DEMOCRACY DIRECT’S PLATFORM
A City Council that works for everyone… not just a few.
Closed Meetings
- Limit closed or secret meetings to only those specific situations that are mandated that the Public be excluded under Section 90 (2) of the Community Charter.
- Disclose proceedings and meeting minutes for all closed meetings held under Section 90 of the Community Charter since 2011 (e.g., water utility purchase debate and discussion).
Public Consultation
- Expand the role of the Public in local government by increasing consultation opportunities.
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- Restore Question Period.
- Hold Town Hall meetings twice a year where Citizens are allowed to ask questions of Council.
- Make the Mayor’s annual “State of the City” address free and open to the Public.
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- Give more weight to the input of those who live in White Rock or own a business in White Rock.
Small Business
- Partner with White Rock’s business community to ensure they are stakeholders in these projects, so their input in timing and location can be included.
- Develop a developer funded program to help businesses avoid closure and relocate within White Rock.
- Consider tax relief for White Rock’s businesses, such as repealing the “patio tax”.
- Appoint a business liaison officer who, among other duties, would be responsible for tracking the condition of White Rock’s infrastructure and letting business know well in advance, through a five-year capital investment plan, what projects could impact their area.
- Mandate designated areas for construction workers to park, with the developer then shuttling them to and from the site every day.
Density/Development/OCP
- A moratorium on the approval of any further high rises in White Rock until the completion of the 14 towers already approved by the current Council so that our Community can get a good, solid sense of what our Community is really like and how neighbourhood liveability is impacted with all this densification.
- Rescind project approval if Development Permits are not in place within two years of project approval.
- Establishment of a “Good Neighbour Policy” for builders and contractors to mitigate the impacts of new construction and densification on existing residents and businesses.
- A post-audit review of the 2017 OCP with full, open, and true Public engagement. The City will provide a point-by-point comparison of the changes between the old OCP (Bylaw 1837) and the new OCP (Bylaw 2220), along with details why these changes were made.
- A revision of the City’s CAC policy with full public engagement so that CACs serve to ease the burden of development on the Community and better benefit residents whose livability has been impacted by development and densification.
- A commitment to take action to ensure that the Age-friendly, Disability-friendly, Affordable Housing and Rental Housing “policies” contained in the new OCP are adhered to.
Conflict of Interest
- Elected officials will recuse themselves from debating and voting on legislation involving people from whom they have received contributions.
Water
- Full Public disclosure of all water utility related records, including the records related to the former EPCOR lands at 1454 Oxford Street.
- Full review and post-audit of all of the decisions made respecting the purchase and post-purchase operation of the water utility, including decisions respecting the research, design and building of treatment plants.
- Establishment of a White Rock Water Users’ Panel with responsible Public representatives operating under a meaningful terms of reference.
Garbage
- While respecting existing contracts, work towards restoring city garbage and recycling collection for multi-unit residences (condos and apartments) and businesses.
Whistle Blower
- Review policies in other jurisdictions and establish procedures to manage disclosures by employees of the City of White Rock ensuring full whistle blower protection.