Parksville council will meet with the Parksville Downtown Business Association (PBDA) sometime in 2022 to discuss topics such as traffic circulation and calming, road safety, development priorities and pedestrian and cycling opportunities.
“A workshop will assist us with renewing a vision direction for the downtown area and enable us to guide future development. We’re getting a lot of it right now and so I think it’s important to collaborate with the PDBA,” said Coun. Marilyn Wilson, who brought forward a notice of motion that council hold the workshop.
She added a workshop will be more interactive and freer than a committee of the whole meeting.
Coun. Adam Fras said he was concerned about delegating more work to city staff.
“We just wrapped up, through this meeting, taking a look at how much we put on the plates of staff. How are we all of a sudden just ignoring that and going right back to introducing new motions for brand new projects to move forward on?” he said.
The city’s chief administrative officer, Keeva Kehler, said a workshop would be a fair amount of work for staff.
Coun. Doug O’Brien said he is in favour of the workshop, but suggested a stripped-down version, to lessen the workload on staff. “We need an exchange of ideas,” he said.
Wilson’s motion passed with Fras opposed.
