Pointe-Claire reaches out to public online
Improving transparency at city hall is often a campaign refrain or a demand heard in municipal politics. Delivering on this matter is another thing.
As Pointe-Claire happens to be going through some contentious demolition requests and rebuild proposals for the Pioneer bar as well as the Walton Ave. strip mall, both of which of closed for business this summer, it has taken steps to open access to documents and improve communication with the public.
The city recently unveiled an online consultation platform — as a year-long pilot project — so citizens can follow the progress of revitalization programs for Pointe-Claire and Valois villages, specifically how to address parking concerns.
Last month, Pointe-Claire posted some background demolition committee documents online — “in a spirit of greater democratic transparency” — leading up to a public consultation meeting about a proposed condo project at the Pioneer site. More than 300 people attended; many objected to condos in PointeClaire Village, while others suggested the Pioneer building has lost its lustre.
Pointe-Claire Mayor John Belvedere, the first mayor in the city’s 100-year history who had no previous city councillor experience before elected last November, said the aim of the new consultation platform — dubbed “Pointe-Claire, it’s who we are,” — is to engage residents and encourage participation.
“The whole idea of the platform is so we can inform residents quicker and with more information. It’s a user-friendly platform,” he said.
While the pilot project is focusing on the village planning programs, the platform could be deployed to tackle other projects or issues in the future.
“Our goal is to grow it and use it. There are many different things you can use it for,” Belvedere said. “Right now, we are using for it consultation, but you can use it for surveys or polls.”
While the posting of demolition documents online is to become a routine practice for Pointe-Claire, in some cases, the city must seek waivers from those involved before it can offer all confidential background information to the public, Belvedere said.
“Some of those reports — say a home inspection is done — it doesn’t give (the city) the right to publicize it (without permission),” the mayor said.
Mind you, no matter how transparent a city is, there is still often backlash or calls for revision to proposed developments, whether it’s for condominiums or townhouses, in most West Island municipalities.
Pointe-Claire should be given credit for providing effective online public access to demolition committee documents as well as setting up a platform to deal with specific planning programs for its villages, which, despite being well known character neighbourhoods, could use a boost to remain thriving commercial hubs in light of competition from big box outlets or online shopping.
Belvedere noted his city uses several tools to communicate with residents, from webcasting council meetings, info-letters, and digital billboards to consultation meetings. The new platform and online access to demolition documents is now part of the democratic process.
“It’s a way of speeding up the process so people can get more information,” he said. “Will it make them happier? It’s a process. It will help both sides of the coin.”
Our goal is to grow it and use it. There are many different things you can use it for. Right now, we are using for it consultation, but you can use it for surveys or polls.