It was standing room only at the final restructure referendum public information meeting, Nov. 14. As he has been doing since last fall, Tom Reid of Sussex Consultants Ltd. gave an overview of the impacts of restructuring on taxpayers in the Town of Gibsons and electoral areas Elphinstone (E) and West Howe Sound (F).
Reid summed up his presentation by saying a new municipality would result in more independence (from the province and regional district) and opportunities, along with the flip side of more obligations and more risks.
If the referendum results in a positive vote a new municipality of about 10,000 people would be created. The existing regional directors and Town council would be replaced with a partial ward system. Each of the three areas would vote for a designated councillor and then choose three at-large councillors and a mayor. The Hopkins Landing and Granthams Landing improvement districts would also eventually be dissolved and replaced by the new municipality. Lorne Lewis the current Area E director on the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) was the only politician in attendance to speak to the crowd. The only elected official of the three areas to support the "No" side, Lewis spoke to the concern expressed by another taxpayer about the damage being done to "Yes" signs.
"We've sent out circulars asking people not to destroy signs. We're trying to keep this as dignified as we can," Lewis said.And while they didn't speak at the meeting all of Gibsons' council with the exception of Coun. LeeAnn Johnson, who has been away on bereavement leave, and Area F director Lee Turnbull attended Tuesday's meeting. All are on record as being in favour of restructuring.
The question and answer session of the meeting was a good mix from all three areas. Concerns were expressed about infrastructure items such as asbestos cement pipe currently used by the Gibsons water system. A citizen from Area E asked whether the replacement of the pipes would impact all taxpayers in the new municipality.
According to Reid the new municipality would have four separate water systems and each would be responsible for their own.The same person questioned Reid closely about the responsibility for forest fires. She said that costs incurred in the 2003 Okanagan fires were huge to Kelowna. Reid said that the provincial government as seen through "a long and robust set of examples" picked up the tab for the emergency measures.
For one passionate young woman who lives with her husband in Area F the largest question is whether or not the new municipality will be able to help with drainage and water management.
The family purchased a home in a poorly-planned subdivision. "We have the worst water problem in this Coast. Will the new municipality be able to help us deal with the problem?" she asked.
The upshot is the new political entity would have more clout than the SCRD over these kinds of problems both at the planning and remedial stages.
A speaker from Area E wondered about the business licences for home-based businesses. Currently there are no business licences issued in the regional district.
Business licences for some home-based businesses would become mandatory under a new municipality. Businesses such as bed and breakfasts and others where certain standards are necessary for public safety would be affected by the bylaws of the new municipality. Businesses, which would require minimal or no visits by customers would likely not be impacted by the change. The estimated cost for a business licence would be $160 and up depending on the business.
Road and bridge costs included in the restructure budget also came in for some heavy criticism at the meeting. One speaker was concerned that the bridges were not a separate item in the budget. "It's a big ticket item," he said.
Some in the audience were concerned that a "No" vote would mean the province would turn around and dictate restructure at its terms.
Derek Trimmer director of local government structure from the Ministry of Community Services reassured the crowd that no such agenda exists.
One young woman from Area F who works for the SCRD asked whether existing SCRD employees could lose their jobs after a "Yes" vote.
That is a possibility in the long term because some existing regional district functions would move to the new municipality.And while the Town of Gibsons is being dissolved, there will still be a SCRD if the vote favours restructuring. The new municipality would inherit the Town's employees.
A proponent of restructuring expressed concern about community growth without proper infrastructure. More control in decision making regarding new subdivisions was an issue for several speakers.
Policing costs under the new municipality also came up for discussion. Any municipality with a population over 5,000 is responsible for 70 per cent of police costs. A "Yes" vote could mean an increase of $200 to $300 for an average home in 2012 when the change would become effective. Under the rural (electoral) system now taxpayers would be responsible for a net $.20 per 1,000 an average $60 increase for a taxpayer of a $300,000 property.
Trimmer chastised one speaker who tried to make an issue of the Town of Gibsons' council using a public relations firm to convey their position to the public.
"They absolutely have the right to take a stand on how they feel. That's what councils are there for is to lead the people. That's what local politics is all about," Trimmer said.
The vote takes place Saturday, Nov. 18. For questions about the voting process people are urged to contact the chief elections officer, Joan Harvey at the SCRD, 604-885- 2261.
