Director Updates

Happy summer everyone!

Even with the slightly cooler temperatures we’ve been having, we are still in an overall drought situation with its associated fire risk. A reminder that no smoking of any kind is permitted in any RDN or provincial park on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy. As conditions can change quickly, make sure you check the Gabriola Fire Department website before taking on any outside/construction work to double-check any restrictions or requirements. And if you smoke, please dispose of butts responsibly – a smoldering butt that’s not fully extinguished can create a fire. There are some yellow cans that have been placed around the island by volunteers specifically for cigarettes – please use them (and please don’t use them for trash – dispose of that responsibly too).

There are so many fun activities planned this summer to look forward to! Of course the Sounder is a great place to find out what’s happening – the Gabriola Events calendar is a great online resource too https://directory.gabriolaevents.ca/gabriola-events/ I look forward to seeing you around the island this summer!!

Please ensure you drive slowly through the village core and particularly through the playground 30 km/hr speed zone in front of Huxley Park which is in effect dusk to dawn 7 days per week. If all of us locals do so, it sets a good example for our visitors who might miss the speed zone signs.

Emergency Alert System

If you haven’t already, please sign up for the RDN’s emergency alert system, Voyent Alert. In an emergency the RDN will send notifications via phone, email, or text https://www.rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert

Enjoying parks

Getting outside is a great summer activity and we’re fortunate to have so many excellent parks and beaches on Gabriola! Please ensure you respect the ability of all to enjoy our parks:

·     Dogs: Getting out for a walk is great for you and your dog. In some parks (e.g., all provincial parks, Coats Marsh and Descanso Bay Regional Parks and Huxley Park) dogs are required to be on a leash at all times. In other parks dogs are required to be either on leash or under immediate control. Many people using the trails either have a reactive dog on leash, are scared of dogs, or don’t wish to be approached by a dog. Please help create an environment where everyone can enjoy our parks by keeping your dog properly under control.

·     Bikes: be aware that equestrians and walkers have priority on the trails and be mindful of corners. A bike bell is a handy device to warn others!

Recycling contamination

You might have seen the article in last week’s Sounder about contamination of the recycling stream. The last audit of the RDN by Recycle BC showed disappointingly high rates of contamination, which can lead to Recycle BC levying fines against the RDN. This comes on the heels of a significant fire at the transfer station at the north end of the RDN which was caused by a battery in the recycling.  I recognize that it can be tempting to throw something in the recycling bin that you feel should be recyclable (known as “wish-cycling”) but depending on what is thrown in it can contaminate a whole bin, contribute to our contamination rates, or can result in a fire. Many items that can’t be placed in your recycling bin can go to GIRO (for example, scrap metal, electronics, soft plastics, food glass, Styrofoam, batteries etc.) and there are options in Nanaimo as well. To check whether something can go into recycling, check the What Goes Where https://rdn.bc.ca/what-goes-where app or site. 

Rebate program

A reminder that the RDN has several rebates available including for: rainwater storage, irrigation and garden soil improvements, wellhead upgrades and well water testing. See www.rdnrebates.ca or call 250-390-6560 for more information.

Changes to RDN Boundaries

Recently the joint request to the province by the Snuneymuxw First Nation and City of Nanaimo, supported by the RDN Board, for the Nation to be included within the boundaries of the City was approved by the Province. Previously members of the Nation were included in Electoral Area A. The province also approved a minor boundary redefinition of Electoral Areas A and C which affects 16 properties along Plecas and Evans Roads to resolve some long-standing boundary misalignments which resulted in service challenges. This has implications to the voting structure at the RDN Board as I outlined in my March Sounder update. The RDN has requested that the province adjust our voting structure prior to the upcoming local government election; we are still waiting to hear back about that.

Proposed updated building bylaw

Based on operational experience with implementing the existing building bylaw, and requests for change, staff undertook a review of the bylaw and have drafted a proposed revised bylaw premised on the Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC) model building bylaw. Note that the RDN is still required to uphold and enforce the BC Building Code and the changes do not create a local building code. The reports are available on the May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar). I provide a brief overview below of some of the changes, and I’m interested in hearing your thoughts:

·     Optional permit pathway for remote and limited-access properties (including properties on islands without ferry access which will affect Mudge and DeCourcy Islands). The draft bylaw would change the approach to building permits for remote and limited-access properties to be an opt-in process and requires the property owner to pay for access costs if they want to apply for a building permit.

·     Moved-on buildings – remove appraisal requirement and implement a new valuation and fee approach. Currently moved-on homes must appraise at 100% of the average of the surrounding properties which has created barriers to the use of moved-on homes. The draft bylaw removes the appraisal requirement and replaces it with a simplified and standardized valuation and fee approach for moved-on buildings and eliminates the need to meet a minimum home value. The draft bylaw also proposes to charge a reduced permit fee for the moved-on portion of the structure, recognizing that it is not new construction, and apply regular, valuation-based permit fees to new construction only, including foundations, additions, and other new work required to bring the building into compliance.

·     Manufactured (mobile) homes CSA Z240 MH Series-92: the draft bylaw proposes referencing CSA Z240 MH Series-92 or newer as the minimum construction standard for manufactured (mobile) homes that are not treated as moved-on buildings. Manufactured homes built to earlier editions of the CSA Z240 MH standard (e.g., Series-86 or earlier) would remain permitted, but would be required to proceed through the moved-on building process, including professional assessment and certification.

·     Exemption – accessory buildings under 20m2: the draft bylaw proposes increasing the permit exemption threshold for one-storey, uninhabited accessory buildings that do not contain plumbing or constitute a hazard from 10 m² (107.6 square feet) to 20m2 (215 square feet), subject to specific conditions.

·     Provisional occupancy – the draft bylaw would allow limited occupancy of a building where all fire, life-safety, and health requirements have been completed, but minor outstanding items remain. Provisional occupancy would be time-limited, subject to conditions, and secured through a financial deposit to ensure completion of outstanding work. This would establish a framework that can provide certainty and consistency.

·     Owner plumbing plans - the draft bylaw requires plumbing plans for simple building permits where a qualified plumber is not retained. Where a plumber holding a Certificate of Qualification is engaged, the Building Official may waive the requirement for plumbing plans. This reflects situations where homeowners choose to undertake plumbing work themselves or use non-ticketed assistance. Plumbing errors are one of the most common sources of failed inspections and are costly and difficult to fix after the fact. Requiring plumbing plans in advance for certain projects is meant to identify issues before installation rather than after the fact.

·     Construction without permit, double permit fees - the draft bylaw includes a provision to double permit fees where construction commences before a permit is issued. This is intended to address the significantly increased staff time and enforcement effort associated with unpermitted construction. This is in line with most jurisdictions across the Province and is common practice for building bylaw enforcement. Significant staff time is required for building bylaw enforcement and under the current building bylaw and fees and charges bylaw does not have provisions for cost recovery related to building bylaw enforcement.

Community grants for Area B groups

Congratulations to the Gabriola Island Community Hall Association and the Mudge Island Citizens Society (MICS) who were each awarded $5000 in RDN Community Grants for their proposed projects. The Community Hall will restore the fir floor in the main hall and stage, and MICS will use the funds to construct a cistern shelter. This annual grant funding for community nonprofits requires grant applications by the last Friday in April each year.

Upcoming:

Our last Board meeting for the summer is this week and I will provide an additional update next week. The RDN Board and committees do not meet in August. You can see the view agendas and video of meetings at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos - click on the date/meeting.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, please contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or via the Contact Me form on my website.

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Regional Groundwater Analysis

At the June 23rd Board meeting we received the regional groundwater level analysis for the pre-summer season. You can see the series of reports under agenda item 10.3 here:  https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos by clicking on the date on the calendar and selecting the Board meeting. While the historic groundwater level in the observation wells for our aquifer (Aquifer 709) ranges from stable to moderate decline (with one increase), the observation wells this year are overall below normal with a range of 2 much below normal, 3 below normal, and 1 normal.

Grant statutory right of way (SRW) in 707 park to BC Hydro/Telus

At the same meeting the Board granted an SRW to BC Hydro/Telus in the 707 park along the road right of way. This is part of the hydro transmission infrastructure project that is currently happening as part of the BC Ferry electrification project. BC Hydro/Telus will cover all of the costs of establishing the SRW. The reports are items 7.1.12 on the June 23rd Board agenda.

Addition of multipurpose recreation facility to the feasibility study scope

A significant parks and recreation project this year is examining the feasibility of establishing a sports field on Gabriola. This project was always considered to be linked with the multipurpose recreation facility project. Both of these were identified as priorities in the Area B Parks and Trails Master Plan. During discussions with RDN staff, Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) members, and the Gabriola Recreation Society Board, it was clear that it made sense to co-locate these amenities if possible. My motion to work on these projects together was recently supported by the Board. The budget for the feasibility study is $232,892, funded by Growing Communities Funds, which is funding provided by the province to local governments for infrastructure projects to respond to community growth (ie not taxation funded).

Green burial project

Another parks project is examining the feasibility of the RDN assisting Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) in acquiring land for a green burial cemetery. The project is underway – a consultant has been hired who has experience with cemetery planning in general and green burial cemeteries in particular. I joined RDN staff and the consultants as they toured potential sites on the island. We are expecting a report sometime later this year.

Use of AI

I know that use of AI is a topic of interest and discussion by the Islands Trust. The RDN Board supported receiving a report on the current use of generative AI within the RDN organization, and to develop draft policy options on the use of AI for the Board’s consideration within a report that compares policies from other organizations.

Community grants

Congratulations to the Gabriola Island Community Hall Association and the Mudge Island Citizens Society (MICS) who were each awarded $5000 in RDN Community Grants for their proposed projects. The Community Hall will restore the fir floor in the main hall and stage, and MICS will use the funds to construct a cistern shelter.

Community Health and Wellbeing Service

The Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) received a written and verbal annual report from Christina Rajsic, the Executive Director of People for a Healthy Community, which holds the contract for providing the health and wellbeing service on Gabriola. The report lays out the work that has been occurring this year and looks ahead to how the service will support the Gabriola community. The reports are available as item 6.4.1 on the July 9th EASC meeting - https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos - by clicking on the date/agenda item you can watch the video of the presentation or access the report.

Minister Brittny Anderson visit to Gabriola

I was delighted to have the opportunity to organize a tour for Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities of BC last week. I was even more delighted that our MLA Sheila Malcolmson was able to join us, and that Trustee Elliott was able to join part of the tour. My theme for the tour was that small communities are filled with amazing people who can do amazing things – especially when the province partners with us. I wanted to highlight some of the challenges we’re facing and trying to address in collaboration with the province, some of the successes we’ve had with support from the province, as well as ongoing challenges where we need additional provincial support. The stops included:

·       I walked over and met Minister Anderson in Nanaimo and rode back across with her. When we disembarked we had the opportunity to see the ferry hill in action and the challenge that we’re trying to address. We were able to highlight the ferry hill project that is underway which has the involvement of MLA Malcolmson and the province through the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, Island Trust, BC Ferries, GERTIE, SD68, emergency responders, and the Gabriola Transportation Society. Steve Earle from the Transportation Society met us at the ferry terminal and had the opportunity to share his perspective as a member of the Transportation Society and member of the working group, President of the GERTIE Board, and previous FAC Chair;

·       From there we were met by one of our new electric GERTIE buses chauffeured by the always energetic Dinah D. Steve and Dinah had an opportunity to chat about our community bus system and the recent federal grant which allowed them to buy electric buses;

·       We stopped at Huxley Park and had a tour of the park highlighting the skatepark for which we received a substantial provincial grant. We also had an opportunity to see the village way path which was a first in the province and discuss the challenges of establishing pathways in rural areas;

·       From there we went to the Paisley Place affordable housing development and were met by Carol Hemrich, one of the Board members of the Gabriola Housing Society. We were able to tour the site and actually go in a couple of the houses. This project was made possible due to a substantial grant from BC Housing;

·       From Paisley Place we went to the ambulance station. The province recently purchased the building/land. We had a tour of the station and heard from Paramedic in charge Brent Monsieurs about the hopes for future improvements at the site;

·       Our final stop was at The Commons and PHC where we had a tour of PHC’s facilities including the food bank area, the commercial kitchen, and gardens with the Executive Director of PHC Christina Rajsic as well as PHC Board President Mary Lee Burns and Director Audra Davies.

Many thanks to everyone who participated – it was very well received and the Minister was very impressed at the level of engagement our community shows.

I’m happy to provide copies of any of the reports mentioned above.

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

·       The next RDN Regular Board meeting is on July 28; 1 pm start.

·       The next Committee of the Whole is on July 21st, 1 pm start.

·       The RDN Board and committees do not meet in August.

I held 2 public information sessions where I went over the RDN budget for 2026, provided updates on projects happening this year, and answered questions.  I've included my slide deck so you can view my slides, and I'm happy to answer any questions. 

Come and join me for an RDN budget presentation and 2026 project updates at the library on June 17th 2:15-4 pm, or on June 20th 2-3:45 pm!

We all received our tax notices recently which includes taxes owing to the province, other authorities (e.g., Municipal Finance Authority), the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), Islands Trust, and Gabriola Fire Improvement District. The RDN pamphlet that accompanied the tax notice included information about the RDN-wide budget and services on one side and Area B-specific information on the other. There has been some confusion because the RDN-wide side indicated that taxes were going to wastewater treatment as well as some other categories; however, in Area B we do not receive those services so we do not pay taxes towards them. You can see the Area B-specific list of categories is much smaller.

Below I provide information about the 2026 RDN budget for Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands). As indicated on your tax notice, to avoid late payment penalties, claim your 2026 home owner grant by July 2 2026. Apply online at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or by phone at 1-888-355-2700.

On your tax notice the following items represent RDN taxes: Area B Nanaimo (all Area B pays this rate), Gabriola Isl Noise (just Gabriola pays), Gabriola Isl Rec (just Gabriola pays), Gabriola Health and Wellbeing (just Gabriola pays), and the parcel tax for WTR/WTRSHD Protec (for the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection program; all areas in the RDN pay).

Area B assessment information

The “average” property in Area B was assessed by BC Assessment at $684,200 for 2026, a 3.6 % increase from the average in 2025 ($660,400). Average property assessments varied across the Regional District with Area B having the lowest average assessment; Area E (Nanoose) had the highest average property assessment in the region at $1,289,431. Area B properties had the third highest average rate of property assessment increase in the region after Areas C and Area A (3.8% increase) which has implications for services which are apportioned across the region by assessment.

Area B budget total and property taxes

The total 2026 RDN budget for Area B is $2,553,050 for 2026, which is a 1.7% increase over 2025 (which totaled $2,509,885). For the “average” property on Gabriola valued at $684,200 that equates to taxes of $643.62, which is an increase of $10 in 2026 taxes vs 2025 for the “average” home in each year.

To calculate your RDN property taxes for your Gabriola property: divide your property assessment by 100,000, multiply by $91.73 (which is the tax per $100,000 of your assessment) and add $16 for the parcel tax. For example, for a Gabriola property assessed at $750,000: ((750,000/100,000) x 91.73) + 16 = $703.98. Property taxes are collected by the province on behalf of Regional Districts; your assessment will include an additional 5.25% fee to the province. The same is true for Islands Trust and Gabriola Fire Improvement District taxation.

Properties on Mudge and DeCourcy do not contribute to some services such as the taxi saver program, noise control, Gabriola Island Recreation, or the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator service. To calculate the property taxes for your Mudge or DeCourcy property: divide your property assessment by 100,000, multiply by 83.34 (which is the tax assessment per $100,00 of your assessment), and add $16 for the parcel tax. For example, a Mudge property assessed at $750,000: $641.05. The province charges an additional 5.25% fee for collection of taxes for the Regional District and Islands Trust.

Regional District budgeting

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is service-oriented and collects taxes for services delivered. The RDN provides 115 different services across the region and each service is taxed for and tracked separately. Only a few services are truly regional where all electoral areas and municipalities participate, including regional parks, solid waste (the landfill), grants in aid, regional growth management (Area B participates to a lesser extent than other areas because Islands Trust does landuse planning here), drinking water and watershed protection, liquid waste management planning, and administration. The rest of the services have a variety of combinations of area participation. The financial plan has a great table starting on page 7 that lists all of the services the RDN provides and indicates which areas participate in the service.

We pay only for those services that we receive: Gabriola participates in 28 of the 115 services, and Mudge and DeCourcy participate in 24. Funds that are taxed for a service can only be used for that service and no other. For example, if taxes are collected for Area B community parks, the funds can’t be used for something else (eg regional parks or GERTIE or Descanso Bay emergency dock, or community parks in a different area).

To provide some additional examples, we do not pay taxes towards maintenance or upkeep of the RDN’s Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Parksville, but we do pay taxes toward the operations of the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Beban Aquatic Centre, and the Nanaimo arenas through the Southern Community Recreation line item. Similarly, we don’t pay taxes towards the RDN transit system, and other areas don’t contribute to our Gabriola transit system, GERTIE. Another example is the difference between regional and community parks. Costs for regional parks (such as Descanso Bay and Coats Marsh Regional Parks) are shared amongst all the RDN electoral areas and municipalities whereas community parks are paid for and maintained solely by the community(ies) where they are located – all of the acquisition, maintenance, and any capital costs for Community Parks on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy are paid for solely through Area B taxation. We do not pay towards sewage or water treatment because we don’t have those services, although Area B pays a total of $8,072 in 2026 which goes toward the SepticSmart program and towards liquid waste treatment because they receive our septage.

The calculation for regional services can be complicated. Many of the service costs are attributed across the region on an assessment basis or a combination of population/assessment. That means the increase or decrease in taxes for a service isn’t necessarily directly related to the overall budget item. For example, in a service where the overall budget increased 5% and the cost is apportioned by assessment, the increase for a particular property may not be 5% - for properties where the assessment increased at a higher rate than another, the relative increase will also be larger.

Where do our taxes go?

We pay for a variety of services through the RDN:

·   Services paid for by Gabriolans only (and not Mudge or DeCourcy or other areas in the RDN): funding for recreation programming to the Gabriola Recreation Society, the Gabriola Arts Council, the Gabriola Taxi Saver program, the Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Service (new in 2024), and noise control bylaw enforcement on Gabriola.

·   Services paid for by Area B only (and no other areas in the RDN): funding to GERTIE, the Gabriola Museum, the Gabriola Emergency Wharf, Gabriola Green Wharf, economic development (Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce), Area B community parks and halls, provide a grant to GaLTT, and have feasibility funds if necessary to explore a new service.

·   Services paid for by Area B and at least 1 other area in the RDN: bylaw (building inspection, hazardous properties, unsightly premises, animal control, house numbering), liquid waste management planning (we don’t pay for water systems or sewer but we do contribute to the Septic Smart program and planning for septage receiving), southern community restorative justice (victim services), Port Theatre contribution, electric vehicle charging station, emergency services (emergency planning, D68 search and rescue, D68 911), Vancouver Island Regional Library (the VIRL Board sets the budget and it’s attributed to the electoral areas according to the Library Act; municipalities are taxed directly), and electoral area administration.

·   Services paid for by all of the areas across the RDN (ie all 7 electoral areas and 4 municipalities): regional parks and trails, drinking water and watershed protection program (which includes water monitoring, rebates, and public education), solid waste services (including landfill and implementing the solid waste management plan – note that waste pickup is a user-pay system and is not funded through taxation), a grants-in-aid program to non-profits, regional growth management (which includes projects such as sea level rise mapping and climate change action although we are not included within the overall Regional Growth Strategy for the region), and administration.

Information in the table

The accompanying table shows the actuals for Area B from 2022 to 2026, with notes on some 2026 budget items. The table also shows who pays for each service and how the costs are apportioned.

Do you have any questions? Click the Contact Me button!

