Jane Emerick
[email protected]
Some property owners in Squamish's downtown area are calling council's recent "reverse petition," concerning the Business Initiative Association (BIA), undemocratic, while the mayor is defending its fairness.
The BIA is an initiative to generate a levy of $1.25 per $1,000 of the assessed value of commercial properties. The funds would be used in part to hire staff and consultants, apply for government grants, programs and services, develop a promotional program and initiate beautification projects for the designated area, which is businesses along Loggers Lane, Cleveland Avenue and Second Avenue from Winnipeg to Westminster Street.
The property owners of businesses rejecting the levy and the BIA were asked to fill out a petition, available at Municipal Hall, and sign it prior to April 17. If the petition was not filled out, it was assumed by the district the property owner was in favour of the plan. However, because of holidays, the office was closed from April 14 to the 18, making the last day to actually pick up the petition April 13.
Despite this detail of the petition process, some business owners in 樱桃视频are saying the real reason the petition is unfair is because it didn't give property owners the chance to vote yes or no.
"The fact the office was closed the day the petition were due is a minor detail. What is really unfair is the way the petition was carried out. Negative option voting is not my idea of democracy," said Scott McQuade owner of the Ocean Port Hotel. "We were made to do the footwork while proponents of the BIA sit back and hope people don't read their mail."
McQuade said he believes the initiative would cost him $15,000 a year.
Peter Legere, who also owns property in the affected area, said he would have to pay the same $15,000 annually. He believes the petition to be "poorly organized."
"My big objection is, even if you accept the reverse petition [where you are assumed to be in favour of the BIA unless you file a no petition] there should have been a petition application included with the literature about the petition," he said. "I would be paying $15,000 a year for absolutely nothing."
However, Mayor Ian Sutherland said he not only believes the process was fair, he also believes the proposed initiative is something beneficial to the affected downtown area. He said the group of property owners opposing the BIA was spreading misinformation, although he didn't explain what this misinformation was.
"I just think it has been done the wrong way for the wrong motivations," said Sutherland. "There is a community of negative people downtown. They view the glass half empty rather than half full. Regardless of whether or not we were open on Monday there was plenty of time for people to lodge their application prior to the deadline. I think people would know the district office would be closed Monday. It has been closed for Easter for many years."
Sutherland said people have complained they want more business in the downtown area and now they are complaining at the cost of creating this.
"You can't have both," he said. "It is up to the people downtown to make their businesses more viable. They need to step to the plate and make it happen."
McQuade argued he is willing to step up to the plate, but would like to know where his money is going first."It is a lot of money especially when you don't know how the money will be spent." he said. "We are not opposed to putting in our fair share, but we would like to see a detailed plan in place before we are made to commit. And a plan has not been well communicated."
Both the mayor and Dan McRae of the 樱桃视频Sustainability Corp., said they believed the results of the no petition would be announced at the May 2 council meeting.
"We will be looking at information to make sure all of the petitions are certified and make a decision," said McRae.
