The Scope

4:18:44 PM: St. John’s city council liveblog

4:19:04 PM: Andrew Harvey here in

4:21:20 PM: the gallery of council chambers, eagerly avaiting the arrival of council. apologies in advance for atrocious spelling or incomplete posts.

4:30:37 PM: A bunch of kids and parents just arrived for international walk to school day.

4:31:22 PM: Fitting that this occurs before the snow starts to fall and the sidewalks become un -walkable.

4:35:16 PM: I wonder how many council members know they are being live blogged about.

4:36:03 PM: I Also wonder how many know what a live blog is.

4:40:47 PM: Game on! Why are we expected to stand when o’keefe comes in? No one stood for me.

4:42:54 PM: chrones and colitus proclomation signed! kids seem somehow uninterested.

4:44:42 PM: proclimation re. newfoundland soliders lost in WW1.

4:48:08 PM: RT @thescopeNL @NathanDowney apologies in advance for atrocious spelling or incomplete posts.

4:49:06 PM: O’Keefe donns a walk to school t-shirt for walk to school proclamation.

4:52:01 PM: O’Keefe is like santa for democracy, telling one he can be mayor some day.

4:48:08 PM: RT @thescopeNL @NathanDowney apologies in advance for atrocious spelling or incomplete posts.

4:49:06 PM: O’Keefe donns a walk to school t-shirt for walk to school proclamation.

4:52:01 PM: O’Keefe is like santa for democracy, telling one he can be mayor some day.

4:52:33 PM: one kid that is.

5:03:03 PM: The gallery is now empty with the departure the walking entourage.

5:05:47 PM: Talking about the downtown parking study public meeting.

5:07:00 PM: Councillor Hann notes there was significant opposition to study.

5:08:15 PM: study was suggested by Downtown Development Corporation.

5:10:58 PM: development regulations must be “looked” at. to allow for additional parking.

5:12:21 PM: report will go back to joint committee which will give reccomendations.

5:13:10 PM: Hanlon says more creative solutions are needed.

5:16:15 PM: Deputy mayor Duff says she has concerns re. maintaining heritage nature of DT.

5:19:45 PM: Duff – we need to move forward carefully

5:21:29 PM: Hickman – we probably need to into traffi planning more.

5:22:59 PM: Breen – dissapointed DT residents were not surveyed. Study good starting point.

5:25:36 PM: Hann- assures residents this is not end o study. Some areas need to be looked at (woolworth building)

5:26:56 PM: O’Keefe-several pending developmenta which will bring people dt

5:28:54 PM: Hickman- reccommends motion to stop cosmetic pesticide use.

5:30:00 PM: Duff- city cannot ban pesticide use, must be done by province.

5:31:16 PM: Hanlon-suprised whe she found out we cannot ban. city needs to be more vocal on issue.

5:32:35 PM: Hann-city has taken lead in 4 years he has been here, and before.

5:34:23 PM: Collins-trouble is more with people buying the stuff places like walmart, not when done by pros.

5:35:38 PM: Duff- blanket ban will not happen, but needs to looked at.

5:37:00 PM: Collins- parks and rec committee report

5:38:56 PM: Galgay- Quidi vidi village association wants to put memorial in.

5:42:01 PM: Galgay- Ayre athletic grounds should have Guards Athletic Association added to name to recognize their work over years

5:43:28 PM: Tilley- EC trail association proposal should be approved

5:44:42 PM: Breen- should look for new park location for Virginia pl.

5:45:26 PM: Breen- great move to have free swims

5:45:26 PM: Breen- great move to have free swims

5:47:28 PM: Hann-we should tread lightly before plann to close hgr mews center and investing 1 mil new ctr.

5:50:13 PM: hann- susan ralph will be new para transit coordinator. Ron Ellsworth to be appointed citizen Chairperson of steering comm

5:52:16 PM: Hann- reccommendations for free or reduced transit fares

5:54:07 PM: Hann- mayors advisory committe reccommends increasing seniors tax discount from 15-25%

5:55:30 PM: Tilley- we need to recognize benifit seniors brought to city

5:56:43 PM: Tax rebates will be referred to budget committee bc of financial implications

6:00:53 PM: Art procurement plan reccommendations- to increase budget from 20k to 40k. Also reffered to budget committee.

6:03:36 PM: Duff- exempt margere place womens shelte from fees and taxes. Passed

6:07:30 PM: Galgay- just mentioned I am here for the Scope. My name entered into the annals of time in council minutes!

6:10:45 PM: Breen- province announces 2 new long term care facilities.

6:12:29 PM: That’s all folks. Check back next week for all the mayhem on New Gower!

6:12:29 PM: That’s all folks. Check back next week for all the mayhem on New Gower!