Update: Alternate Approval Process for an electric vehicle charging service

The results of the Alternate Approval Process to create an electric vehicle charging service will be received at the Board meeting on Tuesday February 23rd, and we will consider whether to adopt the service establishment bylaw. The RDN received 68 elector forms from Area B electors by the deadline (76 in total were received from the 4 electoral areas). The number of responses received registering opposition to the bylaw did not exceed 10% so I will be supporting the bylaw.

I sincerely thank all of you who have reached out to me to either express your support of the project or to register your concerns. Most of the concerns I heard were not necessarily against the concept of providing a charger but rather were concerned about the idea that we won't initially charge for use. I understand the concerns. I will be bringing that topic for discussion on Tuesday and will look to accelerate the consideration of charging for use.

If you would like to read the staff report with the results you can find it here: https://rdn-pub.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

The agenda package also has other attachments about this item, including the bylaws and the certification of responses. You can find all of the reports under agenda item 10.1 at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/3nydd38k

Director's update (published in the February 3rd Sounder)

Approval process for an electric vehicle charging service closes February 15th

The RDN initiated an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to determine whether residents are in favour of the creation of a new electric vehicle (EV) charging service, as part of a mid-island project to create a charging network. If approved, one of the chargers will be placed on Gabriola. At our recent Board meeting my Motion to move the potential location to Huxley Park was supported, so if the AAP is successful the feasibility of Huxley as a location will be assessed. For the first few months the charger will be free to use, and the Board will receive a report on the use and costs prior to determining whether we should move to a user pay service. The estimated cost of the service for Area B (based on 2020 tax assessments) is $3,870, or $0.231 per $100,000 of assessed value. That means if your home is assessed at $100,000 you would pay $0.23 per year; $500,000 would be $1.15 etc. By contributing to the creation of an EV charging network the RDN is helping to address its climate change goals. There is a lot of information available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/evbylaw. If you approve of the RDN offering this service, you do not need to do anything. If you oppose this new EV service, you can sign and submit an official elector response form. The form must be received by the RDN by February 15th 2021 (received, not postmarked). You can get a copy of the form at the link above, or by calling 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111.

2021 budget

The 2021 budget is nearing completion. As has been reported in the Sounder, the Board has been discussing how we can minimize tax increases while still maintaining our services and progressing in our strategic priorities. I have recently made a couple of adjustments to the draft budget by increasing the funding to the Gabriola Arts Council from $5000 to $7500 per year, and increasing the funding to our essential service provider GERTIE to provide a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and to also fund their increased rent costs incurred by moving to the old firehall as their home base. Primary budget drivers for our area in 2021 include our community parks, which is the largest amount in our budget. This line item includes the costs of maintaining our parks, our debt payments for acquiring new parks, and projects for 2021 including a fire risk assessment for part of the 707 Community Park. The second largest line item is for our participation in the Vancouver Island Regional Library service. The RDN collects those funds on VIRL’s behalf. The VIRL budget is not set by the RDN -it’s set by the VIRL Board, which has representatives from all the various municipalities and regional districts that participate. The next biggest budget drivers include GERTIE, the Gabriola Recreation Society, and Southern Community Recreation (the amount we pay to the City of Nanaimo for our use of arenas and swimming pools). We will be receiving an updated draft budget at the Committee of the Whole meeting on February 9th. More information on the budget is available here https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks

Village Way Path update

Windley Contracting has demobilized for the winter and expects to return to working on the Village Way project in March when the asphalt plant starts back up. Currently we have temporary fencing in place for safety. The railings are in production and installation of the railings is expected to continue through the winter. This project is being paid for through Community Works Funds.

Huxley Park update

The long-awaited Phase 2 of Huxley Park development is scheduled to occur this year, including a revised parking area and new skatepark. This project is supported by community fundraising, a substantial grant from the provincial and federal governments, as well as Area B taxation. The tender documents will be released shortly with a desired completion in 2021. Actual timing of the project start will be dependent on the tender responses.

New projects

·       the RDN submitted a grant application to the province which would cover 100% of the cost of replacing the existing portable at Rollo McClay community park (which is currently scheduled for removal this year) with a new portable. The grant results should be known by spring, with a grant condition that all projects be completed by the end of the year.

·       A fire risk assessment and mitigation plan for the 707 Community Park will begin this year. In addition to being included in the Area B tax budget, RDN staff have also applied for FireSmart funding. The funding will determine the size of the area that can be assessed.

·       RDN staff applied for funding to do evacuation route planning for our area in 2021. We should hear about the grant results soon.

Other updates

·       The RDN received COVID relief funding from the provincial government. This funding is meant to offset funding shortfalls and expenses incurred as a result of COVID. Much of the funding will go to addressing RDN administration costs associated with the pandemic. I was successful in having a portion of the funding go to GERTIE to offset their revenue shortfall in 2021, and to the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Improvement District to cover their 2020 actual and 2021 potential costs for PPE.

·       Congratulations to GIRO for receiving a $103,000 grant from the RDN to support their project on textile recovery through a circular economy.

·       The Board approved next steps in development of an interregional transit connection between Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley with the objective of starting the service in 2022.

·       You might be aware that Area A in the RDN is currently undergoing an OCP and bylaw amendment to address the Nanaimo Airport land use plan. Two associated bylaws have passed second reading and there is currently a public engagement process in place for a Regional Growth Strategy Amendment. At the recent Board meeting the Islands Trust were added as a stakeholder for consultation purposes. See https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/airport for more information.

Upcoming:

• The Electoral Area Services Committee meetings are on February 4th and March 4th (1 pm start)

• Committee of the Whole (1 pm) upcoming meetings are on February 9th and March 9th

• The next RDN Board meetings are on February 23rd  and March 23rd (1 pm start)

• The next Parks and Open Spaces Committee meeting is on February 22nd (10 am start)

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related, please click the big Contact button in the top right of my website to send me a message.

Year-end Director's update (published in the January 6 2021 Sounder)

My year-end updates for 2018 and 2019 both started with recognition of, and thanks to, our emergency frontline workers and volunteers as we dealt with the windstorm in 2018 and the tragic plane crash at the end of 2019. I’m going to start again with sincere gratitude to the dedicated people on our islands who step forward in challenging times. In addition to our emergency responders and health workers who have shown such important leadership over the year, the challenges of COVID reminded us of the other essential workers who keep us connected, fed, and offer opportunities for us to feel joy  - there are so many, but to name just a few: People for a Healthy Community; GERTIE; farmers; grocery store, library, gas station, restaurant and store workers; teachers; our amazing artists; our community volunteers who do so much for our communities; and to those who reached out to neighbours to check in and offer help if needed, and to those who stayed home and helped prevent the spread of COVID - thank you! I’d also like to recognize and thank the RDN staff who have had an extremely busy and challenging year – from parks to recreation to emergency management to solid waste, we have benefited from their hard work. Many thanks to the Sounder for publishing my updates throughout the year and for their ongoing coverage of RDN news. I look forward to the next two years!

2020 was a very busy year – I’ve highlighted a few initiatives of the RDN below:

Parks

• the Village Way path construction has finally started. When completed we will have a safe, mobility-friendly path stretching from the corner of North and South Roads all the way to Tin Can Alley

• in July we received the exciting news that the RDN received grant funding of over $567,000 to support Phase 2 of Huxley Park. This will include an improved parking area and a long-awaited skatepark. The skatepark vision has been driven by the community for over 15 years – with over $68,000 being raised through the community. This project is scheduled to begin in spring 2021

• purchased an addition to the 707 Community Park, with a generous contribution from the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust and with support from the Islands Trust

• implemented changes to the parks bylaw with a focus on parks protection. The bylaw includes a total ban on smoking in all RDN parks and provides the RDN with tools to regulate homeless camping in a way that meets the requirements of the Supreme Court rulings on the issue

• implemented a temporary ban on homeless camping in the 707 Community Park until the fire risk in the park has been assessed and mitigated. Because the park is so large, assessment will occur in phases and will begin in 2021

• considered implementing Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to support regional and community park acquisition and/or development. Although DCCs for regional parks are not moving forward now, the community park DCC project is moving forward for some electoral areas, including Area B

• replaced the Spring Beach stairs that were destroyed by a storm with a seasonal metal ramp/stair combination

Environment

• continued the Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee which will provide recommendations on immediate actions the RDN can take to address climate change

• initiated an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to determine whether residents support the creation of a new Electric Vehicle Charging Station service. The RDN was successful in receiving a grant of over $162,000 to install 10, level-2 electric vehicle charging stations across the RDN. Gabriola will receive one of the chargers if the AAP is successful

• the coastal floodplain mapping project was completed. The program has now been expanded to include riverine mapping

• the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Action Plan was updated, and later in the year won an Innovation Award from The Environmental Operators Certification Program

Community

• I participated on an Area B Emergency Response and Recovery Committee which included representatives of health professionals, emergency responders, social support and transportation groups, community representatives from Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands as well as the RDN emergency management staff and the Islands Trust Trustees. This group met regularly to share information and help coordinate an on-islands response to COVID

