Victoria Council unanimously supported Councillor Marg Gardiner's motion aiming to save more hanging flower baskets at last Thursday’s (Dec. 11) committee of the whole.
This comes after council slashed the program by half during budget deliberations.
The motion directs staff to work with Destination Greater Victoria on a cooperative framework that would facilitate the collection of contributions from residents, businesses and organizations to support the hanging flower basket program.
“I think it is important to realize the title of this one was also residents and businesses working together,” Gardiner said. “We have so much that divides our community, and I saw this as a way of bringing people together.”
Mayor Marianne Alto suggested today’s decision could be the beginning of a larger conversation on types of cooperation, “and dare I say branding,” for future investments in community works.
Destination Greater Victoria CEO says this boils down to a capital campaign with residents and businesses with the goal of raising $130,000.
He described how this all arose as a reactive idea to save the flower baskets which he and Gardiner had spoken about over coffee.
“It was not pushed on to our organization – I want to make it very clear,” Nursey said.
“It is something that we thought was important that with our capacity we could rally. We also organize the flower count so there [are] some links there. So, it was something that we actually stepped forward to see if we could help coordinate. What we are offering is our organizational capacity.”