Jericho Lament

CC # 157— Words I'd have spoken if I thought Council was listening

Shadow citizens at Jericho Beach—ask them no questions—photo by Brian Palmquist

I am #6 on the speakers list for the Jericho Official Development public hearing scheduled for tomorrow evening (April 15th). But I will not be there to give this farce the appearance of democracy—apologies. If I were there, here is what I’d have said:

“Oxford Languages, Google’s official dictionary, has this definition:

“noun: conversation—a talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.” Hence the name of this blog, City Conversations.

Despite speaking at many public hearings since the 2022 civic election, I am only now truly understanding that Council’s procedural changes under ABC have ended conversation—deliberately. It’s taken me this long to realize that Councillors have all agreed to listen to what citizens have to say at public hearings, but without any conversation. We individual citizens are allotted three minutes, are cut off abruptly if our remarks extend even five seconds beyond. Then there is silence.

Councillors have agreed that they are not permitted at public hearings to ask questions of citizens.

Think about that for a moment: Councillors have agreed that they are not permitted at public hearings to ask questions of citizens. They are allowed to ask questions of city staff as they introduce a motion—that’s a conversation. They are permitted to ask questions of staff after the public has spoken—that’s a conversation. They are permitted to speak about their reasons for supporting (or not) a proposal. But they are not permitted to ask questions of citizens.

Councillors seem okay with just that staff-curated and performative conversation amongst themselves. They are only disallowed from asking questions of the citizens who elected them—as a result of their eyes wide open adoption of ABC procedural changes.

There is no possible excuse for this in a functioning democracy. Every time a citizen expresses their opinion about a rezoning proposal or ODP, or a Plan such as the Broadway Plan, the Vancouver Plan, the Villages Plan, etc., or even yet another of the 150 spot rezonings (so far) in the Broadway Plan, there should be an opportunity for Council to comment or question—in fact, that should be a duty of Councillors. It doesn’t matter to this Council what your reasons are for agreeing or not with a proposal—if it did they would insist on asking questions as they did before the current ABC-dominated Council. In this, all Councillors are complicit.

As with every single proposed rezoning and Plan since this Council was elected, passage of the Jericho ODP is a foregone conclusion that I will not legitimize by speaking yet again about its flaws. I have written about its shortcomings in several previous City Conversations. Enough is enough.

I am turning my back on this undemocratic Council.

To the citizens who will persist in speaking in person, if you agree with my perspective, please consider at the end of your remarks turning your back to the Councillors for a few moments before quitting the podium. This universal protest action will simply mirror their disrespect for you. And if you are calling in, perhaps say at then end of your remarks:

“I am now turning my back on you as you have on me.”

My deepest respect for all those who have worked so long and hard to offer legitimate, heartfelt and well-researched alternatives for the Jericho ODP, as well as articulate commentary about it. Councillors, you will hear many of them this evening. If you have the guts, Councillors, disrespect the silence imposed on you by yourselves and ask questions of your electors. You will learn and they may hope.”

---

This post is about 550 words, close to the three minutes citizens are allowed when they speak to the current City Council, in their efforts to suppress democracy. If you appreciated it, share to your social media and consider becoming a free subscriber to City Conversations at

Brian Palmquist writes on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Musqueam people. He is a Vancouver-based architect, building envelope and building code consultant and LEED Accredited Professional (the first green building system). He is semi-retired, still teaching, writing and consulting a bit, but not beholden to any client or city hall. These conversations mix real discussion with research and observations based on a 50-year career including the planning, design and construction of almost every type and scale of project. He is the author of the Amazon best seller and AIBC Construction Administration course text, “An Architect’s Guide to Construction.” A glutton for punishment, he recently started writing a book about how we can Embrace, Enhance and Evolve the places where we love to live.