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Proposed updated building bylaw

Based on operational experience with implementing the existing building bylaw, and requests for change, staff undertook a review of the bylaw and have drafted a proposed revised bylaw premised on the Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC) model building bylaw. I recognize you have this on your agenda to provide comment. Note that the RDN still upholds and enforces the BC Building Code (as required) and the changes do not create a local building code. I have attached the staff report on this issue and additional reports are available, viewable on the May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar).

I provide a brief overview below:

• • • Optional permit pathway for remote and limited-access properties (including properties on islands without ferry access). The draft bylaw would change the approach to building permits for remote and limited-access properties to be an opt-in process and requires the property owner to pay for access costs if they want to apply for a building permit.

    • Moved-on buildings – remove appraisal requirement and implement a new valuation and fee approach. Currently moved-on homes must appraise at 100% of the average of the surrounding properties which has created barriers to the use of moved-on homes. The draft bylaw removes the appraisal requirement and replaces it with a simplified and standardized valuation and fee approach for moved-on buildings and eliminates the need to meet a minimum home value. The draft bylaw also proposes to charge a reduced permit fee for the moved-on portion of the structure, recognizing that it is not new construction, and apply regular, valuation-based permit fees to new construction only, including foundations, additions, and other new work required to bring the building into compliance.

    • Manufactured (mobile) homes CSA Z240 MH Series-92: the draft bylaw proposes referencing CSA Z240 MH Series-92 or newer as the minimum construction standard for manufactured (mobile) homes that are not treated as moved-on buildings. Manufactured homes built to earlier editions of the CSA Z240 MH standard (e.g., Series-86 or earlier) would remain permitted, but would be required to proceed through the moved-on building process, including professional assessment and certification.

    • Exemption – accessory buildings under 20m2: the draft bylaw proposes increasing the permit exemption threshold for one-storey, uninhabited accessory buildings that do not contain plumbing or constitute a hazard from 10 m² (107.6 square feet) to 20m2 (215 square feet), subject to specific conditions.

    • Provisional occupancy – the draft bylaw would allow limited occupancy of a building where all fire, life-safety, and health requirements have been completed, but minor outstanding items remain. Provisional occupancy would be time-limited, subject to conditions, and secured through a financial deposit to ensure completion of outstanding work. This would establish a framework that can provide certainty and consistency.

    • Owner plumbing plans - the draft bylaw requires plumbing plans for simple building permits where a qualified plumber is not retained. Where a plumber holding a Certificate of Qualification is engaged, the Building Official may waive the requirement for plumbing plans. This reflects situations where homeowners choose to undertake plumbing work themselves or use non-ticketed assistance. Plumbing errors are one of the most common sources of failed inspections and are costly and difficult to fix after the fact. Requiring plumbing plans in advance for certain projects is meant to identify issues before installation rather than after the fact.

    • Construction without permit, double permit fees - the draft bylaw includes a provision to double permit fees where construction commences before a permit is issued. This is intended to address the significantly increased staff time and enforcement effort associated with unpermitted construction. This is in line with most jurisdictions across the Province and is common practice for building bylaw enforcement. Significant staff time is required for building bylaw enforcement and under the current building bylaw and fees and charges bylaw does not have provisions for cost recovery related to building bylaw enforcement.

Proposed building regulation fees and charges bylaw

The fees and charges bylaw is linked to the proposed building bylaw. Due to increasing costs of administering the building bylaw and enforcement department and decreased market activity since 2023, the service has increasingly been funded from reserves accumulated over the past couple of decades. Unfortunately given the discrepancy between the funds raised through permits and the costs of the service, over $1.2 million in reserves was used to cover the gap between 2023-2025, and reserve funds are expected to be depleted by 2027. A range of approaches are possible including relying on taxation only or permit fees only, or a combination of fees and taxation. I have attached the staff report on this issue and additional reports are available, viewable on the May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar).

Solid waste DCCs

https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/solid-waste-dcc

I last reported in November that the RDN was considering whether to implement Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to contribute funds towards expansion of solid waste management in the region made necessary by population growth. At a recent Board meeting the Board supported moving forward with implementing DCCs for solid waste. This should result in reduced taxation for solid waste management for residents with the difference being made up through DCCs paid through new development.

DCCs are fees that local government collects from land developers to help pay the costs of infrastructure required to service new growth – for example, new water or sewer infrastructure, increased demand for parks, or in this case, expansions required for solid waste and recycling capital infrastructure. DCCs help ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop infrastructure to service the growth.

DCCs are calculated based only the amount of capital infrastructure needed to support new growth. The RDN has identified eligible solid waste and recycling projects that need to be constructed over the next 26 years to support the solid waste generated by new development in the residential, multi-family, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. There is a very complete background report that analyses the expected growth in the region and how it’s broken down by type of growth (e.g., single-family or multi-family dwellings, commercial etc.); eligible splid waste capital projects and their estimated cost ($127.8 million in 2024 dollars over the next 24 years); the benefit factor to new development compared to existing residents (varies depending on the project between 11.9% up to 75% with the majority of projects benefiting new growth by approximately 24%) resulting in total project costs eligible to be recovered through DCCs estimated at $30 million out of the projected $127.8 million through to 2050. Suggested DCCs range from $534.49 for a single-family dwelling and $423.14 for each unit in a multi-family dwelling and DCC rates for commercial, industrial, and institutional based on gross floor area.

Ferry hill pathway project

The RDN is moving forward with the ferry hill project with the assistance of a consultant and is in the process of organizing our first working group meeting (which includes an invitation to the Islands Trust as well as other community groups, BC Ferries, MoTT, and MLA Sheila Malcolmson).

Green burial project

The RDN has engaged a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on potential sites for a green burial site on Gabriola, and ways that the RDN can help the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) achieve its goal of acquiring a property to create a green burial cemetery on the island.

Sports field/multipurpose centre

The RDN is initiating a feasibility study looking at potential locations for a sports field and a multipurpose community facility to be located with a focus on Cox Park and the new 707 addition.

Building permit and bylaw activity

Additional information is available on each of these topics on May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar).

At the most recent Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) meeting in May we received a report on building permits issued in Q1 of 2026. Twelve building permits were issued for Area B which is similar to Q1 numbers since 2023. Timelines for issuance of a building permit once a complete application is received has been reduced and now stands at 6-8 weeks.

In terms of bylaw offenses, the RDN received 13 inquiries in Q1 of 2026 for Area B. Eleven complaints were investigated: 5 concerned building regulations, 3 were unsightly premises, 2 were assisting internal departments, and 1 was considered out of jurisdiction (ie not with the RDN’s purview). Three bylaw offense notices were issues within Q1: 1 for construction without a permit, and 2 for continuing construction contrary to a Permit, Notice, Certificate, or Order. Four animal related investigations occurred in Area B in Q1: 1 concerning an aggressive dog, 3 for dogs at large. 

In Q4 2025 there were 3 bylaw inquiries in Area B – 2 about roads (which aren’t within the RDN’s jurisdiction as roads are a provincial responsibility) and 1 animal control. There were 4 complaints investigated – 3 related to building regulations and 1 related to illegal dumping. In terms of bylaw offence notices issued – there was 1 disturbing natural park features, 2 construction without a permit, and 3 continuing construction contrary to a permit/notice/Order. There were 2 calls for services regarding aggressive dogs in Q4 2025.

I’m happy to provide copies of any of the reports mentioned above.

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

• The next RDN Regular Board meetings are on May 26th, June 9th, and June 23rd; 1 pm start.

• The next Special Board Meeting is on June 2nd, 9:30 am start.

• The next Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Technical Advisory Committee meeting is on May 27th, 12:30 start.

• The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on June 11th, 1 pm start.

• The next Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee is on June 1st, 4:30 pm start at the Agi Hall.

Drop-in hours at the library

Have a question about anything RDN-related? Feel free to drop in to the library meeting room during one of my upcoming office hours. I’m also happy to chat via phone or email, Facebook messenger, or meet for coffee. My contact information is below – don’t hesitate to reach out. Upcoming drop-in hours: Wednesday March 25 1-3 pm; Tuesday March 31 4-6 pm; and Wednesday April 8 from 5:30-7 pm.

Free RDN WellSmart workshop on March 27th at the Community Hall

In collaboration with the Gabriola Climate-12 Initiative and with representatives from Island Health and the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resource Stewardship, the workshop will include: Well maintenance and operation; Protecting your water source; Water testing and treatment; Water treatment options; and Drought management. To register, please send an email to watersmart@rdn.bc.ca with "Registration for Gabriola WellSmart Workshop" in the subject line.

Electric vehicle charger at the Community Hall

When the EV Chargers were installed in areas across the RDN (funded by a grant), I supported a request to receive a report after they had been functioning for a while to better understand their usage and costs (e.g., for maintenance). Recently we added to that by requesting additional information about how the service might be modified if an EV Charger was vandalized or ceased functioning.

Recently there was a question about how the location of the EV Charger was decided upon. This was a fairly lengthy process that included me providing updates and asking the community for input via Sounder articles which resulted in quite a bit of input from the community, it was discussed at the Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee, and I discussed it with the Islands Trust Trustees and various community groups. The terms of the grant initially were that it had to be installed on property owned by the RDN and later was adjusted to allow installation at locations where a non-profit owned the land and was willing to enter into an agreement with the RDN. Any location needed sufficient space, electricity, and preferably be in a visible area where people might take the opportunity to charge while engaged in activities. Because most EV drivers have the ability to charge at home, this was always recognized as an opportunity to expand the charging network into unserviced areas for visitors, or people who are out and about. Initially we considered Huxley Park – this was back when the skatepark and parking redevelopment for Huxley was being envisioned. Because the agreement with the Islands Trust limited the number of parking spots at the park, there was concern that installing an EV charger could result in less parking for people using the park. The Folklife Village manager asked me where we might consider placing an EV charger because if, in the future the Village expanded, they’d be required to put in EV chargers and he would place them away from any chargers at Huxley Park. Because of the parking difficulty, the existence of the EV chargers at Mad Rona Marketplace, and the likelihood of additional chargers being located in the village core in the future, I felt the village seemed fairly well served. The addition of chargers at the Mid Island Co-op Gas Station I think affirms that. Next we considered placing the charger at Descanso Bay Regional Park, but the redevelopment of the park operator kiosk resulted in insufficient space. In addition, the park, while busy in the summer, is less busy in the winter. Around the same time, the Gabriola Community Hall Board asked me about the chargers we were installing because they were thinking of putting one in. The Community Hall was chosen because it provides charging infrastructure in a location under-served on the island, is in a visible location, and provides an opportunity to charge while engaged in activities at the community hall or in the area. I look forward to receiving information later this year about how the EV charger at the Community Hall is being used.

Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC)

The Area B POSAC is an RDN advisory group of volunteers from our communities who meet three times a year to provide input on parks issues in Area B. During the meeting on February 9th:

·       We received a delegation who requested that the RDN develop and maintain a 30'x60' equestrian arena at Rollo McClay Park. The Committee noted that the idea was not raised during the 2+ year recreation master plan process. The focus for the parks projects for at least the next two years is on priorities identified during the master plan process, specifically a soccer field, potential multipurpose facility, ferry hill path, and Mudge Island boat launch. However, it will remain on a list of projects that may be considered in future.

·       We received a delegation from representatives from the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) requesting that the RDN undertake a feasibility study on how the RDN could support GIMS in acquiring land for a green burial cemetery on Gabriola. The Board recently supported my Motion requesting a feasibility study, which will look at options for the RDN to donate land to GIMS. Importantly at this point it is not under consideration that the RDN will take on management of the cemetery, rather assist GIMS in acquiring land.

·       We received correspondence requesting changes to Petroglyph Trail boardwalk to improve horse access. Discussion focussed on the fact that boardwalks are typically installed where it is very wet in an effort to protect the environment. A boardwalk sufficient to support horse use would require much greater support structures. The RDN will follow up in collaboration with GaLTT to look at the site to determine possibilities.

Potential change in voting structure at the RDN Board

The number of Directors and their voting strength at the Board table generally reflects the relative population size of the area. It's more sensitive to municipal populations because electoral areas only have maximum 1 representative, no matter the population size. Currently, the voting strength of an area is determined by dividing the population by 2,500 and rounding up. When the voting strength exceeds 5 (the maximum), then additional representatives are added (except if an electoral area). Currently the RDN Board includes 19 Directors: 8 appointed by the City of Nanaimo (of the 9 elected Councillors, so the City has 1 Alternate to fill in if a Director is absent), 2 appointed by Parksville, 1 appointed for each of Qualicum Beach and Lantzville, and 1 Electoral Area Director for each of the 7 electoral areas. Each of Nanaimo's 8 representatives is currently at maximum voting strength (5). Area B currently has a voting strength of 2 (compared to Nanaimo's 40). The 2026 census is expected to result in an increase in population across the region, with a noticeable impact in Nanaimo. Population projections indicate that as of 2027 Nanaimo would require 10 representatives on the RDN Board, exceeding the current size of their Council, and by 2041 with the current calculations, Nanaimo would require 11 Directors, increasing the size of the RDN Board to 21. We had a very interesting discussion at recent Committee of the Whole and Board meetings where we discussed options to address this. The province is interested in solutions that will be long-term and not require additional changes within the next 20 years or so. Our goals emerged as keeping the Board size and composition similar to what we have currently and keeping the population increments close to current. Our models included looking at potential changes if the current Alternative Approval Process about including Snuneymuxw First Nation 1, 2, 3, and 4 reserve lands within city boundaries which will increase the population of the City of Nanaimo and reduce the population in Electoral Area such that they would lose voting strength. The solution of the Board, which we will send to the municipalities and First Nations for input included increasing the population increment to 2,600 and changing the voting strength to 6.7. With that solution, the City of Nanaimo would initially drop to 7 Directors on the Board (which would reduce the Board size to 18) but is projected to increase back to 8 by 2041.

AVICC resolution on building affordable small homes

As reported earlier in the Gabriola Sounder, my Board-endorsed resolution focussed on how the building code affects affordability of building small homes will be debated at the April convention of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC). The enactment clause reads “Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada engage a qualified, independent third party to undertake a cost-benefit review of the Building Code’s impacts on affordability, safety, and energy efficiency for single-storey residential homes and accessory buildings under 1000 ft2/93 m2 and investigate the potential for a simplified rural building standard/alternative compliance pathway for small homes under 1000 ft2/93 m2 that meets safety, climate, and seismic resilience requirements in a less complex and therefore more affordable way, while still ensuring safety.” The building code adds costs disproportionately to small homes without the resulting benefit in lessening either greenhouse gases or lessening seismic risk. The goal is to have the building code reflect more closely the actual risk which should result in reduced costs to build a small single-family home. If endorsed the resolution would move forward to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention in September.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything RDN-related, please contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or 250-741-4589.

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Thank you for inviting me to join the special meeting on March 23rd focussed on the Freshwater Footprint Project pilot – it was so interesting and it’s very exciting to hear about the great data to share and that can help inform planning.

Opportunities

·       There’s a free home draft-proofing workshop at the Gabriola library this Saturday from 1:15-3 pm provided by the RDN, Carbon Wise, and Gabriola’s Sustainable Energy Co-op. No registration required!

·       The RDN has a free Home Energy Navigator Program. Working with a person who can help you navigate options, you can explore options for energy efficiency upgrades, understand available rebates, and compare contractor quotes. You can find information at www.homeenergynav.ca or call 1-866-381-9995.

Hamilton Marsh Regional Park

The RDN purchase of Hamilton Marsh as a regional park and protected area is now complete. The purchase involved partnering with the Nature Trust of BC and the Sitka Foundation, as well as the provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and the Government of Canada. This ensures that this beautiful 360 ha area with its productive marsh and surrounding mature Douglas-fir forest is protected in perpetuity. It joins Coats Marsh Regional Park and Little Qualicum River Estuary Conservation Area as regional parks acquired primarily for conservation purposes.

Parks projects for 2026

·   The RDN has identified a consultant to start work on the ferry hill connector project. Aplin & Martin is working with the RDN on a few active transportation projects as well. As a first step there will be a LiDAR survey of the area to get high quality updated information on the roadway. In the next few weeks we will also be establishing the working group which will include invitations to BC Ferries, MoTT, and the Gabriola Transportation Committee as well as others.

·       I joined members of the Gabriola Recreation Society Board and staff in a tour of a variety of recreation facilities in the region, organized by RDN recreation staff. The tour was to get a look at a variety of types of recreation facilities reflecting a range in size and operational approaches, hear from the programmers, and get some ideas of things to think about as we consider a future multipurpose recreational facility. There will be community engagement as part of this project as well – through the parks and recreation master plan as well as your OCP engagement I feel we have some good information as a starting point.

Parks DCCs

Since 2022 Area B has had a parks Development Cost Charge (DCC) program in place; these are fees that are collected from land developers, on a user pay basis, to help fund the cost of new park infrastructure to service new development. Applicants for subdivision approval to create single family lots and for building permits to construct multi-family development are subject to DCCs. We are working on a bylaw to waive 50% of DCCs for non-profit affordable rental housing. To ensure that this affordable rental housing remains so in perpetuity, RDN staff are working with the Islands Trust staff to explore what it could look like to have the DCC waiver linked to a housing covenant/agreement between the developer and the Islands Trust.

Building permit and bylaw activity

In March we received a staff report which provided updates on building permit activity and bylaw services update. In Q4 of 2025 16 building permits were issued in Area B, down from 29 in 2024, but similar to previous years. Overall in 2025 65 building permits were issued in Area B compared to 71 in 2024, 52 in 2023, and 85 in 2022. In many areas across the RDN the number of building permits issued hit a low in 2023 with increases since then; however, the numbers are still not at the pre-2023 level.

In Q4 2025 there were 3 bylaw inquiries in Area B – 2 about roads (which aren’t within the RDN’s jurisdiction as roads are a provincial responsibility) and 1 animal control. There were 4 complaints investigated – 3 related to building regulations and 1 related to illegal dumping. In terms of bylaw offence notices issued – there was 1 disturbing natural park features, 2 construction without a permit, and 3 continuing construction contrary to a permit/notice/Order. There were 2 calls for services regarding aggressive dogs in Q4 2025.

These reports are available on the March 5th Electoral Area Services Committee agenda (agenda items 9.1 and 10.1).

I’m happy to provide copies of any of the reports mentioned above.

UBCM advocacy

I’m now on the Board of the Union of BC Municipalities as the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) representative. This week we’re in Victoria meeting with Ministers and MLA on a variety of advocacy priorities. Some of the priorities we’re addressing include:

·       There’s a pattern over the last few years where the province has brought forward legislation that adds new and substantial work to local governments without matching support, resources, or funding. A recent example is the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. We’re asking for additional resources to enable local governments to meet the new responsibilities

·       Funding for FireSmart has run out and we’re advocating for continuation of this funding. We know the importance of having a FireSmart Coordinator and program – every dollar spent on preventative FireSmart activities saves $7-$13 in recovery costs.

·       Development finance tools like Development Cost Charges (DCCs) allow local governments to ensure that growth pays for growth – that new developments fund core capital infrastructure that need to be developed to provide services to the expanded population. The only other funding available for local governments is property taxation and borrowing.  DCCs exist in a stringent framework from the province that specifies the type of projects that are eligible for DCCs. The amount of a DCC is based solely on the portion of the project necessary to service growth (so improving infrastructure for existing population is not eligible). In Area B we have DCCs for parks and are considering DCCs for solid waste. A new federal infrastructure grant program is tying access to funding with a commitment for local governments to cut DCCs by 50%; we’re asking the province to push against federal plans to override development finance tools.

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

·       The next RDN Board meetings are on April 28th, May 12th, and May 26th; 1 pm start.

·       The next Committee of the Whole is on May 19th, 1 pm start.

·       The next Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board meeting is on May 12th; 11 am start.

·       The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on May 7th, 1 pm start.

