A resolution from the recent Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) AGM has prompted the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) to ask for more input on the terms of the contract issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) for road maintenance on the Sunshine Coast.
The $3.4-million contract, currently held by Capilano Highway Services, covers maintenance of provincial highways and roads outside municipal jurisdictions and runs until April 30, 2019.
Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell raised the issue at the SCRD’s transportation committee last month, where he suggested the regional district participate in the AVICC’s effort “to establish a formal process for a select committee of AVICC elected officials to provide regional level input during the establishment of highway maintenance contract standards and asset management strategies.”
A recommendation along those lines went to the SCRD’s infrastructure services committee on April 27.
Lebbell said at that meeting, “It is a historical issue on the Coast and I was blind-sided by the rolling over of the last contract and the implications around not having input in terms of things like lane sweeping and maintenance pieces and school safety… I think it’s important for communities to have input into these things.”
Frank Mauro of Pender Harbour said he had some reservations about the wording of the AVICC resolution, because it could leave the door open to downloading the responsibility onto regional districts. “You don’t get to set standards and asset management strategies without paying for it, and I’m not keen on giving an invitation to the highways department to say, ‘Well, maybe you can look after some of these roads and then you don’t have to worry about us helping you out,’” said Mauro.
SCRD chair, and Halfmoon Bay director, Garry Nohr said he understood that concern, but was confident AVICC didn’t expect it to be interpreted that way.
West Howe Sound director Ian Winn, who’s raised several road maintenance issues recently, said he’d encourage AVICC to review the wording at an upcoming executive meeting before anything goes forward to MOTI.
The infrastructure services committee made two separate recommendations.
The first calls for the SCRD to contact MOTI “with regard to the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) consultation opportunities for upcoming highway maintenance service provider contracts.”
The second said a letter should be sent to AVICC “expressing the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) desire to provide input on the standards contained in maintenance contracts to ensure they meet community needs and asset management, while reflecting the different requirements of various regions.”
The committee recommendations were due for adoption by the full board at its May 11 meeting.
