Friday 20 April 2012

23 April 2012 Council Meeting




Agenda   http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/1/87/2012%2004%2023.PDF

Video Minutes http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/1/124/2012%2004%2023.PDF

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The feed is shutting down every few minutes, staff has to get this transmission fixed.


Dr. Evan Wood, Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia,
“Stop the Violence BC, Does Marijuana Prohibition Make Our Communities
Less Safe?” – File: 0320-01
Delegation requested by Council on April 2, 2012.

It is far to busy a night for non-Council chat fests like this. It's going on and on and they have not really started the workshop and the real agenda!!!
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COUNCIL WORKSHOP (Following Item No. 9)
Re: Central Waterfront – File: 6740-01
This Council workshop is intended to present options for the future of the Central Waterfront including the proposed sites of the North Vancouver Museum, the Presentation House Gallery and Lot 5 (the former National Maritime Centre site).
The workshop will include a staff presentation followed by discussion by members of Council.
See information report of the Director, Community Development dated April 3, 2012 and correspondence of the Lower Lonsdale Business Association dated August 2, 2011

Thursday 19 April 2012

A message from The Lonsdale Community Association

To all TLCA members and Supporters and Friends. Please pass on to friends and neighbours and Strata Councils. 18th April 12

NOW IS THE TIME TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL

The Harbourside proposal is the Largest project in our City and about the same size as the Pinnacle Towers project (which is not completed and only partially occupied). It will have a profound affect on the life of the City for over a 100 years. The 370.000 sq ft 800 suites proposal must be discussed at a public Town Hall Meeting with City Council, the present owners of the Harbourside property Concert Properties( Owned by Union Pension Funds) and the owners of the $13 Billion Shipbuilding contract Seaspan, to determine the future benefit for our City.

Why is the City prior to any extensive public debate and after spending $250,000 promoting the CityShaping program to review the Cities own Official Community Plan ignoring the OCP review and rushing through with the developers wishes to amend the OCP and rezone the property to Residential? The massive amount of expensive infrastructure together with another bridge over the Rail tracks needed to mitigate this whole project must be understood before any approval.

Seaspan’s $13Billion contracts offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for our little City to benefit and grow financially offering good paying jobs and become a world class Shipbuilding and Marine Centre once again.

Perhaps we could have our Harry Jerome Rec’ Centre earlier than we ever imagined or even a National Maritime Centre at last.

At present this whole area is zoned “ light Industrial and Commercial” with new warehouses, industry, workshops, Offices and the AutoMall and where even the new City Works Yards are being built near there as we speak. The property is adjacent to Seaspan’s extensive work yards and would be an idea location to provide additional workshops and ship building on the harbour. But until we know what Seaspan’s needs are no decisions should be made. The democratic system demands that all parties concerned must participate in open dialogue in the building of our City. While there will be quiet- behind- the- scene discussions but as taxpayers and citizens we need to be part of these discussions through our City Councillors.

Please contact Council members and EXPRESS your OPINIONS

Mayor Darrell Mussatto 604 998 3280 dmussatto@cnv.org

Don Bell 604 987 2355 dbell@cnv.org

Pam Bookham 604 986 5560 pbookham@cnv.org

Linda Buchanan 604 988 7270 lbuchanan@cnv.org

Rod Clark 604 351 8166 rclark@cnv.org

Guy Heywood 604 9885326 gheywood@cnv.org

Craig Keating 604 984 7485 ckeating@cnv.org


News Flash! SEASPAN will be addressing Council Monday April 23rd


Please attend this could be an historic meeting for us all

Ivan Leonard

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Greenhouse Gas Reductions

In my article on the 13th of April, City Shaping Workbook and the new "Living City", I tried to explain that claims made of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is false.


I received a media inquiry as what I had written didn't really come across clearly. This is how I got my point across to him.


Let's say the CNV only had one person living in it, let's call him Darryl. Darryl is quite concerned about the City's emissions, let's call it 1 unit,as he thinks that the world will end if he doesn't not reduce his carbon footprint.


So he works hard and reduces his footprint by 10% for .9 of an unit but Darryl has invited his friend from Ontario, let's call him Craig, to live in the CNV creating a population of 2. Darryl has convinced Craig to build his new house so he also has a footprint creating another .9 of an unit.


