CiviX Vision Platform
CiviX | WestVan | for YouMeWe
Civix West Vancouver Vision Platform Summary
Click on links (p10, p50 etc) to add your comments and / or see Civix blog comments by other Civix Members and surveys on the specific platform item. Or click on the logo next to each statement. This way the platform grows or becomes more focused and accepted by the community. Note that p10 is the first draft. p11 would be the second draft of platform 1 and so on.
YouMeWe have different views on what is “best” for WestVan. That is the core of a democracy. Ultimately, however, YouMeWe must negotiate and compromise our values and collectively agree on an election platform.
The below platform is the start to building a community agreement. Most of these elements were surveyed and supported by a large number of WestVan residents.
p10 Conserve our livable seaside village – enhanced by beautiful parks and green spaces, plentiful recreational opportunities, well-maintained community facilities and prosperous local shops. Support our local shops and services.
p20 Preserve our quality of life – WestVan families must feel and be physically and emotionally safe in our homes, schools, and community facilities, and on our streets.
p30 Implement Semi-Direct Democracy - WestVan Council must listen attentively and act consistently on the wishes of the majority, holding eVotes or referendums like votes on all significant decisions, and accepting the voters’ guidance. If we do not change the decision-making process, we will just get more of the same.
p40 Stop excessive population growth – High-density development adds traffic, congesting our streets and straining our infrastructure. There is no room in WestVan to add roads, and public transit is impractical for 70% of residents, so population growth should be limited to the historical 0.25% per year, or less.
p50 Manage finances responsibly – Taxpayer money should be respected – spent carefully and thoughtfully. Council should focus on maintaining core services and capital assets, limiting property and utility tax increases to the rate of inflation, and accepting that services may have to be reduced or eliminated.
p60 Enforce compliance with our Official Community Plan, local area plans and current zoning – WestVan residents must have significant input into neighbourhood character and local area plans – and council should act in good faith, holding referendums on significant exceptions and accepting community guidance.
p70 Respect our local and global environment – including clean streams and oceans, and vibrant green space. All development must be environmentally sustainable, counting not just its future operational efficiency, but also the immediate effect of embodied carbon (the 40+% carbon load committed during construction), as well as the development-driven burden on transportation and service infrastructure.
p80 Maintain our own homes and community – No amount of expensive and destabilizing municipal intervention will create “affordable” housing in WestVan. Housing is a regional issue and a provincial and federal responsibility; a responsible WestVan council should serve and protect existing residents, not subsidize an ever-expanding population.
p90 WestVan first – WestVan residents should have priority in all facilities and resources, including schools, recreation programs, parks and parking.
Below is the identical Civix platform as above, but in a different format
p10 Conserve our livable seaside village – enhanced by beautiful parks and green spaces, plentiful recreational opportunities, well-maintained community facilities and prosperous local shops. Support our local shops and services.
p20 Preserve our quality of life – WestVan families must feel and be physically and emotionally safe in our homes, schools, and community facilities, and on our streets.
p30 Implement Semi-Direct Democracy – WestVan Council must listen attentively and act consistently on the wishes of the majority, holding referendums or eVoting on all significant decisions, and accepting the voters’ guidance. If we do not change the decision-making process, we will just get more of the same.
p40 Stop excessive population growth – High-density development adds traffic, congesting our streets and straining our infrastructure. There is no room in WestVan to add roads, and public transit is impractical for 70% of residents, so population growth should be limited to the historical 0.25% per year, or less.
p50 Manage finances responsibly – Taxpayer money should be respected – spent carefully and thoughtfully. Council should focus on maintaining core services and capital assets, limiting property and utility tax increases to the rate of inflation, and accepting that services may have to be reduced or eliminated.
p60 Enforce compliance with our Official Community Plan, local area plans and current zoning – WestVan residents must have significant input into neighbourhood character and local area plans – and council should act in good faith, holding referendums on significant exceptions and accepting community guidance.
p70 Respect our local and global environment – including clean streams and oceans, and vibrant green space. All development must be environmentally sustainable, counting not just its future operational efficiency, but also the immediate effect of embodied carbon (the 40+% carbon load committed during construction), as well as the development-driven burden on transportation and service infrastructure.
p80 Maintain our own homes and community – No amount of expensive and destabilizing municipal intervention will create “affordable” housing in WestVan. Housing is a regional issue and a provincial and federal responsibility; a responsible WestVan council should serve and protect existing residents, not subsidize an ever-expanding population.
p90 WestVan first – WestVan residents should have priority in all facilities and resources, including schools, recreation programs, parks and parking.