Post by CRCP on Feb 12, 2005 16:45:19 GMT -5
On Feb. 7, 2005 city council approved the 2004 City of Kelowna Strategic Plan. CRCP wishes to acknowledge Councillor Sharon Shepherd as the only member of council who did a good job in raising issues that CRCP considers important. An honourable mention goes to Councillors Robert Hobson who suggested reinserting the word "beautiful" in describing Kelowna's natural setting (a CRCP suggestion although we weren't acknowledged by him) and Councillor Ron Cannan who wanted greater emphasis placed on the importance of providing more affordable housing as well as better defined action statements altogether. Councillor Hobson also wanted a citizen committee to advise council on the progress of implementing the Strategic Plan, but that idea was unfortunately not adopted in the final review. So we are still stuck with politicians judging themselves on their performance.
But the star of the show was Sharon Shepherd who suggested that the word "sustainable" be used instead of "expanding" in a goal statement about the local economy, and who asked why there was nothing in the plan addressing itself to the limitations of growth in particular with regard to water resources which led to a interesting response from Acting Manager of Strategic Planning Gary Stevens. CRCP has maintained all along that planners in designing plans are not motivated by professionalism but rather by a desire to tell politicians what they want to hear, but I never thought I would see the day when they would publicly admit that. Mr. Stevens said the reason there were no action statements in the Strategic Plan dealing with limiting growth but only statements on how to guide and locate that growth was because "at this point in time [that has been] the position that council and the regional board has [taken] to date." Well, Gary, that's very honest of you to admit, but you may as well throw your planning degree out the window because if all your training and expertise has taught you is how to please your political masters, I don't think that degree is worth very much.
But the star of the show was Sharon Shepherd who suggested that the word "sustainable" be used instead of "expanding" in a goal statement about the local economy, and who asked why there was nothing in the plan addressing itself to the limitations of growth in particular with regard to water resources which led to a interesting response from Acting Manager of Strategic Planning Gary Stevens. CRCP has maintained all along that planners in designing plans are not motivated by professionalism but rather by a desire to tell politicians what they want to hear, but I never thought I would see the day when they would publicly admit that. Mr. Stevens said the reason there were no action statements in the Strategic Plan dealing with limiting growth but only statements on how to guide and locate that growth was because "at this point in time [that has been] the position that council and the regional board has [taken] to date." Well, Gary, that's very honest of you to admit, but you may as well throw your planning degree out the window because if all your training and expertise has taught you is how to please your political masters, I don't think that degree is worth very much.