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Looking Back at 2010

While the economic downturn featured prominently in 2009, the major influences for 2010 were the anticipated droughts in the spring and early summer, and the extensive fires in the Central Cariboo in the summer and early fall. It isn’t a coincidence that many of the strategic priorities approved by the Board for 2011 are related to emergency planning and preparedness.

The year was also marked by the preparations for the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay in Lone Butte and 100 Mile House, the designation of the region as the Forest Capital of Canada and the associated BC Street pavilion in Vancouver. The CRD’s involvement was meant to help the Cariboo capture some of the international attention focused on the Vancouver Olympics.

It has been a busy year. The following report is not a definitive list of activities but captures as many of those that affect Area “L” residents as I can think of at the moment. Those that relate to my election commitments are grouped as such.

I also participated on a number of committees (Litigation, Treaty Advisory, Procedures...) but have not listed those activities as they relate more to the internal operations of the CRD and have only an indirect affect on residents.

As much as I would like to take credit for this year’s accomplishments, many of them were initiated by others, and all required the support of the Board and actions by staff.

For a summary of the broader accomplishments of the CRD, see the Chairman’s Year End Report.

Election Commitments:

Other activities and initiatives ...

For those who like numbers ...

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Communication

Commitment: Enhance communications with area residents and property owners to ensure that they are aware of proposals that affect them and have a fair opportunity to contribute to the decision making process

I have continued to rely on my website and my newsletter as a primary means of getting information to constituents about development applications, proposed regulatory bylaws, and upcoming meetings and events. Feedback has been good for both although it is understood that many residents are not “plugged in”.

The 2010 Town Hall meeting in January at the Lone Butte Community Hall was the principal forum for discussion of the proposed 2010 budget. A State of the Region meeting in October in 100 Mile House was an attempt to allow discussion of the 2011 budget at an earlier stage of its development. Unfortunately, the meeting was poorly attended and is not likely to be repeated.

Staff were asked to survey other jurisdictions to identify best practices for notification and involvement of property owners in consideration of development applications. The results indicated that current practices were close to the norm but a number of improvements were warranted. The Board directed staff to prepare a revised bylaw that includes changes to signage requirements, increases the distance for mail-out notifications, provides guidelines for public information meetings for larger projects, and requires posting of applications on the website. The draft bylaw is expected in 2011.

Once again, this annual report is intended to be another means of informing with Area "L" property owners.

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Sustainable economy

Commitment: Participate in regional district initiatives to promote the long-term sustainability of the regional economy

The CRD routinely provides financial support for projects of the 100 Mile Development Corporation and the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce. Starting in 2011, it is proposed to increase the level of funding and direct it towards financial support to the District of 100 Mile House for the operation of Martin Exeter Hall, the Visitor’s Center and the 100 Mile House sani-dump.

Each year, small grants are provided to groups for projects with an economic focus. In 2010, grants were provided for the Rotary Fall Fair, Cariboo Challenge Dog Race and the South Cariboo Trapper’s Association for events that attracted visitors to 100 Mile House.

Federal funding was obtained for preparation of a report to consider the establishment of a regional development “framework” that would focus on regional issues in several areas including regional economic development, community development, infrastructure investment, and land-based growth and management strategies. The report was completed in March 2010.

The South Cariboo Regional Airport hosted a model plane fun fly in June and an open house/ fly-in in July, both of which attracted out-of-town visitors. A call was issued for expressions of interest in construction of aircraft parking shelters. Property was purchased to secure the airport entrance and provide parking. Rock, tree and brush removal within the airport property has been completed to reduce obstacles and wildlife habitat at the airport. Automated security gates have been installed. A GPS template has been developed to replace the current obsolete navigation aids. This highlighted the need to remove trees and power poles on surrounding properties which violate the airport’s airspace. This work will take place in 2011.

The issue of taxation of small resort operators is addressed in the section on Taxation below.

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Climate Change

Commitment: Encourage policies and programs that will help to reduce the region's contribution to climate change and develop strategies to address future climate change impacts

Under the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Act all local governments were obliged to incorporate GHG reduction targets, policies and actions into their Official Community Plans (OCPs) and Rural Land Use Bylaws (RLUBs) by May 31, 2010. The Board conducted public hearings in April and approved targets and policies in May. The target of 33% reduction in community greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020, and 80% reduction by 2050 from 2007 levels is consistent with provincial targets.

