Give credit to councillor Dave Baker and his zeal for wanting to improve the quality of life for people and businesses in the downtown core, but how well thought out is the Quilchena one-way plan and where is the public consultation we pay the big bucks for?

While the proposal to turn Quilchena Avenue into a one-way street with angled parking appears to have garnered a resounding 'no,' two things have surfaced from all the questions—anger over lack of consultation and the question of whether there will be any gain from changing the street.

The more I attend city council meetings, the more I get the feeling the mayor and city councillors aren’t really being completely debriefed on civic issues, nor do they always fully exhaust discussion and consideration on changes that cost money.

Yes, it is the job of council to maintain contact with residents on all matters, but the deliverance of the technical side of things lies with city administrators and the various committees associated with the city, like the City Centre Board, who came up with the one-way idea.

When was consultation carried out, other than some offhand discussions, on the proposed one-way street plan for Quilchena Avenue?

Sure, bringing in angled parking and a one-way ride down Quilchena Avenue could improve foot traffic, could make getting to and from businesses more efficient, and could ease up congestion on the road, but then again it might not.

Businesses say their customers do not want angled parking and do not want to have to drive around the block several times should they fail to find an empty stall.

Then there are the costs associated with the undertaking. Are residents willing to front the dough for a one-year “pilot project,” and then, if it shows no benefit over the old system, scrap it?

You would think with the huge amount of dollars being spent on assessments, marketing, and communication plans, city staff would be experts at consulting with the public.

It's easier to just contract something out—at the expense of the taxpayer—than to put the time and effort into scrutinizing it yourself.

Thankfully, when some of the public expressed their outrage over the lack of consultation over public funds being allocated towards the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour, Mayor Roline took it upon herself to open up dialogue.
Now it’s Baker’s turn. But he has already done his part it seems.

City administrators and the centre board may rush to say that they had a consultation plan in place, but should business owners be hearing such a proposal from their next door neighbour and saying ‘what?’ before they hear it form a city official?
Perhaps it’s not city council, but an out-of-date city centre board that needs a little reforming.

—John O'Connor