Billboards
The proposal to use billboards on public property throughout the
district as a means to raise revenue is an issue of importance
to our community. Our Official Community Plan states
as its Community Goal "An overwhelming number of residents
want the Plan to respect the dramatic natural setting and to guide all
future development in a manner that would strengthen the
District's image as a distinctive suburban community". The
Environmental Goal being "To develop an attractive community in
harmony with nature".
The following letters/articles/references
have been posted on this issue.
Municipal Tax Implications
It has been reported in the media that the funding of a
$9million twinning for the Dollarton bridge would result in a 18%
tax increase. This is wrong - unless one wishes to pay for
the project in 1 year and reduce the taxes by 18% the following year.
Normally, as with any major capital project the district would take
out a loan which it would repay over a period, let's say 20 years,
because this is the lease time for the proposed "billboard solution"
as well. The tax increase would then be less than 2% and result in a
one time tax increase to the average household of $24, or about the
price of a cup of coffee once per month.
What was agreed to in the 1999 Referendum?
The residents of the District voted to upgrade the Dollarton Bridge.
They were given the information that the then $6million cost would be
partially funded by the province and that this would provide
significant relief to the traffic congestion.
The truth
The upgrade would do little to solve the traffic congestion as
some 9 out of 10 motorists would still need to funnel into the
single lane leading to the Ironworkers Memorial (Second Narrows)
bridge. The cost is now put at $9million and despite the recent
2cents/litre increase in gasoline prices - meant to address
such bridge upgrades, both the province and translink have refused
to fund the project. One can't really blame them as they do not see
this as a traffic solution unless the bridgehead issue is addressed
as a whole.
The Economics
The District's properties are valued at about $10billion. The
use of billboards has the potential to lower those property values.
At even a 1% reduction this would mean a loss of $100million
out of the pockets of the residents. Is the economic risk of
putting up 30 billboards in our neighbourhoods worth
the spending of $9million on a project of questionable worth?
The Choices
PREAMBLE
If we go ahead with the Dollarton bridge upgrade it
would cost the residents $9million - some 3 times what
they expected to pay when they agreed to the referendum.
If the funding is subsidized by billboards it will mean a blight
on our neighbourhoods for at least 20 years - well beyond
the 3 year mandate of council. Future generations will be left
with the burden of their removal.
It is expected that Provincial legislative changes will restore the
annual $3million taxes that were normally paid by some of the
currently exempted port properties.
- The
billboard company could raise the $9million in return
for some 30 billboards placed on our streets - mostly in
residential areas - for a period of 20years.
- We could pay about $24/year more in property taxes - roughly
what TRANSLINK has recently imposed as well.
- We could defer the upgrade to the
bridge, which is of questionable value anyway, to some future time.
Recommendation
FONVCA recommends that district residents attend the public
meeting set for 7pm Thursday April 18/2002 - at District Hall -
355 West Queens Rd and express your opinion.
Letters
Ernie_Crist_26mar2002e.pdf
Ernie_Crist_26mar2002c.pdf
Ernie_Crist_25mar2002.pdf
Ernie_Crist_23mar2002f.pdf
Dave_Sadler_24mar2002.pdf
Dave_Sadler_22mar2002e.pdf
Ernie_Crist_22mar2002b.pdf
Ernie_Crist_22mar2002f.pdf
Eric_Andersen_18mar2002.pdf
Bill_Tracey_17mar2002b.pdf
Dave_Sadler_13mar2002c.pdf
Dave_Sadler_11mar2002d.pdf
Corrie_Kost_9mar2002.pdf
Dave_Sadler_2apr2002.pdf
John_Hunter_2apr2002.pdf
Ernie_Crist_2apr2002f.pdf
Dave_Sadler_3apr2002.pdf
Dave_Sadler_18apr2002.pdf
Angela_Trudeau_18apr2002.pdf
Elizabeth_James_19apr2002.pdf
Dave_Sadler_19apr2002.pdf
John_Hunter_19apr2002.pdf with PowerPoint Presentation
John_Hunter_22apr2002.pdf
John_Hunter_24apr2002.pdf
Brian_Platts_24apr2002.pdf
Laurie_Johnston_2may2002.pdf
References
Vancouver 1995 staff report opens many issues
Amusing and thoughtfull 1960 article!
In Praise of
Billboards?!
Court of Appeal for Ontario -June/2002 declaring total prohibition
on billboards infringes on Charter Rights.
List updated to July 18/2002