• partnered on a grant application with neighbouring municipalities and the Gabriola Local Trust Committee to support the development of a social needs assessment and strategy. Thanks to Angela Pounds (community social worker) and Trustee Scott Colbourne for their initiative. The RDN was successful in receiving the grant and has initiated the project in collaboration with island community representatives

• received a Regional Housing Needs report. This project included consultation with community organizations across the RDN, including People for a Healthy Community. The report will inform the Regional Housing Strategy, which will include support/tool options for affordable housing

Some other work included:

• I supported a grant application by the Gabriola Local Trust Committee to investigate the potential of creating an active transportation path between the ferry and the Village Way Path, by committing $5000 in Area B Community Works Funds if the grant is received

• I collaborated with the RCMP, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and our Trustees Scott Colbourne and Kees Langereis to tackle the issue of parking at El Verano and Green Wharf

• reached an agreement for the Community Hall to serve as a second emergency reception centre on Gabriola (in addition to the Rollo Centre) once it installs a heat pump and electric baseboard heaters

• staff submitted a grant application to support evacuation route planning for Area B in 2021

• staff applied for FireSmart funding to develop updated community wildlife resiliency plans for Gabriola as well as to support a fuel management prescription for a section of the 707 Community Park

• the Board decided not to support a regional economic development service. Area B still supports economic development through an annual agreement with the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce which was renewed this year for another 2 years

• the new automated waste collection program began in October with almost 30,000 households across the RDN switching to the new system and receiving 3 new carts each. This would have been a challenge even in a normal year but with COVID it was even more complicated. There were a few hiccups along the way – thanks for your patience as things are sorted out. The pickup of unwanted used garbage and recycling bins went well with 90% of the unwanted containers snapped up by other residents! The remaining 10% were recycled

• numerous free webinars such as WellSmart, efficient irrigation, water wise gardening as well as numerous rebates were available throughout the year

• due to popular demand a new park amenity donation program policy was approved, which allows residents to make a donation to be able to place a plaque (memorial/celebratory etc) on a bench or other amenity (eg a new bench, tree, playground etc) in a regional or community park

Communications/Accessibility/Transparency

• all of the RDN Board, Committee of the Whole, and Electoral Area Services Committee meetings were webcast and videos are available online. In response to COVID, meetings were mostly held virtually through the year, which is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future

• staff implemented a new communication/emergency alert system. Voyent Alert! allows you to customize the types of alerts you want to receive, how you want to receive them, and allows you to select multiple addresses (e.g., home and work). If you haven’t already done so I encourage you to sign up at rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert or contact 250-390-4111 or emergencyservices@rdn.bc.ca for assistance in registering

·       in addition to these initiatives, I:

o   held drop-in office hours in the first few months of the year prior to COVID;

o   wrote regular updates published in The Sounder;

o   submitted a Regional Director’s report at each local Islands Trust meeting and attended IT meetings as much as possible;

o   regularly provided RDN-related information through my RDN Facebook page

Upcoming:

• The Electoral Area Services Committee meetings are on January 7th and February 4th (1 pm start

• Committee of the Whole (1 pm) upcoming meetings are on January 12th and February 9th

• The next RDN Board meetings are on January 26th and February 23rd 1 pm start

If you have any thoughts or questions about anything RDN related, please contact me by clicking the big Contact button at the top right of my website. I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2021!

Alternate Approval Process for an electric vehicle charging service on Gabriola

Reminder that if you are opposed to the RDN establishing a new service to support electric vehicle charging stations you have until February 15th for the RDN to *receive* your form of opposition (a postmark will not meet the requirement). If you are in favour of this new service you don't need to do anything.

To receive an opposition form you can get one Online: rdn.bc.ca/alternative-approval-process-bylaw-1796; In Person at the RDN Administration Office (6300 Hammond Bay Road); or by mail: call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 to request a mailed copy.

I am in favour of this new service and Gabriola receiving an EV Charger; however, I want to ensure that those who are in opposition have the opportunity to register their opposition if they choose. If you can not print a form or know someone who can do it for you, please contact me and I will assist you.

-/-

As I've mentioned in previous updates, the RDN was successful in receiving a large grant to support placing 10 electric vehicle charging stations across the RDN. To do this the RDN needs to create a new service, and needs the consent of residents to do so. We're using an Alternate Approval Process (AAP) for this for the 4 electoral areas. If the AAP indicates support, one of the stations will be placed on Gabriola. Huxley Park will be the location of the charger, pending a feasibility analysis.

Summary: if you're IN FAVOUR of the RDN creating an EV Charging service, you don't need to do anything. If you're OPPOSED to this, then you have until February 15th to register your opposition (note that your opposition form must be received by Feb 15th).

Some answers to FAQs I've received:

Will the chargers be user pay?: Not initially. The Board supported the chargers as free to use for the first few months, after which we will receive a report on usage and cost. At that time we can choose to implement a charge proportional to the actual cost of the service. The chargers that will be installed will have the capacity to charge a fee if that's the decision.

Cost: The estimated annual cost for the new service for Area B is $3,870, which equates to approximately $0.231 per $100,000 of assessed property value (eg. so if your home is assessed at $200,000 you'd pay $0.46 per year; a $500,000 property would pay $1.15 per year etc.). This estimated cost is sufficient for annual maintenance etc. and to develop a reserve for repair or replacement. If the Board chooses to start charging for use it would change the taxation support.

Why Huxley: The terms of the grant the RDN received, which will cover the majority of the cost of installation and for the chargers themselves, require that the chargers be placed on municipally owned property (note that private property, a long-term lease with a non-profit and the Islands Trust - which rents their location, do not meet the terms of the grant). The location also needs to have electricity, and to be in a location where there are other things to do. Huxley Park and Descanso Bay Regional Park are the two most appropriate locations on Gabriola.

-/-

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is proposing an Electric Vehicle Charging Service for four new public electric vehicle charging stations, one in each of Electoral Areas B, E, G and H. The Service will manage the ongoing operations, maintenance and future replacement cost of the charging stations and will be funded through taxation.

Before the new Service can proceed, affected electors must approve the "Electric Vehicle Charging Station Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1796, 2020". This will be done through the Alternative Approval Process (AAP).

The RDN Board has selected the Alternative Approval Process because it is a more efficient use of tax-payer dollars and more appropriate to the scale of bylaw being proposed - the alternative is an expensive referendum.

The Alternative Approval Process for this Bylaw will run between January 6, 2021 and February 15, 2021.

How to Participate in the Alternative Approval Process

NOT OPPOSED – if you are NOT OPPOSED to the adoption of this bylaw you don't need to do anything.

OPPOSED - if you are OPPOSED to the adoption of “Electric Vehicle Charging Station Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1796, 2020” you can sign and submit an Elector Response Form if you qualify as an elector of the participating service area (details of elector qualification are on the Elector Response Form).

Elector Response Forms will be available starting January 6, 2021:

Online: rdn.bc.ca/alternative-approval-process-bylaw-1796

In Person at the RDN Administration Office (6300 Hammond Bay Road)

By mail: call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 to request a mailed copy

Due to COVID-19 precautions, electors are encouraged to download the online form rather than collecting in person

Only original, signed copies are accepted - emailed and faxed submissions will not be counted. Submit using the following methods:

By Mail: Send your form to the following address to

Regional District of Nanaimo

Corporate Services Department

6300 Hammond Bay Road

Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N2

In Person: Drop off your form in person at 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo using the mail slot to the right of the front (west) main administration door.

DEADLINE: All elector response forms must be physically received in the office of the RDN no later than the deadline of 4 p.m. on Monday, February 15, 2021. If you are submitting your form by mail, be advised that postmarks will not be accepted as the date of submission.

https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/evbylawAlth

Nanaimo Regional Hospital District 2021 Budget

It’s budget time again, and I will again be providing more information about your taxes. In this first post I’m not posting about RDN taxes, but the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District taxes we pay (I’m on the NRHD Board). I’d like to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me via email vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca, or click the big CONTACT button at the top right of my website.

Did you know that the province expects the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District (NRHD) members (which has the same boundaries as the RDN) to provide a regional contribution of 40% for healthcare infrastructure capital costs desired for a region (the province pays 60%)? If we want the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to have expanded facilities such as a patient tower, an extra MRI machine, or a cancer care centre, we’re expected to provide 40% of the funding for the capital costs (ongoing operational costs are paid by the province).

Summary:

·       Taxpayers within the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District are expected to pay 40% of capital costs for healthcare infrastructure in our region.

·       The Island Health plan outlines $2.6 billion in capital costs over the next 15 years including new long-term care beds, a patient tower, a cancer care centre, a high acuity care unit, as well as replacement of various equipment and buildings.

·       Currently we pay $16.13 per $100,000 of assessed value to support capital costs for healthcare infrastructure. This amount is considerably lower than our neighbouring regional hospital districts (Cowichan and Comox both pay >$50 per $100,000 assessed value per year).