Darryl loudly says how he saved the planet as the per capita emissions in the CNV is .9 and down 10% but the total footprint of the CNV is 1.8, whatever influence emissions have on the planet acts by actual emissions - not per capita.


To take this back to the real CNV, when Council approves the 20 story building on the Extra Foods site, they increased our footprint by an obscene amount. No people or cars were located at that site prior but hundreds of each will be there in a year or so. All at .9 per person but all an increase to the CNV's footprint.


This will happens at every development, from that tower to every RS-1 single family that is turned into a duplex with two secondary suites and a coach house.


There is many reasons that the Mayor is hell-bent to increase our population and density but his "Green" reasoning is just misleading spin.

Sunday 15 April 2012

16 April Council Meeting

Agenda http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/1/87/2012%2004%2016.PDF


Video Minutes http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/1/124/2012%2004%2016.PDF


Public Input Session - Developers Hancock and Nelson try to subvert the rules of the Public Input Session.





Public Input Session Ivan Leonard


Public Input Session Ben Woodyatt, President & Founding Member of the North Van Urban Forum


Public Input Session John Harvey












PUBLIC MEETING – 7:00 P.M.
DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT NO. 2011-00012



A Coach House at 157 East 27th Street.


PUBLIC HEARING (Following Prior Item)
BYLAW NO. 8233

642 East 5th Street. 

FROM: RS-1 (One Unit Residential) Zone
TO: CD-621 (Comprehensive Development 621) Zone
to permit a 1,000 sq. ft. Level-B Accessory Coach House



PUBLIC HEARING (Following)BYLAW NO. 8234
355 East 12th Street. 
FROM: RS-1 (One Unit Residential 1) Zone
TO: CD-622 (Comprehensive Development 622) Zone



Updates during the meeting, maybe I'll even use the "Cover it Live" program like my hero Kady O'Malley!
Oh, Boy!  Check it out, I'll try to turn the live comments on.



Saturday 14 April 2012

Two more local political parties in the CNV

By the next election we may have four political parties in the City of North Vancouver.  Well, one legally registered Local Electors Group and 3 undeclared slates.

First, the forerunner slate which I call Vision North Van, it's a NDP front group like COPE in Vancouver used to be until replaced by Vision Vancouver.  Mayor Mussatto, Councillors Keating, Buchanan and candidates Leia and Buitenhuis all ran collectively last fall. They are heavily funded by Unions, big developers with large developments to be approved by Council and the City's employee union that bargains their pay with the Council.

Second, last November I announced that I would be forming a legally registered group, Unite North Van will be formed for the next election.  The big difference by registering is that the party name is actually on the ballot.

In a recent column in the Outlook by Sean Kolenko, it seems like there may be two other slates forming.  Amanda Nichol, a past candidate and protege of Rod Clark who is likely to be again running for Mayor is part of the formation of North Vancouver City Voices.  It is likely part Rod doing some initial organization, some his past campaigns lacked.  Considering there was a third party group called Independent Voices that campaigned for a group of candidates, this is likely an offshoot.

The column also mentions a group that has formed a registered non-profit society, the North Vancouver Urban Forum, which has formed to influence Council to ensure that the Waterfront develops into a community gem and not just another mall around the hotel.  The initial set of bruises received by dealing with a tunnel visioned Council is their first step in realizing that the only way of changing Council's path is to put fresh people on Council. I would not be surprised to see a couple of candidates running in the next election from this group.

Friday 13 April 2012

City Shaping Workbook and the new "Living City"

This is a key part of the information gathering process, if one has the tools to build a future they desire at their disposal, they should use them to their best ability.


http://www.cnv.org/CityShaping/workbooks.html


"April 12, 2012
Welcome to Living City
Sustainability and climate action have long been a part of the City's core values, policies and programs. To build a community that is resilient to future challenges, we must not only lead by example, but provide opportunities for residents and businesses to play a role in building a more sustainable community.


