MORE than 170 North Vancouverites crammed the Brooksbank elementary gymnasium to see 22 candidates debate affordable housing, secondary suites, and the Harry Jerome Centre Tuesday night.
The Grand Boulevard Ridgeway Residents Association hosted the all-candidates meeting, which featured four mayoralty hopefuls as well as 18 other candidates vying for the six slots on City of North Vancouver council.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto cited the accomplishments of the previous council including Chesterfield House, an apartment building for adults with mental health issues.
"We've got a lot to be proud of," he said. Councillors quickly assailed the mayor over the duplex development at Bewicke Avenue near Marine Drive.
"I think it's an appropriate place to have duplexes," Mussatto said, adding he was proud of the development.
"That's the sort of development that needs to be defeated," Coun. Pam Bookham retorted.
Council's duty is to close loopholes that have allowed for mushrooming development, according to Bookham.
Coun. Bob Fearnely echoed Bookham's criticism of the Bewicke development.
"That development is really unfortunate, and I'm not proud of it at all," he said. "It's wrong, just plain wrong."
Council candidate Cheryl Leia emerged as a proponent of renters in illegal suites. "I would actually encourage suites to be legalized," she said.
Council hopeful Bill Duncan opposed Leia. "Secondary suites do not provide a quality of living space," he said, adding he would not support their legalization.
Mussatto sounded a note of caution in terms of enforcing secondary suite bylaws. "It's easy to say, 'Kick them out,' but where do they go?" he asked.
Mayoralty hopeful Chris Nichols was the first candidate to take aim at the Harry Jerome recreation centre, a frequent topic of the evening. "Replacement is basically now, not five years from now," Nichols said.
Mayoralty candidate Ron Polly stressed the importance of maintaining control of city-owned land. "I stand for retaining city land, I do not believe in selling them off," he said.
Polly said he wanted more local manufacturing for both economic and environmental reasons. "When something's manufactured locally, you end up with very little in the landfill," he said.
George Pringle was the only mayoralty candidate to support the idea of amalgamation with the District of North Vancouver. Pringle trumpeted the savings associated with fewer top-level staff, one city planner for the entire area, and fewer councillors.
Pringle used his opening remarks to sound a note of concern regarding the possibility of two 18-storey towers and one 12-storey tower being built on the Safeway site. "I think new people and new cars increases greenhouse gases," he said.
Coun. Rod Clark reiterated Pringle's call for caution regarding the Safeway site. "That will allow the density genie out of the bottle," Clark said of the possible development.
Clark called for a future of low-growth in accordance with the official community plan, a document he said was under attack.
Former District of North Vancouver mayor Don Bell hailed the waterfront as an ideal location for a museum and an art gallery during the debate's question period.
Bell and Linda Buchanan also discussed the need for North Vancouver to offer affordable housing for young and old.
"I think what we really need to wrestle with . . . is a variety of housing options," Buchanan said. Buchanan, a school trustee, also said the problem of too few daycares might be solved by placing daycares in schools.
Discussing the calls for a new art gallery, museum and recreation centre, Coun. Craig Keating said it was unlikely all those projects could be completed without increasing density. "My vision for the next 10 years is pretty much like the last 10 years," Keating said, calling for modest growth in the city.
Keating said he plans to run for the New Democratic Party in the next federal election. "If elected . . . I would humbly resign my seat."
Council candidate Amanda Nichol spoke about her frustrations dealing with council over the Low Level Road improvement project. "I didn't feel the consultation processes were meaningful," she said, discussing the need for increased transparency in council.
Council candidate Juliana Buitenhuis, a counsellor with North Shore Crisis Services Society, discussed North Vancouver's dilapidated recreation centre. "Harry Jerome is past its expiration date," she said.
Buitenhuis suggested value-added projects with developers might be the way to fund community facilities, such as an outdoor swimming pool.
Joe Heilman, another council candidate who called for shovels in the ground at Harry Jerome, said North Vancouver commuters needed to change their mentality. "We need to get out of our cars, we need to get walking, we need to get biking," he said.
Coun. Guy Heywood called for public spaces to be rebuilt and a wider variety of living accommodations. "We need to encourage diverse, affordable housing," he said.
Former federal NDP candidate Michael Charrois spoke about the arts in his opening statement. "I'd like you to consider, along with fire and police, investment in the arts," he said, noting its benefits as an investment.
Charrois said he supported increased density only on Lonsdale Avenue and Marine Drive.
Bill Duncan said it was council's duty to oversee the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant is completed as early as possible.
Elizabeth Fodor said she would oppose large developments if she was on council. "I am not, and I will never be a proponent of 20-storey high rises," she said.
Carson Polly described his vision of the future of North Vancouver as "youth friendly and young family friendly" with an entertainment district. One of council's jobs is to protect small business and light industry, which Polly said were disappearing from the North Shore.
Ron Sostad said council needed a reformer who will advocate for street people and the mentally ill.
"North Vancouver . . . needs politicians who will fight for social reforms," Sostad said.
Council candidate Yashar Khalighi said bike lanes could be a solution to traffic congestion. "As the population is increasing we're going to have the flow of single-occupied vehicles coming into our town," he said.
Khalighi said the city should offer incentives to companies to bring more business to North Vancouver.
NORTH VANCOUVER CITY MAYORALTY CANDIDATES
NAME
Darrell Mussatto*
Chris J. Nichols
Ron Polly
George Pringle
AGE
Darrell Mussatto*
51
Chris J. Nichols
42
Ron Polly
53
George Pringle
52
OCCUPATION?