·       To support this infrastructure plan, and to avoid a bigger tax increase in future, we are considering whether to increase taxation up to $50 per $100,000 assessed value. This means that taxation for an average home in Area B ($419,176 in the 2020 assessment) would pay $209.59 using the 2020 assessment values (the actual amount will vary based on updated assessment values each year).

Background:

The Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board is comprised of the regional Directors for the RDN. We’re meeting this Tuesday December 8th starting 1 pm to discuss the 2021 hospital budget. This is not considered part of the RDN budget, but it will impact the overall taxes residents pay in the region.

In November 2020, Island Health provided information regarding their long-term capital plan which includes $2.6 billion of capital projects through to 2035. Based on Island Health’s plans for capital improvements at NRGH over the next 15 years, we are considering whether to increase taxes from the current $16.13 per $100,000 assessed value up to $50 per $100,000 assessed value. This amount will support these ambitious plans. Paying this amount annually over many years will prevent a larger increase in future.

Island Health have indicated the following capital projects for 2021: Long-term care beds for $122,000,000; SPECT CT- Siemens E-can dual Head for $2,680,000; ihealth/electronic health record bridging plan for $3,000,000; and a chemotherapy clinic/pharmacy expansion for $3,000,000.

The staff report (which has a useful overview) and accompanying budget materials from Island Health detailing all of the plans for new and replacement of infrastructure can be found here: https://rdn-pub.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=15086

Director's update (published in the November 18, 2020 Sounder)

Village Way project updates

As you have no doubt noticed, the Village Way Path project is well underway. To retain as many trees as possible along the pathway the plan was varied in front of the school to avoid trees – only two already-dead trees will be removed in that section. In addition, a professional arborist used a hydrovac machine to excavate around the trees to assess potential impacts on the roots. Where, in the arborist’s professional opinion the tree’s health and/or stability would be critically affected by the project, the tree was marked for removal. The project activity was slowed during this process to ensure as many trees as possible were retained. For more information see https://www.rdn.bc.ca/gabriola-village-trail.

Parks

·       I was pleased that the RDN, with the generous support of GaLTT and the Islands Trust was able to purchase an addition to the 707 Community Park. This parcel is an important addition which will help preserve the park’s ecology and the Coats Marsh watershed and riparian area. This purchase will be reflected in the Area B budget for 2021.

·       Planning for Phase 2 of Huxley Park, which will include construction of a skatepark, is underway with the continuing goal of beginning the project next spring.

·       As reported earlier, the RDN is moving forward with an Alternate Approval process to determine the support of residents to create an Electric Vehicle Charging Service. The first part of the program will include a feasibility analysis of sites of potential locations. Although Descanso Bay Regional Park has been identified as a suitable location, Huxley Park will also be considered as a potential site for an EV Charger.

·       The Regional Parks and Trails committee discussed whether Development Cost Charges (DCCs) could be a means of acquiring additional funds for park development and acquisition. The idea is that adding a DCC fee to a new development would ensure that land developers contribute funds towards park acquisition and development. A DCC would be paid at the time of applying for a building permit. I was in favour of exploring the idea further, but the committee did not support moving forward with consultation with the community at this time.

·       The Board supported my request to have staff update tables with information about what the taxation for different areas within the RDN would be if we followed a consultant’s 2017 recommendation to change funding for regional parks acquisition from a parcel tax to a value tax (population and assessment). The report suggested that equity of funding could be improved by such a change.

Emergency Management

·     Have you signed up for the RDN’s new (as of October 1st) emergency alert system? Voyent Alert! allows residents, businesses or visitors to receive messages through an app, text message, voice call or email for critical events such as extreme weather or wildfires at a variety of locations. Learn more and register here: rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert For assistance registering call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 or email emergencyservices@rdn.bc.ca

Waste collection

·       If you would like to recycle your current garbage and recycling bins here’s your opportunity. You can drop off your clean, empty containers at the landfill until November 30th, free of charge. The RDN will also be collecting clean, empty containers curbside -  leave them out the day AFTER waste collection day (on Gabriola that means you can leave them out on Nov 17th or Nov 24th) and they’ll be picked up. More info here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/used-collection-containers

Other updates

·       At the most recent RDN Board meeting Director Tyler Brown was elected as the new Chair of the RDN. I was honoured to again be elected as the Vice Chair for the coming year.

·       The Board is set to begin its budget discussions for the 2021 budget at the December meetings. We’ve already had discussions over the year about the effects of COVID on our budgets (both negative in terms of income and progress in some projects, and positive in terms of reduced expenses in some areas).

·       The Board supported my Motion to support an Islands Trust-led study on a potential active transportation connection between Taylor Bay Rd and the new Village Way Path. If the Islands Trust is successful in receiving a grant from the province, $5000 will be contributed from Area B Community Works Funds to support the project.

·       I was acclaimed as the Electoral Area representative on the executive for the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities. The AVICC represents and advocates on behalf of its members (which includes municipalities and regional districts along the coast, including the Islands Trust) on specific issues of interest.

Upcoming

·       RDN Board, Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) and Committee of the Whole (CoW) meetings are being held virtually at this time and can be viewed online – links to the video are on the RDN website.

·       The next Board meetings are on December 8th and January 26th starting at 1 pm. The next EASC meetings will be held November 20th and January 7th (1 pm start), and the next CoW meetings will be held November 24th and January 12th (1 pm start).

At this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours. However, you can reach me by email at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or click the big CONTACT button in the top right of my website.

Director's update (published in the September 23, 2020 Sounder)

Village Way project updates

The Village Way Path project is underway! Windley Contracting is bringing over equipment this week to get started, with completion by mid-December. Construction will occur between the corner of North and South roads through to Tin Can Alley. Please be prepared for slow traffic during construction (flaggers will be on site). To create the path, a few trees (as few as possible) will need to be removed along the route - Windley Contracting will be working with the Gabriola Lions to see if the trees can be used for their firewood program. Windley will also coordinate with the school about any tree removals in that area. For more project information see https://www.rdn.bc.ca/gabriola-village-trail.

Parks

·       The RDN was successful in receiving a grant of $162,222 from the provincial CleanBC Communities Fund to install 10 public level-2 electric vehicle charging stations. One of the chargers will be located at Descanso Bay Regional Park. Because this is a new service for the RDN, residents will be asked whether they approve creating this new service through an alternate approval referendum.

·       The Board approved a park amenity donation program policy, which allows residents to make a donation to be able to place a plaque (memorial/celebratory etc) on a bench or other amenity (eg a new bench, tree, playground etc) in a regional or community park.

·       The committee received a draft tree management policy for regional and community parks. The committee referred it to the Regional Parks and Trails committee for more discussion.

Emergency Management

·     The RDN is moving to a new emergency alert system as of October 1st. Voyent Alert! allows residents, businesses or visitors to receive messages through an app, text message, voice call or email for critical events such as extreme weather or wildfires at a variety of locations (eg home, school, or work locations Learn more and register here: rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert For assistance registering call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 or email emergencyservices@rdn.bc.ca

·     RDN staff will be applying for FireSmart funding to develop updated community wildlife resiliency plans for each electoral area as well as funding to do a fuel management prescription for a section of the 707 Community Park and the Nanaimo Arboretum.

·     Are you interested in learning more about the Neighourhood Emergency Preparedness program on Gabriola? I’m compiling a list of people that would like to learn more and connect with already- organized neighbourhoods on the island to better understand how we can prepare for emergencies. To learn more about the NEPP program see: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/neighborhood-emergency-preparedness . If you’d like to be notified of events such as emergency preparedness seminars or have the opportunity to connect with fellow Gabriolans around emergency preparedness please send an email to gabriolanepp@gmail.com. Your email would only be used to contact you about emergency preparedness opportunities.

Waste collection

·       The new waste collection carts have been delivered and can be used starting October 1st. The system is designed to encourage residents to recycle and use the green waste containers as much as possible. The annual waste collection fee is tied to the size of the garbage container – the larger the garbage container the higher the annual fee, but you can use a larger recycling cart for no additional fee.

·       Approximately 68% of waste in the RDN is diverted from the landfill. In an effort to further reduce this amount and move towards its target of 90% diversion, the RDN is working on a new mandatory source-separation program which will require that businesses and multi-family units sort waste into the garbage/recycling/compost streams and have their waste collected by a private licensed waste hauler. 

Other updates

·       Thank you to Trustees Colbourne and Langereis for working with me and the RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to address the issue of parking at El Verano boat ramp and Green Wharf. We will be moving to the next phase of the project, where owners of uninsured vehicles are notified that their vehicle will be removed, in the next couple of weeks.

·       The Board gave first and second reading to an OCP amendment for Area A (Cedar area) and a revised Bylaw on land use and subdivision in Area A specific to the Nanaimo airport. The revised OCP section and Bylaw will now move to a public hearing which I have been asked to Chair.

·       I was acclaimed as the Electoral Area representative on the executive for the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities. The AVICC represents and advocates on behalf of its members (which includes municipalities and regional districts along the coast, including the Islands Trust) on specific issues of interest.

Upcoming

·       RDN Board, Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) and Committee of the Whole (CoW) meetings are being held virtually at this time and can be viewed online – links to the video are on the RDN website.

