A proposed recommendation that qathet Regional District’s board adopt the Myrtle Pond Water System extension policy will be sent back to staff.
At the May 1 finance committee meeting, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he had read a staff report and attended a public engagement session regarding the water system. He asked if the policy was in place, could the board force properties to join the system, or would it be up to the property owner to sign onto the system?
“When I read some of the language in here, it seems like it’s up to the board’s discretion to expand the system,” said Gisborne. “If this policy is passed, can the board say: ‘we’re expanding the system and you are part of it.’ What protections are there for those who don’t want to join?”
qRD manager of operational services Patrick Devereaux said the idea is that property owners would petition the regional board to join the system, but it would be up to the board whether they could join or not.
“The decision remains with the board, so that if circumstances change down the road, the board has the discretion to change any expansion promises or obligations,” said Devereaux.
Corporate officer Michelle Jones said the regional district does not just add property owners. At least 50 per cent of the owners would need to petition the board for signing onto the system, and there would need to be an alternative approval process or referendum regarding the matter.
Gisborne said if that language was in the policy, he would feel a lot better. He said there have been inquiries for people in the vicinity of Myrtle Pond wanting to get on the water system, however, when a study was done and the cost per property was indicated, one person said they were interested in joining until they saw the price.
“That’s where my hesitancy is in expanding the boundary,” said Gisborne. “I would like to see the policy specifying that to join the system, people need to petition for it. I want to make that very clear in the policy so the public knows the board isn’t going to come along and add people.”
He recommended sending the matter back to staff.
Jones said petitioning from property owners is part of the legislative process. She said there are several different ways that can occur, so she would not want the policy to say by petition.
Gisborne said he wouldn’t want to force property owners onto the system if they don’t want to join.
“I would actually be happy to kick this back to staff with some policy options about how property owners go about joining the system,” said Gisborne. “It can indicate what the legislation says and this is how the board will consider expanding the service.”
Electoral Area E director and committee chair Andrew Fall said it is useful for the public to really know what their role is, but when he read the proposed policy, it was clear to him. He said the policy states that properties currently outside the boundaries of the service area may be permitted to join.
“It’s pretty clear language that we would consider allowing it and these are the conditions,” said Fall.
Gisborne made a motion that the finance committee refer the report to staff for information on clarity of intent and purpose of the policy, including legislative process for expanding a service boundary.
City of Powell River councillor Cindy Elliott asked if it was a possibility that somebody sandwiched between some lots with owners who want to join the water system gets roped into joining without wanting to.
Jones said that is a possibility because the way the regional district establishes services is through petition, and in this case, through alternate approval process or referendum. Jones said as an example, if there was a vote for streetlights in a neighbourhood and the majority voted for it, then everybody has to pay for them.
The Myrtle Point Water System inclusion charge per single family residence in 2024 is more than $30,000, according to a staff report.
The motion to send the matter back to staff carried, with Elliott, city director George Doubt and Electoral Area C director and regional board chair Clay Brander opposed.
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