·       The next Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee is on June 1st, 4:30 pm start at the Agi Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Vanessa Craig 

Drop-in Hours at the Library

Have a question about anything RDN-related? Feel free to drop in the library during one of my upcoming office hours. In addition I’m happy to chat via phone or email, Facebook messenger, or meet for coffee. My contact information is below – don’t hesitate to reach out. Upcoming drop-in hours: Wednesday March 25 1-3 pm; Tuesday March 31 4-6 pm; and Wednesday April 8 from 5:30-7 pm.

Electric Vehicle Charger at the Community Hall

When the EV Chargers were installed in areas across the RDN (funded by a grant), I supported a request to receive a report after they had been functioning for a while to better understand their usage and costs (e.g., for maintenance). Recently we added to that by requesting additional information about how the service might be modified if an EV Charger was vandalized or ceased functioning. I look forward to receiving that information later this year.

Recently there was a question about how the location of the EV Charger was decided upon. This was a fairly lengthy process that included me providing updates and asking the community for input via Sounder articles, it was discussed at the Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee, and I discussed it with the Islands Trust Trustees. I received quite a bit of input from the community. The terms of the grant initially were that it had to be installed on property owned by the RDN and later was adjusted to allow installation at locations where a non-profit owned the land and was willing to enter into an agreement with the RDN. Because most EV drivers have the ability to charge at home, this was always recognized as an opportunity to expand the charging network into unserviced areas for visitors, or people who are out and about. Initially we considered Huxley Park – this was back when the skatepark and parking redevelopment for Huxley was being envisioned. Because the agreement with the Islands Trust limited the number of parking spots at the park, there was concern about installing an EV charger there which could result in less parking for people actually using the park. The Folklife Village manager asked me where we might consider placing an EV charger because if, in the future, the Village expanded, they’d be required to put in EV chargers and he would place them away from any chargers at Huxley Park. Because of the parking difficulty, the existence of the EV chargers at Mad Rona Marketplace, and the likelihood of additional chargers being located in the village core in the future, I felt the village seemed fairly well served. The addition of chargers at the Mid Island Co-op Gas Station I think reaffirms that. Next we considered placing the charger at Descanso Bay Regional Park, but the redevelopment of the

The Area B Parks and Gabriola Recreation Plan is complete and will guide work for the next few years. If you’d like to read the master plan or the background documents you can find it here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. In addition to ongoing maintenance, three other projects have been identified for 2026 which emerged through the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as priority items:

·  Feasibility of a safer pathway along ferry hill for pedestrians and cyclists. This project will start in 2026 working with a consultant to assess the area and identify options. While roads are the responsibility of the province (through the Ministry of Transportation and Transit; MoTT) in electoral areas across the province, we will look at what can be accomplished to improve safety along the ferry hill. Any work will need to occur in collaboration with MoTT and ensuring the Islands Trust, our MLA Sheila Malcolmson, BC Ferries. and community members are kept informed and consulted. I’ll provide updates as we move through the process.

·  Work to identify a potential location for a future multipurpose facility and/or soccer field. Both of these items were identified through the Master Plan process as priority items for the community.

·  Mudge Island cartop boat launch on Mudge Island. This has been a long-standing priority for Mudge Island residents and work on this item will continue.

Additional work will include:

·  Examining the fencing along the Village Way Path to determine whether improvements can be made to visibility.

·  Using green paint to increase the visibility of the Village Way Path where it crosses high vulnerability driveways along its length.

·  Working with the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) to explore how the RDN might support GIMS in acquiring land for a green burial cemetery. GIMS has identified a portion of the 707 park they would like to receive; a feasibility study will look at whether donation of parkland or some other land might be appropriate. The intention would be for GIMS to own/manage the cemetery and not to expand into an RDN-delivered service. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts about this!

Regional Parks updates

·   Coats Marsh weir decommissioning project. Decommissioning activities for the existing concrete weir commenced in mid-August (2025). The dam structure was removed and a naturalized weir installed that was designed to maintain hydrological connectivity and support wetland function. Native vegetation has been planted and targeted removal and suppression of invasive species such as Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) occurred with the goal to enhance biodiversity and long-term habitat resilience. The plantings seem to be surviving well and will be monitored over the next few years. The project biologist will be monitoring the site to determine whether adjustments are required to support the species that use the marsh.

·   Hamilton March. The RDN has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with Mosaic to purchase the Hamilton Marsh as a new regional park for $30 million. As of January, Mosaic agreed to reduce the purchase price to $28 million. The purchase agreement identified several steps including a satisfactory inspection of the property and development of funding partnerships with the province and conservancy organizations. As of January $2.5 million had been raised to date. This is an unprecedented opportunity to conserve in perpetuity the 360 ha area which includes the 36 ha marsh, which is an important waterfowl brood marsh and migratory stopover, and surrounding rare mature Coastal Douglas-fir forest. For more information see https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase

Rebate program

A reminder that the RDN has several rebates available including for: rainwater storage, irrigation and garden soil improvements, wellhead upgrades and well water testing. See www.rdnrebates.ca or call 250-390=6560 for more information. 

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update please contact me at the Contact Me link above. 

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Hamilton Marsh Regional Park potential purchase

The RDN is continuing to work on the conditional purchase agreement for the 360 ha Hamilton Marsh and surrounding mature Coastal Douglas-fir forest as a regional park. Hamilton Marsh is located primarily in electoral area F but the conservation of such a significant wetland would be important to the entire region. The conditional agreement has specific milestones and funding agreements built in with the goal of working with the province and other funding partners such as the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Preservation Society, Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association and others to raise at least $7.5 million toward the purchase. The date for purchase completion if the conditions of the Contract of Purchase and Sale are considered to be met is March 2026. More information is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase

Parks projects for 2026

The Area B parks and recreation master plan identified several priorities in the community. In 2026 there are three priority projects:

·   Feasibility of a safer pathway along ferry hill for pedestrians and cyclists. This project will start in 2026, starting with putting out a request for proposals looking for consultants to assess the area and identify options. While roads are the responsibility of the province (through the Ministry of Transportation and Transit; MoTT) in electoral areas across the province, we will look at what can be accomplished to improve safety along the ferry hill. Any work will need to occur in collaboration with MoTT. As part of the project we will be looking to form a working group and will invite Islands Trust to participate.

·       Work to identify a potential location for a future multipurpose facility and/or soccer field. Both of these items were identified through the Master Plan process as priority items for the community. A first step will be identifying a potential location. This will occur in conjunction with considerations of a Cox Park Master Plan.

·       Mudge Island cartop boat launch on Mudge Island. This has been a long-standing priority for Mudge Island residents and work on this item will continue.

Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC)

The Area B POSAC met on February 9 at the Agi Hall. As always, thank you to Trustee Yates for participating during the meeting and for Trustee Elliott for her attendance. A couple of topics to highlight:

·       We received a delegation from Jet Carruthers who requested that the RDN develop and maintain a 30'x60' equestrian arena at Rollo McClay Park. Jet laid out the benefits she envisions for the community and suggested two locations: the gravel area that was recently developed as an all-weather playing field, and in the far part of the parking area. She was focussed on identifying areas that were already developed and would require minimal to no removal of vegetation. She also has submitted a request to the Gabriola Recreation Society to partner in helping to administer the use of the arena. The Committee asked some clarifying questions and it was pointed out that the idea was not raised during the 2+ year recreation master plan process. The focus for the parks projects for at least the next two years is the ideas that were raised during the master plan process. However, our Parks Planner will collect information from Jet, who has done a lot of research on the idea, and it will remain on a list of projects that may be considered in future.

·       We received a delegation from Megan Adam and Kristina Baerg representing the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) requesting that the RDN undertake a feasibility study on how the RDN could support GIMS in acquiring land for a green burial cemetery on Gabriola. The Board recently supported my Motion requesting a feasibility study which will look at options for the RDN to donate land to GIMS. Importantly at this point it is not under consideration that the RDN will take on management of the cemetery, rather assist GIMS in acquiring land.

·       We received correspondence from Kerry Marcus and Jane Woods on behalf of the Gabriola Horse Group requesting changes to Petroglyph Trail boardwalk to improve horse access. Discussion focussed on the fact that boardwalks are typically installed where it is very wet in an effort to protect the environment. A boardwalk sufficient to support horse use would require much greater support structures. The RDN Parks Planner will follow up in collaboration with GaLTT to look at the site to determine possibilities.

2026 budget

Like Islands Trust, the RDN is involved in budget discussions for 2026 and the 2026-2030 financial plan. The updated financial plan will be received next Tuesday February 24. The updated financial plan for Area B includes a 1.7% increase in taxes over 2025. The average home, which is assessed at $684,200 in 2026 (a slight increase over the 2025 average assessed property value of $660,140) will pay an additional $10. Information available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks

Rural Housing Strategy

At a recent meeting the Board endorsed staff moving ahead with developing a rural housing strategy for Electoral Areas A, C, E, G, and H. While not applicable to Area B because Islands Trust is the landuse authority, it may have useful information for the Islands Trust as well. I will continue to keep you informed as this project moves forward.

Our Changing Coast project

During your last Islands Trust meeting I provided an update on the Our Changing Coast project which included coastal erosion risk. Recently we received an update from staff on the plan for the remaining 2 years of the Our Changing Coast project. They indicate that “the remaining two years of Our Changing Coast focus on reducing the future cost and impacts of coastal climate change by moving from risk identification to risk management and adaptation planning. Key outcomes of this next body of work include: · Sharing results of the 2024-2025 technical work with the public · Bringing together technical findings, engagement input, and partner perspectives · Exploring and evaluating coastal adaptation approaches suitable for different parts of the region · Developing a Regional Coastal Climate Adaptation Strategy that prioritizes technical and economic feasibility and is informed by local context.

This work is being supported by a multidisciplinary consulting team (Lanarc Consulting and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants), an RDN interdepartmental working group, and collaboration with interested parties such as First Nations, member municipalities, and relevant agencies. Participation by external organizations is interest-based and does not assume formal partnership or decision-making roles.” RDN staff have been in regular contact with RPM Jamurat and will continue to be through this next phase of the project.

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

·       The next RDN Board meetings are on February 24th and March 10th 1 pm start.

·       The next Committee of the Whole is on March 3rd and March 17th, 1 pm start.

·       The next Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board meetings are on March 19th  (10:30 start) and March 24th  10 am start.

·       The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on March 5th, 1 pm start.

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Coastal erosion report

On December 9th the Board received the Our Changing Coast Coastal Erosion Hazard Report and the Coastal Risk Assessment Overview Report. The consultants provided a presentation which is very interesting and is available online through the RDN meeting calendar. The coastal hazard risk assessment identifies areas which are more likely to be affected by coastal shore processes and/or have higher risk due to their substrate (e.g., bedrock vs sand). Some areas in Area B were identified as Very High Coastal Vulnerability, such as Brickyard Beach and the stretch of road through Gabriola Sands Provincial Park on Gabriola, and an area on Mudge across from the El Verano beach access. Information on the project (which included sea level rise mapping in previous years) and maps can be accessed here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/coastal-risk. The most recent presentation and the reports are available by clicking the Board meeting on Dec 9 2025 at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos under agenda item 11.6.

AVICC resolution

Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on a resolution to go to AVICC/UBCM focussed on how the building code affects affordability of building small homes which was recently endorsed by the RDN Board. The enactment clause reads “Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada engage a qualified, independent third party to undertake a cost-benefit review of the Building Code’s impacts on affordability, safety, and energy efficiency for single-storey residential homes and accessory buildings under 1000 ft2/93 m2 and investigate the potential for a simplified rural building standard/alternative compliance pathway for small homes under 1000 ft2/93 m2 that meets safety, climate, and seismic resilience requirements in a less complex and therefore more affordable way, while still ensuring safety.” The building code adds costs disproportionately to small homes without the resulting benefit in lessening either greenhouse gases or lessening seismic risk. The goal is to have the building code reflect more closely the actual risk which should result in reduced costs to build a small single-family home.

Hamilton Marsh purchase

The RDN is continuing to work on the conditional purchase agreement for the 360 ha Hamilton Marsh and surrounding mature Coastal Douglas-fir forest as a regional park. Hamilton Marsh is located primarily in electoral area F but the conservation of such a significant wetland would be important to the entire region. The conditional agreement has specific milestones and funding agreements built in with the goal of working with the province and other funding partners such as the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Preservation Society, Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association and others to raise at least $7.5 million toward the purchase. Based on 2024 assessment information, if Hamilton Marsh is purchased with a 20-year borrowing term, the cost to Area B properties is estimated to be $2.05 per $100,000 assessed value. That means for the “average” home in Area B assessed at $660,140 in 2024 the annual cost would be $13.53. More information is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase

Coats Marsh weir decommissioning project

Since the last Islands Trust meeting we received a parks report update which included the following update: Decommissioning activities for the existing concrete weir commenced in mid-August (2025). The contractor has completed partial dewatering of the pond and has fully removed the concrete dam structure. The next phase involves the construction of a naturalized weir designed to maintain hydrological connectivity and support wetland function, while mitigating excessive water retention during peak precipitation events. Environmental management measures are being implemented in parallel with construction. These include ecological restoration of the former weir pool area through the re-establishment of native plant communities, and targeted removal and suppression of invasive species such as Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), to enhance biodiversity and long-term habitat resilience.

Community parks projects for 2026

The RDN parks department will be busy doing all the “regular” activities in parks which includes management and maintenance of the community parks on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands as well at the 6 other electoral areas in the RDN as well as management and maintenance of all of the regional parks, which includes Descanso Bay Regional Parks and Coats Marsh Regional Park. In addition to ongoing work, three other projects have been identified which emerged through the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as priority items:

·   Feasibility of a safer pathway along ferry hill for pedestrians and cyclists. This project will start in 2026, starting with putting out an request for proposals looking for consultants to assess the area and identify options. While roads are the responsibility of the province (through the Ministry of Transportation and Transit; MoTT) in electoral areas across the province, we will look at what can be accomplished to improve safety along the ferry hill. Any work will need to occur in collaboration with MoTT.

·   Work to identify a potential location for a future multipurpose facility and/or soccer field. Both of these items were identified through the Master Plan process as priority items for the community. A first step will be identifying a potential location. This will occur in conjunction with considerations of a Cox Park Master Plan.

·   Mudge Island cartop boat launch on Mudge Island. This has been a long-standing priority for Mudge Island residents and work on this item will continue.

Recognition of Area B athletes and arts and culture awards recipients

The City of Nanaimo has long held a recognition and awards ceremony to recognize its residents who have achieved outstanding results in sport or arts and culture. Because of the strong integration of sports teams in the region, this often resulted in situations where some of the team members were not included because they were not residents of the City. The RDN Board and City of Nanaimo approved a plan to include residents of Area B, A, C, and Lantzville who meet the criteria as well. This means that Area B residents will be eligible for awards through the City’s Civic Sports Merit Awards and Arts and Culture Merit Awards program.

Amendment of RDN Bylaw re. moved-on homes

I made a Motion, which was supported by the RDN Board, that a review and recommendations for amendments to the Building Bylaw be included as part of the review project. The current Bylaw requires that a moved-on home must appraised at minimum 100% of the average assessed value of improvements of neighbouring properties within 100 m. This results in the undesirable outcome that people may be required to build add-ons to their moved-on home to bring it up to the average assessed value or can prevent the use of moved-on homes in certain neighbourhoods. I’ve heard from a Gabriolan resident that they had to add a second floor to their moved-on home to meet that requirement when they didn’t necessarily want to do so. Moved-on homes represent a relatively affordable method of building on a property and also prevent tonnes of materials from being discarded. Removing barriers to the use of moved-on homes will be beneficial in many ways.

2026 budget

Like Islands Trust, the RDN is involved in budget discussions for 2026 and the 2026-2030 financial plan. Information available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

·       The next RDN Board meetings are on Jan 7th and February 10th, 1 pm start.

·       The next Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board meetings are on Jan 27th (10:30 start) and Feb 10th 10 am start.

·       The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on Feb 5th, 1 pm start.

·       The next Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee meeting is on Feb 9th, 5 pm start at the Agi Hall on Gabriola.

Regional District of Nanaimo Area B budget 2026 - preliminary

Below I provide an interim update on the 2026 RDN budget for Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands). This budget was approved at the December 9th Board meeting, although it will continue to be refined until its approval by the end of March 2026. Because the 2026 assessment values for properties aren’t available until the new year, the information on how the budget breaks down per $100,000 of assessed value is based on 2025 assessed values and will be updated in January once the 2026 assessment information is available.

Potential budget changes

Changes to the budget will continue to end of March. There are a few items that may influence the Area B budget: the Gabriola Museum has requested an increase in their annual funding from $20,000 to $41,060 starting in 2026 for a total taxation line item of $41,881; the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce has requested an increase from their annual funding of $68,900 to $88,200 for a total taxation line item of $90,000; the RDN is considering purchasing Hamilton Marsh as a new regional park. The park purchase is currently included in the financial plan but if the conditions of the purchase are not met and the purchase does not occur, the regional park taxation level will decrease; the final amounts for the Southern Recreation service (the amount we pay to City of Nanaimo towards operational costs of the pools, arenas, and sportsfields based on a usage formula) will be updated once the City of Nanaimo finalizes their costs from 2025.

Regional District budgeting

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is service-oriented and collects taxes for services delivered. The RDN provides 115 different services across the region and each service is taxed for and tracked separately. Funds that are taxed for a service can only be used for that service and no other. For example, if taxes are collected for Area B community parks, the funds can’t be used for something else (eg regional parks or GERTIE or Descanso Bay emergency dock, or community parks in a different area).

Of the 115 services provided by the RDN, we pay only for those services that we receive. For example, we do not pay taxes towards maintenance or upkeep of the RDN’s Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Parksville, but we do pay taxes toward the operations of the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Beban Aquatic Centre, and the Nanaimo arenas through the Southern Community Recreation line item. Similarly, we don’t pay taxes towards the RDN transit system, and other areas don’t contribute to our Gabriola transit system, GERTIE. Another example is the difference between regional and community parks. Costs for regional parks (such as Descanso Bay and Coats Marsh Regional Parks) are shared amongst all the RDN electoral areas and municipalities whereas community parks are paid for and maintained solely by the community(ies) where they are located – all of the acquisition, maintenance, and any capital costs for Community Parks on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy are paid for solely through Area B taxation.

The calculation for regional services can be complicated. Many of the service costs are attributed across the region on an assessment basis or a combination of population/assessment. That means the increase or decrease in taxes for a service isn’t necessarily directly related to the overall budget item. For example, in a service where the overall budget increased 5% and the cost is apportioned by assessment, the increase for a particular property may not be 5% - for properties where the assessment increased at a higher rate than another, the relative increase will also be larger.

Where do our taxes go?

We pay for a variety of services through the RDN:

·   Services paid for just by Gabriolans (and not Mudge or DeCourcy): we provide funding for recreation programming to the Gabriola Recreation Society, the Gabriola Arts Council, the Gabriola Taxi Saver program, the Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Service (new in 2024), and noise control bylaw enforcement on Gabriola.

·   Services paid for by Area B only: we provide funding to GERTIE, the Gabriola Museum, the Gabriola Emergency Wharf, Gabriola Green Wharf, economic development (Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce), Area B community parks and halls, provide a grant to GaLTT, and have feasibility funds if necessary to explore a new service.

·   Services paid for by Area B and at least 1 other area include: bylaw (building inspection, hazardous properties, unsightly premises, animal control, house numbering), liquid waste management planning (we don’t pay for water systems or sewer but we do contribute to the Septic Smart program and planning for septage receiving), southern community restorative justice (victim services), Port Theatre contribution, electric vehicle charging station, emergency services (emergency planning, D68 search and rescue, D68 911), Vancouver Island Regional Library (the VIRL Board sets the budget and it’s attributed to the electoral areas according to the Library Act), electrical vehicle charging, and electoral area administration.

