$412K Fence: Who’s Really in Charge?
City staff spent weeks prepping a sales pitch for a fence council never asked for. If VON hadn’t spoken up, would it have passed without debate? This isn’t about a fence — it’s about who’s running the show at City Hall.
Who Green-Lit the $412,000 Fence?
The City never asked council to consider a $412,000 fence around City Hall until the idea was fully packaged and dropped on their desks. I’ve filed a second narrowed FOI to find out
who authorized staff to spend time and taxpayer resources developing this project in the first place. This isn’t about how they pitched it — it’s about
who gave the green light to burn hours across multiple departments on a project council didn’t request. I’ve also asked for a public interest fee waiver, because when nearly half a million dollars of your money is at stake, you have a right to know how it started.
The $412,000 Fence — Who Really Runs Nanaimo?
The City’s first FOI estimate was so bloated it told its own story: staff from six departments poured hours into crafting a polished sales pitch for a fence council never asked for. That’s not “due diligence” — that’s a self-initiated project packaged for a rubber stamp. And if VON hadn’t raised the alarm before the meeting, would it have sailed through without a question? This is about more than a fence. It’s about respect — or the lack of it — for council oversight, and a clear view into who City staff think is really in charge. That’s the drum I’ll keep beating for as long as anyone’s listening.
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