| He’s a man in moti

Ernie Crist
keeps NVD
council busy

Robert Galster

News Reporter
saber t@nsnews.com

CIVIC democracy is
one of those phrases
some people throw
around without giving
them a second thought.

North Vancouver District
Coun. Ernie Crist throws it
around, but can’t stop thinking
about it.

One way he tries to put the
concept into practice is ro
bring citizens” concerns before
coune? in the form of motions
or reports. Once these appear
on a agenda, council as a
whole votes to take some kind
of action on an issue.

In 1997) Crist brought
more of these reports betore
council than all of the ourput
of the other councillors com-
bined. A lot more.

While five councillors man-
aged to bring forward 23
reports for council's considera-
tion during the past calendar
year, Crist was responsible for
104 of them.

Quantity is not alw.

ive of quality, bur Crist

thinks so. He says the extra
ivity is a result of his ample
<perience and the fact

that he dedicates his fite to the
job. His reputation as a fighter
for the people also draws more
iti to him than the other

is my calling, F have

’s paid great attention to

things,” said Crist.

“There is nothing in those
motions that is frivolous.

“There is nothing in those
motions that does not deal
with the challenges we face in
our streets and our homes
within our communities.

But the extra activity does
not come without a price.
Somebody has to process the
extra workload and shape it
into a structured format that
the rest of council will be able
to make a decision on.
Although he does a. great deal
of the work him cris
needs some

“As far as the staff work is
concerned, well Pm. sorry
that’s my job,” said
just take the bull by the horns
and go.”

District clerk Dennis Back
said some of the reports take
longer than others, but added
there is a staff person in his
department dedicated to pro-
viding support to councillors.
He said the position was initial-

a halftime one, but has since
panded to a near fulltime

un. Crist just happens
that. service more
ther councillors
said Back.

But District, Maver Don
Woosaid many oof Crist’s
reports fail to ingude enough
information for councillors to

make an informed decision.
Which brings Crist to

NORTH Vancouver District Coun. Ernie Crist sees
himself as a man of the people and will continue to
bring citizens’ numerous concerns before council.

another one of his bones of

contention. Sometimes the
items he brings forward fail to
make it to an agenda. This
tends to bring his blood to a
near boil.

“[ shouldn't have to fight
for it, Just put it on the damn
agenda and let th chips: fall
where they may,” said t.

For his part, Bell said no
personal agendas inthuence his
judgement when it comes to
approving an agenda.

“Tread them (the reports)
from a council perspective to
see if all the information is
there,” said Bell.

Once Bell is: satistied a
report is complete, he will sit
down with Back and the
municipal manager and try to
plot outan agenda. The factors
that determine which items
make it include a report’s time-
sensitivity. and discussion
tength.

Beil added some items may
bypass council altogether and
go dircetly to staff for a report
because the information. con
tained within then is itcem-
plete.

“He (Crist) tinds it trustraz-
ing when other councillors say
they are not ready tom
decision” said Bell) “Ernie
would like council to make a

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decision on bis facts only.”
Bell added that once an

item is passed over one week it

takes on priority for the follow-

was a time t
Ernie telt that items he submit-
ted never made it to the agen-
da,” said Bell, “TP dant know
how it was with the previous
mavor, bur that’s not the case
with me.”

Crist. disagrees saving the
mayor is pohtically motivated
and should be out of the agen-
da setting process altogether.

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