City council candidates share their four-year visions for Revelstoke

The Revelstoke Mountaineer’s question and answer series with city council candidates covers a wide-variety of issues that are likely to be central to the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 20, 2018. The series features verbatim answers written by the candidates themselves.

 The questions were created by the Mountaineer’s civic affairs reporter Melissa Jameson and former Revelstoke Review editor Alex Cooper.

In this final edition of the Mountaineer’s question and answer series with city council candidates we asked council candidates to consider the following questions:

1. Over the past weeks, we’ve asked candidates about a number of important issues. Are there any other issues you see being raised?

2. If elected, what do you hope your legacy to be as a city councillor?

The following are the responses from the candidates who got back to us prior to our publication deadline.

Cody Younker (candidate for council)

1. Yes, I think the lack of an updated OCP needs to be addressed right away. We also need to get creative and start thinking outside the box in our search for a permanent building inspector. It’s costing us far too much by outsourcing the inspections. We need to look at different ideas, such as increasing the yearly salary and or housing incentives like many northern communities do when searching for unique skilled positions. Another issue I have is with the DP/ BP permit process, we need to get this process streamlined and make it a lot more user friendly. I have heard from numerous people across the building community, and many people are going through financial hardship, losing their jobs or being forced to move because of the delays in this process. I hear your concerns and I will do everything I can to help rectify these problems if fortunate enough to receive a spot on council.

2. If I am so lucky to receive a term as a city councillor, I don’t care to have a “legacy”. What I want, is 2018 to be the year that Revelstoke got on the right track again. The year that the new council took steps to reduce the debt burden, solve the affordability crisis in town and began working towards a goal of bringing all citizens of Revelstoke above the poverty line. I want the town of Revelstoke to feel heard again and to feel like their council, mayor and staff are being 100% transparent. We are one community and together we can achieve great things. Now is the time to get started.

Mike Brooks-Hill (candidate for council)

1. I can only speculate, as I am answering this question in the early days of the campaign.  What issues have jumped to the fore? The new proposal for a year round resort on Mt. Begbie? Perhaps there will be some major new proposals for development relating to the legalization of marijuana? Maybe preparing for the future prospects of major fires near Revelstoke that could threaten the town? RCFC taking over the tenures for Mt. Macpherson, Boulder and Mt. Begbie to ensure that the citizens of Revelstoke have a say in how our forests are managed. A pedestrian bridge linking the Big Eddy and Begbie Bench. Our tax rates and what we as a community want to put our money towards. And, just in case it hasn’t been mentioned enough. Making sure that the citizens of Revelstoke don’t get priced out of our own community.

2. Looking through the list of candidates for this election, I see a group of skilled and dedicated people from a variety of backgrounds. (It is unfortunate that there are not more women.) I feel strongly that myself, and this future council will be able to work well together for the continued prosperity of our city, and the strengthening of the community bond. If we can represent a broad range of the community on each issue, and communicate effectively with our citizens, I would consider that a success. I don’t hope for a legacy for myself as such, so much as hope that this next council will be remembered as one that helped shape a bright future for everyone here in Revelstoke, and restored people’s faith in elected officials.  In short, a council that managed to make Revelstoke an even better place than it already is.

Jackie Rhind (candidate for council)

1. Beyond the main issues previously discussed (infrastructure upgrades/DCCs, updating the OCP, long/short-term rentals, cost of living, housing shortage, affordable housing, sustainability), some of the other topics I would like to see addressed include: city staff turnover, increasing transparency and engagement between the city and its citizens, a scrupulous review of city budgets and spending, reducing processing times for development and building permits, attracting good employers that help diversify the local economy and continuing to encourage free and unrestricted access to Crown land.

2. If I am elected I will work tirelessly to make sure all decisions put community interests first. My goal for the end of the four-year term would be that Revelstoke is in an improved fiscal position and that as a community we are better prepared to face the challenges of our changing world.