·       The next Board meetings are on October 27th and November 10th starting at 1 pm. The next EASC meetings will be held October 8th and November 20th (1 pm start), and the next CoW meeting will be held October 13th (1 pm start).

·       The next Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for October 5th. Please contact me if you have any questions or items to add to the agenda.

At this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours. However, you can reach me by email at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or click the big CONTACT button at the top right of my website.

Director's update (published in August 5, 2020 Sounder)

Happy summer everyone! As we enter a period of warmer weather our forests are drying out. A few reminders: all smoking is prohibited in all parks on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands; make sure to follow the Fire Department’s rules about fires and equipment use; and please practice safe and responsible disposal of cigarette butts.

We’ve seen that elsewhere in the province, COVID cases are increasing. As you’re out and about supporting local businesses and exploring this beautiful area, please do your part to protect our community by maintaining physical distancing, sanitizing your hands frequently, and wearing a non-medical face covering when physical distancing is difficult.

To our summer visitors – welcome! In recognition of our limited water please practice water conservation during your visit. For a list of Gabriola businesses, services, and activities as well as any updates on COVID response by businesses see https://hellogabriola.ca/. For summer recreation opportunities for all ages, see www.gabriolarecreation.org.

 Huxley Park and Village Way project updates:

There’s been a lot of big news in the last month. The first was that the RDN received a grant of over $567,000 (73% of the projected budget) from the provincial and federal governments to support the development of Phase 2 of Huxley Park, which includes a long-awaited skate park. Many thanks to the community members who have worked over many years to raise awareness and fundraise to support this project, and RDN staff for their continued work! Funding for this project is from a combination of the grants, parks reserves and taxation, and $72,000 contributed by the Gabriola Skatepark Fundraising Association, including funds from Ride Free. The project is slated to begin in spring 2021.

The most recent news is that the Village Way project has been awarded to Windley Contracting Ltd., and construction is scheduled to begin after labour day this year. This project is being financed with Area B Community Works Funds – the ~$1.19 million budget includes the construction award, a $145,000 contingency fund to cover unexpected additional expenses, and $75,000 in consultant costs to assist during the project. With the Village Way path and Huxley Park projects both scheduled for completion by the end of 2021, our village core will be even better able to support active participation and safer travel for all.

Parking at El Verano and Green Wharf:

I’ve been working with our Islands Trust Trustees as well as RCMP and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff to address concerns about vehicle parking at El Verano boat launch and Green Wharf. All vehicle owners who park at these areas are requested to ensure their vehicle is properly parked and insured, as we are working towards removing vehicles that do not meet these criteria. We will also be looking at the sites to identify opportunities for improved parking signage, including potentially identifying no-parking zones to ensure that emergency vehicles have access. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about this project.

Other updates (all reports are on the RDN website):

·       The timing of Board, Committee of the Whole (CoW), and the Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) will be changed as of October. Board and Committee of the Whole meetings will start at 1 pm. The EASC will move to a separate day from the CoW – I’ll update you once the day/time is finalized.

·       Parks staff contracted an engineer to assess the weir at Coats Marsh Regional Park - following the review staff have a plan to install a second pond leveler in 2020.

·       The RDN has begun initial budget discussions. Much discussion has centred around the effects of COVID which has resulted in less revenue for solid waste, transit, and recreation. Recognizing that the effects of COVID may last into 2021, there is discussion about opportunities for cost savings.

·       New waste containers are starting to be delivered across the RDN in preparation for the October start of automated waste collection. To answer any questions the RDN has established a dedicated email address curbside@rdn.bc.ca and phone number 250-390-6501/1-877-607-4111

·       The RDN has been working on a bylaw review project to review current bylaws, identify gaps, best practices, how the bylaws can be enforced, and ask for community input on current bylaws. In the fall we are expecting a staff report summarizing options for proceeding with the review. What are your thoughts on our bylaws?

·       Solid Waste Services are working on two new bylaws – a waste hauler licensing bylaw and a mandatory waste source separation bylaw which would apply to the commercial, institutional, and multi-family building sectors. That means that businesses, condo units etc across the RDN would be required to sort waste into the garbage/recycling/compost streams and have their waste collected by a private licensed waste hauler. These draft bylaws and a community engagement plan will come to the Board in October.

Upcoming:

·       The RDN Board does not meet in August. The next EASC and CoW meetings occur on September 8th and the Board meeting occurs on September 15th. Agendas are typically posted online by the Friday prior to the meeting. At this time all meetings are held via Zoom meetings and are available for online viewing.

At this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours or meetings. However, you can reach me by email at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or click the big CONTACT button at the top right of my website.

Director's update (published in June 17, 2020 Sounder)

As we head in to summer, provincial directives to maintain physical distancing will still be in effect. As we slowly increase our bubbles and get out to enjoy this beautiful area – please remember to follow guidelines, support local businesses as much as possible, and to be kind!

As you read in last week’s Sounder, the RDN was successful in receiving a grant for a social needs assessment and strategy, in partnership with most of its member municipalities and the Islands Trust. Big thanks to Angela Pounds, the community social worker with the Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice for initiating the idea, and Scott Colbourne for promoting it at the Islands Trust and as an opportunity for partnership with the RDN. Writing and coordinating the application was a big project, and could not have occurred without the leadership of RDN Strategic & Community Development staff. 

The Spring Beach access has re-opened! The bottom section of the ramp was replaced with stairs, which allows much safer access to the beach. Many thanks to RDN Parks staff for their quick response to this issue.

On June 9th we had Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) and Committee of the Whole (CoW) meetings which had very full agendas. I’ve highlighted some of the items discussed below. Decisions at these committees will go to the Board at our next meeting on June 23rd. All documents mentioned are available on the RDN website https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos.

 The Village Way Project reached another significant milestone with the EASC considering a License of Occupation agreement with MoTI. This LOO sets out the responsibilities for MoTI and the RDN in managing the pathway. Part of the agreement is that the RDN will provide a management strategy within 1 year of the project commencing. At this time the project is still planned to begin this year.

RDN staff have been busy responding to and developing plans to address issues associated with COVID. Regional Districts are required to finalize their budget earlier than municipalities, which meant that our 2020 budget was fixed before the effects of the COVID pandemic were realized. COVID has resulted in reduced revenues (eg transit, solid waste, recreation), and some planned projects weren’t able to go ahead. At the CoW, staff brought forward a Resilience and Renewal Framework and at the July meeting we will receive an analysis of planned capital projects and options for funding, including identifying surplus funds to be brought forward to 2021 to offset some costs.

 A Regional Housing Needs report was received by the CoW. This project included consultation with community organizations across the RDN, including People for a Healthy Community. The report authors examined data on community profiles including data on income, average price of homes and rentals, and housing supply to identify gaps and potential policy or regulatory actions to address the issue. Although the report largely lumps the electoral areas together, the report highlights challenges on Gabriola including housing affordability for both owning and renting, as well as a relatively high proportion of homes needing major repairs. The report will inform the Regional Housing Strategy which will include support/tool options for affordable housing.

The Coastal Floodplain Mapping project has been completed, and included Area B. Coastal flood hazard maps will be made available to the community and will be used to update the RDN’s land use bylaws (in Area B, these bylaws are established by the Islands Trust).

Another significant report that came to the CoW is a regional groundwater level analysis for the pre-summer period. The monitored aquifer on Gabriola is currently below average levels. The report indicates this suggests a “high potential for groundwater shortage this summer”. This aquifer is also experiencing a degree of longer-term decline.

Other reports that came forward that might be of interest:

·       2019 Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Annual report addresses many interesting indicators across the RDN, including goals to protect the environment, land use indicators, affordable housing, and others.  Although Area B is not included in the RDN’s RGS because it focusses primarily on land use, Area B is included in some aspects of the report (eg the statistics on amount of parkland in the RDN).

·       A large project coming up for the RDN addressing new Public Service Sector Accounting Standards, which will require all local governments to recognize future costs related to tangible assets, in budgets. This will require the RDN to examine all of its assets to identify those which might have costs associated with ‘retirement’ (eg, playground structures, buildings etc), assess actions which will be required, and estimate costs.

Upcoming:

·       The next Board meetings occur on June 23rd and July 28th. Electoral Area Service Committee and the Committee of the Whole meetings are upcoming on July 14th. Agendas are typically posted online by the Friday prior to the meeting. At this time all meetings are held via Zoom meetings and are available for online viewing.

·       The next Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) will be held on June 22nd. The POSAC provides input to the RDN Board on community parks in Area B. Correspondence received for the POSAC prior to June 17th will be added to the agenda. If you have anything you’d like to include, please contact me.

At this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours or meetings. However, you can reach me by email at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or click the big CONTACT button at the top right of my website.

Director's update (published in May 20 2020 Sounder)

As the province gradually relaxes some restrictions on gatherings and allows businesses to reopen, let’s all remember to continue to maintain physical distancing, to support local businesses as much as possible, and to be kind!

