2011 Comox Valley Seminar Series is Springboard to Vancouver Island Economic Summit in October

Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase “A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability”

Through a professional development program, the four Comox Valley local governments are aligning efforts, building leadership capacity, and striving for a consistent regional approach to Sustainable Service Delivery. The program is built around an annual seminar series.

“In 2011, our focus is on the unfunded ‘infrastructure liability’ confronting all local governments. One of the foundation pieces underpinning the series is expressed this way: All those involved in land development have a role to play in achieving Sustainable Service Delivery. The players include land use and infrastructure professionals,” states Glenn Westendorp, Public Works Superintendent with the Town of Comox. He is Chair of the 2011 Seminar Series.

“We have moved beyond continuing education solely for the purpose of professional development. The 2011 Series is aligned with the recently adopted Regional Growth Strategy and Regional Sustainability Strategy. We are exploring what implementation of regional policy means on the ground. We are working towards a Joint Report on A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability.”

A FORUM WITHIN THE SUMMIT: The Comox Valley accomplishment will be showcased at the 2011 State of the Island Economic Summit in October. This flagship event of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) creates an opportunity to share the Comox Valley experience Island-wide.

“By showcasing the Comox Valley outcomes at the Summit, we hope to inform and educate elected folks and others on Vancouver Island about the ‘infrastructure liability’ and the choices that need to be made," reports Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.

“These choices encompass life-cycle cost and level-of-service. The two are interconnected. The Comox Valley is leading the way in demonstrating what can be accomplished through a regional team approach. Four local governments and the Comox Valley Land Trust are striving to work across boundaries; and walk the talk in applying the ‘4Cs’ – that is, communicate, cooperate, coordinate and collaborate.”

To learn more, click on 2011Comox Valley Seminar Series is a Springboard to Vancouver Island EconomicSummit to download a report-style PDF document version of the complete story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-29

June 16, 2011

BC Environment Minister Strengthens Metro Vancouver’s Visionary Plan for Managing Rainwater Resources

Integration with Land Use Planning is a Regulatory Driver for 'ISMP Course Correction'

Two years in the making, the Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan (ILWRMP) establishes the framework for moving beyond regulatory compliance to transitioning Metro Vancouver to an approach where watershed-based planning is integrated within a broader, sustainability framework.

In a letter to the Metro Vancouver Board, BC Environment Minister Terry Lake commended the region’s plan while at the same time advising that it does not fully meet his requirements. So he has strengthened the plan by imposing conditions that expand the actions of the member municipalities vis-à-vis rainwater management.

“Member municipalities will develop a coordinated program to monitor stormwater and assess and report the implementation and effectiveness of Integrated Storm Water Management Plans (ISMP). The program will use a weight-of-evidence performance measurement approach,” stated the Environment Minister.

The Ministerial conditions link land use planning to the direction provided by the ISMPs. They also focus attention on how the degree, type and location of land development can affect the long-term health of the watershed. 

To learn more, first click on BC Environment Minister Strengthens Metro Vancouver’s Visionary Plan for Managing Rainwater Resources and then click on “ISMP Course Correction” aligns with Metro Vancouver’s proposed Ecological Health Plan to read two supporting stories posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-28

June 14, 2011

Convening for Action in Metro Vancouver to Green the Urban Landscape and Protect Watershed Health

ISMP Course Correction

The genesis for ISMPs (Integrated Stormwater Management Plans) was a desire to integrate the community, engineering, planning and environmental perspectives. In 2001, Metro Vancouver's member municipalities recognized the benefits of this approach and made a legal commitment to the Province to have ISMPs in place by 2014 for their watersheds.

Unintended Consequences: Within a few years, however, it was evident to many in local government that the way ISMPs were being developed was resulting in unintended consequences, that is: 

• ISMPs were identifying extensive and costly drainage system upgrades;
• proposed multi-million dollar capital plans were not affordable; and
• municipalities were faced with an unfunded ‘infrastructure liability’.    

In February 2011, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia released Integrated Rainwater Management Planning: Summary Report for ISMP Course Correction Series. This guidance document is intended to help municipalities do business differently so that they can protect and/or restore watershed health. 