That's why we're introducing a new initiative called Living City. Living City represents all of the City's environmental sustainability initiatives. It's an opportunity to share what we're doing, connect with others, discuss ideas and work together towards a more sustainable community for future generations. Find out more at www.cnv.org/LivingCity"


Read the Living City link and you will see the lie of climate change, the City brags that "Since 2005, we've reduced our corporate (city operations) emissions by 11% and our community-wide emissions have decreased by 10% per capita." PER CAPITA!!!! The density junkies of Vision North Van lead by Mayor Mussatto have pushed the population from 46,910 to 51,083. So we see the real density junkie plan, double the population of the City and you will reduce greenhouse gases "per capita" by 50%.


Of course, the actual greenhouse gases that the Mayor tears his public hair out proclaiming we have to prevent the collapse of our whole civilization is still the same.




If Vision North Van NDP municipal front group ever takes a majority of Council, the rate of increase in population will skyrocket as well the greenhouse gases they pretend they're cutting. This is what they are trying to Shape, if the non-Vision North Van councillors vote for the changes to the OCP that is being pushed on us by the Mayor and staff, they do not deserve the voting support of those who want to stop the insane level of development we are enduring.

Monday 2 April 2012

02 April 2012 Council Meeting



Video http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/1/124/2012%2004%2002.PDF

Tonight's Council meeting will conduct a PARCEL TAX ROLL REVIEW PANEL MEETING and an update of the “2012 Financial Plan"


Tony Webb let Council know that the keeping of chickens, bees and other bear attracting additions to an suburban area was a bad idea.   He said that it should only be done with large powerful electric fence to keep bears away.  So much for Mayor Mussatto's crusade to follow in Vancouver Mayor Moonbeam's sandal prints to make us all urban farmers with a chicken coop in every yard.


The donation policy came up when the MS Society did a delegation for their annual donation which is done for their event done in West Vancouver.  This is the only health oriented donation done by the CNV.   In fact, the City is making a charitable donation with our tax dollars and not even getting a tax receipt!
For:  Mussatto, Keating, Buchanan, Clark
Against: Bell, Heywood, Bookham 


http://www.cnv.org/smil/2012_03_26_07.smil
http://www.cnv.org/smil/2012_03_26_08.smil


You will notice the suggestion that the Council contingency fund was created so that the Council can spend tax dollars in any unbudgeted way a majority wishes and if you disagree, you should agree to the elimination of this fund.     I hate budgets with contingency or miscellaneous funds as they are easy to misuse. Of course, we hear no discussion of this during budget discussions.


A report was given in regards the climate change con which states  that the emissions in the City has gone down PER CAPITA. The dramatic increase in population in the CNV has dramatically increased the greenhouse gases emitted in the CNV.  The portion that human activity affects the climate is not done per capita, it is a scientific not a political effect, it is a tangible measurable effect. Double the amount of people and buildings even when done more efficiently does even come close to offsetting the increase in population.


The battle of the budget and Harry Jerome goes on I'll let the Councillors speak for themselves in the clip but the flaw in the Vision NVan councillors position is that they drive the high spending Council practices and have left no more room for extra taxation.


For Clark, Bookham, Heywood, Bell, 
Against Mussatto, Keating, Buchanan


To make the North Shore News articleBudget leaves North Vancouver City council split 4-3 more clear, Vision North Van Councillors voted against the budget because it was not increased as much as they wanted.   But contrary to the article the budget was not given final ratification and another Finance Committee hearing be held on the 16 April.

Keep an eye on the OCP

Other ways you can get involved with the Official Community Plan update:
·         Miss the Kickoff Event? To view videos and materials, click here.
·         To fill out Workbooks, click here.
·         To join the online Discussion Forum, click here.
·         To review the Critical Issues Paper, click here.
·         To review the Stage 1 Summary input, click here.
·         To join our Facebook group, click here.
 
For more information check out the website at www.cnv.org/CityShaping

Here's a detailed point of view from the The Lonsdale Community Association
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By working together we can keep our neighbourhood a livable community for all.
TLCA supports the vision of a diverse community.
TLCA UPDATE
30 March 2012
(1987)
To all TLCA members and Supporters & Friends,
 
The Election Campaign Financing disclosures have been posted on the City website. www.cnv.org It certainly makes very interesting reading.
I have been advised to avoid quoting the names of Donors and of those
candidates who received the funding. But each of the donors and candidates name‟s, are listed on the City website as indicated above and were also published in the North Shore news. So please do not miss reading the site.
 
