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An obituary for a Vancouver city hall tree

August 29th, 2014 · 17 Comments

And now for a break from politics (though I expect some people will find a way to work it in even here): I noticed a while ago that one of the two big cedars in front of Vancouver city hall on the south side had turned completely brown. When I happened to ask about it […]

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311 system working out the kinks veeeeery slowly

June 20th, 2009 · 3 Comments

I haven’t had a huge response to my call for expressions of customer satisfaction when it comes to the new 311 system. But there have been a few. So far it’s slow going, it sounds like. But that is to be expected from a complex new system. I remember when the city put in its […]

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Penny Ballem’s memo to staff re cost-cutting

February 13th, 2009 · 21 Comments

And here’s the memo from city manager, as promised earlier this week From:   COV Broadcast Server Sent:   Friday, February 13, 2009 3:27 PM To:     All Staff (COV) – DL Subject:        COV Broadcast – Memorandum from City Manager – Human Resource Measures MEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY MANAGER – Human […]

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Cost-cutting memo expected at city hall by end of week

February 10th, 2009 · 28 Comments

We (my, myself and I) hear there are lots of rumblings about what the new economic chill at city hall is going to mean. City manager Penny Ballem is apparently moving at lightning speed to push the trimming plan into action asap. That means that, by the end of the week, staff are expecting more […]

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Tags: City Hall Talk

Journalism pointers: How to get information from city hall without FOI

January 22nd, 2009 · 13 Comments

I see that my learned friends over at Citycaucus noted that I recently got a list of the expenses related to the inauguration of the new Vision Vancouver city council in December. While they seemed pleased to get the information, they weren’t happy that I got it before them when they had asked for the […]

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Tags: City Hall Talk

New culture hires on hold at Vancouver city hall

December 23rd, 2008 · 3 Comments

A sharp-eyed reader has pointed out that the Job Postings section on the Vancouver website recently saw a startling change. Seven job competitions for the cultural planning department that were listed (almost half of the total 15 listings of open jobs) have now been cancelled. Here’s a sample. Notice is hereby given that Competition Number […]

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The team behind Gregor Robertson

December 18th, 2008 · 2 Comments

One of my blog readers reminded me that I forgot to link to this story I had in the Globe lately on the team behind our new mayor: Mike Magee, Bob Penner, Joel Solomon et al. Here you go, for your reading pleasure on a snowy day. Oops, realized after I posted this that the […]

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Tags: City Hall Talk

The first council meeting sets the stage for three years

December 17th, 2008 · 13 Comments

I really think there should have been a sports commentator at today’s first meeting of the new Vision-controlled council. Or several really, to handle the various rounds that ensued as council proceeded through the many motions put forward to kickstart the Vision agenda. We could have started with one of those hushed-voice golf types for […]

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Olympic village review will look at city’s options for project

December 16th, 2008 · 4 Comments

More on what the review by KPMG will provide answers to, with lots of comments by new councillor Geoff Meggs.

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The movie scene at city hall the day of the “transitioning”

December 14th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Unfortunately, all of the news coverage you’ve read or are likely to read about yesterday’s kick-off of the French Revolution at city hall (city manager Judy Rogers replaced with former deputy health minister Penny Ballem) can’t quite capture the scene down at 12th and Cambie. A couple of us got the word last night that […]

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Tags: City Hall Talk