Local government directly affects you
For most people, the federal government represents the big picture. How our country compares in the world. The provincial government gets closer to home. It manages ferries, health care issues and more. But local governments most directly impact an individual’s life. Local governments control land use through zoning, property taxes and manage everything from area roads to schools. On this page, you’ll find stories about what local governments are doing and how well they are performing.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Read all the stories here
LINKS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Comox Valley speaks out about how to move and treat our poop
Considering the potential property tax implications and long-term environmental impacts of reimagining the Comox Valley Sewer System, there was relatively small group of people at the first of two public consultation workshops.
Long-term wastewater planning underway at CVRD
Critical long-term wastewater infrastructure questions are being asked at the CVRD, among them: Should sewer pipes come out of the K’omoks Estuary? What level of treatment do we want, and how will we meet the long-term growth of the Comox Valley? And, should we be planning to recover our wastewater resource?
With much drama, CVRD denies 3L Developments
With tension thick in the boardroom, with accusations of lies and corruption, slander flying back and forth, and despite 3L Developments’ last-minute tactic through Mano Theos to salvage their Riverwood subdivision, the application to amend the Regional Growth Strategy failed on a 6-4 vote
City abandons 21st Street bridge, airpark leases still contentious
Courtenay abandons 21st Street river crossing thanks to Mayor Jangula, but city staff and council temporarily ground his proposal to give long-term certainly to airpark business owners at Monday’s meeting
Courtenay mayor fails to assuage Airpark closure fears
Courtenay Airpark Association members say City Council members don’t fully appreciate the depth of their concerns and were disappointed Mayor Larry Jangula didn’t “clear the air” and give them unequivocal support
Common sense prevails at CVRD over amending the RGS
An overwhelming majority of directors defeated a motion to consider an amendment to the Regional Growth Strategy via the”minor process” to enable 3L Developments 740-house community near Stotan Falls. But this is still an early round in the 11-year saga
Battle brewing over city’s transportation master plan
The City of Courtenay may recommend a third bridge as part of its 2018 transportation master plan, but Project Watershed will oppose any crossing of the Courtenay River south of 17th Street
Expediency wins out over CVRD’s growth strategy
CVRD directors overlook their Regional Growth Strategy to expedite an application by 3L Developments to amend the RGS that would enable a 740-house project on the Browns and Puntlege rivers near Stotan Falls
CVRD will vote again on 3L with corrected info
CVRD directors will vote again — this time with corrected information on their Regional Growth Strategy minor amendment process — on whether to consider 3L Developments application to amend the RGS as a minor or standard matter. It’s not as confusing as it sounds
CVRD to consider growth strategy amendment
The CVRD Committee of the Whole voted to consider an application to amend the Regional Growth Strategy in a way that would permit the 3L Development on the Puntledge River near Stotan Falls, but the majority votes down a motion by Ken Grant and Larry Jangula to expedite the process
Cumberland leads Canada, uses existing purchasing to impact society
Around the world, the criteria for how to spend public money has shifted toward achieving a community’s social and economic values, in addition to getting the best value. The Village of Cumberland is leading the way for Canada, along with Comox resident Sandra Hamilton
Cumberland UBCM resolution set the stage for a social hub
Vancouver Island mayors are working together and with the construction industry to ease the transition to a new local government procurement process that includes the achievement of a community’s social and economic goals with a community benefit hub
Public panel will help guide new sewerage plan
The new Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Planning Process that will recommend rerouting the pipe carrying Courtenay and Comox sewage to the treatment plant will include public and technical panels, which will be formed this summer; plus, the treatment plant gets an upgrade to eliminate over-capacity at peak periods
Who wields the real power: staff or elected officials?
Who do you think makes the important decisions that affect our communities? It’s natural to answer, “Our elected officials.” That’s who we hold accountable for our government’s performance. But all too often …
Beech Street shelved: better solutions under review
For nearly three years, a group of rural Comox Valley citizens has warned the Courtenay-Comox Sewage Commission about the environmental and financial risks of building a sewage pump station on a small Croteau Beach lot. They’ve spent their own money on independent...
Will common sense prevail in the Comox Valley?
That the Courtenay-Comox Sewage Commission shelved its multi-million dollar sewerage project this summer comes as no surprise. For nearly two years, Comox Valley citizens have implored the commission and regional district engineers to consider less expensive and more...
The story behind recent Comox union negotiations
In a press release published by the Comox Valley Record recently, Comox Mayor Paul Ives put a positive spin on the town’s new five-year collective agreement. But there’s much more to this story. It is good news, of course, that the town finally reached an agreement,...
Shocker for homeowners: no protection for private wells
If you get drinking water from a private well British Columbia, the provincial government provides no protection from any activities that might foul your water quality. Sylvia Burrosa, the regional hydrologist for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource...