Welcome to Your Kamloops!

Homebuyers - One Thing You Should Know...

The past 18th months I have been a member of your council, I have come up against one particular frustrating situation time and again. Someone buys a house, and does not know to check the zoning of the adjacent and nearby properties. And then is surprised when something they did not want happens in their neighborhood. A couple of real life examples of this:

• Residents of Dunrobin Drive in Aberdeen thought a vacant piece of land behind their properties would forever remain vacant natural parkland. A significant piece of that land was actually zoned for future development.  And when that development came, their were a lot of bad feelings in the neighborhood.
• Residents of bachelor heights bought what they were told were "view lots" facing up the North Thompson River. In fact, the land in between them and their view is also zoned for development and they are concerned now that their views will be lost.

Remedy to this problem: either go down to development services at the city and ask the people at the front desk if you can get a zoning map for your desired neighborhood

or

go online and use the snazzy new tool created by the city mapping wizards. For best results, click on the "find address" tab.

Being Held Accountable - A Good Thing!

Pleased that information on my trip to the Personal Democracy Forum (see here) was reported by Michele Young of the Kamloops Daily News (think I got all the spelling right Michele!). It is important for me that we all talk openly about the value of council travel. I am hoping to learn great things over the next few days in New York City. And will try to blog even while I am there - will definitely blog about it after I return!

Technology and Democracy Conference...

A few months ago, I decided to look for a conference I could attend that would educate and inspire about the effects technology and the Internet have on democracy and governments. I want to continue to use technology to better represent all of you. I want to contribute to conversations about how to best use technology within city hall.

I have a bit of a track record in these issues. From 2000 to 2005, I ran an Internet training business. And, for most of that same time period, I was honoured to get to know many local and regional technologists while sitting on the board of a now defunct Kamloops technology industry association.

I found a conference. And I am excited and nervous about attending. The Personal Democracy Forum seems to be the gold standard of North American tech democracy conferences. The keynote this year is a Pullitzer Prize winning journalist interviewing the CEO of Google. But that may be just glitz and glam. The real meat of the learning will probably take place in the different conference sessions and the 2nd day "unconference" where the attendees take over the event.  I have found some really interesting projects run by speakers and attendees - for example, neighborhood web forums enabled by front porch forum and thorough run throughs of important issues of the day through debateopedia.

The conference and unconference will be held in New York City the Friday and Saturday. And, frankly, I am nervous about what people will initially think once they read the words New York City. I think I am spending your money wisely. Here is the rough breakdown of my expenses on this trip:

• Return bus ticket to and from Vancouver: $109
• Return Plane Ticket to NYC: $529.85
• 2 Nights Hotel NYC: $406
• Conference Fee: $364.72
• Meals and Transport in NYC: $150
• Total: $1559.87

Open to any thoughts!

A Warm No Obligation Invitation to Join My Council Email List..

Want to thank all the people who have answered the question on water meters below. Thanks Gerry McRae for pointing out correct spelling - when it comes to devices used to measure water use, its meters not metres.

A lot of commenters learned about my question through my email list. I have traditionally sent both personal and council emails through this list, but I am now going to maintain a council news and views only email list. If you are interested in receiving occasional emails from me (hoping to be no more than 2 a month), I warmly invite you to join the list:

   

   

   

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Do you Support Water Meters for Kamloops?

About a month and half ago, your council received a presentation from city staff on water use in Kamloops. According to the numbers they presented, Kamloops citizens use far too much water - way more than other communities. And if water use continues at its current rate, the cost of maintaining the water pipes in Kamloops will be incredibly expensive - in the millions. Now, I should get the more exact numbers on the site, perhaps even the complete presentation from city staff. But, today, more general questions"

Do you support water metres? Why or Why not?

I lean heavily right now to supporting water meters - from both an environmental ethic and a financial prudence ethic.

For an opposing point of view, see here and here.

Free Transit Next Federal Election

It was not unanimous but Council today approved free transit for people who show their voting cards during the next federal election day. This will be a pilot project.

This proposal was brought to by the Kamloops Young Liberals association as a way to try to increase voter turnout. The Young Libs were represented by a high school student who is articulate well well (yes well X2) beyond his years and even has a blog - Emile Scheffel.

How Kamloops Ranks and Councillor Comments.

Another post written a lot later that I would have liked. To the questions from Mayor Quimby and Mike below :

• Jim Harker genuinely believes that we should be asking serious questions about the loss of tax dollars. That was his motivation behind making the comments he made about the Y dream home. Jim has now apologized for bringing the Y into this discussion. The dream home selection process is actually entirely managed by the Kamloops home builders association. I supported the motion to make a request that the home be built within Kamloops city limits, but on reflection, I think we are giving up small dollars for a much bigger community good. Its not the first time Jim and I believe differently - very respectfully.
• As for the Moneysense low ranking of Kamloops in their ranking of best places to live in Canada, these rankings are so subjective. I think Kamloops is an astoundingly great place to live, for many different people.  In my views, one of the best ways to maintain and enhance our astounding greatness is to make sure we are an affordable, livable community for all people - no matter their economic status

In Vancouver, talking about the business community and homelessness...

I have had a hugely inspiring day, listening to incredibly knowledgeable people from all across the BC and Yukon. They are part of a committee, sponsored by the federal government, who are working to involve the business community in helping solve the homelessness crisis. I met people like Rev Al Tysick from Victoria, who I learned a great deal from over dinner just a short time ago.

Rev Al is additionally full of pithy quotes. Here is a zinger:

"If we can put a man on the moon. surely we can put men in rooms"