Harbour area development strategy
The Town of Gibsons is hoping to take advantage of the new BC Rural Dividend Program to create an economic development strategy for the harbour area.
The provincial government announced the program earlier this year as part of the budget. The goal is supporting social, cultural and economic viability in communities with populations less than 25,000.
CAO Emanuel Machado told council May 17 that while Gibsons Harbour is a driver for the entire Sunshine Coast and it’s obviously a hub for economic activity, there’s not enough solid socio-economic data.
Machado said he envisions two phases to the work. “In the first year we’d create a baseline of information, and based on the information we collect, we’d then develop a second phase – if [a grant is] successfully applied for – with some strategies,” he said.
In voting to support the application, Coun. Silas White said he considers getting that baseline information vital.
Phase one would come with an estimated price tag of $30,000. The Rural Dividend Program could cover up to 80 per cent.
Foreshore design
Gibsons councillors also heard an update on the progress towards a design for foreshore redevelopment at the May 17 committee of the whole meeting.
The area known as the Seawalk is actually a Town-maintained right-of-way for the sewer system, and any changes or improvements would have to balance environmental concerns with access for maintenance vehicles and protection of the sewer infrastructure.
Councillors did a walkabout with staff on May 10, looking at the area between School Road (the main wharf) and Armours Beach.
Coun. Charlene SanJenko raised questions about the timing, especially when it comes to long awaited improvements at Armours Beach.
“What’s still not clear to me is what actions are being taken that will make it look different this year,” she said. “What actions are being taken that will make it look different next year, and what actions will be taken to make it look better, or different, or improved in the future.”
Director of engineering Dave Newman told councillors his department needs to move soon to deal with the area in front of the former Coles Marine shop and slipway. The building was destroyed by fire in June 2010. He suggested the work there could act as a showcase for at least one of the potential options.
Newman also noted the window allowed for work on the foreshore by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is from July 15 to Sept. 15.
The Town is hoping to hold an information meeting on June 16, and a design charrette with the community in the fall.
Curling Club grant
Council is moving to offer the Gibsons Curling Club $5,000 to help them replace ice-making equipment.
The club had applied for $10,000 under the Town’s grants of assistance program.
Club president Kate Barratt was on hand for the meeting. “This is an extraordinary request from the club,” she said. “Mainly because this is a big project. Our ice plant is 40 years old, as is the club.” The club was awarded a $50,000 Canada 150 infrastructure grant from the federal government (which must be spent in 2016), a private donor has come forward with another $50,000, and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union is contributing $3,000. The total cost is going to be around $160,000.
Barratt added that the project will be going ahead regardless, and a contract has already been signed, “but [without support from the Town] it will ‘ixnay’ our capital fund down to zero, which I’d like not to do.” She said the club is also pursuing other sponsorship.
Director of finance Ian Poole said the amount requested was very large given the grants budget, and as a result the Town had been looking at other options. Staff recommended using the capital reserve.
Coun. Jeremy Valeriote – who voted to support the grant – said his only concern isn’t where the money is going, but where it’s coming from. “I’m worried that it sends the message that if you apply for enough in our grants of assistance, then we might kick it off to the side and find some other pot of funding.”
SanJenko, on the other hand, said given the importance of the club to the fabric of the community and the level of other donations coming in, she’d have preferred to see the Town come up with the full $10,000.
