Motion about accelerating development approvals devolves into discussion about credibility of Development Services department

The motion would also see the program add a Fast-Track PG Report Card to the “monthly development and building permit summary. For Monday’s discussion surrounding this motion, Mayor Simon Yu recused himself due to his background as an engineer. Councillor Kyle Sampson acted as the Acting Mayor and Chair for this motion.

Councillor Brian Skakun voiced his frustrations with the planning and development services department saying “why did we have to get to the point of an elected official bringing forward a motion for something that should already be happening.” Skakun said that asking developers to pay fees to expedite approvals, “isn’t fair.”

Skakun was referring to this section of Sampson’s motion:

To consider an “Approved Professional / Builder List” which could see: a rapid application approval turnaround, that the program design include consideration of a cost-recovery model (i.e., a pay per-play fee for rapid applications) and an accountability framework for repeat deficiencies.

Skakun then claimed, that the planning and development services department is “not communicative” and there is a “toxic work environment” within that department. Councillor Skakun said he had sent “multiple emails to staff asking for work to be done” regarding this issue. He also said that constituents have reported issues to him regarding that department. Skakun then asked City Manager Walter Babicz if he has confidence in the Director of Planning and Development Services, Deanna Wasnik, and expressed that he was “frustrated as hell.” Acting Mayor Kyle Sampson called a point of order to try and get the discussion back to the motion. Skakun responded by saying that by chairing this section of the meeting, Sampson was “controlling the debate” over his own motion.

City Manager Walter Babicz responded to Skakun’s statements, and expressed his confidence in Wasnik, and called Skakun’s statements “disparaging.”

Councillor Ron Polillo responded to Skakun’s comments, saying that Skakun was not in order and that his actions were counter-productive. “Your experience is not my experience”, he said. In regards to the motion, Polillo said that it was “realistic, timely and positive” and he would be supporting it 100%. Councillor Trudy Klassen was supportive of the motion, but was concerned about staff capacity in being able to launch the pilot program. Klassen echoed Skakun’s earlier comments about having to send multiple emails to staff.

Skakun later said that he “was not going to compromise my values” and that Babicz’s comments about Skakun’s earlier statements, being “disparaging”, were “unfortunate and save the fees for a lawyer. I’m not going to get pushed around.”

The discussion around council chambers did get back on track, with council voting to pass Sampson’s motion.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Motion about accelerating development approvals devolves into discussion about credibility of Development Services department

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