Some questions that I’ve been asked so far this election…
What are your feelings about the updated OCP community plan?
I feel that the commissioning of the current OCP was a complete waste of taxpayer money. Thus, creating part of the unprecedented property tax increases in White Rock over the past four years.
The previous OCP was initiated in 2015 and implemented in 2017. During the process, there were numerous open houses, workshops, and public meetings that were held to achieve the highest level of community engagement. It is what the public wanted, and the results of that plan were to provide a framework to the year 2045.
Now that the “updated” OCP is in place, it should be followed and adhered to.
Specifically relating to building heights and density, what do you think?
Increased building heights and densities should be restricted to the Town Centre. As with the previous OCP, a graduated lowering of heights and densities should take effect South of the Town Center, toward the water, as well as East and West of it, along North Bluff Road.
What kinds of changes and enhancements would you like to see in the waterfront area?
Memorial Park has turned out to be such a huge success compared to the parking lot that was previously in place. Locals and visitors alike have taken in the outdoor concerts, dance classes, picnic tables, and water festivities since it has been completed. I am proud to have been on the Council that conceived and approved the building of it.
The only change that I’d like to see on the waterfront area is to take steps to decrease the number of empty commercial spaces on the strip. Unfortunately, White Rock is under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Community Charter which does not allow for local governments to impose financial penalties to property owners who have vacant commercial spaces. Vancouver, on the other hand, has their own Charter which allows for them to impose fines and penalties.
I would use the weight of White Rock Council, in association with other municipalities, to push for changes to the Community Charter to allow for vacant property/business penalties to be imposed on the numerous absentee landlords who own vacant property on the waterfront.
How do you feel about current city services? What would you like to see changed?
Current city services are working fine, except for the garbage and recycling pickup for multi-family units and commercial properties in the city. If only one or two contractors were put in place to handle that task, then things would be more streamlined and efficient for those residents and businesses.
With the changes to the garbage and recycling protocols from about eight years ago, the incremental cost for the City to have that in-house capability would be costly for residents. Thus, the decision to farm it out to professional waste management contractors was made back then. However, a change to one or two contractors could be done with no increase in property taxes.
What would you like to see done about our traffic, roads, parking, sidewalks, and curbs?
The upgrading of the City infrastructure was started about eight to ten years ago. From my knowledge it is ongoing, with the focus on replacing aging water distribution pipes, upgrading sidewalks and curbs, and roadways.
Would you like to see changes to our policing to decrease local crime? What kinds of changes?
I would definitely like to see changes in our policing within White Rock. I was a board member for the Semiahmoo Community Policing Society who put on the annual Red Serge fundraiser to raise funds for community policing, safety programs, and now provide scholarships for graduating high school students. There has been a marked increase in break and enters in the White Rock and South Surrey area. When you couple that with increased incidents of violent crimes in South Surrey, there needs to be more “boots on the streets” for a more effective crime deterrent and increased community engagement of our local RCMP force.
I’d be open to having a coffee with anyone who would like to chat… just give me a call – 604-880-7670
Bill Lawrence