Ellen Woodsworth

A couple of motions that Ellen has recently put forth to Council have been carried.

On June 8, 2010 her motion to make City Hall Available to Harmonized Sales Tax Canvassers was seconded by Councillor Deal and was carried with only one opposition vote. Read the motion.

On June 24, 2010 Ellen’s motion on the Local Elections Task Force Follow-Up was also carried, with an amendment. To download a PDF of  the full motion, click here.

Dear Friends,

You are cordially invited to the Annual COPE Solstice BBQ to be held this year on June 21st, 2010. As with past events, we will enjoy the sights and sounds of the Vancouver Rowing Club. There will be entertainment, a silent auction and a cash bar to accompany a superb BBQ meal.

The evening will be emceed by Charles Demers and our keynote is Councillor Jaimie McEvoy, whose efforts led to the passing of Canada’s first Living Wage policy in New Westminster.

For the entertainment portion of the evenining we are pleased to present Sudanda, a band who put a modern twist on traditional Sudanese music, and Backspin, a funky folk outfit. There will also be a Bhangra performance from the Shan-E Punjab Arts Club.

We hope that you continue to support our work at city hall, on parks board and school board.

Tickets are $60 for individuals and $600 for a table of 10. These can both be reserved by contacting Aaron Eddie, COPE’s Administrator at aaron@cope.bc.ca or 604-813-7627. Tell him Ellen told you to call.

I look forward to seeing you on June 21st! Doors at 6:30pm and dinner at 7pm.

Ellen Woodsworth

At next week’s Regular Council meeting on June 8, 2010, Ellen will be putting forth a motion on a feasibility of creating an Office of Public Consultation.

For more information on this and other Council meetings, go to vancouver.ca

MOTION
Office of Public Consultation

MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth

WHEREAS:
1. Vancouver City Council wants to encourage citizens to participate more actively in civic life, as well as in the development and management of municipal affairs;

2. Council unanimously passed a resolution on 28 July 2009 that noted “the City of Vancouver is committed to bringing the community into City Hall by engaging citizens, and soliciting their ideas, input and creative energy”;

3. City Council should more formally recognize the power of citizens to influence the decisions of City Hall;

4. The City of Vancouver’s public consultation processes are managed by a variety of city departments, agencies and boards;

5. These consultation processes are often delivered using different goals, budget levels, tools and methodologies;

6. The efficacy of some of these consultation processes have been put into question by several residents’ groups in recent years (for example, in the West End and by groups concerned about the budget consultation); and

7. Both COPE and Vision Vancouver candidates and parties said they strongly supported establishing an independent office of public consultation when surveyed by the Think City Society in the fall of 2008.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

THAT staff report back on the feasibility of the creation of an independent office of public consultation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

THAT the staff report will include:

(a) the potential savings or cost of the office (and the possibility of consolidating public consultation and engagement in one department to create a cost-neutral office);

(b) examination of how other cities handle public consultation processes that involve multiple departments, agencies and boards; and

(c) examination of how other cities handle public consultation processes to ensure that processes are transparent, credible and effective.

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At next week’s regular council meeting on Tuesday June 8, Ellen will be putting forth a motion for Council to allow ”Fight HST” canvassers access to City Hall  for petition signing. For more information on Council meetings and agendas, go to http://vancouver.ca

Making City Hall Available to Harmonized Sales Tax Canvassers

MOVED by  Councillor Woodsworth

WHEREAS:

1.       The City of Vancouver is on record as opposing the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) due its effect on the City and Park Board budget, residents and businesses of Vancouver;

 2.      The City of Vancouver has an interest in citizen engagement in the political process;

 3.      The “Fight HST” campaign is coordinating the petition “An Initiative to End the Harmonized Sales Tax”,  authorized by Elections BC;

 4.      The City of Coquitlam has opened up its City Hall to make the petition available.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The City of Vancouver allow the “Fight HST” campaign access to City Hall in regular operating hours and in a location to be determined by staff for Vancouver residents to be able to sign the “An Initiative to End the Harmonized Sales Tax” petition.

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