism

Am I expecting too much?

Thank you for encouraging a more civil dialogue with Castlegar’s elected leadership than the Community has seen in many years, if ever — through the Urban Workbench.

Councillor Hearne states:

‘Many good people worked long and hard to put together a proposal that was to benefit the community as a whole. It was not accepted by the community and I respect that. Democracy is a wonderful thing.’

It seems that the Councillor is suggesting that a considerable amount of time, energy (and presumably money) was invested in the Rec Centre Referendum idea (presumably under the auspices of the City) — and despite all of that input, City Council was wrong in gauging the Public feeling.

– and –

“I would happily address any of the concerns people have on our process or on what they think should be done in the future. I can be reached by phone, email or I am willing to sit down for a coffee. I welcome any input and if anyone would like to be involved in any future planning please let me know and I will pass on your name.”

It sounds like the Councillor is suggesting that (as a change ) in the ‘future’, as one Councillor, he will ‘welcome any input’.

Councillor Duff States:

“ …we took a chance with the referendum which I believe was a good decision in terms of gauging public opinion. The residents made their decision and now we move on”

The Councillor comes close to acknowledging that City Council misread the Public mood on the Rec Complex issue right up until the vote. — without detailing what steps of public consultation were attempted or what Public expense was incurred by Council to attempt to ‘(gauge) Public opinion.’ In advance — while at the same time actively promoting the “Yes” position at the Public’s expense.

In my experience, which dates back to 2004, most folks who have tried to express differing views to Council have come away with such a ‘violated’ feeling, that ‘the price of the eggs’ quite simply exceeds the ‘wear and tear on the chickens’.

Let’s remember that the Municipal Election is now only 11 short months away.

If it is true that in 2010, as a result of the Rec Complex referendum fiasco, the Community has finally called for an end to the ‘Divine Right of Kings ( & Queens)‘ at City Hall, perhaps our ‘born again Democrats’ on Council can talk to their colleagues about the need for a change in attitude at City Hall, — SINCERELY welcoming diversity of opinion as part of the planning and decision-making process, rather continuing to celebrate the backroom ‘rubber stamp’ approach to local decision-making — which, as a side effect, makes Council meeting SO boring that no one in their right mind would sit though them anyway. (the only legitimate ‘ulterior motive’ being Public Service.)

Raymond Koehler

619 – 9th Avenue,
Castlegar, BC V1N 1M5

250.304.2157

raym...@raymondkoehler.ca

Yes, Council sometimes feels like a full time job. Although as long as we keep moving forward and I feel that my contribution is helping then I would like to stay involved.

Kirk Duff.

Thanks for taking the time to read, sometimes council must feel like a full-time job!

Kirk Duff

City Councillors ‘stumbling over’ a community discussion of sustainable options … hopefully more members of Council will make the same ‘stumble’ … too bad that similar ‘conversations’ are so difficult, challenging, and sometime downright personally hurtful & insulting in the City Council Chamber.

Perhaps this is a turning point … offering some hope for the future, … that the sitting Councillors can learn to listen effectively both in the Community and in the Council Chamber, — NOT JUST to those who agree with them … BUT ALSO to those who may have alternate points of view.

It has been suggested in the electronic media, faced by the Referendum debacle, that City Council should resign.

I disagree.

My feeling is that the sitting members of Council now have an eleven month opportunity to demonstrate to the Community how attentive they could be to the REAL sustainability issues faced by their Constituents — who need to create viable futures for their families — in times that by all indications are going to get tougher before they get easier.

KUDO’s to the Members of Council who joined the Public Protests regarding the IH Ultra Sound debate — and the School District 20 budget discussions — despite the fact that they may have come late to the issues, after much foot-dragging and efforts to squelch Public efforts at discussion in the Council Chamber.

If the Public does not see progress towards this end, then it is time for concerned citizens to step up to the plate and prepare to take back control of the City of Castlegar, and let the incumbents enjoy long and happy retirements from Public Life

Raymond Koehler

619 – 9th Avenue,
Castlegar, BC V1N 1M5

250.304.2157

raym...@raymondkoehler.ca

Many good people worked long and hard to put together a proposal that was to benefit the community as a whole. It was not accepted by the community and I respect that. Democracy is a wonderful thing.

The suggestions that we had agenda’s or personal gains is non sense. Our motivation was for the betterment of the whole.

I would happily address any of the concerns people have on our process or on what they think should be done in the future. I can be reached by phone, email or I am willing to sit down for a coffee. I welcome any input and if anyone would like to be involved in any future planning please let me know and I will pass on your name.

Russ Hearne

Too bad it didn’t all happen before the vote.

Here are some of my ‘morning after’ thoughts …

How could so many elected representatives, who apparently unanimously supported the $25 Million Rec Centre Proposal, have been so completely wrong in effectively listening to the voice of the Residents?

How was it possible that not one member of Castlegar City Council could publicly articulate the view of more that 70% of the Referendum Voters, that the burden of $25 Million Dollars over the next 25 years, was simply not going to fly.?

After the fact, His Worship, Mayor Chernoff, is quoted as saying…
‘ …the will of the people was ‘loud and clear’ but ( he) didn’t expect the ‘no’ side to win by such a large margin.’ (He) was surprised that it was that high,’
‘(He said.) ‘I guess people chose that it wasn’t the right time to do this project.’
‘The mayor added that it took ‘a lot of work from a lot of people to get this off the ground’.’
‘There was a vision there but , … this is a democratic system and the people have spoken,’

The result of the Referendum appears to confirm the suggestion that our Elected Officials are perhaps out of touch with the Public.

Where have these folks been living since 2008?

What possible coherent explanation can there be?

Could it be that someone stood to gain financially from this sorry exercise?

More worrying … how much time, effort and money was pumped into this non-starter of a proposition?

Even more troubling … how many public taxpayer dollars were consumed in the political propaganda favouring the “Yes Vote” (the banner … the full page newspaper ad, etc.)? and whose notion of ‘democracy’ was that attempt to shame folks in to voting “yes”

Where does this leave us regarding other projects, such as the 3+million dollars for water and sewer to the Gaming Centre & airport, paid by taxpayers?

And what about council’s premature decision to vote to demolish the Pioneer Arena?

What further evidence do we need that Council in sorely lacking in its capacity to consult in advance, and represent the needs and wishes of the Community it was elected to serve?

Fortunately, there are those who believe that no experience is a bad experience, as long as we are able to learn from those mistakes and move forward.

With the Municipal Election less than a year away, Voters are left to wonder, what has the Castlegar City Council and Regional District of Kootenay Directorship, learned as a result of the referendum outcome?

Perhaps there is now an opportunity for Council to demonstrate an ongoing, proactive program of Public Consultation, on the important issues facing the Community as we move forward towards a sustainable future.

Was the timing of the Referendum, far enough ahead of the 2011 Municipal Elections for Voters to forget the fact that Council has now shown its true colours, … that a major house cleaning is in order, … and that a major ‘shake-up’ at City Hall to reconnect with the citizenry, is at least 16 years past due?

Raymond Koehler

619 – 9th Avenue,
Castlegar, BC V1N 1M5

250.304.2157

raym...@raymondkoehler.ca