The CRD is also committed to being carbon neutral in respect of its corporate operations by 2012. Preliminary work is underway to establish the current level of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and to prepare an action plan.

The Provincial Building and Safety Policy Branch has created a Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation. The intent of this regulation is to make allowances in the construction of new single family dwellings for future installation of a solar domestic water heating system. The adoption of this regulation by Local Government is voluntary and is done by Board resolution. Upon notification of the resolution, the Provincial Government will include the Local Government in the list of jurisdictions that will be “Solar Hot Water Ready”. The CRD Board passed a resolution in May 2010 to request the Provincial Building and Safety Policy Branch to include the Cariboo Regional District in the Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation.

Recognizing that the effects of climate change are already being felt, the CRD and the Fraser Basin Council are collaborating on the development of climate change adaptation strategies for incorporation into Official Community Plans.

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Solid Waste Management

Commitment: Support waste management practices that are economically and environmentally appropriate

The CRD’s solid waste management plan is ten years old and is being updated. A large advisory committee has been established to work with the consultant in preparation of the new plan. To date, the consultant has issued his Phase 1 report, and a public survey has been completed. In 2011 the available options will be assessed and presented to the public for discussion prior to finalizing a new ten year plan.

A Waste to Energy workshop was conducted at the CRD offices in Williams Lake in October. This continues to be a waste disposal option under consideration.

The introduction of tipping fees for commercial waste at the South Cariboo Landfill Site continues to be a concern because of the large volume of construction, demolition and wood waste that is diverted to the outlying transfer sites with a resulting loss of revenues and increased cost of handling. Reduction of the fees has not resolved the problem. This issue will continue to be unresolved until the solid waste management plan is finalized and changes can be made that are consistent with the plan.

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Land Use Planning

Commitment: Support land use planning decisions which ensure that development pressures do not over-ride concerns for the environmental and cultural values of the area

The CRD worked with the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to develop a “watershed” based OCP for the Green Lake, Watch Lake and 70 Mile area. In December 2010, the Board gave third reading to this new and unique OCP. Final approval is expected in 2011 following provincial endorsement.

A proposal to implement a permit process to allow vacation rentals in residential zones was rejected for the Interlakes OCP but continues to be a future option for the Green Lake and Area OCP and the South Cariboo Area OCP.

There were nine OCP amendment and rezoning applications carried over from the previous year and twelve new ones. Eighteen were approved, one was rejected, and two are still in process. There have been a total of 141 new residential lots approved in Area “L” over the past two years.

Four Agricultural Land Reserve applications were approved by the CRD Board for submission to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). Two were approved by the ALC, one was rejected and one is still in process.

Fourteen development permits and development variance permits have been approved and one was rejected.

The Board approved seventeen Notices on Title for Building Bylaw infractions and three Remedial Action orders to remove non-complying structures.

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Taxation

Commitment: Seek means to improve the fairness of property tax structures to ensure that long term residents are not penalized as a result of development pressures on property values

The Board recognized the impact of increased taxation and poor economic markets on small resorts and undertook a number of activities to bring this to provincial attention. The Board raised the issue with Finance Minister Colin Hansen at a meeting in Williams Lake in July 2010 and again at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in September 2010. The CRD was successful in obtaining North Central Local Government Association approval of a resolution asking for short term taxation relief for the industry but failed to get the resolution endorsed by the UBCM. Support was also sought from the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce and the Cariboo Chilcotin Tourism Association, both of which are continuing to pursue the issue.

In recognition of concerns about the fairness of assessment-based property taxation, the Board has been lobbying the provincial government for additional flexibility in structuring property taxes. It is expected that changes may be coming in 2011.

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Other activities and initiatives ...

A number of regulatory bylaws and policies were presented to the Board for consideration.

Capital improvements

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By the numbers ...

(The following numbers apply to the period January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010)

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

CRD Chair Reviews 2010

Chair Richmond reflects on successes of 2010 during December meeting

Cariboo Chilcotin -During the Cariboo Regional District’s (CRD) Board meeting of December 10, 2010, CRD Chair Al Richmond provided the Board of Directors, staff and gallery guests with an overview of 2010. Below is the annual year-end address as presented.

“Members of the Board, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, today, I have the distinct pleasure of reviewing the Cariboo Regional District’s main accomplishments and successes for 2010. Looking back over the past year, our region can be proud of its achievements. 2010 has truly seen many successes for the CRD and most importantly, its residents.