I would like to look back on the term having successfully addressed the following issues:necessary infrastructure upgrades (sewage lagoon & Illecillewaet waterline), updates to the Development Cost Charge (DCC) bylaws, inconsistencies in how the city mandates and enforces vacation rentals, shortage of affordable housing, updates to the Official Community Plan (OCP), lack of staff accommodation for seasonal workers, and the need for improved efficiency, communication and transparency between the city and its residents.

Revelstoke is dynamic, supportive, resilient and forward-thinking. Regardless of what brought each of us here, most people would agree that it is the people and the community that convinced them to stay. If I am elected I will spend four years setting the stage for sustainable living so that Revelstoke is able to offer unprecedented quality of life for all members of the community for many years to come.

Rob Elliot (candidate for council)

1. In the run-up to Election Day, I’ve had many interesting conversations. The range of issues Revelstoke’s citizens are impassioned about has been an eye opener. Housing, parking, development fees, OCP updates, vacation homes, resort development and infrastructure were anticipated concerns. Unanticipated hot buttons have included:  policing shortages, arts council support, greening our building practices, paring civic expenditures, improving waste management and recycling processes, the challenges of highway commercial development, railway noise, snow removal policy, street cleaning excess, employee shortages, urban chickens and goats, and more.

The concerns have been heard and, if elected, I’m certain they will be brought to the council’s agenda. Approaching these issues with clarity and decisiveness will be my intent.  Decisions reached will be objective, forward looking and if necessary, creative.

2. “Revelstoke will be a leader in achieving a sustainable community by balancing environmental, social and economic values….  . Building on its rich heritage and natural beauty…  . Revelstoke will be seen as vibrant, healthy, clean, hospitable, resilient and forward-thinking.  ….” Revelstoke’s Vision Statement- excerpts.  City archives

Revelstoke’s vision was outlined many years ago. Translating that vision into action is our city’s challenge. My translation of the vision is that Revelstoke should be taking steps toward creating a sustainable, vibrant mountain community that celebrates its heritage while embracing the future. Whether my translation is accurate or not, our community plan needs to support targets or goals that originate from the vision.

If there is a single legacy I hope to leave as a councillor, it would be to have the community plan current and present in the city’s decision making process.  Councils over the past two periods have addressed fire after fire. A comprehensive, current community strategy will hopefully put out (or at least temper) those fires and map a clear path forward.

Nicole Cherlet (candidate for council)

1. Food Security is one of the reasons I bought my store; I was horrified by the number of people that seem to accept the fact that they “don’t cook”. It’s more than just “I’m no chef”. It’s relying corporate, processed food because you’re dissatisfied with (or intimidated by) a basic, home cooked meal.

Food Security is complex and involves several goals regarding nutritious food;

• Affordable access.
• Sufficient production within a reasonable distance to support the community.
• The ability to prepare meals from basic ingredients.
• Reducing our food waste through proper storage and preservation,
• Diverting excess food and organic waste from our landfill.

The support for our local Food Bank is incredible, and the work Community Connections is doing with the Food Recovery program is a model nation wide. The people running these programs, however, do so without sufficient resources. We need to ask the people on the ground what support they need, and find ways that the city can support their efforts.

Food Security is not just for those who cannot afford their groceries; it’s in the best interest of all residents. We need to ensure that our next generation can feed themselves.

2. To be part of the team that made Revelstoke a model nationwide for innovative housing solutions, sustainable development of tourism, and community involvement in decision making.

To be remembered as the mediator at council. The person that made sure all voices got a chance to be heard. That shared responses to those voices that help folks come to grips with the compromises we must all make in order to live together.

To have shown the efficiencies that can come from automation and technology so that our city staff can do their jobs better.

