Brookfield Developer has no plan for public engagement.
January 6, 2020, City Council Meeting: Report on City Place project. Complete lack of community engagement. Weekly requests from City for fulfillment of commitment from Brookfield for a plan to engage the public in discussion outside the regulatory process have been ignored.
Public engagement that council and residents expected would be an opportunity to talk about options and possibilities, a chance to build relationship, an opportunity to ask for what we think would benefit the city, and a chance for Brookfield to explain if not, why not. If this kind of engagement had taken place before Sinex went for permits, if he had listened to Coalition for Livable City members, an agreement on 10 stories could have been reached three years ago and the project would be built now.
When the NPA requirement was created, it was anticipated that some projects would impact the entire community (not just one ward), and would require presentations at all the NPAs or at a citywide, All Wards NPA meeting convened in Contois, City Hall. There is still time for this.
Councilor Perri Freeman asked the City's consultant what clout the City has to require public discussion in advance of (outside) the regulatory process. Except for a presentation at NPA, none. It was hoped that Brookfield would see the advantage of working with the community but they are stonewalling "How concerned should we be?" Council President Wright asked. (Answer, very concerned!) "I do not get what they are doing. They are baffling me," Wright concluded.
Next step with City is amendment of permits. Scheduled is a Technical Review Committee meeting with the developer to review the revised plan prior to the permit submission. City Attorney Eileen Blackwood said the Technicasl Review Committee is CLOSED to the public. This is new under the Weingerber administration. In the Kiss administration, public was allowed to come to these meetings, and even ask questions. Some preliminary discussion took place between City Attorney Bergman and Sec.of State Condos, and it was decided that Technical Review Committee is a City meeting and thereby is subject to Open Meeting Law.
TO BE CONTINUED...
January 6, 2020, City Council Meeting: Report on City Place project. Complete lack of community engagement. Weekly requests from City for fulfillment of commitment from Brookfield for a plan to engage the public in discussion outside the regulatory process have been ignored.
Public engagement that council and residents expected would be an opportunity to talk about options and possibilities, a chance to build relationship, an opportunity to ask for what we think would benefit the city, and a chance for Brookfield to explain if not, why not. If this kind of engagement had taken place before Sinex went for permits, if he had listened to Coalition for Livable City members, an agreement on 10 stories could have been reached three years ago and the project would be built now.
When the NPA requirement was created, it was anticipated that some projects would impact the entire community (not just one ward), and would require presentations at all the NPAs or at a citywide, All Wards NPA meeting convened in Contois, City Hall. There is still time for this.
Councilor Perri Freeman asked the City's consultant what clout the City has to require public discussion in advance of (outside) the regulatory process. Except for a presentation at NPA, none. It was hoped that Brookfield would see the advantage of working with the community but they are stonewalling "How concerned should we be?" Council President Wright asked. (Answer, very concerned!) "I do not get what they are doing. They are baffling me," Wright concluded.
Next step with City is amendment of permits. Scheduled is a Technical Review Committee meeting with the developer to review the revised plan prior to the permit submission. City Attorney Eileen Blackwood said the Technicasl Review Committee is CLOSED to the public. This is new under the Weingerber administration. In the Kiss administration, public was allowed to come to these meetings, and even ask questions. Some preliminary discussion took place between City Attorney Bergman and Sec.of State Condos, and it was decided that Technical Review Committee is a City meeting and thereby is subject to Open Meeting Law.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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