A total of 2,454 elector response forms were submitted to the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) opposing a long-term loan that would have financed the installation of water meters in the Sechelt area. Those objections forced directors to abandon the loan authorization bylaw at last week’s board meeting.
The bylaw was required to authorize a $6-million, 20-year term loan to pay for the third and final phase of the universal water meter installation project. Installations have been completed in all SCRD water service areas except the District of Sechelt and shíshálh Nation band lands.
At the board meeting, corporate officer Angie Legault gave a rundown of the results of the alternative approval process (AAP). The most elector response forms came from the District of Sechelt, with a total of 1,620 or 66 per cent of the total submitted forms. Area A – Egmont/Pender Harbour followed with 13 per cent or 319 submitted forms. Halfmoon Bay residents submitted 255, followed by Roberts Creek (161), Elphinstone (57) and West Howe Sound (42). Ten per cent, or 1,957, of all eligible electors needed to object to the loan for the AAP to fail.
Directors appeared flummoxed by the results, which were tallied days before the July 26 board meeting. Despite implementing a communication strategy, directors questioned whether electors were misinformed or whether the outcome signalled a policy protest.
“I would encourage electors that if they did oppose the AAP to contact this director and explain the understandings they had in signing that piece,” said Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell. “I certainly hope that folks were clear on what they were signing and the implications,” he said after expressing his disappointment with the outcome. He also acknowledged people’s frustration with the Coast’s lack of water security.
Area A director Frank Mauro agreed with Lebbell’s comments and said he had overheard misinformation being transmitted to residents. “An informed community makes the right choices and I don’t think in this case, I think people got caught up in a wave of some groups’ frustrations,” he said.
Howe Sound director Ian Winn voiced his disappointment before speculating, “maybe the policy piece and the finance piece got clouded.”
Both Sechelt directors in attendance, Alice Lutes and Doug Wright, suggested residents used the vote to protest the installation. “I hear what the other directors are saying, but I think in a lot of cases these people took this opportunity to show their disfavour with the issues around water, whether it’s meters or drawdown, and that frustration is out there and I think that’s something we have to look at very seriously as a statement by the community,” said Lutes.
Wright said he spoke to three groups that were collecting forms, including in Gibsons. “I have to tell you that from what I heard them say and in the time I was there, they were giving out the right information,” he said. “I believe the community has voiced a concern and a displeasure and I think we need to listen to that very carefully,” he said.
Coast Reporter asked directors to provide examples of misinformation they have overheard, and some said they received calls and emails about installing water desalination plants, which also included inaccurate costs. In a follow up email, Lebbell said: “If folks were voting because they thought they would halt the installation of meters, that’s misinformation,” and added it was very unlikely the board would change direction on metering.
Directors voted unanimously for staff to provide a report in September, following the SCRD’s August hiatus, with analysis, options and a schedule for next steps.
Winn acknowledged the hard work of the SCRD administrative, legislative and communications staff and leadership team.