·   Services paid for by all of the areas across the RDN (ie all 7 electoral areas and 4 municipalities): regional parks and trails, drinking water and watershed protection program (which includes water monitoring, rebates, and public education), solid waste services (including landfill and implementing the solid waste management plan – note that waste pickup is a user-pay system and is not funded through taxation), a grants-in-aid program to non-profits, regional growth management (which includes projects such as sea level rise mapping and climate change action although we are not included within the overall Regional Growth Strategy for the region), and administration.

Area B community parks

·       In 2026 we are paying $201,457 in debt principal and $19,207 in debt interest for 3 park purchases: the 2024 31.5-ha 707 community park addition (“Wilkinson Woods”), the 2021 addition to the 707 community park at Stanley Place, and the 2001 Cox Park purchase. At the end of 2024 we purchased a 31.5-ha addition to the 707 Community Park. The property was assessed at $1.33 million and was purchased by the RDN in November for $750,000 with short-term financing for 5 years. The $750,000 was the amount owing after GaLTT contributed $100,000 (thanks GaLTT!) and the owner accepted a tax receipt of $483,000. With the reduced interest due to short-term borrowing and the additional savings on the purchase price we saved $600,000 and will retire the debt in 2029. The Stanley Place addition to the 707 community park will be paid off in 2026, and the 2001 Cox Community Park purchase will be paid off in 2027.

·       Parks projects for 2026 include working on a safer pathway up the ferry hill with a feasibility study; considering locations for a multiplex and/or a playing field in conjunction with starting the Cox Park Master plan; considering paint along the village way path to mark driveways, and looking at Mudge boat launch options.

Information in the table

The accompanying table shows the budgets for Area B from 2022 to 2026 for services, with notes on some 2026 budget items. The table also shows who pays for each service and how the costs are apportioned. Based on this budget the “average” property in Area B (valued at $660,140 in 2025) will pay $634, which is $1 more in taxes in 2026. Note that the final costs will vary (and likely increase) because of the reasons outlined above, notably the requests for additional funding from community groups. The final budget will also reflect the updated assessment property values for 2026. I will provide more information as numbers are updated.

Do you have any questions? Any thoughts on the budget, potential budget adjustments, or projects? Please click the Contact Me link!

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Potential Development Cost Charges to support solid waste management (feedback wanted!)

https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/solid-waste-dcc

The RDN is considering whether to implement Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to contribute funds towards expansion of solid waste management in the region made necessary by population growth. Recent amendments to the Local Government Act added new waste management and recycling facilities as an option for DCCs. This consultation is primarily focused on developers and home builders.

DCCs are fees that local government collects from land developers to help pay the costs of infrastructure required to service new growth – for example, new water or sewer infrastructure, increased demand for parks, or in this case, expansions required for solid waste and recycling capital infrastructure. DCCs help ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop infrastructure to service the growth.

DCCs are calculated based only the amount of capital infrastructure needed to support new growth. The RDN has identified eligible solid waste and recycling projects that need to be constructed over the next 26 years to support the solid waste generated by new development in the residential, multi-family, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. There is a very complete background report that analyses the expected growth in the region and how it’s broken down by type of growth (e.g., single-family or multi-family dwellings, commercial etc.); eligible splid waste capital projects and their estimated cost ($127.8 million in 2024 dollars over the next 24 years); the benefit factor to new development compared to existing residents (varies depending on the project between 11.9% up to 75% with the majority of projects benefiting new growth by approximately 24%) resulting in total project costs eligible to be recovered through DCCs estimated at $30 million out of the projected $127.8 million through to 2050. Suggested DCCs range from $534.49 for a single-family dwelling and $423.14 for each unit in a multi-family dwelling and DCC rates for commercial, industrial, and institutional based on gross floor area. There is a survey for feedback that’s open until November 30th at the Get Involved page linked at the top.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan for Area B was approved by the Board on October 14. You can see the final version and review the view the various background documents here:  https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. I look forward to starting to tackle some of the priority projects.

Hamilton Marsh purchase

The RDN is continuing to work on the conditional purchase agreement for the 360 ha Hamilton Marsh and surrounding mature Coastal Douglas-fir forest as a regional park. Hamilton Marsh is located primarily in electoral area F but the conservation of such a significant wetland would be important to the entire region. The conditional agreement has specific milestones and funding agreements built in with the goal of working with the province and other funding partners such as the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Preservation Society, Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association and others to raise at least $7.5 million toward the purchase. Based on 2024 assessment information, if Hamilton Marsh is purchased with a 20-year borrowing term, the cost to Area B properties is estimated to be $2.05 per $100,000 assessed value. That means for the “average” home in Area B assessed at $660,140 in 2024 the annual cost would be $13.53. More information is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase

2026 budget

Like Islands Trust, the RDN is involved in budget discussions for 2026 and the 2026-2030 financial plan. Information available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks

Next meetings

·     The next RDN Board meetings are on Oct 25 (10:30 am start and 1 pm start) and December 9, 1 pm start.

·     The next Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board is on December 9, 11 am start.

·     The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on December 4, 10 am start.

·     All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards).

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Tiny Homes

The panel on the Tiny Home project at UBCM went well – I was happy to organize it and it was great to see the RDN’s General Manager of Development and Emergency Services Lisa Grant, and the RDN’s Manager of Building Inspection Services Lexie Boekenkruger join Trustee Elliott, Adrienne Fedrigo from the Tiny Homes Association of Canada, and Paul Brent from the CRD on the panel. It was well received and received good media attention – well done Trustee Elliott! Lots of enthusiasm in the room. I enjoyed being on the Steering Committee for this project and I think it’s a great example of a collaborative approach between the Islands Trust and the RDN. I thank Trustee Mairead Boland for her great work Chairing the steering committee. I’d like to again thank the Islands Trust for their leadership in convening this project!

As was realized during the technical working group when RDN staff, service providers, and tiny home builders were in the same room with IT Planners, many manufacturers are already building tiny homes to a Building Code standard of CSA Z240 MH or CSA A277, and those that aren’t are very close to being able to do so. In fact during the technical working group one of the manufacturers called their factory to ask what it would take and the answer was that it was only minimal changes. Interestingly, the fact that tiny homes have wheels meant that many manufacturers thought it made sense to build it more to an RV standard (although apparently they tended to exceed the standard); unfortunately, the RV standard isn’t recognized by the province as healthy and safe for year-round living. With just a few changes in manufacturing they can be built to a recognized standard for year-round living.

The RDN also sponsored a resolution which I introduced, which was endorsed by the UBCM membership, calling on the province to revisit the industry standards for tiny homes as well as to determine whether a standard could be established to certify RVs for permanent occupancy. Trustee Elliott spoke eloquently to the resolution. This builds on the previous resolution from the RDN on tiny homes that we submitted in 2023, which was also endorsed by the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities membership.

The RDN Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) last week received an update on allowing tiny homes in electoral areas which provides an overview of the current status of tiny homes in the RDN  - currently tiny homes and modular homes (which can be small) are already permitted when they’re built to the Building Code (so CSA Z240 MH or CSA A277 standard), they are properly affixed to the site, and zoning allows it, such as a modular home park (which aren’t currently permitted in Area B) or as a secondary suite. You can find the reports under agenda item 7.2.3 here.

We also received an interesting delegation from representatives of the Manufactured Housing Association of BC talking about the prefabricated home sector which can include a range of sizes from tiny to larger. Manufactured tiny homes and modular houses are built in a factory and are certified in the factory to meet the Building Code which reduces the steps required when placing them on a property. You can watch the delegation on item 4.1 at the above link. Although small homes are not for everyone, they can provide much-needed diversity in housing options.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

At the EASC meeting last week we also received the draft final Master Plan. Once it is approved by the Board it will become the final plan. There were still a few typos remaining in the document but I anticipate we will receive the final version either at next week’s Board meeting or the one after. The draft was item 6.1.1. on the EASC link above. You can also view the various background documents here:  https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. Thank you to Trustee Yates for her participation in this project. This plan, which has been in process for 2 years, reflects the input received from many community members over many different opportunities to contribute as well as the Gabriola Recreation Society and the Gabriola Lands and Trails Trust. It outlines a framework with priorities that we’ve heard from the community about parks and recreation amenities. Always interested in hear comments

Housing-related projects

At the EASC last week we also received an update on housing-related projects that the RDN is undertaking. The majority of them are landuse-related projects and so won’t apply to Area B – looking at stratas in rural areas; 1 ha lots in rural areas; tiny homes and RVs; manufactured home relocation policy (providing more certainty to people who rent in a mobile home park when the park is sold/redeveloped); review of secondary suite regulations to increase flexibility; planning application process, and building strata conversions. There will also be a review of fees and charges to suggest updates to bring them more in line with a cost-recovery basis.

Development Cost Charges for parks in Area B

In April 2022 I supported implementing a Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw in Area B  (3 other Electoral Areas also supported it). These are fees that are collected from land developers, on a user pay basis, to help fund the cost of new park infrastructure to service new development. Applicants for subdivision approval to create single family lots and for building permits to construct multi-family development are subject to DCCs. Last week I supported a Reduction Bylaw will reduce the DCCs owing for non-profit rental housing development by 50%. You can read more under agenda item 11.1 on the EASC link above.

Purchase of Hamilton Marsh

The RDN has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with Mosaic to purchase the 360 ha Hamilton Marsh and forest area for $30 million. The purchase price was based on independent valuations of the timber and land. The purchase is conditional on the RDN developing funding partnerships including the provincial government and conservancy organizations to receive at least $7.5 million in donations. This is an unprecedented opportunity to conserve in perpetuity the 36 ha marsh, which is an important waterfowl brood marsh and migratory stopover, and surrounding old rare Coastal Douglas-fir forest. For more information about the property and the fundraising campaign see https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase and https://hamiltonwetlands.com/

Next meetings

·     The next Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee meeting is October 20 at the Agi Hall, 5 pm start.

·     The next RDN Board meetings are on Oct 14 and Oct 28, 1 pm start.

·     The next Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board is on Oct 14, 10 am start.

·     The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on November 6, 10 am start.

·     All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards).

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Tiny Home clinic at UBCM

In collaboration with Trustee Elliott and members of the Islands Trust Tiny Home working group as well as RDN staff, we submitted a proposal for a clinic (a 45-minute information session) during UBCM this year. Happily we heard last week that our proposal was accepted and we’ll be able to share the outcomes of the Islands Trust’s tiny home project with a broader range of local elected leaders. Thanks to Trustees Elliott and Boland and all the other members of the working group for inviting me to participate.

Descanso Bay Emergency Wharf gangway replacement

The gangway for the emergency wharf is scheduled for replacement with the goal of providing better service for the community. While the project was originally scheduled for this summer it has recently been delayed so that procurement will occur in the fall. Once the project is under way it will necessitate the closure of the emergency dock for 2-4 weeks while the existing gangway is removed and the new one installed. Because BC Ferries is also planning work at the Nanaimo terminal this fall which might necessitate ferry cancellations and water taxi, the RDN will be coordinating the work with BC Ferries in addition to emergency responders on the island.

Descanso Bay Regional Park accessible beach access feasibility study

In response from a delegation by GaLTT, the RDN moved ahead with a feasibility study of placing a structure at Descanso Bay Regional Park day use area to improve the accessibility of the beach area. An excerpt from the staff report: “The study recommends an 18-metre length permanent aluminum ramp running parallel to the shoreline and a seasonal mobility mat to extend access from the end of the ramp to the water’s edge. The ramp has a clear width of 1.2 metres, a slope of 8.03 percent and handrails to meet the guidelines for independent access. The design also includes stairs to allow visitors without mobility challenges to bypass the ramp. The mobility mat, which extends beyond the end of the ramp, is a portable rollout pathway that creates a stable, non-slip surface over the sand, gravel and exposed rock. The detailed design of the ramp would have to consider tides, storm surge and local sea level rise. The ramp can be protected from coastal forces by anchored wooden logs and riprap stones.” The creation of an accessible ramp in the intertidal zone will be challenging and will require ongoing maintenance. Numerous permits would be required, including an amendment to the Gabriola Islands Trust Bylaw No. 177 to permit a pedestrian ramp (currently not permitted) in the Water General landuse area. In addition, a Development Variance Permit would be required to allow a ramp/walkway exceeding 1 m in width in the setback – for accessibility reasons the ramp/walkway would need to exceed 1 m. The RDN Board approved moving ahead with detailed design work which would have to address developing a ramp/walkway in an ocean intertidal area and associated required permits from the Islands Trust as well as the provincial and federal governments. You can read the staff report and the feasibility study at agenda item 13.10 on the RDN Board meeting of July 22nd at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Advisory Committee and the POSAC have received the draft Master Plan which includes parks in Area B and recreation on Gabriola. The draft and the background documents are available at the Get Involved website https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. Staff will update the report based on the feedback received to date and it will be coming to an upcoming meeting in the fall for Board approval. Thank you to Trustee Yates for her participation in this project.

Regional Affordable Housing Strategy

The RDN’s strategic plan under the strategic focus area “Planning and managing for growth” includes the strategy “Explore strategies to address the housing affordability crisis in the region”. Some of the work is occurring to satisfy new provincial regulations mandating housing growth for areas that have water and sewer servicing through local governments. Because the islands don’t have water and sewer servicing, those new provincial Bills don’t apply here. Other work on addressing housing availability and affordability is proceeding on quite a few fronts, including changes to RDN Bylaw 500 now named Bylaw 2500 (which does not apply within Area B because the Islands Trust is the landuse authority in our area) designed to increase the size and availability of secondary suites. You can see the list of housing projects on the July 3 EASC agenda at the calendar link below. Part of a related project will include looking at the potential for tiny homes as a legal dwelling unit – we’ve been doing some preliminary work in collaboration with the Islands Trust on this topic. The Islands Trust Council provided funding to convene a technical working group which included RDN bylaw and building staff to look at this issue. In April two of the RDN’s staff who participated in the working group joined Trustee Tobi Elliott and me in presenting some of the information at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities conference. We’ve also proposed another panel with broader representation including local governments in other areas of the province and a tiny home builder representative at the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities conference in the fall. We should find out soon if our proposal was accepted.

Recently, the RDN’s Committee of the Whole (CoW) discussed a housing affordability options paper which outlined some ways the RDN could proceed in addressing the housing affordability issue, ranging from the status quo up to the creation of a housing provider service. The staff report recommended a first step of developing a scoping report for developing a regional affordable housing strategy which would consolidate existing data and identify actions, to monitor outcomes, and report out. Discussion on the item included debate on whether more reports/planning would be useful vs the benefit of preparing a foundational document to guide future work that would fit in with work already taking place. There was some suggestion that we know a lot about the issue based on previous reports, and that potentially moving toward partnering with non-profits to develop housing projects would be more effective. Municipal representatives indicated they were well along the road in partnering with non-profits and developing purpose-built rental/affordable housing and weren’t sure they wanted to commit their residents to paying for a regional service which would, in effect, duplicate some of the work they’re already doing. The issue of a limiting factor of local government-owned land which can be donated for housing projects was raised – although the municipalities often own land, the land in electoral areas owned by the RDN is all parkland that can’t be used for development. Finally, the question of whether local government should be involved in housing at all and the suggestion that it’s a provincial responsibility was raised. I supported getting the scoping report which would provide more information about what the project would look like and how it would tie in to ongoing work. My interest is primarily in understanding how the RDN might be able to partner and facilitate projects where the project makes sense and is supported by the land use authority. Ultimately the CoW decided against that step. Based on the previous discussion about the potential benefits of moving directly to developing partnerships, the idea of requesting a scoping report on what that might look like was discussed. That was also not supported by the CoW. You can see the reports on the 1 pm July 15 CoW agenda at the RDN calendar link above. 

Happy summer everyone! A reminder that no smoking of any kind is permitted in any RDN or provincial park on Gabriola, Mudge, or DeCourcy. Make sure you check the Gabriola Fire Department/Mudge Island community website/relevant fire hazard status website before taking on any outside/construction work to double-check any restrictions or requirements. And if you smoke, please dispose of butts responsibly – a smoldering butt that’s not fully extinguished can create a fire – not to mention it’s littering.

Please remember that the Huxley Park 30 km/hr playground zone is in effect dawn to dusk 7 days/week! Our many visitors to the island may not be as familiar with the zone, so please show them how it’s done. Let’s protect our youth and all users of Huxley Park!

Emergency Alert System

In the event of an emergency on Gabriola, Mudge, or DeCourcy, the RDN will provide information via our emergency alert system. If you haven’t already, please sign up for the RDN’s emergency alert system, Voyent Alert. In an emergency the RDN can send notifications via the app, or by phone, email, or text https://www.rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert. If you’re having trouble signing up, feel free to contact me, or RDN Emergency Services staff at 250-390-4111 or emergencyservices@rdn.bc.ca

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Advisory Committee and the POSAC have received the draft Master Plan which includes parks in Area B and recreation on Gabriola. The draft and the background documents are available at the Get Involved website https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. Staff will update the report based on the feedback received to date and it will be coming to an upcoming meeting in the fall for Board approval. Thanks again to all of the community members who have participated on the advisory committee and/or provided input during the different phases of this project.   

BC Ferries Advocacy

Like many islanders, I am concerned about the decision of BC Ferries to disband the Ferry Advisory Committees (FAC). As a member of the Gabriola FAC for the last few years I’ve seen the valuable work of the committee first hand, such as by advocating to BC Ferries on behalf of our communities for management of the Gabriola ferry lineup, input on changes to the ferry schedule, and requesting changes to better serve islanders such as last summer’s schedule shift to reduce overloads to the island on Friday evenings. Importantly, the FAC also provided a conduit for BC Ferries to get information out to the community on input opportunities and short-notice changes to the schedule. The RDN Board recently sent a letter to BC Ferries echoing the concerns expressed by the past members of the FAC and requesting that BC Ferries reinstate the FAC system or at minimum establish some other method of engaging community representative groups.

Health and Wellbeing Service

As you know, a new Health and Wellbeing Service began on Gabriola in 2024. The new service is being provided through People for a Healthy Community (PHC), which has hired a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator on a contract position. The service was funded as a part-time service for the first year as a pilot project to see how the position functioned. Due to various reasons there was a delay in implementing the service, which started in December 2024. At the July 3rd Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) meeting we received a delegation and report from the Executive Director of PHC on the accomplishments to date and the work plan. Because the service is still being established I supported their request of an additional two years of funding a part-time position, with the requirement of annual reports and an additional review of the service to occur in 2027. If you’d like to read the report and workplan, you can find it under item 9.6 on the July 3 EASC agenda at the calendar link below.

Regional Affordable Housing Strategy

The RDN’s strategic plan under the strategic focus area “Planning and managing for growth” includes the strategy “Explore strategies to address the housing affordability crisis in the region”. Some of the work is occurring to satisfy new provincial regulations mandating housing growth for areas that have water and sewer servicing through local governments. Because the islands don’t have water and sewer servicing, those new provincial Bills don’t apply here. Other work on addressing housing availability and affordability is proceeding on quite a few fronts, including changes to RDN Bylaw 500 now named Bylaw 2500 (which does not apply within Area B because the Islands Trust is the landuse authority in our area) designed to increase the size and availability of secondary suites. You can see the list of housing projects on the July 3 EASC agenda at the calendar link below. Part of a related project will include looking at the potential for tiny homes as a legal dwelling unit – we’ve been doing some preliminary work in collaboration with the Islands Trust on this topic. The Islands Trust Council provided funding to convene a technical working group which included RDN bylaw and building staff to look at this issue. In April two of the RDN’s staff who participated in the working group joined Trustee Tobi Elliott and me in presenting some of the information at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities conference. We’ve also proposed another panel with broader representation including local governments in other areas of the province and a tiny home builder representative at the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities conference in the fall. We should find out soon if our proposal was accepted.