The year started with a flurry of activity in January. On January 22, 2010 the Cariboo Regional District participated in the handing over ceremony becoming the Forest Capital of Canada for 2010/2011. During this same time we held our annual Town Hall meetings throughout the electoral areas and the member municipalities, and we welcomed the 2010 Olympic Torch to the Cariboo. The communities of Lone Butte, 108 Mile Ranch, Lac La Hache, 150 Mile House, and Kersley were named as Route Community stops while 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, and Quesnel were named host to Celebration Stops.

As February drew near, the CRD finalized plans to use the 2010 Olympic Games as the launch to its Forest Capital of Canada campaign by participating in BC Street. BC Street, an 18,000 square foot venue, showcased seven major regions of the province at the Richmond Olympic O Zone – a 66 acre celebration site. Celebrating its recent designation as the 2010/11 Forest Capital of Canada, the CRD partnered with the CCCTA to promote and celebrate all of the recreational benefits our natural environment provides including, eco-tourism and wilderness adventure. By the end of the Olympic Games, 475,000 spectators had visited the pavilion and an estimated 3.4 billion people either heard, read or saw a feature on BC Street worldwide. For this effort the CRD was acknowledged with awards throughout the year including;

As the south Cariboo representative on the Forest Capital of Canada committee, I am truly looking forward to some of the projects we have in store for 2011 to help promote the forest industries in a holistic approach.

In August and September, our forests were ravaged by wildfires in many areas of the Chilcotin, north Cariboo and portions of the central Cariboo. Our Emergency Operations (EOC) team jumped quickly into action, and working with our provincial emergency program officials, municipalities, our first nation’s partners and many affiliated agencies such as the RCMP, the Emergency Social Service (ESS) teams from Quesnel, 100 Mile House and Williams Lake, we were able to help protect our residents. The area had not seen fires of this magnitude in a very long time. To give you an idea of just how big these events were;

Overall, the CRD’s EOC and all the agencies that worked together to respond to the wildfires of 2010 can be proud of the services that were provided to our residents in a time of need.

In May of 2010, the CRD Directors travelled to Smithers for the annual North Central Local Government Association AGM and conference. The conference was an extremely successful event for the CRD and the resolutions it put forward to the membership were all endorsed. For the second consecutive year, the Cariboo Regional District was awarded with the Gold Star Award, this year for its “Palliative Care in British Columbia” resolution.

During the conference, the CRD was also honoured with an award as part of the first annual Measuring up the North Accessibility Awards of Excellence. In the category of Over 5,000 Population, the CRD was awarded Honourable Mention for its approach to wheel chair tourism and trails projects, while Horsefly received Honourable Mention in the Under 5,000 category. In 2010, through the Towns for Tomorrow funding, the CRD was able to open accessible Trails at the Sisters Creek Recreation site in Kersley, Cottonwood Historic Site, Horsefly, and Sepa Lake at the 108 Mile Ranch.

In September 2010, the CRD continued its winning ways at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Conference in Whistler. The Regional District received the following honours;

We also had a number of successful resolutions that were voted on by the provincial UBCM membership and we met with over eight different provincial ministers and their staff to lobby for issues that are relevant to residents of the Cariboo Chilcotin. We will continue to follow up with these issues, and will collaborate with our regions’ provincial MLAs and federal MPs to ensure the people of the CRD have a voice in Victoria and Ottawa.

Speaking of the federal and provincial governments, in 2010, the CRD successfully applied to a number of different provincial and federal funding programs such as the Community Works Fund, the Towns for Tomorrow program, Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Community Tourism Opportunities program and UBCM’s Fuel mitigation fund. To give you an example, for our water and sewer systems, and fuel management projects we received through these programs almost $2.6 million. These funds went directly back into and benefitted our communities throughout the region.

I often hear Directors, our municipalities, the media and the general public express concern that we never seem to accomplish anything. Part of the reason for this report is to remind you of the major accomplishments this past year, and to compliment you on your successes.

Creating new partnerships, enhancing services, undertaking capital projects, informing the public and responding to residents’ needs is what building this region is all about. Our organization will continue to respond to the community and residents’ needs thereby achieving our goal of Building Communities Together.

I would like to thank all the Board members and staff for your strong support during 2010 and look forward to working with each and every one of you in the upcoming year. Thank you.”