January 2018: Regional District Update

Below is a summary of decisions made at the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Board and Committee meetings in January 2018. (Download a PDF of this update.)

Note from Chair Crompton: We are right in the middle of budget season and we are closing in on a final budget and spending decisions. We consider spending your tax money as one of the most important tasks we take on... If you have comments we want to hear them. Please email us at info@slrd.bc.ca or call me on 1-604-902-8747 with your thoughts and questions. There are important public meetings coming up:

• Public Hearing regarding RGS text amendments, Area D OCP and zoning amendments,Echo Lake rezoning - February 19 at the Sea to Sky Hotel in Squamish. Learn more here. 
• Public Hearing regarding Area C Zoning Amendments - March 13 at the SLRD Boardroom in Pemberton. Learn more here.

Thanks for staying involved. Your input makes us better at serving the communities we love!

2018 SLRD Board and Committee Appointments

The 2018 SLRD Board and Committee Chairs/Vice-Chairs are:

2018 Board Meetings

The 2018 Schedule of Board and Board Committees meetings has been updated. Check out the meeting calendar for a list of SLRD Board and Committee meetings.

BYLAWS

A second public hearing will be held in Squamish on February 19, 2018 regarding Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 1062, 2008 Amendment Bylaw No. 1514-2017 for growth management text amendments. Learn more here. 

The following bylaws were adopted:

• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Upper Bridge River Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 608, 1996, Amendment Bylaw No.1347-2014 and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Zoning Bylaw No. 670, 1999, Amendment Bylaw No. 1348-2014 for the Keir rezoning application to facilitate the future subdivision of the land to create additional waterfront lots on Gun Lake (Area A).
• Bralorne Sewer System Local Service Conversion and Establishment Bylaw No. 585, 1995, Amendment Bylaw No. 1510-2017 to increase requisition limits (Area A).
• Seton Street Lighting Local Service Conversion and Establishment Bylaw No. 570, 1994, Amendment Bylaw No. 1505-2017 to increase requisition limits (Area B).
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 1560-2018 (Pinecrest Estates Wastewater Collection and Treatment Service) to authorize the SLRD to enter into a financial agreement with the Municipal Finance Authority of BC for $700,000 for the construction of the Pinecrest Estates wastewater collection and treatment system.
• Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1032-2006, Amendment Bylaw No. 1543-2017 to reflect changes to the area serviced by the Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire Department (Area D).
• Five Britannia Beach (Area D) bylaw amendments to add 1 to 2 parcels to the existing services areas and adjust requisition limits: 
  • Water Supply and Distribution Service Establishment Bylaw No. 949–2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 1536-2017 
  • Sewage Collection and Treatment Service Establishment Bylaw No. 950-2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 1537- 2017
  • Parks and Trails Service Establishment Bylaw No. 952-2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 1538-2017
  • Street Lighting Service Establishment Bylaw No. 951-2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 1539-2017
  • Beach Refuse Disposal Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1030-2006, Amendment Bylaw No. 1540-2017

The following bylaws were read a second time and public meetings will be scheduled and advertised:

• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002 Amendment Bylaw No 1549-2017: 
  • to amend the Agriculture zone and related agricultural and general regulations and definitions; and
  • for housekeeping issues.
• Electoral Area D Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1135-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1524-2017 and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area D Zoning Bylaw No. 1350-2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1525-2017 to update the bylaws for: 
  • updates made by the Agricultural Land Commission regarding agritourism and events; 
  • other agricultural issues; updates to Development Permit Areas; 
  • housekeeping issues; and 
  • reflect the correct operations of the Evans Lake Forest Education Society.

The following bylaws were introduced and read a first, second and third time:

• Bralorne Fire Protection Financial Contribution Service Establishing Bylaw No. 1558-2018 to convert the Bralorne Fire Protection Specified Area to a service operated under an establishing bylaw and to amend the service to become a financial contribution service only (Area A).
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area D Heritage Conservation Service Establishing Bylaw No. 1557-2018 for the purpose of providing a heritage conservation service for Area D to enable development at Britannia Beach as part of the Britannia Oceanfront Development Corporation rezoning application.

Lower Mainland Local Government Association - 2018 Convention

Chair Jack Crompton was nominated for the position of President of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association Executive for 2018 by the SLRD Board.

The following resolutions will be submitted to the 2018 Lower Mainland Local Government Association Annual General Meeting for consideration:

• that the Province amend the Local Government Act to allow local governments to provide capital financing assistance to local internet service / telecommunications providers.
• that the Province:
  • provide additional funding for increased management of existing BC Parks assets, and
  • investigate the addition of recreation assets to the existing inventory of BC Parks assets.
• that the Province provide ongoing funding for First Nations relationship building.

Southern Interior Local Government Association - 2018 Convention

The following resolutions will be submitted to the 2018 Southern Interior Local Government Association Annual General Meeting for consideration:

• that the Province agree to provide 50% of the provincial share of the cannabis tax sharing formula to local governments.
• that the Province amend the Local Government Act to allow local governments to provide capital financing assistance to local internet service / telecommunications providers.
• that the Province provide ongoing funding for First Nations relationship building.

Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

The SLRD will request that the Province provide ongoing funding for First Nations relationship building.

Cannabis Tax Revenue Sharing Formula

A letter will be sent to the Province to request that 50% of the provincial share of the cannabis tax sharing formula be provided to local governments.

BC Professional Reliance - Environment Assessment

A letter will be sent to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Control to ask the Ministry to consider including further peer review processes into the professional reliance model.

WedgeWoods Estates Affordable Employee Housing Opportunity

The SLRD will work with the developer to explore the opportunity to provide affordable employee housing options on a surplus piece of land at WedgeWoods Estates.

GRANTS

Community Emergency Preparedness Fund - EOC Equipment and Training

A grant was applied for by the SLRD Emergency Program to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund in the amount of $25,000 for Emergency Operations Centre equipment and/or reference materials.

RESOLUTIONS/LETTERS OF SUPPORT

Squamish Area Municipal and Regional District Tax

A letter of support was sent to Tourism Squamish to accompany their application to the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Program requesting an increase in the MRDT from 2% to 3% in the Squamish area.

District of Sicamous - Request for Support for the Prevention of Quagga and Zebra Mussels

A letter will be sent to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in support of the prevention of invasive quagga and zebra mussels.

GRANTS IN AID

The following was granted from Area A Select Funds:

• $850 to the Bridge River Valley Community Association to cover building permit costs related to the Facade Improvement project for 104 Haylmore Ave.
• $6,754 to the Bridge River Valley Community Association (BRVCA) to cover labour costs of the BRVCA Grant Writer not funded by the project grants received from the Northern Development Initiative Trust for 2016 ($3,274) and 2017 ($3,480).