Recently, the RDN’s Committee of the Whole (CoW) discussed a housing affordability options paper which outlined some ways the RDN could proceed in addressing the housing affordability issue, ranging from the status quo up to the creation of a housing provider service. The staff report recommended a first step of developing a scoping report for developing a regional affordable housing strategy which would consolidate existing data and identify actions, to monitor outcomes, and report out. Discussion on the item included debate on whether more reports/planning would be useful vs the benefit of preparing a foundational document to guide future work that would fit in with work already taking place. There was some suggestion that we know a lot about the issue based on previous reports, and that potentially moving toward partnering with non-profits to develop housing projects would be more effective. Municipal representatives indicated they were well along the road in partnering with non-profits and developing purpose-built rental/affordable housing and weren’t sure they wanted to commit their residents to paying for a regional service which would, in effect, duplicate some of the work they’re already doing. The issue of a limiting factor of local government-owned land which can be donated for housing projects was raised – although the municipalities often own land, the land in electoral areas owned by the RDN is all parkland that can’t be used for development. Finally, the question of whether local government should be involved in housing at all and the suggestion that it’s a provincial responsibility was raised. I supported getting the scoping report which would provide more information about what the project would look like and how it would tie in to ongoing work. My interest is primarily in understanding how the RDN might be able to partner and facilitate projects where the project makes sense and is supported by the land use authority. Ultimately the CoW decided against that step. Based on the previous discussion about the potential benefits of moving directly to developing partnerships, the idea of requesting a scoping report on what that might look like was discussed. That was also not supported by the CoW. You can see the reports on the 1 pm July 15 CoW agenda at the calendar link below.

Community Grants

Congratulations to the community groups which received funding through the RDN’s community grant program. The grant program, which has an April application deadline each year, provides up to $10,000 in grant funding to non-profits for capital expenses. The program is competitive. Gabriola groups receiving funding this year included the Gabriola Songs Society dba Gabriola Theatre Centre, and the Hope Centre.

2026 Budget

Taxation through the RDN goes to a wide variety of services – from community and regional parks, community grants, to the emergency wharf and Green wharf. From GERTIE and the Taxi Saver program, to providing funding to the Gabriola Museum, the Port Theatre, Gabriola Recreation Society, Gabriola Arts Council, the Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Service, and the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce for economic development. For bylaw enforcement, the regional landfill management, providing support to volunteer land and marine search and rescue organizations, and emergency 911 service. We also collect taxes on behalf of the Vancouver Island Regional Library. The RDN brochure that you will have received outlined the services and the changes between 2024 and 2025.

We are starting the 2026 budget process. I’m interested in hearing your priorities. You can find more information at the Get Involved website https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks Happy to answer any questions.

Upcoming:

The RDN Board and committees do not meet in August. You can see the upcoming meetings or review the agendas/minutes/video of past meetings at the RDN’s calendar at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos - click on the date/meeting.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, click the Contact Me button!

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Advisory Committee approved the draft Master Plan yesterday, after requesting a few edits to ensure the numbers in a table matched the text. The draft and the background documents are available at the Get Involved website https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp Staff will update the report based on the feedback and it will be coming to an upcoming Electoral Area Services Committee meeting. Thank you to Trustee Yates for her participation in this project – the timing was fortunate as I feel there were benefits with this project overlapping with your OCP review and I very much appreciated Trustee Yates’ input.

Groundwater Analysis – pre-summer 2025

At the Board meeting this week we received the pre-summer groundwater analysis showing the status of aquifers compared to historic patterns. You can find the reports here. Of the 6 monitoring wells on Gabriola in aquifer 709, 5 were generally stable and 1 had a moderate decline.  The wells historically show variable trends, from a moderate decline to stable. Regionally, 1/3 of aquifers being monitored were reporting below average levels.

Parks Biodiversity Plan

After review the Board recently approved our Parks Biodiversity Plan. The plan “aims to provide a proactive approach to maintaining, enhancing, and restoring biodiversity” in the RDN’s parks. This framework does provide some baseline data; however, there are many opportunities to improve the database over time, especially with volunteers submitting records. The plan has a significant focus on the identification and management of invasive plant species in our parks; by removing invasive species native plants and the associated ecosystem will be more resilient. You can find the Parks Biodiversity Plan here https://rdn.bc.ca/parks-and-trails-strategies

Coats Marsh

As you know, the RDN is restoring Coats Marsh to a more natural beaver-managed ecosystem. The marsh has been heavily modified over many decades – by draining and placement of structures in the marsh, to re-flooding the marsh behind a concrete weir (the natural rock barrier was blasted to install the weir). The province has recently declared that the weir is considered a regulated dam which has significant implications for its maintenance, particularly as the weir is in need of repair. The recommendations initially were to reinforce/reconstruct the weir and to remove the beaver dam, which was retaining a depth of water more than 1 m in height over the weir height and was a threat to the weir. Instead of removing the beaver dam, the Board decided to remove the weir and restore it to a more natural state through placement of boulders and plantings and retaining the beaver dam. The Coats Marsh Dam Decommissioning project RFP closed June 13. You can find the RFP here: https://rdn.bc.ca/node/27032

Noise Bylaw

A few years ago I made a Motion for a review of the Gabriola Noise Bylaw, specifically with respect to construction noise. The current bylaw allows construction noise between 8 am-8 pm 7 days a week. There have been a few projects over the years that include rock breaking or significant noise that neighbours find challenging. Due to staff capacity the review hasn’t yet occurred, but it’s scheduled for the 2025 workplan. There will be consultation as part of that and I will ensure I keep you informed and would welcome your input.

Our Changing Coast

The RDN is implementing a multi-year project on our changing coast which includes coastal floodplain mapping, a coastal risk assessment, an erosion hazard assessment and most recently, a survey of residents to identify their key concerns and questions about coastal changes as well as information about how they would like to be engaged. Information on the project and a What We Heard document that summarizes the recent public engagement is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/coastal-risk

Development Cost Charges

• DCCs are fees that local government collects from land developers to help pay the costs specific types of capital infrastructure. As you know, the RDN has implemented Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on new development in some electoral areas, including Area B, which will go to specific park amenities required to respond to population growth. We are in the process of developing a 50% cost reduction bylaw for affordable rental housing developments that are managed by a non-profit society.

• We are also in the process of considering DCCs for solid waste management. DCCs help ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop infrastructure. The RDN has identified eligible solid waste and recycling projects that need to be constructed over the next 26 years to support the solid waste generated by new development in the residential, multi-family, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. The funds required for these capital projects are significant and require taxation to build reserves to limit borrowing– by having DCCs the taxation required of current residents is reduced. We’re looking for input on this https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/solid-waste-dcc 

Happy June! Congratulations to all of the students who are completing their school year and gearing up for summer. With the nicer weather Huxley Park is hopping with many users, including children walking to the park after school. A reminder that the 30 km/hr playground zone around Huxley is in effect dawn to dusk 7 days per week!

Emergency Alert System

As we’re seeing in other provinces, we’re entering fire season. In central and northern BC they’re seeing the flare-up again of multi-year fires. The Province has a lot of information on the fire situation in the province here: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map. In the event of an emergency on Gabriola, the RDN will provide information via our emergency alert system. If you haven’t already, please sign up for the RDN’s emergency alert system, Voyent Alert. In an emergency the RDN can send notifications via phone, email, or text https://www.rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert

Work happening in the 707 Community Park June 4th-24th

Trail maintenance is being undertaken to ensure that trails remain up to standard and that emergency vehicle access is unobstructed. Some trails require limbing only, and others require brushing and limbing.

Trails requiring limbing include: Old Centre Rd, Coats Dr, South Road, Three Gates, Sump Farm, Marsh Trail, and Stanley Pl.

Trails requiring both brushing and limbing include: Trail to Nowhere, Old Centre Rd (markers 46–50), Ricky Avenue, Granite Trail, and Fisher Rd Trail.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Advisory Committee and the POSAC have received the draft Master Plan which includes parks in Area B and recreation on Gabriola. The draft and the background documents are available at the Get Involved website https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. Staff will update the report based on the feedback received to date and it will be coming to an upcoming meeting for Board approval. Thanks again to all of the community members who have participated on the advisory committee and/or provided input during the different phases of this project. 

GIRO Makerspace opening

The RDN has provided over $350,000 in funding in a series of grants to support GIRO’s innovative and exciting programs C2C threads and ReLove Local, which includes the building and developing of a new Makerspace. The grand opening is scheduled for June 13th with an open house on June 14th – come and check it out! https://www.girodepot.com/2025/06/01/grand-opening-of-the-giro-makerspace/

Parks Biodiversity Plan

After review the Board recently approved our Parks Biodiversity Plan. The plan “aims to provide a proactive approach to maintaining, enhancing, and restoring biodiversity” in the RDN’s parks. This framework does provide some baseline data; however, there are many opportunities to improve the database over time, especially with volunteers submitting records. The plan has a significant focus on the identification and management of invasive plant species in our parks; by removing invasive species native plants and the associated ecosystem will be more resilient. You can find the Parks Biodiversity Plan here https://rdn.bc.ca/parks-and-trails-strategies

Coats Marsh

As you know, the RDN is restoring Coats Marsh to a more natural beaver-managed ecosystem. The marsh has been heavily modified over many decades – by draining and placement of structures in the marsh, to re-flooding the marsh behind a concrete weir (the natural rock barrier was blasted to install the weir). The province has recently declared that the weir is considered a regulated dam, which has significant implications for its maintenance, particularly as the weir is in need of repair. The recommendations initially were to reinforce/reconstruct the weir and to remove the beaver dam, which was retaining a depth of water more than 1 m in height over the weir height and was a threat to the weir. Instead of removing the beaver dam, the Board decided to remove the weir and restore it to a more natural state through placement of boulders and plantings and retaining the beaver dam. The Coats Marsh Dam Decommissioning project RFP has now been posted and is scheduled to close June 13. You can find the RFP here: https://rdn.bc.ca/node/27032

Noise Bylaw

A few years ago I made a Motion for a review of the Gabriola Noise Bylaw, specifically with respect to construction noise. The current bylaw allows construction noise between 8 am-8 pm 7 days a week. There have been a few projects over the years that include rock breaking or significant noise that neighbours find challenging. Due to staff capacity the review hasn’t yet occurred, but it’s scheduled for the 2025 workplan. There will be consultation as part of that and I will ensure I keep you informed and would welcome your input.

Our Changing Coast

The RDN is implementing a multi-year project on our changing coast which includes coastal floodplain mapping, a coastal risk assessment, an erosion hazard assessment and most recently, a survey of residents to identify their key concerns and questions about coastal changes as well as information about how they would like to be engaged. Information on the project and a What We Heard document that summarizes the recent public engagement is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/coastal-risk

Development Cost Charges (DCCs)

·       DCCs are fees that local government collects from land developers to help pay the costs for specific types of capital infrastructure. As you know, the RDN has implemented Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on new development in some electoral areas, including Area B, which will go to specific park amenities required to respond to population growth. We are in the process of developing a 50% cost reduction bylaw for affordable rental housing developments that are managed by a non-profit society.

·       We are also in the process of considering DCCs for solid waste management. DCCs help ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop infrastructure. The RDN has identified eligible solid waste and recycling projects that need to be constructed over the next 26 years to support the solid waste generated by new development in the residential, multi-family, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. The funds required for these capital projects are significant and require taxation to build reserves to limit borrowing– by having DCCs the taxation required of current residents is reduced as some of the cost is appropriately shifted to reflect the increased demand due to new development. We’re looking for input on this https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/solid-waste-dcc

Upcoming:

The Electoral Area Services Committee meets next Thursday and the next Board and the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District meetings are on Tuesday June 10th. You can see the upcoming meetings or review the agendas/minutes/video of past meetings at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos - click on the date/meeting.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, please contact me by clicking the Contact Me button!

I try to attend every Islands Trust meeting I am able; I provide a written report at most meetings, focussed on topics I feel are of most relevance to the Islands Trust.

Proposed updated building bylaw

Based on operational experience with implementing the existing building bylaw, and requests for change, staff undertook a review of the bylaw and have drafted a proposed revised bylaw premised on the Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC) model building bylaw. I recognize you have this on your agenda to provide comment. Note that the RDN still upholds and enforces the BC Building Code (as required) and the changes do not create a local building code. I have attached the staff report on this issue and additional reports are available, viewable on the May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar). I provide a brief overview below:

• Optional permit pathway for remote and limited-access properties (including properties on islands without ferry access). The draft bylaw would change the approach to building permits for remote and limited-access properties to be an opt-in process and requires the property owner to pay for access costs if they want to apply for a building permit.

• Moved-on buildings – remove appraisal requirement and implement a new valuation and fee approach. Currently moved-on homes must appraise at 100% of the average of the surrounding properties which has created barriers to the use of moved-on homes. The draft bylaw removes the appraisal requirement and replaces it with a simplified and standardized valuation and fee approach for moved-on buildings and eliminates the need to meet a minimum home value. The draft bylaw also proposes to charge a reduced permit fee for the moved-on portion of the structure, recognizing that it is not new construction, and apply regular, valuation-based permit fees to new construction only, including foundations, additions, and other new work required to bring the building into compliance.

• Manufactured (mobile) homes CSA Z240 MH Series-92: the draft bylaw proposes referencing CSA Z240 MH Series-92 or newer as the minimum construction standard for manufactured (mobile) homes that are not treated as moved-on buildings. Manufactured homes built to earlier editions of the CSA Z240 MH standard (e.g., Series-86 or earlier) would remain permitted, but would be required to proceed through the moved-on building process, including professional assessment and certification.

• Exemption – accessory buildings under 20m2: the draft bylaw proposes increasing the permit exemption threshold for one-storey, uninhabited accessory buildings that do not contain plumbing or constitute a hazard from 10 m² (107.6 square feet) to 20m2 (215 square feet), subject to specific conditions.

• Provisional occupancy – the draft bylaw would allow limited occupancy of a building where all fire, life-safety, and health requirements have been completed, but minor outstanding items remain. Provisional occupancy would be time-limited, subject to conditions, and secured through a financial deposit to ensure completion of outstanding work. This would establish a framework that can provide certainty and consistency.

• Owner plumbing plans - the draft bylaw requires plumbing plans for simple building permits where a qualified plumber is not retained. Where a plumber holding a Certificate of Qualification is engaged, the Building Official may waive the requirement for plumbing plans. This reflects situations where homeowners choose to undertake plumbing work themselves or use non-ticketed assistance. Plumbing errors are one of the most common sources of failed inspections and are costly and difficult to fix after the fact. Requiring plumbing plans in advance for certain projects is meant to identify issues before installation rather than after the fact.

• Construction without permit, double permit fees - the draft bylaw includes a provision to double permit fees where construction commences before a permit is issued. This is intended to address the significantly increased staff time and enforcement effort associated with unpermitted construction. This is in line with most jurisdictions across the Province and is common practice for building bylaw enforcement. Significant staff time is required for building bylaw enforcement and under the current building bylaw and fees and charges bylaw does not have provisions for cost recovery related to building bylaw enforcement.

Proposed building regulation fees and charges bylaw

The fees and charges bylaw is linked to the proposed building bylaw. Due to increasing costs of administering the building bylaw and enforcement department and decreased market activity since 2023, the service has increasingly been funded from reserves accumulated over the past couple of decades. Unfortunately given the discrepancy between the funds raised through permits and the costs of the service, over $1.2 million in reserves was used to cover the gap between 2023-2025, and reserve funds are expected to be depleted by 2027. A range of approaches are possible including relying on taxation only or permit fees only, or a combination of fees and taxation. I have attached the staff report on this issue and additional reports are available, viewable on the May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar).

Solid waste DCCs

https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/solid-waste-dcc

I last reported in November that the RDN was considering whether to implement Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to contribute funds towards expansion of solid waste management in the region made necessary by population growth. At a recent Board meeting the Board supported moving forward with implementing DCCs for solid waste. This should result in reduced taxation for solid waste management for residents with the difference being made up through DCCs paid through new development.

DCCs are fees that local government collects from land developers to help pay the costs of infrastructure required to service new growth – for example, new water or sewer infrastructure, increased demand for parks, or in this case, expansions required for solid waste and recycling capital infrastructure. DCCs help ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop infrastructure to service the growth.

DCCs are calculated based only the amount of capital infrastructure needed to support new growth. The RDN has identified eligible solid waste and recycling projects that need to be constructed over the next 26 years to support the solid waste generated by new development in the residential, multi-family, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. There is a very complete background report that analyses the expected growth in the region and how it’s broken down by type of growth (e.g., single-family or multi-family dwellings, commercial etc.); eligible splid waste capital projects and their estimated cost ($127.8 million in 2024 dollars over the next 24 years); the benefit factor to new development compared to existing residents (varies depending on the project between 11.9% up to 75% with the majority of projects benefiting new growth by approximately 24%) resulting in total project costs eligible to be recovered through DCCs estimated at $30 million out of the projected $127.8 million through to 2050. Suggested DCCs range from $534.49 for a single-family dwelling and $423.14 for each unit in a multi-family dwelling and DCC rates for commercial, industrial, and institutional based on gross floor area.

Ferry hill pathway project

The RDN is moving forward with the ferry hill project with the assistance of a consultant and is in the process of organizing our first working group meeting (which includes an invitation to the Islands Trust as well as other community groups, BC Ferries, MoTT, and MLA Sheila Malcolmson).

Green burial project

The RDN has engaged a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on potential sites for a green burial site on Gabriola, and ways that the RDN can help the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) achieve its goal of acquiring a property to create a green burial cemetery on the island.

Sports field/multipurpose centre

The RDN is initiating a feasibility study looking at potential locations for a sports field and a multipurpose community facility to be located with a focus on Cox Park and the new 707 addition.

Building permit and bylaw activity

Additional information is available on each of these topics on May 7 2026 EASC agenda here https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date on the calendar).

At the most recent Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) meeting in May we received a report on building permits issued in Q1 of 2026. Twelve building permits were issued for Area B which is similar to Q1 numbers since 2023. Timelines for issuance of a building permit once a complete application is received has been reduced and now stands at 6-8 weeks.

In terms of bylaw offenses, the RDN received 13 inquiries in Q1 of 2026 for Area B. Eleven complaints were investigated: 5 concerned building regulations, 3 were unsightly premises, 2 were assisting internal departments, and 1 was considered out of jurisdiction (ie not with the RDN’s purview). Three bylaw offense notices were issues within Q1: 1 for construction without a permit, and 2 for continuing construction contrary to a Permit, Notice, Certificate, or Order. Four animal related investigations occurred in Area B in Q1: 1 concerning an aggressive dog, 3 for dogs at large. 

In Q4 2025 there were 3 bylaw inquiries in Area B – 2 about roads (which aren’t within the RDN’s jurisdiction as roads are a provincial responsibility) and 1 animal control. There were 4 complaints investigated – 3 related to building regulations and 1 related to illegal dumping. In terms of bylaw offence notices issued – there was 1 disturbing natural park features, 2 construction without a permit, and 3 continuing construction contrary to a permit/notice/Order. There were 2 calls for services regarding aggressive dogs in Q4 2025.

I’m happy to provide copies of any of the reports mentioned above.

Next meetings

All Board, EASC, and Committee of the Whole meetings can be viewed in person or online at https://rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos (click on the date and the meeting. The video appears just before the meeting starts or can be viewed afterwards). I have included the start time of meetings below but please note that start times occasionally change.

• The next RDN Regular Board meetings are on May 26th, June 9th, and June 23rd; 1 pm start.

• The next Special Board Meeting is on June 2nd, 9:30 am start.

• The next Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Technical Advisory Committee meeting is on May 27th, 12:30 start.

• The next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting is on June 11th, 1 pm start.

• The next Area B Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee is on June 1st, 4:30 pm start at the Agi Hall.

Regional District of Nanaimo Area B preliminary budget 2025

Below I provide an interim update on the 2025 preliminary RDN budget for Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands). The budget is not yet finalized (it does not get finalized until March), and several changes have already been made which will reduce the size of the budget in some service areas. There are also some outstanding requests that are not included in the information below (a $7,000 increase requested by the GERTIE Board which is not yet reflected in the budget, and a $20,000 increase requested by the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce that I am still considering).