 You’ll have noticed that the RDN has re-opened the tennis and sport courts at Huxley Park as well as the day use area at Descanso Bay (the campground and playgrounds remain closed at this time). Please follow the guidelines for use as spaces are re-opened.

 I reported earlier my intent to make a Motion at the last Board meeting to temporarily prohibit homeless camping in the 707 Community Park until the park was assessed as to park condition and fire risk, and a mitigation plan developed and implemented if recommended during the assessment. Fire Chief Will Sprogis provided a video delegation to support the request. I’m pleased to report that the Board supported my Motion. I’m not sure of a timeline for the assessment because RDN staff are busy with COVID response as well as ongoing projects, but I will provide updates as they become available.

 On May 1st a metal ramp was installed at Spring Beach to maintain beach access in this site with significant geotechnical and archaeological considerations. Once installed it became apparent that the bottom section was very steep; the access has now been temporarily closed until the site can be re-evaluated.

 The Village Way Project is still on track to begin in 2020. The construction drawings have been finalized and shared with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) representatives. The RDN is finalizing a 20-year License of Occupation with MoTI, and a staff report on the license is expected at the June Electoral Area Services Committee meeting. RDN Parks staff are currently developing a maintenance plan for the path and have reached out to the landowners along the proposed path to inform them of the proposed changes to their driveway accesses. Currently the project is expected to be paid for by Electoral Area B’s Community Works Funds (also known as Gas Tax Funds), pending approval from the Union of BC Municipalities.

 I’ve been very pleased to participate on our local Emergency Response and Recovery Committee for Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands, and many of its subcommittees. I would like to thank and acknowledge the significant contributions and leadership shown by the many community representatives from the islands – including the Health and Wellness Collaborative, first responder representatives, emergency support services, social services representatives, all of our Gabriola Trustees from the Islands Trust, and local business representative. As we continue to plan for this pandemic and now enter into the recovery phase, communication between all of these groups is important and also informs our more general emergency response. Have you ever wondered how communications will occur in an emergency? The RDN’s Connect Rocket program will send notifications via text and voice call about incidents that might impact you. I encourage everyone to sign up https://rdnemergency.connectrocket.com/

 Upcoming:

·       The next Board meetings occur on May 26th, June 23rd, and July 28th. Electoral Area Service Committee and the Committee of the Whole meetings are upcoming on June 9th and July 14th. Agendas are typically posted online by the Friday prior to the meeting. At this time all meetings are held via Zoom meetings and are available for online viewing.

·       The next Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) is in the planning phase – the tentative plan is it will be held on June 22nd via Zoom meeting with a 10 am start. Correspondence received for the POSAC re Area B community parks prior to June 17th will be added to the agenda.

At this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours or meetings. However, you can reach me by email at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or click the big CONTACT button at the top right of my website.

Director's update (information from April 28 2020 Board meeting)

During April’s Board meeting we discussed numerous items that were relevant to Area B residents, or might be of interest. To see the full agenda, as well as watch a recording of the meeting (which was conducted via Zoom) click here. I provide a few highlights here:

• The Board supported my Motion to temporarily prohibit homeless camping in the 707 community park until park conditions and wildfire risk due to homeless camping is assessed, and a recommendation received as to whether or not, based on park conditions and wildfire risk, homeless camping should be prohibited in all or some areas of the park either permanently or seasonally, and a mitigation plan developed and implemented if recommended

• The Board also supported my Motion to support the participation of Regional District of Nanaimo emergency staff in Emergency Management Recovery and Response Committee meetings when available to answer questions and provide updates to the committee, as staff availability permits [for more information on the ERRC see the link on the Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy Emergency Response Group link under COVID-19]

• For upcoming billings for waste pickup (as well as water and sewer in areas of the RDN that receive those services), the Board voted to extend the payment deadline by 90 days

• In recognition of ongoing work, the Board also endorsed the use of virtual public engagement for collecting input for projects and initiatives during the COVID emergency - recognizing that timelines for public engagement may need to be extended and efforts made to reach residents who are not online

• Also motions coming from the EASC on the RDN submitting a grant application for evacuation route planning for Area B as well as re-signing a funding agreement with the Museum were approved

• The Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (I’m on the executive as the electoral area director representative) conference which was scheduled to occur in Nanaimo and be co-hosted by the City of Nanaimo and RDN this year but was cancelled due to COVID-19, will occur in Nanaimo next year instead, with the RDN co-hosting. 

Director update (published in the April 23 2020 Sounder)

Thanks to everyone who is helping our frontline and essential workers by staying home as much as possible! As Dr. Henry said “The difference between what could have been and what has happened is because of the collective action of BC citizens.” So far we’re doing well (thank you!), but we need to keep up our efforts as long as our health experts recommend. 

I know that non-essential travel on ferries remains of concern. RDN Chair Ian Thorpe was recently a signatory on a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Premier, and BC Ferries requesting that non-essential travel be prevented on the May long-weekend, to help limit the number of recreational visitors to Vancouver Island and the islands.

At the recent Electoral Area Services Committee meeting I was pleased that the committee endorsed the RDN staff applying for a grant to conduct evacuation route planning for Area B. As we know, the islands face challenges associated with an emergency that are unique from other areas in the RDN, and it’s essential that we establish a plan to evacuate neighbourhoods or larger areas in the event of an emergency. The province has announced that the grant intake is on hold because of COVID-19 issues, but staff will be prepared to submit an application once the application period opens.

At the same EASC meeting the committee also endorsed our continued support of the Gabriola Museum – the 3-year agreement provides $16,000 per year in operating funds for the Museum.

At next week’s Board meeting on April 28th (with a 10 am start) we will be discussing a Motion I am bringing forward re homeless camping in the 707. The Motion addresses concerns expressed by the Fire Chief, and requests the Board to temporarily immediately prohibit homeless camping in the 707 community park until the park conditions and wildfire risk associated with homeless camping can be assessed, and a recommendation (from a professional) received whether homeless camping should be prohibited in all or some area of the park either permanently or seasonally, and a mitigation plan developed and implemented, if recommended. Fire Chief Will Sprogis will be appearing as a delegation. Correspondence addressed to the Chair Ian Thorpe and Board on this issue by Monday April 27th (earlier better) will appear on the agenda for the Board’s consideration and can be sent to inquiries@rdn.bc.ca or mailed to the Nanaimo office.

Please check the RDN page for the most up-to-date information on access to RDN services at www.rdn.bc.ca (click the COVID-19 banner at the top for the latest news release). The RDN also has a new web portal through which you can apply for a building permit and track its status, as well as access bylaw services https://cv.rdn.bc.ca/NanaimoPortal. Services such as access to the landfill, transit, and garbage pickup are changing so please check for the latest updates prior to seeking services.

During this time I won’t be holding in-person office hours or meetings. However, you can click the big Contact button at the top right of my website and send me a message.

Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings April 14 2020

Hello everyone - I hope you've had a nice weekend relaxing/working in your yard. Thanks to all of you in your efforts to help our essential workers by staying home and only leaving for essential errands.

The RDN’s Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole will be meeting tomorrow. Most Directors will be attending by teleconference. You can find the agendas and reports, and will be able to listen to the audio of the meeting here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/events/2020-04-14

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca

The Electoral Area Service Committee meeting starts at 1:30 pm. There are two agenda items specifically addressing Area B:

• A request that the EASC endorse RDN staff applying for a grant to conduct evacuation route planning for Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy. I am very pleased that this is on the agenda as I’ve been working towards enhanced emergency preparedness on the islands. Update - the EASC supported this - it will appear on the next Board agenda on April 28th for the Board’s consideration.

From the report: “Efficient and safe evacuation routes are needed for the movement of people, livestock, animals and personal property from an area of imminent or actual threat to an area of safety. Successful and detailed planning is the key to effectively executed evacuations when an event occurs that requires these actions. Electoral Area B has unique evacuation challenges with limited capacity of the ferry. The funds from this grant stream will identify strategies and alternate evacuation methods to coordinate a safe an orderly multiagency evacuation response for Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy Islands.”

• Signing of a 3-year agreement with the Gabriola Museum for continued support for 2020-2022. The Museum currently receives $16,000 per annum from Area B taxes, which was increased from $12,000 per year as of 2019. The Museum requested an increase to $24,000 per annum as of 2020, but I supported retaining the level of support at $16,000 at this time. Update - the EASC supported this, and it will go to the Board for consideration on the April 28th agenda.

• During this meeting we will also be discussing a staff recommendation to register a Bylaw Contravention Notice on title of a property in Area H; considering a request to approve a Floodplain Bylaw exemption in Area H; approve a consultation plan and give First and Second Reading to OCP amendments for Areas A and H; and also that the committee consider OCP and zoning amendments for the Nanaimo Airport. In all other RDN Electoral Areas, the RDN is responsible for planning functions (eg OCP and development variance requests), which are handled by the Islands Trust in Area B.

