The City of Victoria has offered to pay for mediation to bring peace to the Fairfield-Gonzales neighbourhood and bridge the gap between two neighbourhood associations.
Council's committee of the whole last week moved that the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association and the Gonzales Neighbourhood Association consider mediation to build goodwill and reduce acrimony, and explore opportunities for recognizing the Gonzales Neighbourhood Association in municipal processes.
The idea has support in at least one camp.
“I think it’s a great way to start relationship-building between us and the [Gonzales Neighbourhood Association],” said Don Monsour, president of the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association. “Going to arbitration, we might be able to find a win-win for everyone.”
Monsour said the schism between the two groups started when the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association, which has represented the area in land-use decisions since 1975, refused to overstep its mandate and advocate on behalf of some Gonzales land-use issues.
Monsour said they weren’t allowed to at one point because of Canada Revenue Agency rules and then because of the City of Victoria’s community association land use committee charter.
“That started a conflict between us. And a couple of people then formed the GNA,” he said. “Since that day, there have never been good vibes between the two organizations.”
The problem has likely been exacerbated as only the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association is recognized by the city as an official neighbourhood organization. That could change, starting with the proposed mediation process, which is also supposed to find a way of “honouring the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association’s longstanding role in the two neighbourhoods.”
Susanne Rautio, president of the Gonzales Neighbourhood Association, said it welcomed the opportunity to engage in the mediation process and appreciates the city’s and council’s support.
However, she said it would be “inappropriate to discuss the situation at this time given that we are about to enter mediation.”
Monsour said because the city is willing to pay for the process there won’t be a perceived bias based on who pays the bill. The hope is city staff will be able to report back to council by the end of the first quarter of next year on the progress of mediation.
Monsour said only time will tell if the Gonzales Neighbourhood Association is recognized as an official group, but the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association has always represented Gonzales well.
He noted that he is a resident of the Gonzales neighbourhood as are two other members of the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association’s executive.