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is service-oriented and collects taxes for services delivered. The RDN provides 114 different services across the region and each service is taxed for and tracked separately. Funds that are taxed for a service can only be used for that service and no other. For example, if taxes are collected for Area B community parks, the funds can’t be used for something else (eg regional parks or GERTIE or Descanso Bay emergency dock, or community parks in a different area). Services provided to Area B include community and regional parks acquisition and management, recreation, solid waste management (which includes management of the landfill), bylaw enforcement, emergency management, and funding to local organizations such as the Gabriola Community Bus (GERTIE), Gabriola Taxi Saver program, Gabriola Recreation Society (to provide recreation options on Gabriola), Gabriola Museum, Gabriola Arts Council, Gabriola Lands and Trails Trust, Gabriola Chamber of Commerce (for economic development), and Descanso Bay and Green wharves on Gabriola. A new service that started on Gabriola in 2024 is the Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Service which is being delivered through People for a Healthy Community.

Of the 114 services provided by the RDN, we pay only for those services that we receive. For example, we do not pay taxes towards maintenance or upkeep of the RDN’s Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Parksville, but we do pay taxes toward the operations of the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Beban Aquatic Centre, and the Nanaimo arenas through the Southern Community Recreation line item. Similarly, we don’t pay taxes towards the RDN transit system, and other areas don’t contribute to our Gabriola transit system, GERTIE. Another example is the difference between regional and community parks. Costs for regional parks (such as Descanso Bay and Coats Marsh Regional Parks) are shared amongst all the RDN electoral areas and municipalities whereas community parks are paid for and maintained solely by the community(ies) where they are located – all of the acquisition, maintenance, and any capital costs for Community Parks on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy are paid for solely by Area B.

The calculation for regional services can be complicated. Many of the service costs are attributed across the region on an assessment basis or a combination of population/assessment. That means the increase or decrease in taxes for a service isn’t necessarily directly related to the overall budget item. For example, in a service where the overall budget increased 5% and the cost is apportioned by assessment, the increase for a particular property may not be 5% - for properties where the assessment increased at a higher rate than another, the relative increase will also be larger.

The accompanying table shows the budgets for Area B from 2022 to Dec 9th 2025 with notes on some 2025 budget items. Additional changes were made to reduce the budget on Dec. 10th that aren’t reflected in the table. Note that this is not the final budget and the numbers haven’t been updated to reflect updated assessments and parcel numbers. The information on assessments and number of parcels, which became available on January 1st, will influence how taxes are apportioned across the region (so will affect every line item in the table marked as R in the “Who” column). The table provides an indication of how taxes might look for the “average” home, based on 2024 assessment values. Based on this preliminary budget (which will change before being finalized), the “average” property in Area B (valued at $700,494 in 2024) will pay $78 more in taxes in 2025 than the “average” property in 2024 (using the same 2024 assessment value). The vast majority of the increase ($55 of the $78 increase) is due to the purchase of a park in 2024 (see more information below). When the updated numbers become available for cost apportionment based on 2025 assessment numbers and number of parcels, I’ll provide an update.

New Park Purchase in 2024

At the end of 2024 we purchased a 31.5-ha addition to the 707 Community Park. The property was assessed at $1.33 million and was purchased by the RDN in November for $750,000 with short-term financing for 5 years. The $750,000 was the amount owing after GaLTT contributed $100,000 (thanks GaLTT!) and the owner accepted a tax receipt of $483,000. The reasons short-term borrowing was decided upon instead of long-term borrowing were: 1. the property owner was hoping to sell the property in 2024. With an AAP required for longer-term borrowing we would not have made the deadline and risked losing our ability to purchase the property. The owner accepted an additional $150,000 in a tax receipt from the original agreed-to purchase price to facilitate this approach. 2. With the reduced borrowing costs due to interest (5 years instead of 20 years) as well as the higher tax receipt, the overall cost to Area B taxpayers is approximately $600,000 less overall for this park addition than if we’d gone through a long-term borrowing process.

Based on 2024 information for property assessments, the cost for this new park is approximately $0.061 per $1,000 of assessed value and the debt will be retired in 5 years. So for a property valued at, for example, $1 million the cost would be $61 per year for 5 years. In addition to a lovely forest and numerous streams, the park formalizes the emergency access to the park at the yellow gate, which is a fire access used to access the park. This addition brings the 707 Community Park to a whopping 460.3 ha in size! In case you’re wondering, Stanley Park is 305 ha. With the adjacent 46 ha Coats Marsh Regional Park we have conserved 506.3 ha of contiguous forest and wetland habitat in perpetuity.

Where do our taxes go?

We pay for a variety of services through the RDN:

·   Services paid for just by Gabriolans (and not Mudge or DeCourcy): we provide funding for recreation programming to the Gabriola Recreation Society, support the Gabriola Arts Council, fund the Taxi Saver program, fund the Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Service (new in 2024), as well as noise control bylaw enforcement on Gabriola.

·   Services paid for by Area B only: we provide funding to GERTIE, the Gabriola Museum, the Gabriola Emergency Wharf, Gabriola Green Wharf, economic development (Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce), Area B community parks, and provide a grant to GaLTT.

·   Services paid for by Area B in addition to all RDN members or a subset of RDN members, such as just the electoral areas and not municipalities: bylaw (hazardous properties, unsightly premises, animal control, house numbering); solid waste services (including landfill and implementing the solid waste management plan – note that waste pickup is a user-pay system and is not funded through taxation); liquid waste management planning (we don’t pay for water systems or sewer but we do contribute to the Septic Smart program and planning for septage receiving); drinking water and watershed protection program (which includes water monitoring, rebates, and public education); a grants-in-aid program to non-profits, southern community restorative justice (victim services); regional parks; emergency services (emergency planning, D68 search and rescue, D68 911); regional growth strategy (which includes projects such as sea level rise mapping and climate change action although we are not included within the overall Regional Growth Strategy for the region); Port Theatre contribution; electric vehicle charging, as well as administration costs.

If you’re curious about your property assessment, you can look it up here: https://www.bcassessment.ca/. If you have any questions about the budget or anything else RDN-related, please reach out to me at the Contact Me page.

RDN waste management approaches – waste diversion and landfill management

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) provides waste management services, including pick-up of garbage, recycling, and organics for Gabriola and the six other electoral areas, as well as Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Lantzville. The RDN owns and operates the landfill in Cedar as well as the Church Rd Transfer Station in Parksville. Nanaimo has its own waste collection service but also uses the landfill and participates in funding it. While the cost of the waste pickup program is covered by your annual utility bill (the amount you pay varies depending on the size of your garbage container), we pay RDN taxes towards managing the landfill and transfer station, which includes building up a reserve for when the landfill needs to be closed.

The RDN’s goal for 90% waste diversion (ie that 90% of all waste is diverted from the landfill – currently we’re at around 68%) guides many of our decisions including to:

• collect organics to keep them out of the landfill which helps with landfill space management and decreases the amount of methane generated by the landfill;

• allow garden clippings to be added to the organic bin which reduces the cost of composting and provides a better mix of materials (plus is helpful with FireSmarting!);

• new! You can now upsize your organics cart to add even more green/yard waste! If you upsize by Nov 8 you can win your fees waived for 2 years – upsize by Nov 30 and save $25; and

• implement mandatory source separation (effective January 2025) as well as a companion waste hauler licensing program. Only residential properties currently are required to sort their waste into garbage, recycling, and organics streams – as of January all commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family dwellings will also be required to do so. This is anticipated to have a significant positive impact on the RDN’s waste diversion rate. The RDN has worked with the province, waste haulers, and consulted with the community as this new program has been developed. There are upcoming information sessions in Nanaimo, at the landfill, and an online webinar in November. More information about this program and the upcoming information sessions is available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/waste-separation

In addition to these recent program changes, the RDN is always seeking to use our landfill as efficiently as possible. A new project of the RDN is a waste shredding program combined with on-machine GPS, which allows waste to be more efficiently compacted. Through a series of four trials the RDN has been piloting a shredder program - contracting different types of industrial shredders to determine whether it allows more efficient compaction of garbage, and the best type of shredder to use. The trials indicate that shredding makes a difference – the air survey density results (basically indicating how compact the waste is) has increased from 0.84 tonnes of garbage per m3 of landfill airspace in 2019 (no shredding) up to 1.29 t/m3 this year so far, with full-time shredding. This is quite a bit higher than the standard industry goal of a landfill our size of 0.7 t/m3. Based on the amount of waste coming in to the landfill (which increased in 2019 as more waste was generated through COVID and continues to increase), the landfill was estimated to run out of space around 2043. With shredding, and assuming we maintain waste diversion rates and that waste volumes decline to 75,000 tonnes per year, the life of the landfill may extend to 2050. The more we’re able to divert from the landfill, the longer the landfill will last. For example, if we reach 80% diversion the landfill is projected to last until 2058 and at 90% diversion we could get to 2078. RDN staff indicate that the value of extending the landfill life for just 7 years by shredding is $100 million, after accounting for the costs of operating the shredder for those years – which indicates the significant cost associated with having to close our landfill when it gets full.

What can you do? The more we can divert from the landfill the better for both the environment and all of us. Ensuring that all eligible organics go into your green bin (or household compost) instead of your waste bin, and recycling everything you can will make a significant difference. In addition to the RDN’s waste/recycling/organics pickup and the option for landfill drop-off, GIRO on Gabriola collects appliances, glass, soft plastics including plastic bags, cardboard, paints and other hazardous chemicals,   and many other items. Recycle BC allows you to drop off a variety of bags including crinkly plastic and candy wrappers, cellophane, woven plastic, white and coloured foam, and more at London Drugs and other locations. For more information about opportunities to divert waste from the landfill:

·       RDN https://www.rdn.bc.ca/what-goes-where

·       GIRO https://www.girodepot.com/giro-accepts/

·       London Drugs https://www.londondrugs.com/believe-in-better/london-green/recycling.html

·       Recycle BC https://recyclebc.ca/

If you have any questions about the RDN’s waste management system, or anything else RDN-related, please contact me at the Contact Me button!

Hello everyone – I’ve included some RDN updates below:

The RDN search for a non-profit to provide the new Health and Wellbeing service closes July 8th!

The next step in hiring a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for the island is a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) for an organization to hold a contract with the RDN. The organization will be responsible for overseeing the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator position including setting a workplan etc., working with a leadership team from the Health and Wellbeing Collaborative. The RFSQ closes July 8th; information can be found here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/node/25766

As you’ll recall, we completed an Alternative Approval Process to gauge Gabriolan’s support for this new service in February. This first year of the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator position is a pilot project: the Coordinator position will be half-time for this first year.

Reminder: New playground 30 km/hr speed zone around Huxley Park

With school out there will be more young people in the village core, using Huxley Park and walking around the stores. Please ensure you slow to 30 km/hr in the playground zone, which is in effect from dawn to dusk 7 days/week. I’m hopeful that if all residents follow the speed zone requirements, it will be even more obvious to our visitors!

Expanded yard waste collection in the organic cart

Since the RDN starting allowing residents to add yard waste to their organic cart, we’ve heard interest from residents (including on Gabriola) about whether a larger organics cart will be an option. Since the program was launched in 2023, organic cart volumes have increased by 13%, from 4700T/2022 to 5300T/2023. During this next phase of the program, the RDN will continue to analyse amount of organic waste in carts as well as by people who self-haul to the solid waste facilities. There will also be a survey of residents to determine whether they feel the organics cart size is adequate or if they would like access to larger carts. The goal is for staff to report back in early 2025 with information about their analyses as well as feedback from residents to determine potential next steps for the organics program. More information available here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/expanded-organics

Park news

·       The RDN is taking on management of Orlebar Point as a community park. The picnic tables were removed and will be replaced as soon as possible;

·       Planning is well underway to replace the current building in the tennis court. The replacement building will have storage for the various Huxley Park users including tennis, pickleball, and the skate park and it’s hoped building will occur in the fall;

·       Planning to return Coats Marsh to a more natural system regulated by beavers by removing the concrete weir is continuing. Work currently is including an impact assessment of the project on habitat and wildlife associated with the lower weir pool. The project is now expected to be completed in 2025.

New cancer centre announced for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

The province announced that it has approved the construction of an expanded cancer centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Construction will start in 2025 and the centre is expected to open in 2028. Along with a doubling of chemotherapy chairs from 8 to 16, the cancer centre will include an expanded and updated pharmacy, new radiation treatment rooms, a new PET CT machine, and a new parkade. The province is estimating the project to cost $289 million. The province has requested the Hospital District provide $11.8 million to support the project. The Hospital District Board is advocating for the province to commit to a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab. You can reach more about the Hospital District priorities here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/nrhd In addition, there is a new advocacy campaign from the Fair Care Alliance which has a petition and a lot of information https://weneedhealthcare.ca/

Upcoming:

You can attend meetings in person or watch the live stream or watch recorded video of all of these meetings. To see videos go to https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos and click on the date/meeting.

·   The next Electoral Area Services Committee meetings are on July 4th (9 am & 1 pm start)

·   The next RDN Board meetings are on July 9th and July 23rd  (1 pm start)

·   The next RDN Committees of the Whole are on July 9th (10 am start), July 16th (1 pm start), and July 23rd (10 am start)

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, click the Contact Me button! 

The Alternative Approval Process closes 4 pm February 20th. If you’re OPPOSED to this new service you must register your opposition by sending an elector form by email or fax (the email/number is on the form), or drop-off to the RDN office by 4 pm Tuesday Feb 20th. You can find the form and background information here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/gabriola-island-health-and-wellbeing-service-aap

As of January 19th, the AAP designed to gauge support for the creation of a new Health and Wellbeing Service, to hire a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for Gabriola is under way. In an AAP, individuals who are in favour of the new service don’t need to take any action. Those who are opposed to the new service need to let the RDN know by filling out an elector response form with an original signature and sending it to the RDN, who must receive it before 4 pm on Tuesday Feb 20 2024 (postmarks don’t count). Forms can be dropped off in person, emailed, or mailed [NOTE that due to the holiday on Monday Feb 19th mail is no longer an option to ensure your form is received in time]. The form, a definition of who is eligible to vote, and supporting information including FAQs is available on the Get Involved website for the project at https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/gabriola-island-health-and-wellbeing-service-aap. If less than 10% of the eligible electors indicate they are opposed to the creation of the service, the service can proceed.

 What is the proposed position?

The Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Collaborative is a group comprised of representatives from over 50 organizations working to support the health and wellbeing of our community. Health and wellbeing is defined in its broadest sense as quality of life. From emergency responders and health providers to recreation, arts, business, and environmental sustainability groups, these groups meet monthly to inform and coordinate activities. The coordination of the services for Gabriolans done through the Collaborative are done on a voluntary basis and most of the collaborative is composed of volunteer Boards. These individuals volunteer their time and often incur expenses in service to the betterment of our community. What I’ve heard clearly over the last two years is that these groups feel they need support to avoid volunteer burnout, to facilitate collaboration, and to support their continued service to the community.

The Community Health and Wellbeing Service Coordinator would be responsible for coordinating organizations and networks involved with health and wellness service delivery. The role will include developing and implementing strategic planning which identifies key priorities, goals, objectives and will support monitoring and evaluation. This would also include a gap analysis of services and/or collaboration between on-island groups. A key element of this role would be to provide an administrative and communications function to facilitate collaboration between committees, organizations, and service providers in the area. The Community Health and Wellbeing Service Coordinator would also develop funding applications to support health and wellbeing services delivery. 

 What would be the structure of the Coordinator’s position?

If the service is approved through the AAP process, the RDN will put out a request for an existing non-profit society to hold a contract with the RDN. The funding from the RDN will go through that society and they will be responsible for hiring and overseeing the person hired. A small group of representatives from the Health and Wellbeing Collaborative will form a governance body to oversee the position, set priorities, and ensure the work of the Coordinator is in alignment with the priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Collaborative. The society which holds the contract with the RDN will be responsible to provide annual reporting to the RDN Board to ensure that the society and the position meet the requirements of the contract.

 How much will it cost?

The position is proposed to start initially as a part-time position (pilot project) with the potential to eventually become a full-time position. The AAP is asking support for the full-time position to allow the position the flexibility to evolve over time. If approved, 2024 taxes will include funding for a part-time position (not full-time) as a pilot project which will extend for at least 1-2 years. A part-time position is proposed to cost $50,592 including an operating budget and a small administration fee by the RDN, and a full-time position would be $102,612. Based on 2024 assessments, the cost per $1,000 of property assessment is $0.0203 for the part-time position (ie just over 2 cents per $1,000 of assessment) and $0.0413 for the full-time position. To calculate how much you would pay, take your property assessment for 2024 (available at https://www.bcassessment.ca/), divide it by 1,000 and then multiply it by 0.0203. What this translates to is that a property assessed at $500,000, for example, would pay a total of $10.15 in 2024 for the part-time position for the pilot project. A property assessed at $1,000,000 would pay $20.30 in 2024. In future years if the position becomes full-time, the amount will be adjusted and could increase or decrease based on changes in population assessments, or decrease based on population growth.

Why are we having an Alternative Approval Process for this service?

Regional Districts are required to create bylaws for a new service. Depending on the service it may require approval of the residents through either assent voting (ie a referendum) or an Alternative Approval Process (AAP). Both of these processes are approved by the province as a method of assessing the support of residents and are laid out by provincial regulation which includes a timeline for voter response as well as other requirements such as the types of advertising required. I’ve been asked why we’re having an AAP for this new position/service:

1.   For this type of social service a referendum/AAP is not mandatory if it’s brought in for an area because it’s considered a local government service that can be implemented at any time. For this particular service an AAP/assent process was required because it’s being brought in for a portion of the area (Gabriola) and not the entire area (Area B). Even if we were considering the service for the entire area, I felt that, because this was a new service, I wanted to include an educational component and check in with residents about their thoughts.

2. The province provides guidance on deciding on AAP vs assent voting. For this service I felt comfortable that it met some important criteria for an AAP:

a. It’s an important service that typically a local government can implement (as I mention above, isn’t even required to go to elector approval if all of Area B was included - and an argument could be made for that);

b. The service in the context of the budget is not expensive, does not require long-term borrowing, and will I believe provide good value for the residents of Gabriola and provide much needed and requested support to various community groups who work for the benefit of Gabriolans;

c. It will start as a part-time position to ensure it meets the needs of community groups/Gabriolans before it would be expanded; d. I have been engaging with the public for close to 2 years on this through the feasibility study and numerous Sounder articles and meetings with community groups. I have mentioned this potential service and the upcoming AAP in almost every Sounder article I’ve submitted in over a year. I’ve also made numerous posts on Facebook about it. There were numerous in-person and online engagement opportunities with the consultants and I have attended much of the engagement to hear and answer questions. Through all of this the vast majority of people I’ve heard from were in favour of the new position; some had concerns but were mostly questions about how it would be implemented. Based on that I feel it met the criterion of a service that is not highly controversial.

3. Finally, an assent vote (referendum) requires in-person voting and is many multiples of the cost of an AAP. Because of the above reasons I felt an AAP for this new service was appropriate.

Do you have additional questions?

I want to ensure that I address questions that you have – Please contact me through the Contact Me button or send an email to vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca

Happy October! I hope everyone had time to enjoy the beautiful weather over the weekend and maybe check out a place or two, or 10! on the art tour.

Winter is coming, along with the storms

If you haven’t already, please sign up for the RDN’s emergency alert system, Voyent Alert. In an emergency the RDN can send notifications via phone, email, or text https://www.rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert

RDN WellSmart workshop on Gabriola – October 26 6-8 pm

During this free workshop, information will be provided about: drought management, water testing and treatment, maintenance and operations, protecting your water source, water treatment options, and upgrades and testing rebates. Although this is a free workshop you’re required to pre-register at rdn.bc.ca/wellsmart or call 250-248-3252.

