lhmca230610council response to community opportunity letter

8/9/2019 LHMCA230610Council Response to Community Opportunity Letter

1/6

Town of GoldenPO Box 350, 810 S. 9

thAvenue, Golden, BC V0A 1H0ghjkghjk

Phone: 250.344.2271 Fax:250.344.6577 E-Mail: [email protected] Website:www.golden.ca

June 23rd, 2010 File: 3030-20-Boundary Expansion

Mr. Mike Cantle Ms. Denise EnglishMr. Bruce Fairley Mr. Ryan Watmough

POSTED VIA EMAIL

Dear Sirs/Madam:

RE: Letter Received May 19th

, 2010 Cited as Community Opportunity

Thank you for your correspondence per the above to the Town of Golden regarding your issues withdiffering governance models between the municipal and regional rural jurisdictions and yoursuggestion for consideration of a district municipality model of governance for the collective area.

Your letter has been discussed and contemplated by the Town of Golden Council following a staffreport submitted by the Chief Administrative Officer which is attached. It is the purpose of thisletter to convey to you the resolution brought forward from those discussions, being:

THAT based on the report, Municipal Boundary Extension-Preliminary Investigation into theprocess and possible impacts of the Town of Golden becoming a District Municipality from the

CAO dated June 15th, 2010, Council APPROVE Option 2 and DIRECT staff to respond inwriting to the authors of the "Community Opportunity" letter dated may 18, 2010, indicatingthat Council has determined it is not willing to pursue District Municipality status at this time.

Originally discussed in a closed meeting environment, Council has also resolved to bring theattached staff report forward into open session. I trust the report will provide for you sufficientpreliminary information as grounds for both resolutions.

Sincerely,

Jon WilsgardManager of Corporate Administration

Cc: Norm Macdonald, MLA;Charles Hamilton, CAO, Columbia Shuswap Regional DistrictRon Oszust, Chair, Columbia Shuswap Regional DistrictDavid Allen, CAO, Town of Golden

Attachment-Staff Report and Original Letter


2/6

Staff ReportC H I E F A D M I N I S T R A T I V E O F F I C E R

To: Closed Council File: 3030-20-Boundary ExpansionFrom: David Allen, CAO Date: June 15th, 2010Subject: Municipal Boundary Extension - Preliminary Investigation into the Process and

Possible Impacts of the Town of Golden Becoming a District MunicipalitySubject Matter Closed Under Community Charter Section: 90(1)(e)

RECOMMENDATIONTHAT based on the report, Municipal Boundary Extension-Preliminary Investigation intothe process and possible impacts of the Town of Golden becoming a District Municipalityfrom the CAO dated June 15th, 2010;

THAT Council APPROVE Option 1 and DIRECT staff to request a meeting with the

authors of the Community Opportunity letter dated May 18th

, 2010, to outline the process,timeline, and implications of the Town of Golden becoming a District Municipality.

BACKGROUNDThe purpose of this report is to follow up on Councils request for a staff report related to aletter from a group of local citizens outlining possible benefits in the Town of Golden

becoming a District Municipality. A copy of the letter is attached to this report.

Following receipt of this letter at a closed Council meeting held on May 25th 2010, thefollowing resolution was passed:

THAT staff BE DIRECTED to undertake a preliminary investigation into the process and

possible impacts to the Town of Golden should it undertake to become a District Municipality.

In early June 2010, the CAO contacted staff at the Local Government Structure Branchhttp://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/structure_branch_index.htm with the Ministryof Community and Rural Services (MRCS) to better understand the process, timelines, andpotential impacts of becoming a District Municipality.

DISCUSSIONGiven the preliminary nature of this report, and the complexity involved in undertaking anapplication for such a significant boundary expansion, the following is intended to provide ahigh-level overview.

TimelineProvincial staff have indicated that at present no applications are being acceptedfor any substantial boundary extensions. All applications are processed in-house by MCRSstaff, and have been fully committed until the end of the current election cycle in November2011. New applications would begin in early 2012 at the soonest, and take at least two yearsto complete.

ScopeThere are a number of important questions that will need to be answered. Howmuch larger does Golden have to or want to expand? TheLocal Government Actrequires aminimum of 800 hectares (excluding land continually covered by water) with an averagepopulation of five or less per hectare to become a District Municipality. What areas do we
http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/structure_branch_index.htmhttp://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/structure_branch_index.htmhttp://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/structure_branch_index.htm


3/6

want to include? Some examples include, Parson to Donald, Field, Beaver Foot, BushHarbour, Kinbasket Reservoir, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Ski Hill?

Developments outside the Town of Golden have not been subject to the same level ofregulation and oversight, which may bear consideration in deciding where the new Town

boundaries should be.

ProcessAccording to Provincial requirements, requests to undertake a municipal boundaryextension require the following steps:

1. A resolution of supportfrom the current elected officials (those elected in the nextlocal government election in November 2011). This would include the Town ofGolden Council, the Electoral Area A Director, and the CSRD Board.

2. AProposal Submission that includes a rationale for the expansiona. land use implications, mapping, legal information.

b. infrastructure implicationslocal roads and new municipal responsibilitiesfor maintenance and upgrades.

c. Public Consultation within the proposed extension area, including referrals,and copies of communications, consultation results with the public andCSRD; Integrated Land Management Bureau; ALR; First Nations, etc.

3. Ministry Reviewa preliminary financial analysis is undertaken early in the process todetermine if the cost implications are too onerous for the affected stakeholders. Oncethe MCRD has completed an administrative report, it is referred to the Ministry ofTransportation and Infrastructure (MoT) for review and discussion with themunicipality.

4. Elector Approvalis sought only after all issues have been addressed, under theLocalGovernment Actand Community Charter(Referendum or Alternative ApprovalProcess).

5. Cabinet Approval- following elector approval the Ministry prepares Letters Patentimplementing the proposed boundary change, which then must be approved by theBC Lieutenant Governor in Council (Cabinet)

IMPLICATIONSStrategic (Guiding Documents Relevancy -Strategic Plan, OCP) Official Community Plan The creation of a District Municipality is not envisioned in

the current OCP. Boundary expansion is not favoured.

Corporate Policies/Administrative Procedures Implications are unknown at this time,but expected to be considerable.

Annual Work Plan Not included in current work plan. Impacts will be considerable butas yet are not quantified.

Financial (Corporate Budget Impact) Application costsProvincial staff indicate that grants are not currently available for this

type of application. Application costs are expected to be considerable, but would requirefurther analysis;

Increased municipal road maintenance and capital improvement costs; Provision of other municipal serviceswater, sewer, drainage, waste management, street

lighting, etc. Impacts on taxation (i.e. increases to farm assessments and associated taxes); Mapping, inventory work, and GIS. In 2008, the Town spent $50,000 for ortho photo and

lidar alone; PolicingPolicing costs increase substantially for municipalities with populations greater

than 5,000.


4/6

Administrative (Policy/Procedure Relevancy, Workload Impact and Staffing)Planning and Development- Extensive work, costs, and time required as Area A has limited

planning, and the CSRD does not provide building inspection (which may also haveliability implications); mapping, inventory work, and GIS (again, in 2008 the Town spent$50,000 just for ortho photo and lidar); local area planning; zoning; DCCs;

EnvironmentParks; Riparian Area Regulations; Hillside development; WildfireProtection, and; development near rivers;

Town staffingSignificantly more staff will be needed in the Development and Planningdepartment buildings, and operations equipment as municipal services are extended to alarger population located in a less densely populated area, and;

Debt Load, Tax Rates, and Reserves.

OPTIONSAs there is no opportunity to apply for a significant boundary expansion application until2012, following the next municipal election in November 2011, Administration provides thefollowing options for Councils consideration.

OPTION 1Council request a meeting with the authors of the CommunityOpportunity letter dated May 18th 2010, to outline the process, timeline, andimplications of the Town of Golden becoming a District Municipality.

OPTION 2Council direct staff to respond in writing to the authors of the CommunityOpportunity letter dated May 18th 2010, to outline the process, timeline, andimplications of the Town of Golden becoming a District Municipality.

OPTION 3Council refers this matter to the Committee of the Whole, or identify someother acceptable option.

Respectfully Submitted,

David AllenChief Administrative Officer

Attachments-1. Community Opportunity letter dated May 18th 2010, from Mike Cantle, Denise English,

Bruce Fairley, and Ryan Watmough;


5/6


6/6