NATURE

Sea, land, river

For earlier materials see Table of Contents

Council Nov 14^th

Pre-Budget

Too much fun?

Perhaps Kinney is here recounting how he sang Korean anthem

Stories of Tae Kwon Do ??

Show & Tell meeting

While Council had secret (in-camera) meetings from 5 PM and continued them after ‘public’ meeting ---(see below)

the public was ‘entertained’ / ‘informed’ about PR ---community service where different councillors filled in for Mayor at local events – Kinney at Tae Kwon Do --- Briglio at the Toy Run (where he would have ridden his Harley but for insurance etc

In Secret

This fellow stayed behind when ‘Public’ session ended --- more secret deals ---- hopefully involved the Shawatlans hydro project for which provincial grant given (next item) or some such (No public info from Council on any these topics0

As ‘Citizens’ waited out doors

Before the doors were unlocked a group of people were let out by city staff--- these were all members of the Airport Society – including the new manager

Hard to tell what ‘national secrets’ were involved --- or why no mention of the meeting made in public session--- not sure but might have been at least one ‘new’ appointee to the board – the same board that routinely asks tax payers for 900T$ subsidy

But hey it is only public money --- no big deal

(Cote during public session wanted to spend 300$ for a Table at upcoming Chamber Commerce ‘celebration of excellence’ awards – ‘it’s only 300$’ he said in support

Original New lease October 30^th 2006

Infrastructure planning grants

‘Seed’ $$ given by Province—not mentioned in meeting

Prince Rupert	Shawatlans Hydro-Redevelopment Feasibility Assessment	$10,000
Prince Rupert	Liquid Waste Management Plan - Stage 1	$10,000
Prince Rupert	Hays Creek Sewer Rehabilitation Options Study	$10,000
Funny thing about Shawatlans—the irony of it—Cote still wants to complain to Metlakatla about logging across harbour--- but woops – the city has to speak to them about crossing the reserve lands at Shawatlans --- I am just guessing – But the Hydro power from Shawatlans etc seems to involve tapping the river flow --- and the reserve presumably originally ‘given’ to assure access etc to Shawatlans

PDBEs concern tabled – ‘duh what’s that?’ asked one councillor--- ‘We don’t know nothin’ ‘bout those kind of things’ – he said
See PDBEs fact sheet; & private members bill in Parliament

Reading the mail

A little drama here --- As I have said before the public only sees small fraction of correspondence – only those at least one councillor wants ‘action’ upon’ – as many of those at meeting were ‘left wing’ concerns: like pollution, public forests, & government services (rural mail delivery) --- Council chose to ‘table’ most of them – we interpret this as Thorkelson bringing ‘common good’ issues – and the TCB crowd (Taking care of Business) Councillors voting them down

(see the 'agenda' =(mail) as PDF)

Public relations as ‘form’ of government?

These are nice people – doing what they consider ‘best’ for Public

But is it what municipal government is meant to be about?

Don’t ask--- Instead read the ‘news’ letter you will soon be getting monthly in your Utilities Bill— Oh TCB-ers did not mention that Utility Bills will now be monthly (was all to be paid at beginning year at last public meeting – meant to augment cash flow) – but then Mayors Message --- would have to go to every house holder --- a cost estimate report will be written (but I bet not made public)

Bottom Line

Budget Time--- Secrets ---

I would guess that all these ‘secret’ meetings dealt with the 2007 City Budget – and thus public rightfully excluded --- still that does not negate the main point that ‘municipal’ citizenship is being eroded by this council --- where PR and entertainment pass for ‘substance’ --- one is reminded of ‘need’ to make City Tel private so as not to divulge business secrets ---- and then what happened?--- ‘stay tuned’----

Created by LG on Nov 15, 2006

Last updated on Thursday, November 16, 2006