Vancouver’s Non Partisan Association (NPA) thinks it can do a better job of listening to city residents than reigning Vision Vancouver, led by Mayor Gregor Robertson.
The NPA says it will meet with residents throughout the city over the next eight months.
“Vision has spent the last five years destroying people’s confidence in city hall,” NPA city councillor George Affleck told Business in Vancouver.
“We’ll be working with the people of this city so we can build the city together and so we can build the trust back in to Vancouver city hall that’s been lost.”
Several Vancouver communities have been up in arms over planned high-rise developments in their neighbourhoods. The deadlines for three new community plans – Grandview-Woodland, Marpole and the Downtown Eastside – have been extended to allow for more consultation. Council will vote on whether to approve the new West End Community Plan on November 20.
On November 8, a court injunction halted construction of a bike path through Kitsilano Point’s Hadden Park. Concerned residents had protested what they said was not enough public consultation.
“We can’t see more lawsuits happening … the cost of that is significant, the energy, the negative impact,” Affleck said.
The NPA plans to hold a series of “issue-based” forums throughout the city in the coming months. The first one will take place on December 11 at Kitsilano Beach Park.
Affleck said the NPA will focus on the public engagement issue in the run-up to the next municipal election in November 2014.