With the introduction of the Election Campaign Disclosure law, the public is now able to identify the donors, the funding they contributed and to whom. We also learn one developer has donated through three different company names. This new law makes it clear who benefits from the large amount of funding donated and who the contributors were. Interestingly it appears to have come mainly from unions, developers and related businesses.
 
The shocker of the election was of course the amount of $52,000 received by the Mayor, and again mostly coming from the unions, developers and related businesses. Why does the Mayor need $52,000 to be elected you may ask when his three competitors spent a grand total of just $2,348? We should be asking what could possibly be the motivation of those who donated the vast sums of money collectively to both the Mayor and his slate. After all the City is only just 4.15 sq miles with only seven council members, six of whom are part time. It‟s not
as if we are a Metropolis. There are many questions that need to be asked and the first question should be, why aren't they being asked?
 
The process of donating and funding a select group of candidates for such a small Council casts a shadow over the democratic process. It creates an argument that could saddle Councillors with the appearance of a “Conflict of Interest”. But would we ever see a Councillor excusing himself when dealing with a new development?

Probably not, but Citizens expect our Councillors to be capable, competent, ethical and enlightened managers of the public purse, unhindered by hints of outside influences.
 
2 
Regarding the amount of new construction it would be of interest to the public if City staff had a process that could provide the number of Permits issued monthly with the „total to date‟ indicated. At present one wonders if anyone is actually counting at all. The rate they are being approved is creating a serious problem. It‟s scaring people into believing the present rate of growth is growing out of control?
 
With two very large projects waiting for OCP amendment approval the effect upon the community could be devastating. Added to the problem is the cost of the infrastructure needed to facilitate all this growth.
 
Also troubling is why, despite the growth rate continually increasing, does the Mayor still insist on quoting a 1% growth rate while BC statistics listed the growth rate as 3.6% for our City in 2011?
 
Back in the late 80s we were talking about capping the population at about 60,000. But 4 years ago the City created a 100 year Sustainable Vision which is designed to show how the City‟s population could reach 150,000 by 2109. Think about that for a minute; remember we are only 4.15 sq. miles hemmed in by the District, a mountainside and the Harbour. The City‟s borders are not expanding and neither are the roads. As Citizens we really do have to start asking some
important questions. For instance, why do we accept that all of this growth is inevitable? Larger Cities may have the space to grow but we are a tiny community perched on the side of a mountain range. What would happen if a major disaster struck and the only way off the North Shore would still be over the same two bridges, but what if they were also damaged?
 
This CityShaping program is ploughing ahead with Metro Vancouver requesting the OCP be extended to 2041 for an estimated population of 68,000 people in 0,300 dwelling units. That is calculated as 2.26 people per unit. But our own City Staff is suggesting this new OCP provide for 40,800 dwelling units which at the same rate would provide a population of 92,208. In addition CityShaping staff is also advising to increase the Height of Towers to 220 FT from 180 Ft. that would be Four More Floors extending the shadows even further across the community. Why have they come up with these figures? Who is behind this? We must ask these questions.
 
A POPULATION OF 92,208 PEOPLE by 2041 IN 29 YEARS.!
 
So let‟s look at these figures and do the Math. Today we are being TOLD there are 51,500 of us in the city, but that is still questionable. In 29 years it could be 92,200, that‟s an increase of 40,700 people.
 
3 
OK if an average 180 ft tower has 18 floors with say 8 suites/floor, that equals 144 suites. Now using their figure of 2.26 /suite = 325.44 people living in a Tower.

Now if we divide 325.44 people into 40,700 people that would give the number of
towers needed for the next 29 years = 125.06 Towers, that would = 4.31 towers a year for 29 years and 1,402 additional people each year.
Towers would not be the only form of structures built during that time of course, the majority will be duplexes, coach houses and the 5 and 6 storey woodframe blocks, townhouses and Row Houses. These would be included in the 40,000 dwelling unit figures.
 