Peter Humphreys (candidate for council)

1. Lots of other ideas:

• Cut, cuts, cuts. No City department is exempt from budget cuts – including the fire department
• Either properly address the issues in See Click Fix or get rid of it
• Eliminate duplication of services – North Columbia Environmental Society, Community Connections and the Chamber of Commerce are all local organizations that are doing exceptional work. Negotiate with them to assume the duties of Economic Development, Social Coordinator and Environmental Coordinator.
• Immediate approval for simple building projects that meet set requirements.
• Consider a referendum to reduce the size of Council from 6 Councillors to 4 and increase their remuneration.

2. I think everyone should try to contribute something to improve our world in their own way. If I can nudge our political system in a better direction, I will consider that a success.

Steve Kent (candidate for council)

1. We need to revisit our Official Community Plan.  We currently have no stated collective vision of how we would like to direct our future as a community.  And as a result, the city has poor guidance from its citizens.  We also bicker over small details and flounder in our attempts to move forward.  In order to effectively direct city hall, council and development, it’s time to clarify our wants, needs and expectations.

2. I think the most important thing a councilor can do is to leave a fully functioning city to the next council.  …and then gracefully disappear into history.

Steven Cross (candidate for council)

1. We have a unique opportunity in Revelstoke to be the mountain town that successfully merged resource and recreation industries in a sustainable, caring way that benefits all who live here and which inspires all who come to play here. There is much that needs to go into that consensus building but it is critically important that we get that going as soon as possible. Without that part being sorted out our planning falls apart, variance applications skyrocket, confusion and aggravation rise, and our administrative costs go up. The result is we do not get the strategic development we want as a community. This has been the unfortunate unintended consequence of late despite the hard – and often great work – done by our city staff and our current council.

We should be a place that welcomes development but not a town that puts development ahead of people, sustainability, or our community values. We need the right development, and thankfully, I think most of our developers totally get that.

Other things I care about are quality of life issues, peoples rights on setbacks, trail building, continued enhancement for our kids, and most of all working together rather than against one another.

2. If elected, I hope my legacy as a councillor is that people say he helped build collaboration and partnerships that made a difference … that he helped set our town on a path that made it stronger economically, socially, and environmentally … that he was about the whole town, all the neighborhoods, all the parts.

Tony Morabito (candidate for council)

1. With vehicle accidents almost daily, with people injured or dying in many instances on the TCH near Revelstoke never mind the incessant closures and people being Revelstuck. The close calls as in the Shannon Smith incident I think advocating for accelerating the TCH upgrades from Perry River to the Glacier West Boundary should be of paramount importance for the incoming council.

2. If Elected, I would like my legacy to be that I tackled the difficult issues and made life better for the residents of Revelstoke.

Tim Palmer (candidate for council)

1. There are three very important issues that need to come to forefront:

• City Hall customer service and service delivery
• Transparency and Public accountability
• Improve public input in decision making

Rising debt and taxation is a concern.  The 2019 budget will be one of the first tasks for the new Council to tackle.  I will work with the other Councillors to reduce the tax burden without compromising our core community values.

On a personal level, I am particularly interested to ensure our natural amenities, the environment and Revelstoke’s beauty are protected and preserved for everyone to enjoy, today and into the future.

2. I am pleased that we have a good slate of candidates.  This broad spectrum of experience, strengths and perspectives is good.  The diversity of background and opinion is healthy. My depth and breadth of experience and knowledge in local government will be an asset for the new Council. My desire is to ensure we have an informed debate that leads to the best decisions and solutions for Revelstoke first.

I will work hard to bring a positive contribution with a goal to make this Council one of Revelstoke’s best.

I look forward to working with the new Council and with the community in a quest for our amazing community to become even better!

Gary Sulz (candidate for mayor)

1. Every citizen will have concerns that affect them in one way or another.  The main issue, will they be heard?  If we hear the citizens now, prior to the election, then we must make sure that we continue to hear them after we are elected.  Hearing concerns and working with staff in a concerted effort to mitigate whatever these concerns are is the key to resolving problems.

2. If elected, I trust my legacy will be the ability to bring the community, city council and staff together to build a community that beneficial and appreciated by all citizens.