Regional Parks and Trails (Coats Marsh Regional Park and Descanso Bay Regional Park)

The RDN has, in effect, multiple parks systems – community parks, which are parks that are acquired and managed through taxes paid for exclusively by the electoral area they are in (the majority of our parks in Area B), and regional parks which are acquired and managed through taxes paid for by all of the electoral areas and municipalities across the RDN. Each municipality also has their own separate parks acquired and managed by their respective municipalities. We have two regional parks in Area B: Coats Marsh Regional Park and Descanso Bay Regional Park. At a recent Regional Parks and Trails Select Committee we discussed the following:

• Coats Marsh Regional Park is an RDN regional park co-owned by The Nature Trust (TNT). As I’ve reported in the past, Coats Marsh has both a significant beaver dam formed by the actions of beavers over many years, as well as a concrete weir that was installed at the outlet to the marsh decades ago by the private landowner (before it became a park), to hold more water. Over the years the RDN has implemented various water control measures such as a pond leveler (a tube through the beaver dam that allows water to trickle slowly through the dam) to keep the water stored behind the beaver dam at the concrete weir height, as well as building a berm to prevent flooding of adjacent properties. The beavers continued to expand the beaver dam such that the water level behind the dam was more than 1 m higher than the weir. If the beaver dam was to breach, that significant built-up water would release resulting in a possible failure of the weir and impacts to downstream infrastructure and environment. A survey of the weir indicated it was developing some cracks and needed to be replaced. Temporary siphons were installed to reduce the water behind the beaver dam as an interim measure. As I reported in my May Sounder report, the Board reviewed options to address the issue and chose an option supported by The Nature Trust, which is to keep the beaver dam and to remove the concrete weir with the goal of having a more natural marsh management scenario. Because the placement of the concrete weir involved blasting the natural rock that would have normally maintained the water level, the management plan will also include placing rocks and vegetation to hold water in the marsh. Because the work involves removing a dam and working around water, the RDN requires permits from the BC Ministry of Forests and Environment and Climate Change Canada which were recently granted. Public engagement is a required component of this project – the RDN will be contacting residents adjacent to Coats Marsh RP, Coats Marsh Creek, and Hoggan Lake. In addition, there will be a public information meeting about the project which will be held on Gabriola at a date/location to be determined. I’ll update you as more information becomes available.

• The RDN has been working to improve the campground in Descanso Bay Regional Park over the last few years, including adding an accessible toilet at the day use area, a new change room and improved toilets at the upper campground, and the removal of the old campground building. A new prefabricated campground office building has been designed to re-use existing foundations and site services to minimize site disturbance. Installation of the building is expected to occur in fall 2023 or spring 2024.

• The Regional Parks committee also discussed an upcoming project to place a crossing (which will require 2 bridges) across the Nanaimo River to complete the Morden Colliery Regional Trail. Discussion was focussed on whether to support truss bridges (pros: would be accessible to users including bikers, mobility devices, and equestrians; cons: more expensive, not as attractive) or suspension bridges (pros: still allows crossing, can become a tourist destination, more attractive and less expensive; cons: mostly useful for pedestrians comfortable crossing a suspension bridge). Either option will require additional studies and planning because the river is actively changing the channel. The committee chose to recommend the truss model to the Board for consideration.

Health and Wellbeing Coordinator (potential new service in 2024)

Thanks to everyone who engaged with the Urban Matters consultants during our public in-person engagement sessions on Sept 16, 17, 18, 19 and/or our two online sessions on Sept 28th. Next steps will include a draft bylaw to come to the RDN Board for the creation of a service. If it is supported by the Board it will go to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval. Following that there will be an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) in early 2024 to determine whether Gabriolans are in support of the creation of this new service. As part of this process a Get Involved page will be created on the RDN website which will provide more information about the AAP process. To read more about this project including the initial feasibility study, see https://www.rdn.bc.ca/electoral-area-b

Area B Parks/Trails and Recreation Master Plan

The Master Plan process for Parks and Trails (on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy) and Recreation (Gabriola) is underway. This plan will set a path for us to follow over the next years to further improve parks and recreation in Area B. Thanks to everyone who provided input to the master plan through the survey which closed Sept 29th and/or attending the community open house on September 23rd. The consultants will be developing a report based on what they’ve heard. There will be an opportunity for the public to provide input on the draft Master Plan. Information about the planning process is available at https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp. You can sign up for updates through the website.

Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention

In September I had the opportunity to attend the UBCM convention in Vancouver. The convention brings together elected representatives from across the province – both local governments and provincial Ministers and their staff. During the convention I had the opportunity to meet with numerous Ministers and staff on issues that are priorities in the RDN and in our area.

Part of the convention includes debate and a vote on endorsing various resolutions brought forward by local governments – either through their area association (ours is the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, of which I’m the 2nd Vice President on the Executive) or directly to UBCM.

The RDN had six resolutions at the convention, all of which were supported by the members: 1) requesting the province consult local governments when developing and before implementing the Homes for People Action Plan, which proposes to upzone single residential parcels to permit four homes. While the goal is important, implementing this change without considering whether the conditions (e.g., water) or infrastructure (e.g., schools, wastewater) are able to handle such a rapid increase is problematic; 2) requesting the province provide leadership and facilitate the development of regional water supply strategies at the watershed scale (by regional district) to ensure proactive management to ensure sustainable drinking water is available; 3) requesting the province grant Regional Districts the ability to regulate and enforce vehicle parking on roads and rights-of-ways. Currently Regional Districts don’t have any authority over roads or parking; 4) requesting the province to address the current implementation of the $10/day childcare program which requires applicants to apply yearly and to plan and develop childcare expansion. Instead the request is for the province to provide multi-year funding to support expansion and also to proactively work to expand access without relying on individual providers to do so, and that the program should uphold UNDRIP obligations and offer opportunities for involvement of Indigenous governments and nonprofits; 5) requesting the province amend the Controlled Alien Species Regulation to prohibit all exotic non-domesticated cats and dogs from being owned and kept in BC. This issue originally arose from some serval cats that escaped from their pens in the RDN Area F in 2022, as well as issues with serval cats in Kamloops in 2019. The SPCA has been advocating for a ban and requested the support of the RDN on this issue; and 6) requesting the province increase the tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers from the current $3,000 to $10,000. This was supported unanimously at UBCM. A similar resolution at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) calling on the federal government to also increase their tax exemption was supported unanimously by the FCM Board which will carry on advocacy with the federal government on this issue.

Upcoming (all meetings are livestreamed and the videos are available on the RDN website at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos)

Oct 16th: Area B Parks & Open Spaces Advisory Committee 5-7 pm at the Gabriola Agi Hall. The Public is welcome to attend. If you’re interested in submitting correspondence or appearing as a delegation to the committee, please get in touch asap

Oct 24th: RDN Board (1 pm start) at the RDN office in Nanaimo

Nov 7th: RDN Board (1 pm start) at the RDN office in Nanaimo

Nov. 9th: Electoral Area Services Committee (1 pm start) at the RDN office in Nanaimo.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related, please use the contact me button above, or email me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca.

Proposed new Health and Wellbeing Service for Gabriola community in-person engagement sessions TODAY (Monday) and TOMORROW (Tuesday)! There will also be online opportunities next Monday Sept 25.

Monday Sept 18: there will be drop-in office hours at the Gabriola Agi Hall between 12:15-4:15 pm

Tuesday Sept 19: there will be drop-in office hours at the Gabriola Arts Council Hall from 10 am-2 pm.

-/-

As you know, we’re heading towards an Alternative Approval Process to gauge community support for a new Health and Wellbeing Service on Gabriola. Over the next two weeks there will numerous opportunities for the public to learn more about this potential new service. There was also a QR code in an ad in last week’s Sounder (Sept 13th) with a link to more information. Consultants from Urban Matters will be present to answer questions and provide information.

The Gabriola Health and Wellbeing Collaborative is a group comprised of representatives from over 50 organizations working to support the health and wellbeing of our communities. From emergency responders and health providers to recreation, arts, business, and environmental sustainability groups these groups meet monthly to inform and coordinate activities. The coordination of the services for Gabriolans done through the Collaborative are done on a voluntary basis and most of the collaborative is composed of volunteer Boards. What I’ve heard clearly over the last two years is that these groups feel they need support to avoid volunteer burnout, to facilitate collaboration, and to support their continued service to the community.

Based on this request, a feasibility study was conducted by Urban Matters. You can find the report here: [https://www.rdn.bc.ca/electoral-area-b](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rdn.bc.ca%2Felectoral-area-b%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0JWmQVvKwEnPZIZ0m5jNRDG0LlwG1B1AAqncgyDEB4Ti_bDV5H9LG41w0&h=AT2NGXnN1GTCpMc7teV6jVhgorM5wRdzL9aEPuJzhANOHS5Wb_LNXCL4tnVs2VyV7fUgQgSXmONQnTxDEL9P1DlXuGWyqWpBmxBKlCaSPunh48DkzQlPUE13n4UV_rds8w&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT1ziThbekVNknMOBYpYaA5kJCdo8EWwt-F7Kkhm5NmXCwTCuC0AJ_3GCsV3yzmjNg85Ic7DmgQATol_-5sSdXj86UTCch12udxMamZhJhAezOU1_05lWb4orQ1DcREtb056pAq9ILkWDzrlmhWGAUnnaHzoNGaHADYaN45USQsDokIxjA)

The report reviewed the needs expressed by the Collaborative members in the context of supporting them to continue serving the community. The report examined options ranging from status quo up to a full-time coordinator position. The recommendation was to establish the service as a part-time position as a pilot to determine how it can serve the community. Based on the results of the pilot, the service could grow over time. To give an indication of how implementing a part-time position might affect taxes, based on 2023 assessments adding this part-time service to the community would add approximately $3 per $100,000 of assessed value to property taxes.

IN PERSON

Saturday Sept 16: there will be a pop-up booth at the Gabriola Market 10 am-2 pm

Sunday Sept 17: there will be a pop-up booth at the Gabriola Fall Fair noon-4 pm (the ad in the Sounder had the wrong times)

Monday Sept 18: there will be drop-in office hours at the Gabriola Agi Hall between 12:15-4:15 pm

Tuesday Sept 19: there will be drop-in office hours at the Gabriola Arts Council Hall from 10 am-2 pm.

ONLINE

Monday Sept 25: There will be 2 virtual engagement sessions – one between 6-7 pm, and one between 7:15-8:15 pm

Many thanks to all of you who have reached out to encourage me to run again for the Area B Director position at the Regional District of Nanaimo. I’m delighted to confirm that I will be running for re-election, and I would very much appreciate your support!

When I ran for this position 4 years ago, I committed to proACTive (accountable, collaborative, and transparent) representation - by providing clear communication, re-invigorating the relationship between the RDN and the Islands Trust, by seeing input and being responsive to what I hear from the community, and being able to explain my positions and decisions. My priorities for the last few years have been setting a tone of collaborative leadership;  providing accessible, transparent, and evidence-based representation; and focussing on community resilience - including disaster resilience, accessibility to water, and housing accessibility.

While the advent of COVID certainly had an effect, I feel I was able to make progress in all of these areas:

#1. COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

I enjoy working with others and feel I have struck a true collaborative tone in all of my interactions. I have reinvigorated the relationship between the Islands Trust and RDN by regularly providing updates to the Islands Trust Local Trust Committee as well as collaborating with the Trustees on numerous issues where we advocate for Area B residents. Through my position as Vice Chair of the RDN, and serving on the Executive of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (currently 2nd Vice President) I have developed positive relationships with staff and local and provincial electeds across the region and promoted issues of relevance to Area B residents.

#2. ACCESSIBLE, TRANSPARENT, AND EVIDENCE-BASED REPRESENTATION

A goal of mine when elected was to provide regular, thorough communication so that so that you understood what is happening at the RDN and how it will affect you. Through my reports in The Sounder, posts on Facebook and my website, and responses to emails I have endeavored to keep you informed.  Prior to COVID I held regular drop-in office hours, and I look forward to re-starting that now that we’re coming out the other side (I say hopefully, although it’s unpredictable!).

#3. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

Disaster resilience - is always a concern for islanders, and an area in which we were tested during COVID. We’ve made progress in the last four years, a few highlights:

• during COVID an emergency response group comprised of emergency responders (fire, ambulance, police, radio) on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy; health care professionals; representatives of the Gabriola Health and Wellness Collaborative; political representatives from the RDN and Islands Trust; RDN emergency services staff; and many others met regularly to share information, collaborate, and plan responses to the COVID emergency. This was the first time a broad group from across the islands was formed and it established a great base for communication. After the initial urgency subsided, this resulted in an expansion of the Gabriola Health and Wellness Collaborative to include these representatives;

• the Community Hall now has an agreement to serve as an Emergency Reception Centre and has an RDN-provided generator. This means that we have both the Rollo Centre and Community Hall that can provide service in an emergency, along with the mobile Emergency Support Service (ESS) trailer. Many thanks to all of the volunteers with ESS and PALS (emergency support for pets and livestock) who step up in an emergency! If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in touch with me and I can put you in touch with ESS Team Leader Shirley Nicolson or PALS Leader Margaret Taylor.

• Area B now has an updated evacuation route plan which received input from the GVFD as well as volunteer emergency response groups on Mudge and DeCourcy. The RDN, GVFD, and other emergency response agencies recently held an evacuation exercise for the Whalebone neighbourhood, which is an area highlighted by the plan that could be difficult to evacuate as it’s a one way in/out area. As always, significant recognition and gratitude to all of the volunteers  and personnel with Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy emergency responders;

• significant work has occurred on fire risk assessment - there is a new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan for Area B which had input from Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy emergency responders. The plan highlights areas in our region with higher fire risk. In addition, we’ve had a fuel management prescription assessment completed for the 707 Community Park, and additional assessments are scheduled for Descanso Bay Regional Park and Cox Community Park.

Accessibility to fresh water - both drinking water and for the environment, is of increasing concern across the region, and on the islands in particular. There has been some progress in the last four years:

• use of rainwater harvesting systems is now permitted in commercial and multi-family dwellings where the system and its management follows the guidelines of Island Health

• the RDN’s cistern rebate program has been expanding to provide more rebates to residents. Due to large demand in Area B our rebates are regularly fully allotted early in the year, but with more rebates given to Area B residents on the waiting list if the rebates aren’t claimed in other areas (which happens every year), our area regularly gets by the far the largest number of rebates in the region. Combined with rebates for mulch, wellhead upgrades and others, residents can increase their property’s water resiliency.

• Finally, I believe that our discussion of community resilience must also include discussions about housing accessibility. This is an issue being discussed in communities across BC and nation-wide. Part of this is a discussion about our community vision - what do we want our community to look like? Do we want a diverse community including young families and seniors? Commuters, artists, work from home entrepeneurs, service workers? With the average price of a home on Gabriola exceeding $350,000* and very limited rental housing, how can we maintain the community we want, and yet still maintain our rural character, beautiful environment, and limited resources? Are there ideas tried elsewhere that might work for us? Do we have our own ideas? A solution to this issue won't come solely through the RDN, the Islands Trust, or the province; only through working together and having honest and respectful discussions can we begin to address the issue. 

Huxley Community Park celebration May 28th!

Mark your calendars! The celebration for Huxley Park skatepark and Phase 2 improvements is scheduled for Saturday May 28th between 12:30-1:30. There will be a few speeches and an opportunity to thank all of the so very many community members who have worked for this addition to the community.

707 Community Park

At a recent Board meeting, the staff report on the implications of the fuel management prescription for the 707 community park and note to file re sheltering in the park was included on the agenda. The Board supported including the 707 on the list of parks where sheltering is prohibited under Bylaw No. 1801, 2019.

Background: As you’ll recall, when the RDN updated its Parks Bylaw to include limits on where and for how long unsheltered people could use RDN parks for sheltering, it was misinterpreted to mean that the RDN was “allowing” sheltering in its parks. In fact, numerous Supreme Court rulings had indicated that unhoused people had a right to access public spaces, including parks, subject to reasonable limits established by local governments. Prior to the parks bylaw update the RDN had very limited tools to address the issue. Part of the concern raised, in particular by the Fire Chief, was that the condition of the 707 community park (dry and dense with lots of dead trees) could make it more likely to have a fire and it would be difficult to fight given the size and condition of the park. As a result, the Board supported my Motion that sheltering be temporarily prohibited in the 707 park until the fire risk could be assessed and mitigated, as appropriate. Subsequently, the RDN received a grant from the province to do a fire risk assessment and prescription (FMP) in 100 ha of the 707 Community Park. The project required the contractor to include an assessment specific to sheltering in the 707 park in a note to file. The note to file indicated that the forest has the potential to support a severe wildfire during the most severe weather conditions and recommended the park be closed permanently or seasonally to sheltering. The staff report indicated that trying to have seasonal closures would be too difficult and risky and recommended a full closure.

Community Health and Wellbeing Planner

The feasibility study on the potential costs and function of creating a community health and wellbeing planner position/contract is underway. The first stakeholder meeting with members of the Health and Wellness Collaborative (which is comprised of representatives from 30+ groups that work to improve health and wellbeing on the islands, from emergency response, medical clinic, social work, PHC, recreation, and arts to name just a few) happened last week. The consultant, Urban Matters, will use the information as they draft the feasibility study which will outline various options to address the goals and gaps identified during the meeting.

Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan

We received the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) for Area B and discusses the current status of public land on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands.

The report identifies many useful steps for the RDN to take and grants it can access to improve our communities’ resiliency to wildfire. There is also discussion about opportunities for including FireSmart reforms in development and zoning bylaws or Official Community Plans, which are within the purview of the Islands Trust in our electoral area. Recommendations relevant to development/zoning bylaws may also be contained in the CWRPs for other electoral areas where the RDN is responsible for land management. Subsequent to endorsing the CWRPs, the Board supported a Motion to use the information contained in the reports to evaluate the Parks Bylaw for its effectiveness in fire prevention in community and regional parks. The CWRPs will be uploaded here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-wildfire-resiliency where you can find information about FireSmart as well.

Project Updates

• The EASC received a building permit activity update for the first quarter of 2022. The number of permits issued for Area B in the first quarter was 21, compared to 32 in the first quarter of 2021, 20 in 2020, and 31 in 2019. The total value of construction included in those permits across all of the electoral areas is very high. The value surpassed $40 million, reflecting increased building costs (labour and materials), compared to the value of construction for 2021’s first quarter which was ~$26 million.

• The Board requested that bylaw enforcement tools be reviewed with a focus on their effectiveness for longstanding property bylaw files, and that alternate methods and cost recovery options be investigated.

Upcoming

• RDN meetings are continuing in hybrid mode with some Directors/staff in person at the RDN Board room (and the public able to attend) and the rest online.

• The next Board meetings are May 24th and June 14th . (1 pm start)

• The next Electoral Area Services Committee meetings are June 9th and July 7th  (1 pm start)

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related, or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, please contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or 250-741-4589.

Huxley Community Park celebration May 28th!

Mark your calendars! The celebration for Huxley Park skatepark and Phase 2 improvements is scheduled for Saturday May 28th between 12:30-1:30. There will be a few speeches and an opportunity to thank all of the so very many community members who have worked for this addition to the community.

707 Community Park

At a recent Board meeting, the staff report on the implications of the fuel management prescription for the 707 community park and note to file re sheltering in the park was included on the agenda. The Board supported including the 707 on the list of parks where sheltering is prohibited under Bylaw No. 1801, 2019.