So where will the Towers be built? Metro and the City has designated the Lonsdale corridor from the Waterfront to the highway as the town centre for the North Shore, so that is where most of the Towers will be located. But by then the Harbourside project could be completed with its 800 suites,1,2,3, BRMs, average occupancy 2.26/suite, that will be 2,080 people living in front of the auto Mall on the Waterfront.
 
That project can still be stopped with Citizens’ persistence, as the OCP must be amended to change the present zoning of Light Industrial/ Commercial to Residential/ /Commercial. This, at a time when it’s the last piece of light
Industrial property in the City, and sits next to Seaspan, who have just
signed an $8 Billion contract to build Ships here. Their need for industrial
land must be determined before any decisions are made to rezone the
property.
 
It’s time for the community act and begin to ask City Hall what is really going
on; who is dictating all this growth madness in our City? Can Council at least slow
it down? Have they the tools to prevent a forest of towers worse even than the
West End to occupy our City? Just imagine all the cars idling at traffic lights for
starters. Just like Denman St.
 
From The URBAN Development Institution brochure (UDI) quote, “advocates
a coordinated and streamlined approach to the release of new land in
Greenfield areas and upzoning for higher density in existing infill areas.”
 
WOW! Where did these people come from? Who is this very self- serving
organization? No doubt another part of the developer machine expanding to the
North Shore. I guess they want to continue expanding across all of the remainder
of the Agricultural Land Reserve between Surrey and Abbotsford, where those
thousands of acres of three storey Townhouses have already spread like a
Tsunami across the fields of Surrey, Langley and Aldergrove .If we allow this land
to disappear, where will we then grow our food in the future? We need to learn to
grow our food where we live.
 
4
It all seems so self-serving, as space becomes less available in Vancouver, the
developer machine creates a demand across the Harbour in our City and
throughout the Valley. The whole industry has even created a massive Ecosystem
program called “Green Construction” with “Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design” –„‟LEED” as their rating system and graded from Silver,
Gold and Platinum levels of construction and even a further rating of 9 levels of
suite designs. WOW you can guess how the cost increases as the ratings climb.
Check out Google - Leed Systems, its boggling. It all sounds so Grand. The green
no doubt refers to the dollar rather than the environment.
 
So again we need to ask, who is driving this growth and dictating to City
Governments, prophesying that the world is heading here and demanding we
build, build, build. Our Council must realize they are being manipulated into
making the developers rich while the City is forced to absorb the ever increasing
cost of building more costly infrastructure. It‟s time Council determine how best to
respond to the pressure on behalf of their Citizens, who themselves have the
responsibility and obligation to protect the livability of their City for future
generations. There is absolutely no justification for the present and outrageous
rate of growth we are now experiencing on the North Shore. Missing in all this are
the other elements of living, like space, sky light, and green growth, areas for
solitude, views, and safer ways to cross roads. Places for children to play and
grandparent to enjoy and more seating on the sidewalks. We‟ve had enough of
buildings and cars. Perhaps it is time to close off some streets and convert them
into green spaces.
 
Density is not the full answer to Affordability. Our young people still cannot afford
to live here. If developers stopped selling to off- shore buyers the cost of housing
would decline and we could then perhaps all afford to own our homes or at least
rent and live in our own communities. But as available land within City boundaries
decline, so the cost increases and people are forced to into smaller “dwelling
units”, we can‟t call them homes anymore. It all feels as if we are being pushed
into becoming another HONG KONG of Towers, a West End of the North Shore.
It‟s time that our senior Governments faced up to the problem of increasing
Population and developed a Housing policy. Cities around the world are
expanding at a colossal rate becoming countries almost unto themselves. Our
Canadian Government seems to think it can simply keep compressing the
problem down upon cities and municipalities. Space on the North Shore is finite
the ability to expand is extremely limited but as one City councilor likes to repeat
often it‟s either „Sprawl or Tall‟, to which I usually respond “Cap it and Map it‟,
full”.

5
So if Citizens wish to have their voices heard they must participate in the OCP
discussions. Citizens need to understand that the OCP is a document that should
protect the citizens as well as their City. We need to think in terms of reclaiming
our own Official Community Plan. It‟s not a get rich scheme document for
developers it’s the Citizens Plan for our City’s Future. If it’s not for the
Citizens who is it for?
 
