Langford Voters Rebellion: City Council Meeting

by Zoe Blunt
Conflict is expected tonight over the proposed new interchange in Langford as Langford City Council decides whether to adopt one of two controversial new bylaws, and citizens petition against the measures.

Bylaws 1147 and 1148 create a Local Area Service agreement and authorize the borrowing of $25 million to build the new interchange.  The bylaws were rushed through three readings at a poorly-advertised Special Meeting of Langford City Council two days after Christmas, despite an agenda stating they were to be given first reading only. Both bylaws are on the agenda tonight, and the Local Area Service bylaw is up for adoption.

Media advisory - for immediate release Jan 21, 2008
Creating a Local Area Service agreement exempts the loan from the usual voter approval process. This apparent disregard for democratic process angers many Langford residents, including those who were in favour of the interchange.

A counter-petition has gathered 1000 signatures already, according to petition organizer Steven Hurdle. While the petition is not legally binding, it puts pressure on council to bring forward a new bylaw and submit it to a referendum in November.  Hurdle will bring the petitions to the mayor and council tonight.   

Petition website: http://insidelangford.wordpress.com

Download petition: http://insidelangford.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/langford-petition-bylaws-1147-1148.pdf

Bylaws 1147 and 1148, copied from the City of Langford website Dec 27 (they were removed the same day.)  View them as a Flickr photo set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86691173@N00/sets/72157603667232415/

Now available: Ben Isitt's policy analysis of Langford's  Bear Mountain:
http://us.share.geocities.com/greenmonkeyradio/BearMtnInterchange.pdf

Tree Sit Blog: http://treesit.blogspot.com

Tree Sit humour: http://onlymagazine.ca/News/road-kill

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ZoeBlunt@gmail.com Contact: Steve Hurdle 884-0575 steven.hurdle@gmail.com

 

 

Zoe Blunt 885-8219 zoeblunt@gmail.com 

 

Langford City Hall, 877 Goldstream Ave, Langford
6:30 pm Monday Jan 21st 2008

Photo opportunities:

Petition signing rally at 6:30 pm
Hundreds of signed pages of petitions (approximately 1000 gathered to date)
Car with a billboard advertising the petition
A large, vocal crowd is expected at the council meeting starting at 7 pm.  

 

Interview opportunities:

Steve Hurdle, petition organizer
Volunteer canvassers
Mayor, councillors and city staff may also be available for comment  

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