--

The Committee of the Whole meeting starts at 3 pm. Issues we will be discussing include:

• That the Board enter into Mutual Aid Agreements with neighbouring regional districts and member municipalities to enable the continuity of wastewater and drinking water services according to the Provincial Order M084. This will result in new agreements with RDN member municipalities as well as the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Comox Valley Regional District, and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The purpose of the Mutual Aid Agreements is to provide a framework by which the signatories may call upon resources of other jurisdictions if their own resources are overwhelmed during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

• A departmental operational update

Update - the Operational Update included discussion of staffing and projects. Some projects will likely need to be delayed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on staff capacity. Because the RDN Board has already approved its 2020 budget we do not have the ability to modify it at this time. Regional Districts are required to finalize their budgets earlier than municipalities (which have until mid-May), which is why you might have seen budget discussions still happening at municipalities. RDs and municipalities are asking the Province for flexibility in the normal requirements around taxation and payments given the pandemic.

Director's report (published in The Sounder March 4 2020)

As I reported in an earlier Director’s report, the RDN has been completing a parks bylaw review. This week the Board supported the new bylaw with its focus on parks protection. Among other changes, including a total ban on smoking in parks, it allows the RDN to regulate homeless camping. Unfortunately, there has been a misunderstanding about the intent of the bylaw. Some discussion seems to suggest that the RDN is encouraging or allowing homeless camping in our parks – that is not the case. The bylaw change is to align our regulations with BC Supreme Court rulings that uphold the right of homeless people to erect shelters in public spaces, including parks. The ruling indicated that, although a local government can’t ban homeless camping, it can regulate it. This new bylaw attempts to balance the rights of the homeless while maintaining our public enjoyment of parks by restricting where and when homeless camping can occur. The purpose of our parks is both to conserve nature and to provide spaces and amenities where we can recreate and enjoy nature – including in walking trails, playgrounds, sports courts and ball fields, and using picnic tables, benches, parking areas and other features. The RDN bylaw ensures that homeless camping remains at least 30 m from any park amenity, conservation area, or neighbouring residential property. This prohibits homeless camping in 77% of RDN parks. In the remaining parks, the 30-m restriction still applies and the bylaw limits camping to between 7 pm and 9 am the next morning when they must pack up all of their belongings and vacate the park.

Homeless camping is occurring in parks on Gabriola and elsewhere. Prior to this bylaw there were no limits on when or where a homeless person could camp and the RDN had limited ability to regulate this activity. The bylaw sets limits and provides tools for enforcement, if needed. Homelessness is a complex issue intertwined with issues of mental health, addiction, and affordable housing. The RDN is developing a regional housing strategy and investigating support/tools for affordable housing, and our neighbouring municipality the City of Nanaimo is also actively addressing the issue. Please continue to engage with all levels of government to support funding and services for mental health, addictions, and homelessness.

The RDN partnered with the Gabriola Local Trust Committee and three other local governments to submit a provincial grant. The grant will support development of a social needs assessment and strategy focusing on the well-being of families, youth and children, and social supports. I’m happy to see this expansion of the relationship between the Islands Trust and RDN for a project such as this, and thank Trustee Scott Colbourne for his work on this project.

The RDN is considering implementing Development Cost Charges (DCCs) as a way to address funding for parks. A DCC is a fee that is charged when a property is subdivided to create single family lots or when a multi-family dwelling building permit is issued. The DCC recognizes that an increasing population puts added demand on parks, and shifts some of the costs from existing taxpayers to the developers. A DCC program must meet specific requirements set by the provincial government, and fees to developers can only address projects anticipated to meet population growth, not current requirements. The DCC project will come back to the Board prior to consultation with developers and the public.

All of the documents I mention above are available on the RDN website on meeting agendas. If you have trouble finding them, please contact me and I can email them to you.

Upcoming:

• I will be holding drop-in office hours at the front office of the Islands Trust building on Monday March 9th between 10 am-noon, and on Wednesday March 25th between 2:30-4:30 pm.

• The Electoral Area Services Committee (starting 1:30 pm) and Committee of the Whole (starting 3 pm) upcoming meetings are on March 10th and April 14th at the RDN Building in Nanaimo/online.

• The next RDN Board meetings are on March 24th and April 28th at the RDN Building in Nanaimo/online starting 7 pm.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at Vanessa.Craig@rdn.bc.ca

Reflections on 2019

Over the last year I’ve been privileged to represent you as the Area B Director at the Regional District of Nanaimo. At the end of the year it’s a good time to look back at some of the highlights of 2019. Many thanks to the Sounder for publishing my monthly updates. And congratulations to the Sarah Holmes from The Sounder (U40 Entrepreneur), Salt & Co. (New Business), and Arbutus Home Building Centre (Business of the Year) for winning awards from the Chamber of Commerce!

We began and ended 2019 as islanders dealing with the aftermath of different kinds of disasters – the wind storm which struck at the end of 2018, and the plane crash on December 10th. For both of these disasters our emergency responders were activated – huge thanks to all of our emergency personnel – including the GVFID, ambulance, Emergency Support Services volunteers, RDN Emergency Management staff, and volunteers on Mudge Island and DeCourcy Island for all they did helping out our fellow islanders during these and other events during the year. We are truly fortunate to have such committed people on our islands.

We have made significant progress in some long-term projects this year. A few highlights:

• The Village Way path project drawings have gone through several iterations this year and are awaiting final approval from MOTI.

• In early 2019 two grant proposals were submitted for development of Phase 2 of Huxley Park, which includes a skatepark. We expect to hear the results very soon.

• A long-standing concern of past Fire Chief Rick Jackson was around debris management from land-clearing activities. To clarify options I organized an on-island tour with Chief Jackson, RDN Manager of Solid Waste Larry Garner, MoE Section Head for Solid Waste Luc Lachance, RDN Fire Services Coordinator Doug Gardiner, and RDN bylaw enforcement officer Dion Klassen.

• I am working with RDN emergency staff and the Community Hall with the goal of having the Hall identified as an emergency reception centre for the south island

An important Board initiative this year was the development of our Strategic Plan, which will guide our activities for the next few years. The Board identified eight focus areas: 1. To become leaders in climate change and adaption and become net zero by 2032, 2. To protect and enhance the natural environment, 3. To promote affordable housing, 4. To provide effective land use planning and responsible asset management, 5. To provide opportunities for effective movement throughout the region, 6. To “set the table” to promote diverse economic opportunities, 7. To improve the governance and awareness of the RDN, and 8. To make the region a safe and vibrant place for all.

The Board and staff have been very busy in 2019 – I’ll highlight just some activities I feel might be of interest:

Communications/Accessibility/Transparency. In 2019 we:

• initiated webcasting of our Board meetings to improve accessibility and transparency

• had numerous opportunities for public input on RDN strategic documents through the Get Involved RDN page

• expanded communications to residents through ads in the Sounder

• In addition to these Board/staff initiatives, I:

  • held numerous drop-in office hours through the year

  • wrote monthly updates published in the Sounder

  • submitted a Regional Director’s report at each local Islands Trust meeting and attended IT meetings as much as possible

  • regularly provided RDN-related information through my RDN Facebook page

Environment – an important focus of the Board’s Strategic Plan. Some of our activities included:

• requesting staff develop a Corporate Carbon Neutral 2032 Plan

• creating a Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee

• applying for grants and investigating creating an electric vehicle charging network

• continuing with a sea level rise mapping and adaption program and expanding to riverine mapping in 2020

• updating the 10-year Action Plan for the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection program

Social – activities included:

• increased funding to GERTIE and the Gabriola Museum

• partnering with neighbouring municipalities on a childcare needs assessment (ongoing)

• anticipating a report on regional housing capacity and gap analysis

Some other highlights included:

• renewing the funding agreement with the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce for 1 year

• initiating a regional economic development review

• initiating a review of funding for regional and community park acquisition and development

• undertaking a comprehensive review of bylaws for the electoral areas

• evacuation route planning for Area E, Lantzville, and the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation

• expanded transit hours including the initiation of bus service to the airport during the week

• Waste Management staff were awarded the Northwest Biosolids ‘Excellence in Biosolids’ Award

• staff received a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for its 2017 financial report

Through our work in 2019 I believe the Board and staff are well positioned to make even more progress in our strategic priorities in 2020. I will continue to look for opportunities to make improvements in communications and emergency planning this year. If you have any thoughts about these topics or any other, please contact me.

Upcoming:

• The next RDN Board meetings are on January 28th and February 25th at the RDN Building in Nanaimo/online starting 7 pm.

• The Electoral Area Services Committee (starting 1:30 pm) and Committee of the Whole (starting 3 pm) upcoming meetings are on February 11th and March 10th at the RDN Building in Nanaimo/online.

• The next Parks and Open Spaces Committee (POSAC) meeting is at the GAC Hall on February 10th starting at 6 pm.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at Vanessa.Craig@rdn.bc.ca

Provisional 2019 Budget

The RDN provisional budget was received by the Board on December 4th 2018.

