View Royal 2022 Citizen Budget online engagement comments - unedited

Comment ID	Topic	Content
129498	Environmental Health Services	We have missed garbage collection a number of times in the past year which I find unacceptable. I would advocate for greater attention to this essential service.
129572	Environmental Health Services	I need a second garbage can, and am willing to pay the extra free for one
129577	Environmental Health Services	The disruption during the snowstorm this year was unacceptable; streets were left with no collection for over 3weeks (compost was a month). Need to address this with WM as it snows every year in Victoria...and the pandemic was not new.
129678	Environmental Health Services	Pay per usage. We are a family of 5 adults and can’t fill a garbage can or compost can a week. Follow Sidney and pay per use or consider privatization
129688	Environmental Health Services	Totally agree! And communication was inadequate. People were just leaving garbage and recycling at the curb in case pick up occurred.
129704	Environmental Health Services	Would like the Town to see if households that have very little waste, say pick-up every other week could get a reduction in fees. Would also incentivize folks not to create so much waste.
129707	Environmental Health Services	I have so little that it goes out once a month. Q how many cans are full on weekly pick up?
129575	Final Comments	Useful tool if filled out with care
129698	Final Comments	Thanks for listening.
129701	Final Comments	It was a good enough attempt to reach out to community members considering the awkward participatory events that have been offered due to Covid regulations. Sorry to have rushed a response at the last minute.
129501	Funding Development Services	Current level is fine.
129579	Funding Development Services	Consider slowing the pace of development...appears we may be headed the way of Langford with minimal foresight in terms fo supporting infrastructure (mainly roads) for the increased density.
129582	Funding Development Services	More commercial services at the corner of Helmcken and Old Island. Could be the makings of a town centre.
129598	Funding Development Services	Build up dense residential along the rail corridor and encourage work from home studios, mixed commercial developments, and create a walkable town core.
129611	Funding Development Services	Save staff/councils time/money and upzone to match OCP. Waive public hearing for OCP compliant projects.
129706	Funding Development Services	Build up missing middle housing along transportation corridors. Put aside funding for a Climate Action Coordinator to review all projects through the lens of climate change and climate equity. Take some of the work off staff and accelerate climate action. The IPCC messaging is clear.
129502	Funding for General Government Services	Current level is fine.
129599	Funding for General Government Services	Cut the paper costs and simplify your systems.
129669	Funding for General Government Services	Current level is fine
129680	Funding for General Government Services	Interested in why council voted on council members. Should have been a referendum at voting time. Never saw results of citizen feedback
129499	Funding for Parks Services	Current funding level is fine.
129578	Funding for Parks Services	Similar to streets, View Royal have some of the nicest public parks in the CRD; ideally there is some room to decrease slightly without losing quality.
129596	Funding for Parks Services	Would like to see more trimback of blackberries near the paths and along the rail corridor, the deadfall is a growing fire hazard every summer.
129668	Funding for Parks Services	At some point View Royal needs to examine why the ball parks are being maintained at Centennial Park. I do not believe there are any local teams based in our community. Time for a re-purpose?
129673	Funding for Parks Services	We need to purchase more park land to preserve the tree canopy, thereby prevent more climate heating.
129675	Funding for Parks Services	walking-distance-green-space, and shade, need to expand to meet climate needs of growing post pandemic population
129679	Funding for Parks Services	We put good money into preserving parks yet residential development can remove trees without recourse or replanting mandates. If each yard did not cut down trees (especially established trees), we would preserve green space, CO2 absorption and reduce greenhouse gases. Also ivy removal from trees should be a priority
129690	Funding for Parks Services	I think parks and green spaces are nicely maintained. I would pay more attention to treat health. Some new trees in my neighbourhood struggled last year and went unnoticed by staff u til things got really bad and it was reported. I would think those that mow would see what’s going on, take an interest and notify the town.
129580	Funding for Reserve Contributions and Debt	Decrease reserve contributions given the previous impact of the pandemic; wait for casino revenue to return full prior to resuming. Maintain debt repayment rates.
129670	Funding for Reserve Contributions and Debt	Pay off all Town debt from Casino funds as a priority.
129676	Funding for Reserve Contributions and Debt	The pandemic is still affecting the bottom line, it’s too soon to return to normal contributions.
129496	Funding Protective Services	What is the current level? I'd keep it the same.
129561	Funding Protective Services	Worry about forest fire in Thetis Park especially with people camping there.
129569	Funding Protective Services	The Town needs to start cutting back and planning for the future.
129593	Funding Protective Services	Officers follow up, keep the town reasonably safe.
129666	Funding Protective Services	View Royal has always been known for having the best fire fighting vehicles in the CRD. I am not convinced that we require all the planned replacements, especially given that we all need to mind the environment; i.e. Carbon footprint of building and transporting a new vehicle. Instead of new purchases, ensure they remain operable and put the money into paying down debt.
