False Bay parking lot

On May 1 I sent this to PRRD facilities manager Mike Wall and our director Merrick, in the hope that they would not spend even more money on the parking lot without consulting with us.  On May 30 I got the reply below. I'm still a little hopeful, and it would help if others also asked Merrick and Mike to consult with us before they

Hello Merrick and MIke,

I am very belatedly responding to Mike's email in answer to some questions from David Ham in February that David posted to the Lasqueti email list on February 20.  In it, Mike said that there would be, and presumably there now is, money allocated to improve drainage, erect signage, markings and delineators, and remove derelict vehicles from the new parking lot by the Lasqueti Arts Centre.

Let me first say that I find it very strange that the parking lot is attached to and funded through the Community Recreation Service. I can understand not wanting to start a whole new service here, but it might be better to attach it to the waste management, or even the multi-purpose ramp budget.

It is my experience and belief that any money spent on signage will be wasted, unless there is consultation with community members about how the parking lot should be used, and everyone has had a chance to express their views, and to hear other people's views. If some sort of plan or system is imposed on the community, it is almost certain to be ignored or subverted.  I believe that this is why we have had such a series of problems with the parking lot, and such ill feeling towards it. We were not asked if we wanted it. We weren't asked if we had any views about how it should or should not be used. We were not informed or consulted; it was unexpectedly imposed on us.

My strong suggestion is that director Anderson, or Mike ask people to submit their views and suggestions, and that all of these be publicly shared, so that we can see what level of agreement there is about what might be the best way to operate the parking lot. This could be in writing, or at a public meeting, or both.

We did this sort of community consultation when the "Please limit your stay to three days" signs were erected for parking spaces on the hill. For the most part, ithas worked well.

The signs more recently erected, with no consultation or notice, "Parallel Parking Only" have been totally ignored. They were a waste of time and energy (and presumably some money to paint them).

I urge you to spend some time and energy consulting with the community. It will help make the parking lot operation better, as it elicits involvement and cooperation, and consideration for others. It will also improve our view of how our local services are operated, and our opinion of how PRRD works with us.

If you don't want to do this consultation yourself, you could ask some Lasqueti body to do it. Some possibilities are the Lasqueti Community Association, or the Lasqueti Local Trust Committee could ask its Advisory Planning Commission to do it (though this would take time to get started).

Thank you very much for your consideration.  If you have any questions or response, please email me, or telephone.

Peter Johnston
Lasqueti
250-333-8785

PS - it is very likely I'll post this email, or something very like it, to the Lasqueti email list in the next week or two.

Hi Peter

Thank you for your information, which will be taken into consideration once we have time to initiate some of these operational tasks

Mike Wall, RFT Manager of Asset Management and Strategic Initiatives

Powell River Regional District

#202 – 4675 Marine Avenue

Powell River, BC  V8A 2L2

T604.485.2260

C. 604.414.8922

F. 604.485.2216

www.powellriverrd.bc.ca

Save a tree. Do not print this e-mail unless it is really necessary.   

The information herein is confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or entity to whom it is addressed. Any review, re-transmission, dissemination, taking of any action in reliance upon, or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you believe this message was not intended for you, please notify the sender and delete or destroy all digital and printed copies. -----Original Message----- From: Mike Wall Sent: May-23-18 4:50 PM To: Mike Wall Subject: FW: Lasqueti parking lot Mike Wall, RFT Manager of Asset Management and Strategic Initiatives Powell River Regional District #202 – 4675 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC  V8A 2L2 T. 604.485.2260 C. 604.414.8922 F. 604.485.2216 www.powellriverrd.bc.ca Save a tree. Do not print this e-mail unless it is really necessary.    The information herein is confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or entity to whom it is addressed. Any review, re-transmission, dissemination, taking of any action in reliance upon, or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you believe this message was not intended for you, please notify the sender and delete or destroy all digital and printed copies.