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WBAC FINAL REPORT <br /> Backfilling a public involvement process COULD have been successful, if the The vague recommendations don't provide much direction to the develop- <br /> Committee had found balance in weighing the interest of the broader pub- ers other than to encourage requests for more public subsidies. The Com- <br /> - lit with the interests of the developer. mittee majority failed the community by remaining silent on providing a <br /> prioritization matrix for the .recommendations to Council (save for a generic <br /> Sadly, a majority of the Committee seemed content with one perspective mix of uses). Many Committee members did not feel it was the charge from <br /> voiced several times at different meetings: Council to make their recommendations in acontext of fiscal discipline and <br /> prioritization. <br /> "Don't upset the developer with ideas different than his:' <br /> "Don't scare off the developer by including public input that varies from his With few specific recommendations and a lack of interest in setting priori- <br /> plans:' ties, the Committee has created a dilemma for the Council. They must be <br /> - "Keep our recommendations general, stay away from prescriptive specif- mindful of the public money funding any private development project. <br /> its" Therefore, it will be impossible for them to direct the developers to enact <br /> all of the recommendations. So how will the Council prioritize the recom- <br /> 3) BUT, ISN'TTHAT HOW OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WORKS? mendations when the Committee making them has provided no direction <br /> _ for doing so? <br /> " Successful majority rule involves compassion and. understanding for dif- <br /> ferent points of view and incorporating some of the views into the ruling KWG's guaranteed 13% return on investment is solidly set as backdrop in <br /> - framework. Ideally, diverse political and social groups coexist with respect. further negotiations with the City, while potential estimates for City expen- <br /> The result is good, balanced governance. ditures of public dollars continue to climb. <br /> Disappointingly, many on the Committee failed to address the political real- 5) MISSED OPPORTUNITIES <br /> ities before us: To gain the trust of the broader community for the Commit- <br /> tee recommendations to Council, we needed to be inclusive, creative and By doing the public process first, we would be championing that which <br /> <br /> . very specific in our recommendations. many in the public want: <br /> The Committee majority's indifference to broader community concerns * A true downtown park like many great cities and a magnet for develop- <br /> makes Council's job of finding a balance all that more difficult. ment interest. <br /> 4) COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: I"LL TAKE MINE VANILLA * Preserving more of the remaining historic buildings that define a down- <br /> town. <br /> Overall, the Committee recommendations are broad, weak or so vague that <br /> they are open to multiple interpretations. The developers and City Council, * Valuing local downtown businesses and non-profits with affordable rents. <br /> - for that matter, can interpret them in whatever way best supports their par- <br /> titular agenda. *Transit-oriented development across from our EmX hub. <br /> - Appendices ~ 3 <br /> i <br /> <br />