Budget background

The Regional District of Nanaimo is service oriented and collects taxes for those services which are delivered. So for example, we do not pay taxes towards maintenance or upkeep of Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Parksville, but we do pay taxes toward the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre through the Southern Community Recreation line item. Similarly, we don’t pay taxes towards the RDN Transit system, and other Regional Areas don’t fund our Gabriola Transit System, GERTIE. Another example is the difference between Regional and Community Parks. Costs for Regional Parks are shared amongst all the RDN regions whereas Community Parks are paid for and maintained solely by the community(ies) that receive the benefit. Other services that are entirely funded by Area B include the Gabriola Museum, Gabriola Arts Council, Gabriola Taxi Saver, and the Gabriola Emergency Wharf.

The RDN funds 106 specific services. Each is treated as its own entity and is taxed and tracked separately. Any surplus stays within that service. For example, taxes are collected for the Gabriola Emergency Wharf. If the service area had a surplus at the end of 2018, those funds could not be used for funding for a community park; they would stay within the Gabriola Emergency Wharf budget and be used to offset taxes for the following year, or used to build a reserve in the fund for some future need.

At the most recent RDN Board meeting on December 4th, the provisional 2019 budget was received for information. The budgeting process began in spring 2018 and continued through the year based on Board direction. The provisional 2019 budget has an increase in total tax requisition for Area B of 13.7% over 2018. When adjusting for anticipated non-market growth (ie increasing population), the average household in Area B is expected to pay 11% more tax in 2019 compared to 2018, according to the provisional budget. This means that the average household (valued at $353,415 in 2018 assessment) would pay $319.67 in total, which is $39 more in tax in 2019 than 2018.

The entire provisional budget is available for you to review at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/dms/documents/rdn-financial-documents/2019-provisional-budget/2019-provisional-budget-summaries.pdf . A summary is below, as well as some information about the next steps in the budget planning process.

2019 provisional budget

What are the next steps in the budget process?

There is a Committee of the Whole meeting on January 8th 2019 where the Board will adjust the budget, and then the 2019 budget will be finalized on January 22nd. The RDN’s statutory requirements specify that the budget be placed within a five-year financial plan which must be approved by the end of March. The five-year financial plan will be presented on February 12th. On February 26th the five-year bylaw goes forward. Note that all RDN Board meetings are open to the public. I am reviewing the budget to understand the line item costs and looking for efficiencies.

Why is there a tax increase?

The costs of living are increasing, which has influenced the predicted cost of a number of line items including RDN staff wages (2% increase), the new BC Health Tax that employers are required to pay beginning in 2019 (2.925% of payroll), and anticipated increases in gas (8.1%), and diesel (1.8%) costs.

The largest portion of the Area B tax increase in the 2019 provisional budget ($123,900 of $189,396) is a tax to support grant applications to develop Phase 2 of Huxley Park. These grants represent an exceptional opportunity to leverage approximately 73% of the total project costs from the provincial and federal governments. This funding would be sufficient to complete the skatepark, which islanders have been working toward for more than a decade, as well as a paved parking area and upgraded electrical system. All of these are elements of the approved park master plan. To be able to apply for these grants, the RDN needs to demonstrate Board support for providing the remaining 27% of the project budget. Through the community’s outstanding fundraising efforts and an amount from the RDN park reserve fund, the additional amount that needs to be raised through taxes is approximately 14% of the total project budget. This is a one-time budget demand to support the grant applications for Phase 2 capital costs.

How does our tax increase of 11%/$39 compare to other areas?

The tax increases in the provisional budget range across the Regional District from 0.7% for Lantzville (whose residents also pay municipal taxes), up to 11.6% in Electoral Area G. Although the 11% increase is relatively high compared to other areas, the absolute increase ($39 for an average household) is lower than in some other areas, because our base taxes are lower. For example, following the provisional budget, an average household in Qualicum Beach (whose residents also pay taxes to the Town of Qualicum Beach), will see a 7.5% increase, which will result in a $52 average increase per household. The average home in Electoral Area E with a 7.4% increase would pay $49 extra in taxes. The average household in Electoral Area F would pay $57 more in taxes, and in Electoral Area G would pay $65 more in taxes.

How is the budget likely to change for Area B before the five-year bylaw is finalised?

The provisional budget is based on numerous assumptions such as regional growth rate and housing assessments, as well as assumptions about the amount to be transferred to outside agencies such as the Vancouver Island Regional Library, the 911/Fire Dispatch agencies, and to Nanaimo for recreation facilities (those amounts are dependent on projected growth and tax changes for other agencies). In addition, final numbers regarding surplus budgets in specific services, or interest earned, is not yet available. These numbers likely won’t be finalized until February 12th.

There are several changes that will occur at the January 8th meeting:

• Gabriola transit contribution (GERTIE)
  GERTIE will be requesting a 1% increase in their funding. The line item will increase to $137,078

• Community Parks
  The amount in the budget for parks was based on an assumption of $30,000 raised by our community groups for the skatepark, but as of the latest update, the groups have raised significantly more. Specifically, the parks budget line item was initially based on the following calculation:

Note that the more money fundraised, the lower the tax levy will need to be. For example, the skatepark group has raised over $42,000 to date, which will reduce the amount needed to be raised through taxes. The amount raised as of January 8th will determine the tax funding required.

I will be bringing a motion to the January 8th meeting to divide the tax levy for Phase 2 of the Huxley Skatepark over 2 years – 2019 and 2020, which will reduce the 2019 tax requirement and defer the remainder to 2020.

Budget for Huxley Park

• Port Theatre/Cultural Centre
  The Gabriola Museum has a funding agreement under this line item for $12,000 in funding per year. They will be requesting a $4,000 increase in their funding, which will increase the line item to $31,827 ($15,827 for the Port Theatre and $16,000 for the Museum).

Why split the tax increase across two years?

As stated above, I will be bringing a motion forward to split the tax between 2019 and 2020. Splitting the tax has numerous advantages:

• It will spread the tax amount out so that it’s less expensive each year

• It will provide community groups additional time to fundraise, which could further lower the tax amount in 2020

• It will provide additional time to identify potential in-kind donors (e.g., site prep, cement provider etc.), which could further reduce the 2020 tax amount

What will be the tax requirement for 2020 if the grant is received?

The tax amount for 2020 will be the remaining amount (half of the operation funded) less any additional funding obtained through community donations, in-kind donations, or RDN funding. Once Phase 2 is complete there will be operating/maintenance costs for the park on an ongoing basis, as is the case for all parks with infrastructure.

What happens if neither of the grants for Huxley Park Phase 2 are received?

If the grant for Huxley Park is not received, then the amount collected in taxes to date will remain in park reserves to be used for a future community park service (as mentioned above, the money collected for a community park service must stay within the community park line item). We would then continue to look for opportunities to move forward with Phase 2 of Huxley Park.

What has the process of community consultation been for Huxley Park?

The Huxley Park plan has moved through an extensive series of community engagement opportunities since 2013 through public meetings, online surveys, Parks and Open Spaces Committee (POSAC) meetings, and RDN Board meetings as summarized below:

Consultation process for Huxley Park

RDN Director's report (published in the Sounder Dec 4 2019)

The RDN Board held its inaugural meeting for the year (the first meeting in November is the anniversary of the inaugural Board meeting after the election). At that meeting we elect our Board Chair and Vice Chair. Congratulations to Ian Thorpe, who was re-elected Chair of the Board. I was honoured to be elected as Vice Chair of the Board for the coming year.

The Regional Parks Strategic Plan Open House is today at the GAC Hall between 5:30-7:30 pm – I hope to see you there! We’re asking for input on priorities for land acquisition or trail development, as well as your vision for the parks. There is also an online survey to fill out if you can’t make it to an open house. You can find it and other opportunities to provide input here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/get-involved-rdn

No news to report on the success of our Huxley Park grant applications, unfortunately. We’re still very hopeful we will hear of a positive result by the end of the year.

As you know, the RDN is moving to automated waste/recycling/green collection starting October 2020. The different cart choices will remain on display at GIRO through December. You can go online (through the link above) to register your choices of cart sizes. If you do so by the end of the year you will be entered to win a prize! You’ll receive the default cart sizes if you miss filling out the survey.

The RDN is revising its parks bylaws to address issues such as homeless camping, smoking and the use of cannabis, off-road vehicle use, and e-bike use in parks; as well as updating the schedule of fees. I will be meeting with staff to further discuss the draft Homeless Camping Regulations.

The RDN Community Grants Committee awarded over $19,000 in grants to Gabriola community groups. This represented a relatively large amount relative to the funds available for the electoral areas, which reflects the large number of committed community groups on the islands. Congratulations to the successful groups!

A major item in the Board’s new strategic plan is addressing climate change. As a step in implementing the Board’s strategic plan, the Board approved funding to develop a Corporate Carbon Neutral 2032 Plan. In addition, the Board approved the creation of a Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee.

As reported earlier, the RDN was the lead applicant on a CleanBC grant application to support the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. If the grant is received, Gabriola will receive one of the stations. Because the provision of electric vehicle charging stations is not currently an RDN service, the RDN will proceed with an alternative approval process for the establishment of this new service.

I’m in the process of planning an emergency preparedness fair at the community hall, hopefully in January. I’m speaking with our various community groups to determine a date that works for all. If you have any suggestions of individuals or groups that would be a good addition to the fair, please feel free to contact me.

