ROSZAN HOLMEN ON JOHNSON STREET BRIDGE DEMO: Victoria City Council ‘wants to expedite process by taking out a loan for entire amount’ of $63,000,000

CITY COUNCIL FORGES AHEAD WITH JOHNSON STREET BRIDGE PLANS

Public can veto municipal loans

 

While a small group of heritage advocates still want to save the Johnson Street Bridge, Victoria City Council is taking the next steps to build a new structure.

Council is counting on getting a large federal grant to help pay for the estimated $63-million project.

In the meantime, however, it wants to expediate the process by taking out a loan for the entire amount.

But first it must give the public the chance to object.

Through a process called a counter-petition, the public can veto the decision to borrow by gathering enough opposition through petitions.

While community input is important, Mayor Dean Fortin said time is running out.

“We don’t have months for public consultation, we have months to build a bridge,” said Fortin.

The City has hired Stantec to secure the necessary permits to start the work, including an archeological review with results due in two weeks.

By the end of the month, the City plans to select an engineering firm to design the bridge.

It also plans to launch a website to encourage public input into design discussions.

Through other channels, these online discussions have already been raging for months.  A discussion thread about the bridge on VibrantVictoria.ca compiles more than 600 postings.

Other online groups, such as two Facebook interest groups, argue against demolishing the historic bridge.  A website with a similar theme popped up last month at www.victoriabluebridge.com.

But Fortin said it’s too late to retract Council’s commitment to replace the aging structure, a vote that took place in April. 

The decision has widespread support from the community, neighbouring municipalities and local MLAs and MPs, he added.

“We’re ready,” he said, adding he’s determined to “get into the water as soon as the (funding) announcement is made.”

To comply with regulations set out by the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans, the bridge must be built between November and mid February.

 

[CCC reprint:  Roszan Holmen,  rholmen@saanichnews.com,

Victoria News, July 15, 2009, page A3] 

 

CCC