Darrell Mussatto*
Mayor, ambulance paramedic
Chris J. Nichols
Owner drafting service company
Ron Polly
Self employed
George Pringle
Apartment manager
LIST ANY POLITICAL PARTY MEMBERSHIP(S):
Darrell Mussatto*
No answer provided
Chris J. Nichols
No affi liation
Ron Polly
None, I always vote for the person not the party.
George Pringle
B.C. Liberal Party, Conservative Party of Canada
HAVE YOU RECEIVED CUPE SPONSORSHIP?
Darrell Mussatto*
Yes
Chris J. Nichols
No
Ron Polly
No
George Pringle
No
ARE YOU SOLICITING CUPE SPONSORSHIP?
Darrell Mussatto*
Yes
Chris J. Nichols
No
Ron Polly
No
George Pringle
No
DO YOU LIVE IN THE CITY? FOR HOW LONG?
Darrell Mussatto*
50 years
Chris J. Nichols
Three+ years
Ron Polly
30 years
George Pringle
Seven years
INCUMBENT: YEARS ON COUNCIL?
Darrell Mussatto*
18 years
NON-INCUMBENTS: LIST MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE AND/OR RATEPAYER ASSOCIATION EXPERIENCE.
Chris J. Nichols
Involved with building department as a user past seven years.
Ron Polly
Coach house committee work group; launched and served on the Hamilton-Fell community group.
George Pringle
Task force on civic engagement; Lonsdale Community Association member.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITY CHANGES IF ELECTED?
Darrell Mussatto*
Increase the number of affordable housing units, improvements to public transportation, completion of the Spirit Trail, renew Harry Jerome, reduce our carbon footprint.
Chris J. Nichols
Revitalize/reorganize: administrative efficiency; Lonsdale corridor; water/waste treatment; transportation; urban gardens; school funding; seniors/ rental issues; essential service. City is service business: client = citizen.
Ron Polly
Refuse one-on-one meetings with developers. Refuse political contributions, gifts or perks from developers. Stop double dipping and eradicate $9,500/year mayoral car allowance.
George Pringle
Strengthening renter rights by a rental ombudsperson; owner rights by adhering to the citizens' Official Community Plan. A three year freeze on the tax rate.
IS THE CITY MANAGING GROWTH APPROPRIATELY?
Darrell Mussatto*
Population growth should be accommodated in the Lonsdale Regional Town Centre which will help address both the costs for, and the supply of, housing units.
Continued focusing of the growth along the public transportation corridors and in areas close to retail businesses and public amenities.
Chris J. Nichols
There is always room for improvement. Stagnation and reluctance to change is the problem.
You cannot purposely grow a city if the people do not embrace growth. Growth is inevitable and the OCP as a tool needs to evolve faster and be more adaptable carry us into the future.
Ron Polly
Not presently.
Discourage drastic changes to OCP. If put forward, require that they go through a far more rigorous and transparent process. All amenities needed for future growth should be in place or at least in the works prior so we are not trying to catch up all the time.
George Pringle
No. Our city and developers are addicted to growth to feed an ever-increasing budget. The Safeway site could be a pedestrian shopping area with two six-storey residences where the density fi ts into the OCP.
But some complain about not making an instant large profi t and the city listens.
SHOULD THE CITY AMALGAMATE WITH THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER?
Darrell Mussatto*
No
Chris J. Nichols
If the North Shore has a referendum and a 75% majority vote yes, then the process will have spoken the people's voice will be heard.
Ron Polly
No to amalgamation at this time, move forward on far more co-operation and communication between the two. Work at seeing what services could be shared.
George Pringle
It is the only way to achieve long-term savings. We must act before the province decides to amalgamate all of Metro Vancouver, Toronto style.
WHAT IS THE WORST DECISION MADE BY THE PRESENT COUNCIL AND WHY?
Darrell Mussatto*
Not working well enough with the affected residents along East Keith road to make their section of the green necklace a reality.
Chris J. Nichols
Jobs, transportation, schools, and essential services should be the focus not bike lanes, and going green. Serve the needs fi rst leave personal agendas at home.
Ron Polly
Spending far to much resources on drastic changes to the OCP and not putting those resources to Harry Jerome Centre, Maritime Museum site, transit yard.
George Pringle
Council makes that "worst decision" often, approving the conversion (destruction) of a single family home (RS-1) to a much larger unit or group of units.
YOUR WEBSITE?
Darrell Mussatto*
www.DarrellMussatto.ca
Chris J. Nichols
knolt.com/kitnichols formayor2011cnv
Ron Polly
www.ronpolly4northvan. ca
George Pringle
www.pringle4mayor.ca
ALL CANDIDATES' MEETINGS
An All-candidates' Meeting for the City of North Vancouver will be hosted by the North Vancouver Civic Association of Iranian Canadians Saturday, Nov. 12, 3-5 p.m. at Silver Harbour Centre, 144 East 22nd St. Info: Paria Saremi, www.civicactivist. com, [email protected], [email protected] or 6049618371.
An All-candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the EcoUrbia Network, North Shore Table Matters Network and the Edible Garden Project Saturday, Nov. 12, 2-3: 30 p.m. at Lynn Valley library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd. The topic will be future directions for urban agriculture and sustainable food systems. Info: www.ecourbia.org or dwhitehead@ northvanpac.org.
A Mayor and Councillors Candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the Seymour Community Association, Blueridge Community Association, Parkgate Community Services Association and Mount Seymour United Church Monday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Ave. Info: Lorraine Harvey, 6049297957 or Eric Andersen, 604-929-6849.
