Great policy is born out of dialogue. It requires patience and an open mind, but consultation and discussion most often results in workable solutions.
When it comes to tinkering with life in our downtown core, there is always a wide range of opinion. The epicentre of this community is a source of pride for business owners and all residents. With pride comes passion and history has taught us that dialogue about the downtown can be spirited.
On Thursday night the Nelson Business Association is hosting Nelson’s Downtown Core: Solutions from a Business Community. It’s an evening set aside by community leaders to discuss some pressing issues facing our coveted main streets. It’s a continuation of dialogue started last autumn and the association should be commended for its approach.
The three main topics up for discussion are dogs, sandwich boards and the amenity areas. All three are traditional flashpoint issues, making the thoughtful dialogue approach even more vital.
If you have been watching the Star letters page since November when the dog issue resurfaced, you know it’s a tough nut to crack. Man’s best friend has been dogging city council since the mid-1990s and finding a workable solution has not become any easier. It seems people either love the idea of returning dogs to the downtown or hate it. Finding middle ground will not be easy.
Regardless of the results of this round of dialogue, when the Nelson Business Association’s proposals are put forward to city council politicians can be confident the recommendations have been well thought out.
We all have a stake in the downtown. It’s a small town gathering place few rural BC communities can boast. We applaud the approach being taken by the Nelson Business Association and hope council follows suit by putting together thoughtful policy about the future of the downtown.
