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For earlier materials see Table of Contents

November 7th

We See

Community Forum and ‘managerism’

Good turnout at last forum – some interesting discussions—But

·         Community Forum

·         Rec & Citizen input

·         Recycling as ‘managerism’

·         GHG emissions etc

·         Bicycle Route?

·         Managerism as system failure

·         Freighter unique view in PR

 

 

One of the short comings is people usually stay at same table --- thus if one moves to another table – likely asking a question previously answered etc --- see my Westview OCP consultations where flip charts used and summary at end etc

At first things did not look positive --- but eventually people filled up the chairs

I counted three staff per table – not including those at entrance etc --- so process must be expensive --- still I saw numerous Citizens that usually not involved – but attracted to this format

 

 

I started out at Recreation table

Question came up why there is not a ‘Rec Committee’ to offer Citizen input--- Staff remembered ‘about 10 years ago—when there was – and conflict ensued between Director and Board --- So who does the Board report to?--- My ‘vote’ was reports to Council and not the Director

 

 

Contrast the Lester Center and the Rec Center

Former is run by an independent society for the City – as are the Golf Club, Racquet club etc--- still these are all anomalies and not best practices for Citizen input etc --- more like Citizens pay for Elites ‘play’

 

 

SQCRD, City and Recycling

Here is another example that comes more to my point – though there is a committee that ‘over sees’ Recycling with some Citizen input (Jean Martin for the PRES, etc) --- Still the SQCRD relies almost exclusively upon management --- Thus Jean was told ‘management’ gave us (SQCRD Directors) 3 options to choose from --- and we selected the Saturday partial closures

I call this ‘Managerism’ ---- While it has its strengths --- also has weaknesses

 

 

I remember Gordon Payne asking planner (Zeno Krekic) when he became a full time staff rather than a contractor --- I interpret this to ‘mean’ in this context that Council is not aware of a lot that happens --- even when that is a major expense like hiring (as opposed to contracting) a professional planner

Managerism

When Gordon Howie was first hired back in 2006 the word was the staff managers were very happy --- because unlike say Kumar--- Gordie did not interfere much with managers – leaving them pretty well to run their own departments --- Again + & - for this ‘strategy’ ---If objectives clearly stated and ‘targets’ easily measured and reported on --- then no problem --- if not then becomes increasingly expensive and inefficient

 

 

 

Why was ‘Health’ included --- I was told it came up at UBCM and major(?) changes ahead --- thus community input

I came to this meeting later and thus missed previous conversations—I did ask if City was keeping account of how much ‘energy

 it used in its vehicles etc --- thus Gas or diesel --- I was told it was kept by accounting but the province had done the main study upon which ‘we’ will rely --- See bottom of this page for ‘typical’ numbers from the CEEI report ---- again the numbers look to be generated by a computer program rather than ‘real data’ ---- Here is PR 2007 report as a PDF --- here is the main CEEI site --- and what abour PR promise to be Carbon Neutral by 2012

 

 

 

Bicycle Paths

From map on wall – I was told these were mainly going to be signs along streets and no dedicated lanes etc --- Green comes first (Park Ave, £rd Ave -, 6th Ave etc --- Red comes later

 

 

Managerism and inefficiency

I like this example --- thinking myself a conscientious citizen – I reported this broken sign to City staff --- I was told ‘we already know about it’ --- well the sign is still there, on the ground, 5 days later --- ‘not my problem’ is staff attitude --- this I attribute to lack of managerial over sight --- ‘not my department’ ---- still it is the kind of thing better use of internet etc should be able to solve --- truck X is driving back to Shops – message on screen: pick up sign and deliver to repair etc

 

 

Ship tied up to Cruise ship dock

A unique Rupert site --- I had to go down and get a closer view

 

 

 

Was here to load Canola and departed on the 7th

JIN PU HAI arrived in PR October 30th

 

 

Another freighter behind – perhaps it was the DON FRANE BULIC here to pick up wheat

 

 

It is that time of Year

Every year around this time the public sidewalk becomes a display case for these stoves ---- what about the liability?

 

 

Two cats in a pram

One of these cats doesn’t even live in this house --- but if the little kids can both get in here then why not ‘us’?

Created by LG on 7/11/2010

Last updated on Monday, November 08, 2010