So there's this event Saturday in Lot 1, some kind of party, protest, whatever. And people keep asking me what's going to happen. "What have you organized?" And I keep looking perplexed when they ask and finally just shrug my shoulders and say, "Beats me." Seems like a better answer than "My sock drawer."
And when you come right down to it, that's a good enough answer. See, this isn't my party, er, protest. It's yours. It'll be whatever you make of it.
Before that happens, I must make amends. Last week I wrote, "Ironically, none of the four members of the parking committee bus, bike or walk to work." My bad. Apparently at least two of them do, sometimes, bus and/or bike to work. Gentlemen, my apology.
But back to this party thing. I'll take responsibility for the idea. But in 793 columns spanning back to 1996, I've tossed out several hundred ideas, some half-baked, most even more raw than that and no one's ever had the questionable sense to actually execute any of them.
Until now.
C'est la vie. We're goin' to a party to show our collective discontent with the recently deceased Pay Parking Plan III.
Deceased? Indeed. In a very real sense, you've succeeded before you've begun. The mounting mood of discontent that's hung over Whistler since the unveiling of PPP III like a never-ending squall - okay, like this spring's weather - has been felt by our political masters. Whatever you hoped would happen in response to Saturday's turnout has already happened. You've been pre-empted by the political firestorm that raged through council chambers last Thursday morning.
In case you had to miss Thursday's 9:00 a.m. meeting - what else would you possibly be doing at that hour? - it began with an interesting, if esoteric, philosophical debate on the blurry line between money and morality. Bear with me while I briefly pose a question about the endlessly fascinating topic of asphalt. I promise to return to the more compelling topic of parking but you have a vested interest in both so hear me out.
After a long and glorious history of untendered contracts for asphalt, the RMOW finally tendered this year's call. Not surprisingly - since he's already shown a propensity for being several steps ahead of council at most junctures - the low bid was from Alpine Paving. The next lowest bid was about $170k higher.
Three councillors, including Mayor Ken who was either Skyping in from China or speaking Chinese, no one in the room was certain, favoured awarding the contract to Alpine. Their rationale was Alpine had met the conditions of the tender, including the clause requiring the asphalt to come from somewhere other than their Whistler plant, which has continued to operate in defiance of the muni's cease and desist order.
The other four were either uncomfortable giving the contract to someone thumbing his nose at the will of council, not to mention being embroiled in a growing legal battle against the muni, or they were looking for cover. A motion was made and passed to consult legal counsel - who has provided such clear and unambiguous guidance throughout this asphalt-paved trip through the looking glass - to "find out the timing of going before the courts to get a ruling on whether the tender could be awarded to someone other than the lowest bidder."
In more precise language, four councillors either want to spend an extra $170k on moral grounds or they want to be in a position to throw up their hands and say, "The lawyers made us do it."
Without colouring the pros and cons of the two positions, you might want to consider emailing them and letting them know which you prefer: save money or be righteous. Both sides have merit and we've already witnessed how persuasive your voices can be.
But back to parking, speaking of persuasive. Notwithstanding the installation of those infernal parking machines in Lot 4 this week, there will be no pay parking there for at least the next 60 days. The planned changes for June 1 are in abeyance until further notice. Lot 5, even assuming council is able to untangle the Gordian knot of from whom to purchase asphalt, is unlikely to be paved. Cue summer; let's get on with BBQ and nekkid sunbathing.
What's going to happen in the next 60 days? Rumours are, meaningful PUBLIC CONSULTATION about pay parking will take place. While it remains to be seen exactly how meaningful is going to be defined, it appears we have finally arrived at the jumping off point we should have been at before PPP I was ever launched. The concept is, well, breathtaking. Ask the public about something that's going to fundamentally impact them before you do it. Okay, after you've tried it a couple of times but let's not be ungenerous here, this is a real step forward.
And it's going to be a difficult one. There are almost as many strongly-held opinions on what pay parking should look like as there are people to voice them. Most believe some form of pay parking is a good thing - and it's almost a certainty there will be some form of pay parking in Lots 4 and 5. But many don't. Many believe there should always be some amount of "free" parking for locals and guests alike. They're not whackjobs either; they're reasonable people, even if some of them are former councillors and respected businesspeople.
So you've won the battle but the war rages on.
What does that mean for Saturday's park-in? Well, that's up to you. I've always thought of it as a themed tailgate party more than a protest. The issue of pay parking has created a collective and that collective will meet in cathartic release on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in Lot 1. There will be talk, high spirits and whatever goodwill you bring.
Rumour has it there will also be some music by Brother Twang to help you shake your booty.
But what there won't be is any real structure, other than the fact we've been "given" Lot 1 to peacefully hold our gathering.
What there shouldn't be is any real attitude. If you want to be bitchy or nasty, stay home. If you come, be respectful to our guests, be courteous and, yes, even helpful to the people running the half marathon; it'll route along the walkway between lots 1 & 2 so line the path and cheer them on.
Do not bring alcohol; we do not need a heightened police presence. If you bring something to burn, go do it discreetly in the surrounding woods. And I would greatly appreciate it if you'd pack out what you pack in. But since you won't, I'd also appreciate some of you sticking around and helping me clean up the trash. We're being responsible here folks. Let's show them we're able to effectively protest an unpopular decision without being morons about it. Oh, and let's try to wrap it up by 2:00 p.m.
See you there.