Perhaps we should think about inserting a „Statement of purpose’ in the OCP to
enshrine the rights of Citizens and their expectations.
 
On the Cover page of the OCP, the first paragraph describes the Official
Community Plan as such; This plan begins its long-range direction for the City with
a “Community Vision”. The purpose of the vision is to establish an overall direction
for the City that will serve as a guide and integration tool. HMM! Who created that
vision? I remember TLCA trying to be involved some 12 years ago with little
success.
 
Next paragraph, Under Community Vision; To be a vibrant, diverse and highly
livable community that strives to balance the social, economic and environmental
needs of our community locally.
On main page; An Official Community Plan is a municipality’s statement of its
long-term vision for the future.
 
So I suggest we can insert here; “It includes a “Statement of Purpose” by the
citizens of our City defining their expectations of a diverse, caring and a truly
Livable community for all and for future generations......etc etc. then we can
define some parameters.”
Quote,”An OCP is adopted by Bylaw, following public consultation and a Public
Hearing. Once adopted all other municipal bylaws and works undertaken by the
City must be consistent with the Plan”.
 
But as I see it, there is nothing in the OCP that gives credence to the voice of the
Citizens, the very taxpayers that live and contribute to the life of the City. Nor does
it include the expected ethical commitment as defined in the Oath of the
governance of the City.
 
We have been told too many times that the OCP are “just guidelines and they are
not etched in stone”. Yet citizens pay a fortune for their homes and I‟m sure the
Banks consider their mortgages are certainly etched in stone.
 
6
The next CITYSHAPING Workshop.
Saturday March 31 at 1 pm – 3.30pm
at the Legion Banquet Room at 123 West 15th.
The City has spent a $FORTUNE$. I‟ve been told $250,000, to advertise, and
promote the program Talk about our Future – the OCP. Posters on Bus stops
don‟t come cheap. Community planning has pulled out all the stops to promote the OCP this time around. That‟s our taxpayer‟s money being spent. Come and Talk and ask your Questions about your concerns and get involved at least then the taxes will not have been spent in vain.
 
If Density is allowed to increase at the present rate the need for more and costly
infrastructure such as sewage and water pipes, solid waste collection, Street
cleaning and Road repairs etc, will necessitate further tax increases and negate
the financial benefits gained by increase density. Salaries will increase for extra
City staff, Fire Dept., Police services, Health and Social services Recreation
centres, Library, Arts council, Museum, and more. Note that most of all the
preceding departments include union staff members.
 
When Council considers the amount of money donated, well over $100,000 by the
unions and the developers and related businesses during the election they surely
will ponder a moment and wonder if there could be a connection somewhere
between Density, Donations, Taxes and City expenditures?
Just to make my views clear, unions are an important and integral part of society
as they provide the standard for a livable wage for their members and for Society
in general. Unions provide a healthy balance for society, security and well being
for families and protection in the workplace. But I believe unions should have no
role in the realm of Municipal governance.
 
In a democracy everyone is equal. In City governance all members of Council
have an equal voice; there should be no room for partisanship between the seven
council members. They all swear an Oath of allegiance to the same goal,
which is essentially a mandate of assurance to the Sustainability and
Livability of the City for its Citizens.
 
7
So we must find a way to slow down all this growth in our City. Its time to put up a
sign at City Hall “SORRY LOT FULL”
 
Email our Councillors; they need to know about your concerns.
Please try to attend Saturday‟s meeting, we need as many people as possible.
It‟s your City you are reshaping for the future.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
for CITYSHAPING the OCP
Saturday 31st March 1 pm to 3.30pm
at the Legion 125 West 15 th
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Latest flash! All the property from 2nd Street to 1st on the West side of Lonsdale
has been purchased. A 5 storey building is proposed with stores, offices and 3
storeys of residential.
 
Ivan Leonard
Tlca@telus.net
 
TLCA. Statement of Purpose
......people dedicated to the further development of the City of North Vancouver into a truly livable community.............. We reject the notion that the bottom line is the only criteria for planning our community or that any one group should dominate the process of deciding what our community will become in the 21St Century. 1989.

 
Be the change you wish to see in the world.