129672	Funding Protective Services	Don't know current funding so can't tell where to click for increase or decrease.
129685	Funding Protective Services	Crime, including violent and cyber crime, is increasing. Having good response is integral to a safe and livable community.
129702	Funding Protective Services	Instead of another RCMP officer, I would like to see funding going to someone who can attend calls on wellness checks and other mental health issues.
129500	Funding Recreation and Cultural Services	Current level is fine. Why transition away from the casino funding?
129597	Funding Recreation and Cultural Services	Glad to get away from casino funds.
129674	Funding Recreation and Cultural Services	the library and the rec centre are gems in the CRD. I will support thoroughly.
129705	Funding Recreation and Cultural Services	The rec centre is a gem and is always busy. I just wonder how much the VR Library is used especially since the one at the Westshore is relatively close.
129708	Funding Recreation and Cultural Services	see last guests comments on the VR Library
129497	Funding Transportation Services	Keep the same, please.
129570	Funding Transportation Services	Lower , buses are EMPTY alot ANYWAYS!
129576	Funding Transportation Services	We have some of the most beautiful streets in the CRD; we should aim to try and decrease slightly.
129594	Funding Transportation Services	Nothing to do with buses, that's Provincial. Trails! Support the trails!
129595	Funding Transportation Services	Many more waste receptacles needed at the parks, especially Portage. So many hanging dog bags, ew.
129610	Funding Transportation Services	I'd love to see more low maintenance bioswales put in to replace grass.
129667	Funding Transportation Services	After witnessing the recent re-paving on a section of Helmcken Road, that appeared to be in perfect shape, I am skeptical of the need of future projects.
129703	Funding Transportation Services	I would like the Town to check what other projects might be able to be done at the same time as the road improvements. I would also like to see every project looked at through the lens of Active Transportation. How can we make it better and safer to encourage walking, cycling and rolling. Also if sewers or other changes will be happening because of infrastructure updates or developments, staff and contractors need to be talking to one another. It is so so frustrating when one sees roads dug up and repaved multiple times instead of having everything done all at the same time. Makes economic sense to me. We must stop wasting both human and material resources.
129423	Other	Better bus routes that connect to places people need to go, like the ferry, airport.
129503	Other	Garbage, recycling collection and snow removal.
129559	Other	Garden suites
129562	Other	Fire prevention is number one due to presence of Thetis Park and danger of people camping there.
129581	Other	Need to start to plan for climate resiliency in the community; first need to identify weaknesses, start to address them going forward. Need to ensure crime doesn't extend from Victoria into View Royal. Need to recognize the impact pandemic has had on finance as well as the artificially inflated property assessments impact on taxation.
129600	Other	How can we clean up the messy corners of town where trash piles up via transient visitors? Organize a neighbourhood cleanup?
129613	Other	I'm hoping to see more concrete and bolder ideas to address affordability from the OCP. IE. significant density bonus for affordable housing projects, upzone single family (why are we reserving most of the land in VR for the top 5% of income earners when many lots can easily accommodate a duplex without significant tree canopy loss). Waive public hearings for OCP compliant projects. I'd like to see at least a missing middle initiative like Victoria. #1 lever for addressing climate change at the municipal level is to add density where amenities exist and making 15 minute neighbourhoods. Eagerly awaiting upcoming work on active transportation plan - hoping for some significant AAA bike network.
129696	Other	I struggled with this as we are a relatively small town compared to others in the CRD. I want affordable housing for others, but don’t know what “affordable” is. We need to define it. Perhaps strike agreements with the province to develop Co-ops, row house communities, and even rent controlled buildings. But I also need my own costs to be affordable. I’m retired, on fixed income, the pandemic and carbon taxes have increased costs, and I can’t afford much more. Yet I want my community to be livable, safe and even develop events and activities for citizens to enjoy.
129574	What did you like?	Easy to navigate
129602	What did you like?	Very tidy, would like a dark mode
129699	What did you like?	Fairly easy
129560	Where can it improve?	Should be mandatory. With so few responses the results could easily be swung by one advocacy group - especially if you don’t have to live in view royal to comment.
129573	Where can it improve?	Some verification the survey is being done by view royal residents
129601	Where can it improve?	Require the full reading before commenting?
129615	Where can it improve?	Agree about this results being from a very small % of the population. Easy for a loud minority to overshadow the majority when the issue is more contentious, although I have no idea how you go about increasing engagement. Required reading sounds good too.
129671	Where can it improve?	The process needs more promotion in the media.
129697	Where can it improve?	Not sure how you increase participation. I saw it on Twitter.
129700	Where can it improve?	Info not highlighted enough in local media. Last minute participation due to current article in Goldstream Gazette.

View Royal 2022 Citizen Budget online engagement comments - unedited

View Royal 2022 Citizen Budget online engagement comments- unedited