The upcoming municipal election could be both a blessing and a curse as Esquimalt attempts to engage residents on how to best spend the $17 million it will receive for hosting a new sewage treatment plant, says Mayor Barb Desjardins.
“It’s in an election year so there’s an opportunity for a lot more engagement with it,” Desjardins said. “But there’s also an opportunity for it to get lost in that process, so we need to be really aware of the dynamics of elections and the time frames.”
Esquimalt council this week reviewed a draft consultation plan prepared by consultants Whistler Centre for Sustainability.
The engagement would run from February through October with online questionnaires, public events, idea boards at key community locations, stakeholder and working group meetings and possibly even a “speaker’s corner” video booth.
Desjardins also noted that much of the public consultation will take place over the summer months — a time when councils typically slow down and people turn their attention elsewhere.
“What this plan is saying is that we need to stay ramped up through the summer,” she said.
“It’s going to add a lot of dialogue to the door-knocking, which is hopefully going to translate to more engagement and also more interest in the election process, which is always good.”
Municipal elections take place Oct. 20.
Esquimalt has established three reserve funds for the $17 million: $7 million to improve waterfront parks, $5 million to improve recreation facilities and public spaces, and $5 million for emergency services and public safety facilities.
As part of the agreement with the Capital Regional District, the funds must be allocated and projects moving forward within five years.
The public has to be made aware of restrictions on the funding and the tight timelines, Desjardins said.
“There is still so much confusion about what that money could be spent on and what it can’t be spent on that we have to really ensure that there’s a good education process all the way through the process,” she said.
The plan is also to make extensive use of social media “to help create an online buzz” about the opportunity for the community to participate in the decision-making.
The consultants listed participation rates of two and three per cent in similar consultation processes, but several Esquimalt councillors said they expect much higher participation.
