Proposed Wharves Service Initiative
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UPDATE – NEWS RELEASE AUGUST 17, 2023
The results of the alternative approval process (AAP) for Bylaw No. 487 which proposes to establish a service for funding the operation and maintenance of wharves infrastructure in Electoral Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets) was discussed at yesterday’s board meeting.
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has been provided funding from Transport Canada for wharves upgrades to Owen Bay (on Sonora Island), Surge Narrows (on Read Island) and Port Neville (in Johnstone Strait). Transport Canada divested these three wharves to the SRD in 2014 and provided funding to operate and maintain the wharves for ten years. The deadline to complete necessary wharf upgrades using the Transport Canada funding is fast approaching.
To comply with statutory requirements, the SRD needed to establish a wharves service before spending funds and completing upgrades to fund future operations and maintenance of these assets. For the SRD to continue to operate and maintain the three Transport Canada Wharves, the SRD decided to gauge the level of community support for a wharves service through an Alternate Approval Process (AAP) which was initiated on June 21, 2023.
The AAP elector response period ran for 35 days in total and closed on August 3, 2023. A minimum of 242 elector responses (10 % of Area C’s elector population of 2,419) would be required to prevent the adoption of Bylaw No. 487 without first obtaining approval of the electors by voting (referendum). At the conclusion of the AAP response period, 418 elector response forms were received by the corporate officer, of which 385 were confirmed as valid.
The results confirm that the Board cannot proceed with the adoption of Bylaw No. 487 at this time. The annual residential tax rate was estimated to be less than the max of $0.0848 per $1,000 of assessed value. As an example, the average home in Area C is valued at $639,400, with a residential cap of $0.0848 per $1,000, the annual requisition would have been $54.22.
Given the results of the AAP, the Board determined the next steps will be discussed with Electoral Area Directors at its next Electoral Area Services Committee meeting September 13, 2023.
ABOUT PROPOSED WHARVES SERVICE INITIATIVE
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has been provided funding from Transport Canada for wharves upgrades to Owen Bay (on Sonora Island), Surge Narrows (on Read Island) and Port Neville (in Johnstone Strait). Transport Canada divested these three wharves to the SRD in 2014 and has provided funding to operate and maintain the wharves for ten years. The deadline to complete necessary wharf upgrades using the Transport Canada funding is approaching.
To comply with municipal governance, the SRD must establish a wharves service before spending funds and completing upgrades. This service will fund future operations and maintenance of these assets.
On January 8th, 2023 the SRD Board of Directors passed a resolution to develop a new service establishing bylaw for the SRD-owned wharves that may be seen more favourably by ratepayers in Electoral Area C.
The SRD currently owns six wharves in Area C. Three of which are the Transport Canada divested wharves and three that are currently operated under the SRD Parks function – Granite Bay, Hoskyn Channel and Evans Bay. In order for the SRD to continue to operate and maintain the three Transport Canada Wharves– Owen Bay, Port Neville and Surge Narrows, the SRD would like to gauge the level of community support for a wharves service through an Alternate Approval Process (AAP).
NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS BYLAW NO. 487
ELECTORAL AREA C WHARVES SERVICE
June 21, 2023 – Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors for the Strathcona Regional District may proceed with final passage and adoption of Bylaw No. 487, being Electoral Area C Wharves Service Establishing Bylaw 2023, at its meeting of Wednesday, August 16, 2023 unless at least 10% of the eligible electors within the proposed service area submit elector response forms not later than 4:30 p.m. on August 3, 2023. Bylaw No. 487 would establish a service for funding the operation and maintenance of wharf infrastructure at Owen Bay, Port Neville and Surge Narrows within Electoral Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets).
The number of eligible electors within the boundaries of the proposed Electoral Area C wharves service area has been fairly determined to be 2,419 and the number of valid elector response forms required to prevent the adoption of Bylaw No. 487 without first obtaining the assent of the electors by voting is 242.
Elector response forms must be in the form approved by the Regional Board which are available below or in person at the Regional District office during regular office hours. Only persons who qualify as electors within Electoral Area C of the Strathcona Regional District are entitled to sign and submit an elector response form.
RESOURCES
- Alternative Approval Process
- Bylaw No. 487 9 Wharves Service Establishment
- SRD Staff Report – March 2023
- Feasibility Study – Area C Wharves Service
- Wharf Condition Assessments:
- Detailed Designs – Area C Wharves Rehabilitation & Repairs
- Minister of Transport – Agreement to Transfer
- Transport Canada Communication:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
CONTACT
For questions or more information, please contact the SRD Engineering Department at engineering@srd.ca | 250-830-6719