Classitieds 986-6222 Ottice, Editorial 985-2131 NVD’s failure to act on housing strategy angers social planner THE ABILITY of North Vancouver District Council to conduct its business is under question for the second week in a row. And this time it is not just disgruntled aldermen who are talking about problems with pro- cess. Rupert Downing, district: social planner, walked out of Tuesday night's council meeting and later told the News, “‘l was very angry.” The cause of Downing’s anger was the faiiure of council to agree on action to implement a housing Strategy based on recommenda- tions from a community task force and its own social planning staff. “*Issues come to council that don’t get dealt with,’ charged Downing. “Are we paying wages to see pusturing and speeches made in empty rooms?” Continued Downing, ‘Council needs to recall what Keith Spicer said about’ community anger directed at politicians who don‘t deliver.”’ The staff report on housing strategy first appeared on the June 17 agenda, but was not addressed before that mecting ended. Reap- pearing on the June 24 agenda, the issue was debated for 15 minutes. An 1] p.m. closure re- quired deferral to the July 2 agenda. Ald, Ernie Crist told the News last week that he believes council meetings are inefficient and poorly run and blamed Mayor Murray Dykeman for 99%" of the prob- lems. Downing agreed that the ‘level of trust being pretty sow is one of the problems," but observed that, “The other side is that he is not getting much support.” After Dykeman cast the deciding vote against adopting eight of nine recommendations contained within the staff report, Crist again lashed out at the mayor. “For the leader to say I'm go- ing to vole against it because it is too close is unbelievable. The man simply can’t handle the job,"” said Crist. “He agreed during debate that the recommendations of the task ferce were supportable based on ample community involvement. So if vou believe in’ a policy you should fight for it,’ Crist) con- tinued. But Dykeman the council meeting that with, much division here as to how ro vo he felt that he should ‘ler this report go "7 and ask staff to ‘yo back fo the boards.” explained after mera) By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer “If council can't see how to go, how can a citizen feel confident about plans for the town,”” said Dykemaa. Meanwhile Mary Segal. a former district alderman and a member of the housing task force, was also disappointed and frustrated that council took no ac- tion to implement staff recom. mendations. “They approved the report of the task force back in December, how there has to be some sort of plan. Plans for a land fund and for certain types of seniors and family housing are just being put on hold. We labored long and hard for two years and we didn't stop at 1] p.m.,"" said Segal. Continued Segal, ‘lt wasn’t just a bunch of bleeding heart so- cialists either. We had repre- sentation from the chamber of commerce, the real estate board and ratepayers groups.”° Downing, who has received repeated public praise from both this council and the last for the quality of his reports and the work he has devoted to such issues as day care, youth work and social housing, hopes that council will bring the issue back “and give staff some direction." Ai one point in the debate Ald. Joan Gadsby suggested that the whole report should go back to the social planner. But Crist responded that without direction from council there would be no purpose to the move. “He’H just ask - What am | supposed to do with it? Take it to bed?"’ said Crist. Municipal manager Mel Palmer commented publicly that to return the report to staff without direc- tion would be ‘ta bit of a crap- shoot, actually. Nevertheless, after the recom- mendations failed to pass, ne fur- ther action was taken by council. Downing says Uhat past councils have had major philosophical disagreements but generally found away to reach consensus. “People accepted that there had to be a reasonable way forward and gat on with the job. Council, iUs time to vet down to brass tacks." concluded Downing. Ald. Paul Turner agrees. “Come and watch and sce who is being long-winded. ICs) better than Monday night: football” he added. SUNDAY Carol Crenna on home merchandising Fashion: 16 ____] Display Advertising 980-0511 Distribution 986-1337 48 pages NEWS photo Cindy Goodman Problem signs? JAY MAHONY, owner of Jay's Exotica in North Vancouver City, has criticized a proposed sign bylaw that would see certain types of signs banned from the municipality. Sandwich-board signs, like the one in front of Mahony’s 13th and Lon