Gibsons residents need to become more involved in BC Transit's long-term planning process now underway for the Sunshine Coast, councillors said April 2.
Reporting on a recent transit future workshop in Sechelt, Coun. Lee Ann Johnson said officials are talking about launching a community bus route for the area, but are ignoring what many residents have identified as a more critical need.
"They are not talking about moving people between Upper and Lower Gibsons," Johnson said. "We are not making our voices heard."
Coun. Gerry Tretick said he got the same impression at the workshop.
"The emphasis," he said, "was on a circular route."
Anticipating needs and priorities for the next 25 years, the transit future plan is expected to be completed in September. The next stage of public consultation is set for April 19 to 24.
Grant amounts
Community groups got a little help from the Town of Gibsons Tuesday when council's committee of the whole assigned amounts for grants of assistance.
Largely agreeing with the distribution of funds suggested by Mayor Wayne Rowe, the committee approved just under $14,000 out of the $20,000 budget, saving the balance for a second round of applications in September.
The single largest grant, worth $2,500, went to the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society for its homelessness outreach program, while $2,000 grants were awarded to the Community Justice Program of the Sunshine Coast; Friends of Forage Fish (under the auspices of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association) for eelgrass mapping; and Gibsons Public Art Gallery.
Councillors noted the art gallery needs stable funding sources in order to secure matching grants, and the committee passed a motion for Town staff and gallery officials to investigate a memorandum of understanding between the two parties.
The committee also voted to award grants worth $1,000 each to the Deer Crossing the Art Farm for the Synchro-nicity Festival; Sunshine Coast Community Services Society for the Children's Festival and Duck Pluck; the Sunshine Coast Dance Society; Trans-portation Choice Sunshine Coast (TRaC) for Bike to Work Week; and Sunshine Coast Sockeye Water Polo to help launch a new Coast-wide youth water polo team. The Sunshine Coast Film Society received $100.
The committee recommendations still have to be ratified by council.
The deadline for the second round of applications is Sept. 15.