Upcoming:
The last Board meeting for the year is on December 10th. Please remember that you can watch meetings through a live webcast, or online after the meeting if you can’t make it in person.
I will be holding office hours at the Islands Trust office on December 16th from 2-4 pm. Thank you to IT staff for allowing me to use this space.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at Vanessa.Craig@rdn.bc.ca.

September/October 2019 RDN Director update - published October 30 2019

Happy Hallowe’en! Please keep an eye out for our little trick-or-treaters when you’re out and about on the island tomorrow.

I hope you received a mailer from the RDN about the upcoming switch to automated waste collection, starting in October 2020. You can register your choice of cart sizes for garbage, recycling, and green waste until the end of December. Carts are available for inspection at GIRO until November 29th. In addition, RDN staff will be at GIRO today October 30th and again on November 27th between 10-2:30 to answer your questions.

As reported in the Sounder, the RDN submitted two grant applications early in the year to support the development of Phase 2 of Huxley Park. Although we’d thought we might hear about the decision by this fall, government delayed notification until after the federal election. Once we receive notification of the grants outcome (I hope a positive result!), we will determine next steps from there.

Negotiations with MOTI re. the Village Way Trail continue. The updated design includes curb and catch basins and the entire pathway will be constructed within the MOTI Right-of Way. At this time RDN staff are working to the plan of completing the construction by the end of 2020.

Parks staff have replaced beach access stairs at Bluewhale Community Park with retractable metal stairs and at Hummingbird Community Park with box stairs. Staff will consider whether metal retractable stairs could be a solution to the Spring Beach access site. Park staff have not been able to discuss the potential of an agreement with the federal government for beach access in Joyce Lockwood.

I attended the Union of BC Municipalities conference in September. It was an action-packed event and I attended many useful sessions. A highlight was the opportunity to accompany Chair Ian Thorpe and senior staff to a meeting with Minister Dix. We discussed the recently released draft guidelines for the use of rainwater as a potable water source for multi-family dwellings. We're pleased that the Ministry has developed these draft guidelines and we look forward to providing feedback during the comment period.

As part of emergency preparedness on the island, I’ve been working with RDN staff and the Community Hall Board to determine the steps required to identify the Hall as an emergency reception centre for the island. The Hall is currently developing a proposal. Thanks to the Board for their work on this project. I’m in the early stages of planning an emergency preparedness event for early December. One idea I’m considering is including individuals/businesses who have ideas of how we as individuals can become better prepared. If you have an interest in being included, please contact me.

Other RDN news:

• A by-election for RDN Area G to replace Clarke Gourley, who tragically died in an accident, resulted in the acclamation of Lehann Wallace. Director Wallace joined the Board in October.

• The RDN will participate in the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI) which is developing a Vancouver Island Agricultural Adaptation Strategy to address agricultural issues specific to the Island. The intent of this project is to improve our understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies, as well as support and complement other related initiatives in the region.

• The RDN will be conducting community and stakeholder consultation on the Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw amendments for the Nanaimo Airport lands. Specific dates to be announced.

• The Electoral Area Services Committee considered a staff report on revising the Community Works Fund Policy. The revisions included requiring an annual funding cycle date and a standard application form. Questions remained about how the funds would be distributed and who would make funding decisions. The committee chose to receive the report for information..

• The Board received an Operational Plan Update. This document identifies projects (in addition to operational work) underway or planned to meet the strategic objectives of the Board. Definitely worth a read!

Upcoming:

• I will be holding office hours at the Islands Trust office on Nov 4th between 11 am-1 pm, and on Nov 18th,  Dec 2nd,  and Dec 16th between 2-4 pm.

• The inaugural Board meeting for the next year will be on November 12th.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at Vanessa.Craig@rdn.bc.ca.

August/September 2019 RDN Director update - published September 18 2019

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer!

The Committee of the Whole (CoW) met in early September and considered a number of issues, which will be referred for consideration to the Board meeting held this week (on September 17). All of these reports are available on the RDN website.

• The CoW received a Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) 2018 annual report which evaluates progress in advancing eleven Regional Growth Strategy goals. As the Board moves into a targeted and then full Growth Strategy review, these metrics will be useful in setting new targets and identifying new approaches. Although Area B is not included in the RGS, regional interests such as water quality, housing affordability, climate change, and waste reduction are of interest to all residents of the RDN. 

• The CoW supported the RDN entering into an agreement with Island Health to administer a contract for a Coordinator for the new Nanaimo Community Health Network which will include Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy. The Coordinator position will be combined with the existing Oceanside Health and Wellness Network. This issue will come before the Board on September 17th.

• The CoW received a staff report outlining potential changes to the administration of Community Works Funds. Because the funds being considered are restricted to the electoral areas, the committee voted to refer the report to the Electoral Area Services Committee (EACSC) for consideration.

• The CoW considered a request from the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI) to partner on developing a Vancouver Island Agricultural Adaptation Strategy to address agricultural issues specific to the Island. The CoW supported the idea and recommended that the Board appoint a Director to serve on the committee.

• The Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met to discuss the draft DWWP updated action plan as well as the new draft guidelines for using rainwater harvesting for potable water in multiple families. The TAC is comprised of knowledgeable individuals representing a range of groups with an interest in drinking water and watershed protection, including the Islands Trust; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development; Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Mosaic; Island Health; public representatives; RDN staff; and the Board steering committee, of which I am a member. The updated plan will build on the base and success of the previous action plan.

I will be attending the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Vancouver next week. The conference is an opportunity to meet and discuss issues of relevance to local government across the province, and also an opportunity to meet with Ministers and government staff to discuss areas of concern.

Upcoming:

• The next Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) meeting, which considers issues and make recommendations to the Board about community parks in Area B, will be held October 7th, starting at 10:30 am at the Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre. Meetings are open to the public.

• The RDN Board meeting for September was September 17th. The October meeting is scheduled for October 22nd. A reminder that all Board, EASC and CoW meetings are now broadcast live online and are available through the agenda function of the RDN calendar after the meetings.

• The next Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings will be held October 8th.

July RDN Director Update - published July 31st 2019

As we head into the August long weekend I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable August! We have been fortunate so far this summer to have cooler temperatures and some rain, but the forests remain dry. A reminder to all to follow the Fire Department’s rules about fires and equipment use, to avoid smoking in our forests, and to practice safe and responsible disposal of cigarette butts.

To summer visitors – in recognition of our limited water please practice water conservation during your visit. There are wonderful activities coming up in August – some examples include the Cultivate Theatre, Music & Arts Festival; the Community Hall Salmon BBQ; the Concert on the Green; tours of Gabriola sponsored by the Museum; as well as numerous markets. Check out the Events tab on hellogabriola.ca for more. Summer camps for kids? Check out gabriolarecreationsociety.org. A new service offered at Descanso Bay Regional Park is kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals - descansobaypark.com.

We’re continuing to make progress on the Village Way Path. The Board recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Active Transportation Infrastructure (ATI) between the RDN and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. This has been a collaborative effort with other Regional Districts who are also interested in developing infrastructure in rights-of-way. The next step is completion of an ATI Planning and Approvals and Guidelines Document. Once that’s approved there will be individual agreements for each project. The Village Way Path is planned to be the first project undertaken once these agreements have been finalised.

In April I reported that the RDN was the lead applicant to the CleanBC Communities Fund for funding to build up to 10, level-2 electric vehicle charging stations. RDN staff conducted a gap analysis of the region to identify areas not currently serviced with a charging station, with the goal to encourage tourists to further explore our beautiful region. I’m pleased to report that Gabriola has been selected as a location for one of the 10 charging stations. If we receive the grant, a charging station will be installed at Descanso Bay Regional Park.

A strong focus of mine has been the importance of accessible and transparent governance. With that in mind I was pleased to support the Board in moving to webcasting RDN Board meetings. As of the July 23rd Board meeting, RDN Board meetings as well as Committee of the Whole and the Electoral Area Services Committee meetings will be webcast live. These recordings will also be available online after the meeting. For more information see: rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-webcasting

Did you participate in the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection survey or are you interested in the results? At 23% of all responses received, Area B was well represented and formed the highest proportion of results for an area within the RDN. You can download the summary report of responses here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/dwwp-action-plan-update-2019

RDN staff is currently conducting a comprehensive review of bylaws for the electoral areas. The report to the Electoral Area Services Committee, expected in late 2019-early 2020, will include an analysis of bylaws and suggestions for changes, as well as suggestions for assigning penalties.

You also might be interested to hear that a transit service expansion starting in 2020 was approved that will include bus service from downtown Nanaimo to the Nanaimo airport, as well increased service to VIU, among other changes. Initial service to the airport is proposed to be 3 days/week (Mon/Wed/Fri) every 2 hours between 8 am and 6 pm. 

Upcoming:

• The RDN Board does not meet in August

• September 3rd starting 1:30 pm at the RDN Building (or online): Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings

• September 17th starting at 7 pm at the RDN Building (or online): Board meeting

  If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca.