Listen: to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing;

Mayor Peary’s recent comments on the budget have once again demonstrated city hall’s need for a dictionary. As the above definition makes clear, listening involves paying close attention in order to hear what was actually being said.

My fellow citizens of Abbotsford need to look around their homes for any dictionary or dictionaries they can spare and deliver the dictionary (ies) to Mayor Peary at city hall. Thereby delivering the message that city hall needs to listen to citizens.

Considering that a local paper also reported that the Ratepayers Association suggested scrapping the parks, recreation and culture department it appears that listening problems are contagious for anyone spending to much time at city hall.

Those present at the Ratepayers Association’s presentation having active listening skills were no doubt as astonished as me to hear claims that the Ratepayers had suggested abolishing parks, recreation and culture.

The failure to listen to or to consider ideas and suggestions they do not want to hear obviously remains a problem at city hall.

As to the departments that the Ratepayers did suggest cutting, social planning and economic development, and the mayor’s statement “These fellas have never been in to see what goes on in these departments.” This statement is true of almost every citizen of Abbotsford. Rather than a dismissive ‘I know best’ statement the mayor should have provided evidence of the accomplishments of these departments that demonstrate their value and effectiveness to the citizens of Abbotsford.

I know the personnel in the social planning department, considering them highly competent and professional. Unfortunately they face the barrier presented by city council and its lack of listening skills.

Mayor Peary’s dismissive entertainment and sports centre comment: “You don’t build a $65 million project and then mothball it” underscores that an important component of listening is to actually think about what has been said.

Responsible government will ‘build a $65 million project and then mothball it’ if that is the responsible action to take. Indeed other jurisdictions have built expensive facilities and mothballed them until they had the funds to open and operate them.

What the ratepayers called upon city council to do, and I have previously called upon city council to do, is to not open the entertainment and sports centre at this time of economic recession when the city cannot afford to squander the funds needed to cover the negative cash flow that will result from opening the centre.

To quote the ratepayers “These losses have been illustrated on multiple occasions at other facilities of the same size. We would be happy to provide City staff and Council with our research in this area.

So, until a business plan showing verifiable revenue projections and operational costs can be produced… we suggest that the new Entertainment complex remain dark.”

Which would seem to this taxpayer to be advice to be listened to and considered, not dismissively pooh-poohed?

I read with interest the letter from David D. Hull concerning the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and its board of directors’ position on Plan A.

It is unfortunate that Monday January 19th 2009 is one of the days council has chosen not to be taking care of business as this is a matter they need to move on quickly to ensure it’s inclusion in the city budget they are drawing up.

Given Mr. Hull and the Chamber of Commerce’s “unwavering belief” that all 3 Plan A projects will make Abbotsford “a fantastic place to conduct business”, council must recognize the $benefits$ that will accrue to Abbotsford businesses from these projects.

In light of the breadth of the business $benefits$ cited by city council and other staunch supporters of these projects the business taxes levied on these $benefits$ should to be spread widely over the business community, rather than limited to the hospitality industry via room rental and meal taxes as is the case in Vancouver to pay for the Vancouver convention centre ensuring that businesses gaining $benefits$ from these projects, contribute to the costs of the projects in a manner reflective of the $benefits$ they will receive.

With two of the projects already open and the third scheduled to be open before the City’s new fiscal year begins, council needs to act promptly to ensure these $benefits$ are appropriately recognized and taxed; reducing the impact of debt repayment for capital costs and cost overruns, interest payments and the yearly operating expenses on ordinary taxpayers gaining no benefits from the Plan A projects.

It is fortunate Mr. Hull and his board of directors brought the matter to the public’s attention at this time as it permits council to include a tax reflecting the Plan A $benefits$ to business in the budget for the next fiscal year.

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The Times

Friday, January 16, 2009

EDITOR, THE TIMES:
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce board of directors passed a resolution at their December board meeting to vociferously and enthusiastically support local efforts to secure an American Hockey League franchise for Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford chamber has been a staunch supporter of all three Plan A projects with the unwavering belief that an improvement to the quality of life in Abbotsford will make our city a great place to live. A great place to live is a fantastic place to conduct business.

The addition of an AHL franchise in our city would be a fantastic addition to the sporting and entertainment landscape.
We are confident that an AHL team in Abbotsford would not be to the detriment of other hockey leagues in the area, but in fact an important asset.

An AHL team would raise the awareness and appreciation of semi pro and junior league hockey and will in fact grow the overall market.
David D. Hull
Executive Director
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce