After almost four years on Gibsons council, Chris Koopmans has announced he plans to resign almost immediately.
Koopmans said the decision was based on a job offer to be a swimming coach in Campbell River and his level of frustration with how the current council works.
"I hadn't been looking to make a move. I had been quite happy being in the Town of Gibsons. However, an opportunity presented itself, and with all that's been happening on council in the last 18 months, it just allowed me to focus on making a decision about making a move," he said. "It's just a very difficult time being on the council at this time."
Koopmans made the announcement to other councillors and staff at a planning committee meeting that failed to make quorum on Tuesday, Oct. 13. He said he intends to make his resignation formal at the Tuesday, Oct. 20, council meeting.
Koopmans listed issues like the 2008 election and court challenge, the length of time spent reaching decisions on Gospel Rock, an upper neighbourhood plan and recycling, as well as Highway 101 as points of frustration over the years.
He added the current council has been harder to work on than the one elected in 2005.
Koopmans said he has had other coaching job offers since becoming a councillor, but this is the first one he has considered. He said he has no foreseeable plans to re-enter politics.
Among his proudest moments on council, Koopmans said pressing council for a referendum on water meters tops his list.
"In the end, it was the people who spoke, which I think is the most democratic way, and they accepted that we needed to cut down on consumption and it really paid off," he said, noting that water consumption in Gibsons went down for the first time this past summer.
He said he was also "absolutely proud" of standing up against council's decision to approve plan B for Gospel Rock at a closed meeting in November 2008 and then later seeing the motion rescinded in January.
"I've made some controversial decisions in the Town, and I stand by them," he said.
Mayor Barry Janyk said Koopmans' departure will be an upset to the operations of the Town, albeit a temporary one.
"It's difficult because it's going to force a by-election. We're going to have to appoint a new acting mayor. We're going to have to change committee appointment chairs. It's going to be a bit disruptive for a while We'll get through it," Janyk said.
Janyk went on to say Koopmans' perspective at the council table has been valuable and distinct.
"It's sad to see Chris go because he was a huge contributor to what we do and always had ideas that others didn't think of. He had a sense of tenacity that's going to be missed and I hope will be replaced," Janyk added.
Janyk said he wishes Koopmans well.
Chief administrative officer Paul Gipps said the decision means the Town will have to appoint a new chief election officer as soon as possible and call a by-election within 80 days.
The Town will announce details on both in the coming weeks.
