A meeting of the infrastructure services committee on Nov. 18 was the chance for directors to look at the progress of developing the source assessment response plan (SARP) for Chapman Creek.
Present at the meeting was drinking water officer Tim Adams of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). On Jan. 5, 2010, Adams last issued an order to the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) to address the threats to Chapman that were identified in a 2006 source assessment.
The ultimate purpose of the SARP is to provide the SCRD and the drinking water officer with guidelines for responding to threats to the water system.
"It is a strategic priority of the board and organization," said infrastructure services manager Bryan Shoji in reference to the SCRD and Sechelt Indian Band's joint goal of watershed protection. He added that the plan could eventually form a blueprint for protecting other Coastal watersheds.
The Chapman Creek SARP, currently in draft form, details both natural threats to the Chapman Creek watershed as well as those created by human activities like industrial impacts, climate change and contamination.
The report was presented by consultant Brad Minnes and came with a staff recommendation to proceed to the next step, that of presenting it to the public for their consideration.
But SCRD directors were quick to highlight their concerns with the current iteration of the draft proposal and called for another chance to voice their thoughts with the consultant.
"This is probably the most important issue for the SCRD," said West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull. "Like the other directors, I'm really wanting to make sure that it reflects our point of view."
As directors discussed altering the recommended timeline to bring the draft report to the public for consideration, the drinking water officer stepped in to say VCH can be flexible with the current April 2012 deadline for completion of the SARP.
"Certainly we don't want to rush this, we want to make sure it's correct," Adams said.
Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis called for a workshop that would allow the committee, staff and consultant to go over the report piece-by-piece.
To save the cost of having the Kelowna-based consultant make a trip to the Coast, the committee opted to hold the workshop by conference call Nov. 28.
LMTAC merger
Directors expressed a range of concerns after receiving a letter that confirmed the impending consolidation of the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC) with Metro Vancouver's Aboriginal Relations Program.
The SCRD has been a partner with LMTAC for 18 years and directors worried about the possibility of a diminished role within the new organization.
"I really think that we would lose a lot of our independence and power," said Pender Harbour/Egmont director Eric Graham. "It kind of looks like big brother's trying to take us over."
Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar added her feeling that the benefits accrued by participation might diminish with the changes.
"One of the ways we've been able to keep our board making the contributions and supporting LMTAC's work is because we actually get results when we ask a question and get information from them," she said.
The consolidation will take effect Jan. 1, 2012, the letter states.
Wayward canines
Third quarter statistics for animal control were released at the Nov. 17 meeting of the community services committee.
Bylaw manager Peter Longhi's report detailed an overall increase of dogs being impounded, 60 this year, on the Coast. Last year's total of 179 dog control incidents has already been surpassed as current number stands at 199 during the third quarter of 2011.
One explanation offered by Longhi is an increase in visiting dogs escaping their owners' control.
A number that stands out is the representation of Roberts Creek in the files, accounting for 74 of the total files.