Background: As you’ll recall, when the RDN updated its Parks Bylaw to include limits on where and for how long unsheltered people could use RDN parks for sheltering, it was misinterpreted to mean that the RDN was “allowing” sheltering in its parks. In fact, numerous Supreme Court rulings had indicated that unhoused people had a right to access public spaces, including parks, subject to reasonable limits established by local governments. Prior to the parks bylaw update the RDN had very limited tools to address the issue. Part of the concern raised, in particular by the Fire Chief, was that the condition of the 707 community park (dry and dense with lots of dead trees) could make it more likely to have a fire and it would be difficult to fight given the size and condition of the park. As a result, the Board supported my Motion that sheltering be temporarily prohibited in the 707 park until the fire risk could be assessed and mitigated, as appropriate. Subsequently, the RDN received a grant from the province to do a fire risk assessment and prescription (FMP) in 100 ha of the 707 Community Park. The project required the contractor to include an assessment specific to sheltering in the 707 park in a note to file. The note to file indicated that the forest has the potential to support a severe wildfire during the most severe weather conditions and recommended the park be closed permanently or seasonally to sheltering. The staff report indicated that trying to have seasonal closures would be too difficult and risky and recommended a full closure.

Community Health and Wellbeing Planner

The feasibility study on the potential costs and function of creating a community health and wellbeing planner position/contract is underway. The first stakeholder meeting with members of the Health and Wellness Collaborative (which is comprised of representatives from 30+ groups that work to improve health and wellbeing on the islands, from emergency response, medical clinic, social work, PHC, recreation, and arts to name just a few) happened last week. The consultant, Urban Matters, will use the information as they draft the feasibility study which will outline various options to address the goals and gaps identified during the meeting.

Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan

We received the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) for Area B and discusses the current status of public land on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands.

The report identifies many useful steps for the RDN to take and grants it can access to improve our communities’ resiliency to wildfire. There is also discussion about opportunities for including FireSmart reforms in development and zoning bylaws or Official Community Plans, which are within the purview of the Islands Trust in our electoral area. Recommendations relevant to development/zoning bylaws may also be contained in the CWRPs for other electoral areas where the RDN is responsible for land management. Subsequent to endorsing the CWRPs, the Board supported a Motion to use the information contained in the reports to evaluate the Parks Bylaw for its effectiveness in fire prevention in community and regional parks. The CWRPs will be uploaded here: https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-wildfire-resiliency where you can find information about FireSmart as well.

Project Updates

• The EASC received a building permit activity update for the first quarter of 2022. The number of permits issued for Area B in the first quarter was 21, compared to 32 in the first quarter of 2021, 20 in 2020, and 31 in 2019. The total value of construction included in those permits across all of the electoral areas is very high. The value surpassed $40 million, reflecting increased building costs (labour and materials), compared to the value of construction for 2021’s first quarter which was ~$26 million.

• The Board requested that bylaw enforcement tools be reviewed with a focus on their effectiveness for longstanding property bylaw files, and that alternate methods and cost recovery options be investigated.

Upcoming

• RDN meetings are continuing in hybrid mode with some Directors/staff in person at the RDN Board room (and the public able to attend) and the rest online.

• The next Board meetings are May 24th and June 14th . (1 pm start)

• The next Electoral Area Services Committee meetings are June 9th and July 7th  (1 pm start)

If you have any thoughts or questions about this update or anything else RDN related, or are curious about any of the reports I mention above, please contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca or 250-741-4589.

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.

The agenda package also has the results and 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

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

Below is the Director update I submitted to the Sounder a couple weeks ago, in case you missed it, + some updates.

-/-

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 [Update: the decisions below were supported at the Board meeting]. 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. [Update: the RDN has released a tender package which closes early July. The project is planned to be completed in 2020.] 

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. https://rdn-pub.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

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). https://rdn-pub.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

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. https://rdn-pub.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

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 addresses 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 (preferred) or contact me via my Facebook page or my website.

New:

• The Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee met and recommended that an assessment of current condition of Captain Ahab’s Terrace community park and Tally-Ho community park occur. These community parks were created at the time of subdivision.

• Nanaimo is re-starting its Sports Fields and Recreation Services Committee. As Areas A, B and C pay taxes towards City of Nanaimo facilities based on usage (eg pools, skating rinks, playing fields etc) Directors of Areas A, B, C and City of Nanaimo representatives will serve on the committee

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

The Islands Trust has issued a news release asking visitors to stay home - for now. I fully support this action. Normally we love to welcome visitors and seasonal residents to our islands. However, these are not normal times. With the COVID-19 pandemic we need to respect our provincial health authority’s instructions to implement distancing and to avoid moving between communities. It’s essential at this time that we do everything we can to minimize the spread of this virus.

Read the full Islands Trust news release here: http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/.../2020-07_it...

NEWS RELEASE

Islands Trustees Ask Visitors to Stay Home

Islands have a higher percentage of seniors, and limited resources and supplies

Lekwungen, METULIYE/Victoria, BC – Island trustees from across the Gulf and Howe Sound Islands are going public with a plea for people to stay away to minimize the spread of Covid-19 and to reduce pressure on limited island services. Trustees urge islanders to stay home and practice social distancing as recommended by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“Now is not the time to be visiting the islands,” said Peter Luckham, Chair of Islands Trust Council. “Most Gulf Islands have a median age of over sixty years old and limited or no medical services. First responders are volunteers who are practicing sheltering in place in order to be available for normal emergencies. We urge everyone to stay home and avoid discretionary travel to and from the islands. As ferry-dependent communities, we are especially vulnerable and face additional challenges. Now is not the time to take a holiday or visit your vacation property.”

Many islands businesses, including restaurants, are understocked, understaffed, and closing down or significantly limiting their services. BC Ferries has reduced sailings to the Southern Gulf Islands while continuing to be an essential service for coastal communities. People visiting island properties from private boats are encouraged to return to their primary residences to reduce the need for medical evacuations.

“On behalf of all British Columbians, the Islands Trust works to preserve and protect over 450 islands in the Salish Sea,” continued Chair Luckham. “We now ask British Columbians to protect islanders and yourselves by staying home. We look forward to welcoming visitors again when it is safe to do so.”

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

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 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

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.

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.

In response to community questions about the road resurfacing project currently happening on Gabriola, I contacted MOTI to get some more information. I see some information was also included in last week’s Sounder. I hope this information is of interest.

I asked about what the project involves, asked about concerns that this project might not be suitable for heavily travelled roads, and whether lines would be re-painted. This is the information I received:

The project is for chip sealing. When chip sealing a gravel road, the road is re-shaped; this involves the addition of more aggregate (road base) materials. Once the road is properly shaped, the sealcoat layer is applied. In the case of the roads on Gabriola we are doing a double chip, which means the first layer of liquid asphalt emulsion is applied and the aggregate is then applied using a "B" chip, which is a larger aggregate size, then is compacted with rollers. The second layer then gets re-applied the same way except on the second layer we are using an "E" sized aggregate (smaller sized rock) which produces a smoother travelling surface. To complete the process the whole surface is rolled to set the aggregate into the liquid asphalt emulsion. After a few days the road is then swept to clear the excess aggregate.

When sealcoating an already existing hard surfaced road, the process is exactly the same, except the initial preparation involves pulverizing the old surface, re-grading and re-shaping the road and applying the seal coat the same way.

All of the roads that we are pulverizing and sealcoating on Gabriola are roads that already have an existing seal coated (chip sealed) surface with the exception of Taylor Bay and South road which are asphalt surfaces and a few gravel surfaced portions. For the already asphalt surfaced roads we are pulverizing to a deeper depth to capture the existing road base and making any base repairs required.

Seal coating is an approved Ministry surface treatment for roads, and is quite common all over North America. The double layer chip seal will provide a long lasting sealed hard surface. There are Ministry field service reps on site everyday to work with the contractor and ensure the end product will meet the Ministry standards. Heavier vehicles driving on a seal coated road is actually a benefit to the surface as it assists with compaction and setting of the aggregate.

As part of the contract the contractor is required to re-mark the lines where they existed before.

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.

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.

On July 5th I attended the memorial service for Clarke Gourlay, who was the elected RDN representative for Area G (French Creek). Clarke was also co-owner of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. Clarke died the previous weekend in a mountaineering accident. As newly elected representatives, Clarke and I did quite a bit of ‘comparing notes’ as we learned on the job and I enjoyed working with him as he led the RDN’s Regional Parks and Trails committee with his ambitious plans for parks. Always thoughtful, friendly, curious, and motivated, he was a wonderful representative for the RDN, and a valued colleague. Clarke’s Alternate Director, Joe Stanhope, will fulfill the duties as the Area G representative until a by-election is held.

The Parks and Open Spaces Committee (POSAC) met June 17th. To promote information exchange about island parks, the Gabriola Recreation Society and Gabriola Land and Trails Trust provided updates on their activities. In addition to discussions about a delegation’s request for funding support and items of correspondence, the committee reviewed and approved the 5-year project plan for Community Parks in Area B. Agendas and Minutes for RDN meetings (including Board meetings) are available through the RDN calendar: www.rdn.bc.ca/events. The next POSAC meeting will be held October 7th, 10:30 am at the Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre. 

At its second structured-decision-making workshop, the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Action Plan committee identified and prioritized actions. We also reviewed responses to the public input survey, where Area B residents had the highest number of responses for an area across the RDN at 23% of total responses! Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey and contributed their thoughts. In September we will review a draft Action Plan developed by Econics, which is the company contracted to assist with this process. 

I attended the Gabriola Recreation Society (GRS) and Economic Development Advisory Group (EDAG) meetings. GRS has a lot of fun activities for kids this summer – see the options at www.gabriolarecreation.org. Heading into its 2-year anniversary, the EDAG is conducting a governance review to ensure it’s well set for the future. Julie Sperber, the Community Economic Development Officer, has been hard at work creating an integrated set of websites for our area – check them out at the www.hellogabriola.ca portal.   

Some items discussed at the Board meeting on June 25th:

 ·   The Board adopted the 2018 annual financial report and statement of financial information. The RDN’s financial reports are available at www.rdn.bc.ca/financial-reports.
·   The Board will review the parcel tax for the Regional Parks and Trails capital funds for the 2020 budget   ·   The Board referred the issue of cannabis regulation to the RDN’s Agricultural Advisory Committee for review and recommendations to the Board. The Board also requested that Chair Thorpe write a letter to Minister Donaldson outlining concerns about cannabis regulation and requesting that government consider a moratorium on non-soil bound cannabis production until local governments can create or amend bylaws to address the issue.
  ·   The Board approved the expansion of Nanaimo transit services to include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.

 Upcoming:
·   July 9th starting 1:30 pm at the RDN Building: Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings
·   July 23rd starting 7 pm at the RDN Building: Board meeting
·   September 3rd starting 1:30 pm at the RDN Building: Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings 

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

I attended the grade 7 climate change action strike and heard their anger and worry about climate change. As Mia, in her powerful speech, said - we need to get away from the “vicious cycle of more”. A timely reminder of just what’s at stake.

The Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) Action Plan committee, which includes Islands Trust freshwater specialist Will Shuba, had its first structured decision-making workshop where we prioritized focal areas. Next week we’ll meet to identify and prioritize specific actions.

An ongoing concern of Fire Chief Rick Jackson is how to dispose of land-clearing debris to minimize fire risk. When a site is cleared, provincial and RDN regulations govern if/when to burn debris, prohibit moving debris between properties for burning, and control waste management. Alternatives to burning such as piling or burying debris create fire risk or land instability. Rick and I were joined by Larry Gardner, RDN Manager of Solid Waste; Luc Lachance, Ministry of Environment Section Head for Solid Waste; Doug Gardiner, RDN Fire Services Coordinator; and Dion Klassen, RDNBylaw enforcement representative. We toured example properties identified by Chief Jackson, and came to a better understanding of potential solutions. See pic of some of the group at a stop on our site visits below.

Islands Trustees Scott Colbourne and Kees Langereis and I met with Stefan Yancey, Operations Manager for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) for a discussion/tour. Topics included road condition/potholes, intersection safety at Barrett and North Road, the Village Way Path and issues of pedestrian and cyclist safety, potential ferry lineup signage at Ivory Way, the issue of parking at El Verano, public accesses on Mudge, and the issue of developing secondary accesses to isolated neighbourhoods for use in an emergency. I am confident that MOTI understands our issues and is interested in working with us to address them. The RDN Board will also meet with MOTI representatives later in June where I will follow up.

I attended the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Quebec City, where over 2100 representatives from municipalities across Canada met to discuss issues of common interest. It’s clear that many of the issues here, including housing, reducing plastic use, concern about climate change, and the issue of funding for municipalities from the federal/provincial governments, is of concern across Canada. We passed several resolutions calling on the FCM Board to advocate at the federal level on a variety of issues. I attended several excellent workshops and have a list of ideas to follow up.

Board Updates:
• The Board approved our 2019-2022 Strategic Plan which identifies 8 focus areas: climate change, environmental stewardship, housing, growth management, transportation and transit, economic coordination, people and partnerships, and social well-being. You can find it and other long-term planning documents at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/long-term-plans.
• The RDN Board approved a pilot project to live-stream meetings, so you’ll be able to watch RDN Board meetings online. I’ll let you know when we’re going live online!
• The Board agreed to explore the idea of Development Cost Charges to fund parks acquisition and infrastructure expansion. The Sounder had a good overview of the issue last week. http://www.soundernews.com/…/rdn-considering-development-co…
Upcoming:
• June 11th starting 1:30 pm at the RDN Building: Electoral Area Services Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings
• June 17th starting 6 pm at the GAC Building: Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee meeting
• June 18th starting 6 pm at the RDN Building: Public Hearing for Bylaw 500.426
• June 25th starting 7 pm at the RDN Building: Board meeting
If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at vanessa.craig@rdn.bc.ca.

For RDN meetings you can find agendas for upcoming meetings and see Minutes from past ones here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/regular-meeting-schedule

Did you miss my April update in the Sounder? Here it is:

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers on Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy! At the RDN volunteer thank you luncheon our Chair, Ian Thorpe, said – the RDN could not do what we do, without you! From emergency services, stream stewards, parks and trails groups, advisory groups and others, the RDN counts over 1000 people as volunteers.

RDN staff member Melissa and I participated in the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department’s Open House. Melissa gave a presentation on emergency preparedness and had pamphlets and booklets. Representatives from Emergency Support Services, Pets and Livestock Services, and Emergency Communications groups were also present. Thanks to everyone who came by.

At the Commons I chatted with a group gathered for a 2-day Community Bus Forum organized by the GERTIE team. This Forum drew in-person and online participants from various locations around the coast. Congratulations for such a successful event!

Julie Sperber, our Community Economic Development (CED) Officer provided updates at the monthly Economic Development Advisory Group (EDAG) meeting. She is fostering a collaborative network on our islands, and is actively supporting both new and established businesses. Exciting things are happening! For more information check out the CED tab on the Chamber website.

The four days I spent at the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC) conference were full of invigorating discussions. Happy to see MLA Sheila Malcolmson there as well! I was honoured to be elected to the Executive as the Electoral Area Director representative. Delegates debated and voted on over 50 Motions of common interest to our coastal communities. Motions that received support will be discussed at the Union of BC Municipalities conference in the fall, with the goal of elevating the issues to a provincial discussion. If you’d like to know more about AVICC, see www.avicc.ca

The inaugural meeting between the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) Action Plan Steering Committee and the RDN’s Technical Advisory Committee began the process of updating the Action Plan. I was happy to see Trustee Scott Colbourne in the audience. We’re still gathering your input on drinking water and watershed protection through an online survey until May 27th. Take the survey and be entered to win a rain barrel! https://www.rdn.bc.ca/get-involved-rdn

The comments received on the draft Strategic Plan will be considered as the plan is revised. The eight focal areas of the plan are: climate change, environmental stewardship, housing, growth management, transportation and transit, economic coordination, people and partnerships, and social well-being.

Upcoming:

·  At the end of May I will be meeting MOTI personnel on Gabriola to discuss issues of concern. Feel free to email me info/pictures of problem areas.
·  I will be holding drop-in office hours between 2-4 pm at the Islands Trust office on May 6th and May 27th
·  May 14th  1:30~5 pm at the RDN Building: Electoral Area Services committee and Committee of the Whole
·  May 23rd  7 pm at the RDN building: Board meeting

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

I was privileged to be invited to attend a ceremony today where Ride Free representatives Gaye Smith and Gray Switzer donated funds raised with the goal of building a skatepark on Gabriola, to the Keep on Pushin’ fundraising group. The funds were raised in honour of Gaye Smith’s son Stephen Smith, who was killed in Nanaimo in 2003. The funds have been added to the growing total that the Keep on Pushin’ group has raised so far.

Picture 1 - Gaye Smith and Gray Switzer from Ride Free

Picture 2 - Gaye and Gray from Ride Free, and (L to R) Tim Gambrill, Derek Kilbourn, Jenny Ivany, and Julie Sperber, members of the Keep on Pushin' group

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 I've developed is available here.

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. Information on the Huxley park budget is here. 

• 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 here. 

Hello all,

You might have heard that the provisional budget for the RDN came forward at the December 4 RDN meeting. This provisional budget has been in development since last spring, and is the staff recommendation. The budget will be revised in January and finalized in February. If you’d like to see more information about the budget, post questions to RDN staff about the budget, or answer a survey about how you’d like to provide input into future budget planning processes, you can visit the RDN page https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/rdn-budget-talks

You can see the full document here which has information about the Area B budget https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/4316/documents/12919

I’ve had questions about the provisional budget, and I include answers to the most common below:

1. Does this pay for road improvements?
Unfortunately, no. Road maintenance and development is a provincial responsibility (MOTI) - so questions about budgeting for road improvements would go through our provincial representative, Doug Routley. Mainroad Contracting has the contract for road maintenance and does road patching/pothole filling, but resurfacing is considered a capital project and is budgeted for separately. If you have concerns about specific areas that require maintenance (potholes, ditches etc.) you can contact Mainroad at 1-877-215-6006.

2. What is the price for the skatepark?
The Huxley Park development has been in progress for years. The ~$773K is the amount for all of Phase 2 of the development which includes the skatepark, electrical upgrades, and parking lot. That amount includes contingency and inflation fees recognizing that Phase 2 would not be built until 2020. The skatepark itself will cost approximately $560,000 (again, including contingency and inflation costs). As you can appreciate, the costs of construction and activities are increasing, so the budget for the project has increased since the original estimate years ago.

The RDN is applying for 2 grants to fund the project – the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Community, Culture and Recreation Program (CCR) and the Rural and Northern Communities Program (RNC). The CCR fund will provide up to 73.33% of funding for projects (so up to $567,354 on the $773,115 amount), and the RNC fund up to 100% for communities less than 5000 people. The deadlines to apply for these grants was unexpectedly moved up by about 9 months and represent a great opportunity for us to acquire funding to support this long worked-for project. The grant applications must be submitted before the end of January 2019. Please note that the RDN needs to show that it has the funds to support the 27% matching fund requirement – we can not apply for the grants otherwise. Because the funds are provincial/federal, there are restrictions on the types of funds that can be used for the matching funds (ie the Community Works Funds aren't eligible because they are federal money). The updated numbers from the provisional budget include (I hope the formatting isn't too messed up):

CCR Grant Funds $567,354
Area B Community Parks Budget Reserves $55,000
Area B Community Parks Budget Operation Funds $121,346
Donation from the Skatepark group $ 30,000
Total $773,700

So the amount to be collected through taxes for Phase 2 according to this provisional budget is $121,346 (this is not an ongoing tax increase). The provisional budget will be adjusted in January to better reflect the actual funds collected by the Skatepark group (which is more than the $30,000 indicated in this provisional budget). If additional donations are raised or if the RNC grant is successful the money will be held in reserve for future projects. I am also in discussions with RDN staff to determine whether we can modify the tax requisition over two years instead of one.

I enjoyed getting to discuss the history of the Village Trail with Steve Earle, Laura-Jean Kelly, Cameron Murray, and Jim Ramsay. I’m meeting with MOTI and Parks RDN staff this week and look forward to being able to provide an update!

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. A synopsis of the budget is available here. 

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.

• 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 here: