After some dissension, Powell River Regional District will support a regional recreation initiative study that is examining the potential for amalgamating recreational services.
At the Thursday, May 28 regional board meeting, directors decided to put the brakes on endorsing the city-led study because of concerns that the City of Powell River could assume control of rural recreation facilities and functions. The majority of regional directors did not want to give sanction for the study without further information. To provide more information, Ray Boogaards, the city’s director of parks, recreation and culture, attended the Thursday, July 16 regional district committee of the whole meeting to outline the strategy.
Speaking to directors, Boogaards said he wanted to review some of the background pertaining to the regional recreation initiative. He said he was aware some questions had arisen since his last presentation to the regional district on the issue.
Boogaards reminded directors that the regional district commissioned a 2014 study to explore regional recreation. The aim of the work, he added, is to find potential efficiencies through the collaboration of the regional district, the city and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation. But, he said, it is important to find out what people truly want. Therefore, a more detailed study is recommended to complete the work of Gary Young, the consultant who researched and wrote recreation reports for the regional district and the city.
“There’s a lot of great information in those reports but we do have to drill down further,” Boogaards said. “We have to go into a lot more depth.”
The goal of the current study is to provide a 10-year roadmap for parks, recreation and culture in the Powell River region and to articulate a vision for the future. The director said it is also to tailor the real needs of citizens throughout the region for parks, recreation and culture.
“Nothing has been predetermined in what it will look like,” Boogaards said. “The design is to be collaborative and inclusive and to explore all possible functions.”
Boogaards said City of Powell River staff would complete the study once approvals have been received from the three local governments. The city and Tla’amin had already given approval.
The study will include ideas from each of the three local governments as well as interviews with elected officials and senior staff.
Boogaards assured the directors there is no hidden agenda with the study.
“You already have a study from 2014 making many recommendations for shared recreation services,” Boogaards said. “This study will only expand that study to ensure that this board has as much information as possible to make an informed decision.”
Despite his assurances, not all directors were fully supportive of the study because of concerns that it may lead to a loss of local community control over park facilities, particularly on Texada Island.
“I’m afraid it will be seen as a potential grab by the people on Texada Island,” said Sandy McCormick. “They have already paid taxes for the Texada recreation commission.
“I’ve talked to people on the island about this. People don’t want decisions made about Texada facilities decided by the city. It takes away the effective local decision making that we have in the community.”
The committee voted to send the regional recreation initiative request to the regional board for approval, with McCormick opposed.
The matter came before the regional board at its Thursday, July 23 meeting. McCormick again spoke in opposition to the initiative.
“I’m not opposed to doing the study, per se,” she said. “I’m very much opposed to including rural area facilities in the study.”
Area B Director Stan Gisborne said he supports the study but would oppose any new regional services that are funded on assessments.
Regional Board Chair Patrick Brabazon said he had some grave reservations but they are not sufficient for him to vote no.
The vote in favour of approving participation in the regional recreation initiative carried, with McCormick opposed.
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