Candidates & Qualifiers

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going Beacon feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

JBNA & JB Community School Sponsored All-Candidates Forum

There was no November meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA).  Instead, a jointly sponsored All-Candidates Forum to introduce the candidates for the municipal election was held at the James Bay Community School on November 1^st.   About 100 residents and 40 candidates and supporters participated.   The first hour was a meet-&-greet opportunity for residents to meet and question candidates.  The second hour consisted of short "elect-me" statements made by each candidate for City Councillor.  The last hour consisted of a mayoralty candidate forum, with a question and answer period sandwiched by opening and closing statements.

Healthy Canada by Design

JBNA has been asked to participate in a Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA)-sponsored study which is linked to the Healthy Canada by Design initiative.   The project will highlight the community-based research approach to quality of life issues undertaken by JBNA over the past several years.  The study will be completed in January and the report will be posted on the JBNA web-site.

City Review of Vehicle-for-Hire Bylaw

The City is seeking input from the sightseeing vehicle industry on the current Vehicle-for-Hire Bylaw and on options to deal with various issues arising from the industry's activities.  The JBNA Board prepared a response to the request for input, highlighting the need for the City to consult with residents most directly affected by the tourism vehicles.   Shannon Craig, project analyst for the City, will be presenting the project at the December 14 JBNA meeting.

Fisherman's Wharf Re-Design

In addition to the workshop held at the JBNA general meeting on October 12^th, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has held workshops with residents who live near-by and with GVHA clients.   The JBNA Board has prepared and submitted a Principles document to GVHA for consideration in the next phase of the project.

Parks & Boulevards:

Beacon Hill Park 

Beacon Hill Park has undergone several upgrades and maintenance projects.  Old fuel tanks have been removed, the cricket pitch re-turfed, the trellis to the west of Goodacre Lake redone, and new walkways/lighting installed.  The proposed Beacon Hill Park Transportation Management Plan is under further review. 

Harbour Pathway - Belleville

Harbour Pathway work on the block of Belleville west of Oswego is nearing completion.

Environmental Issues: 

Air Quality - Ministry of Environment and VIHA:  The Ministry has arranged for analysis of the sulphur dioxide air monitoring data collected during the 2011 cruise ship season.  JBNA continues to request multiple monitoring sites.

GVHA-JBNA:  Working Groups

Noise Study:  GVHA awaits the report on noise monitoring carried out in September and October.  If the report arrives with sufficient lead-time, the results may be presented at the December JBNA meeting.

City Streets - Cruise Related Traffic Issues:  Analysis of the city traffic volume data gathered at several James Bay locations in August has been completed and will be presented at the JBNA meeting on December 14^th.   Work is progressing with the interpretation of the GVHA passenger disembarkment data gathered in August and may also be presented at the December meeting.

Join Us in December

The theme of the December 14th JBNA meeting will be traffic.  

- The meeting will begin with a redevelopment proposal for 549 Toronto where a 6-unit townhouse complex is proposed.

Following the proposal will be three presentations/discussions related to traffic in James Bay.  - First will be a joint GVHA-JBNA presentation of summer 2011 measures: Cruise-tourist choices, city traffic data and noise measures (if available). 

- Next will be a presentation by Shannon Craig, a City of Victoria Policy Analyst who is reviewing the Vehicles-for-Hire Bylaw which applies to tour buses, pedi-cabs, horse-drawn carriages, and other vehicles-for-hire. 

- Finally there will be a brief discussion on the "Noise Snare", an innovative approach to dealing with noisy vehicles including motorcycles.

The meeting will begin at 7 pm, at New Horizons.

Cookies and fruit will be served as part of our annual Christmas social.

Although the agenda for the JBNA meeting on January 11th, 2012, has not been finalized, the JBNA Board expects to present a preliminary analysis of the 2011 Cruise Season wind direction and wind speed, and their combined effect on emission measurements, with the theme that measurement is essential to management.  

The JBNA Board wishes each and everyone a Happy Holiday Season.