Council decision making
Published June 21, 2006
During this term and particularly during the last few months, Strathcona Council has made a number of difficult decisions. There was, of course, the Curfew Bylaw; however, most of the strife has been generated by bylaws dealing with rezoning and land use. Many of these decisions have resulted in considerable fiery rhetoric in the local press and in the community. Perhaps now, then, would be time to talk about how I arrive at my position when deciding whether to support or object to a proposal.
In my view, the first aspect that must be considered is the overall benefit to the community under such headings as economic, environmental and social. These must be concrete, measurable benefits that evaluate net financial impact, job creation, preservation of lands, air quality, traffic, crime and general quality of life. We need facts and hard data. I am simply not interested in unsubstantiated doomsday scenarios, cliches and motherhood statements. These can never be the basis for a decision.
Furthermore, whatever benefits are perceived must relate directly to those who live and have businesses within the municipality. These are the folks who have to live with and pay for those decisions. We have no responsibility to support business interests from outside the county except to the extent that doing so enhances life for those already here. Nor do we have a duty to provide housing and facilities for those who would like to live here (and who could blame them) but do not.
This segues into the second aspect of decision making: the opinions of the residents. Municipal government is a representational democracy. The most important job of an elected official, some would say the only job - is accurately to reflect and support the wishes of those who put him/her in the position. We are not entitled to impose our own values upon the residents of the municipality, rather, most of us are here because our values align with theirs and that is as it should be.
People know what they want. It is insulting to their intelligence for us to foist decisions upon them "for their own good" in clear opposition to their stated desires. Naturally, difficulties arise when the desires of some residents conflicts with that of others or when the views of residents are unclear. Then, we must trust in the democratic process and hope that the decision is at least in the best interests of the majority.
Alan Dunn
Councillor, Ward 6
780-464-8206
dunn@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Page ID: 2074