Achieve More With Less: The Partnership's vision is that an ISMP Course Correction will help municipalities achieve more with less, and reduce their infrastructure liability. During the period March  through June, the Partnership released a series of articles that build on this theme:

1. Water Balance Model Partners Forum will showcase vision for ‘WBM Express for Homeowners’
2. Water Balance Model Partners are charter members of the ‘Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia’
3. Community of Users Inform Platform Conversion for Water Balance Model
4. Integrated Rainwater Management: Municipalities Can Achieve More With Less
5. “ISMP Course Correction” will help Metro Vancouver municipalities fulfil regulatory commitments and “achieve more with less”
6. Partnership announces that Water Balance Model “Version 2.1” will go live in Fall 2011
7. "ISMP Course Correction" aligns with Metro Vancouver's proposed Ecological Health Plan
8. Partnership Releases Rollout Plan for Re-Built Water Balance Model
9. BC Environment Minister Strengthens Metro Vancouver's Visionary Plan for Managing Rainwater Resources

An ISMP that is truly integrated would provide a clear picture of how local governments can apply land use planning tools to create a future watershed condition desired by all.

"Choosing a Green Infrastructure Framework? Consider Light Imprint", says Thomas Low

Light Imprint for Traditional Neighbourhood Development

"Light Imprint is an intrinsically green design strategy, producing a compact, connected design that respects nature and site terrain. It recognizes the importance of public civic spaces and connectivity. This approach developed from a need to coordinate engineering concerns with traditional neighborhood design principles," write Thomas Low and his four co-authors in an article published in the March-April 2011 issue of Stormwater Magazine.

LAYING LIGHTLY ON THE LAND: "The term Light Imprint basically means ‘laying lightly on the land.’ And that’s where the name came from, it’s just thinking that way. Respecting the natural drainage and topography in a way that actually makes more sense," Low  explained in a recent radio interview.

"People think well that sounds like it’s more expensive. But we’re finding out is, that because we’re actually using less land, we’re actually connecting things in a better way, we’re actually figuring out that it’s actually less expensive to do, and it’s better for the environment, and a growing number of people really want to live in places like this. So it’s really a win-win-win opportunity."

THE BENEFITS OF 'LIGHT IMPRINT": "The success of Light Imprint can be measured in studies of stormwater runoff quality, quantity discharge volume rates, and percolation rates that promote aquifer recharge. Studies have found measurable positive progress in all these categories with the use of Light Imprint," the authors state in Stormwater Magazine.

"It will take time for Light Imprint to become the norm rather than the exception. Designers and developers may not be able to implement all Light Imprint elements right away, but they could implement them in incremental stages as certain components are approved. Because of the pace of development and the need for projects to succeed, it is especially important to plan for incremental implementation," conclude the authors."

LEARN MORE: To read the complete article as published in Stormwater Magazine, click on Choosing a Green Infrastructure Framework? Consider Light Imprint. Also, click on Light Imprint Handbook Integrates Sustainable Green Infrastructure and Community Design to read a story posted on the Water Bucket website.

Qualicum Beach hosts 2011 Saving Small Towns Conference and Workshops

A Workshop on 'Sustainable Service Delivery' will be of interest to Local Governments 

The Saving Small Towns Conference is a two-day event with concurrent streams of presentations covering the economic, environmental and social aspects of what makes small communities special; and what continues to threaten them.

“2011 will mark the fifth Saving Small Towns Conference and, as in the past, this event will continue to bring new and relevant issues to the floor for understanding, discussion and debate,” states Mac Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer of the Powell River Regional District, and conference founder. Mac Fraser was also a founding member of the CAVI Leadership Team.

“The conference will be followed by a day of workshops. Of particular relevance to local government is one featuring the Province’s Glen Brown. His session will be about Sustainable Service Delivery.”

To learn more, click on Qualicum Beach hosts 2011 Saving Small Towns Conference and Workshops on June 23-24-25 to read a supporting story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-27

June 9, 2011

Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase “A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability”

Just go to the WaterBucket website to preview the Seminar #3 program

The initial capital cost of infrastructure is about 20% of the life-cycle cost; the other 80% largely represents a future unfunded liability. Through a program of professional development, the regional district and three municipalities are aligning efforts and striving for a consistent Comox Valley regional approach to Sustainable Service Delivery.

The theme for the third in the 2011 Comox Valley Seminar Series is risk management. The spotlight is on flooding and floodplain issues. A unifying theme is alignment of efforts at a watershed scale. To preview what participants will learn about on June 30, click on the links below:

1. Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability on June 30 
2. Sustainable Service Delivery: Comox Valley Regional Team Identifies Key Objectives for Holistic Approach 
3. Sustainable Service Delivery in the Comox Valley: Joint Report on a Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability 
4. Cowichan River Integrated Flood Management Plan: How One Community is Adapting 
5. Restoration Vision for Tsolum River: A Self-Sustaining System 
6. "Tsolum River restoration story is all about sharing a vision and mutual respect," observes CAVI's Eric Bonham 
7. City of Courtenay and Comox Valley Regional District partner with TimberWest to study Tsolum River flooding

"Showcasing of the Lower Cowichan River integrated plan for flood management creates an opportunity for inter-valley sharing because we in the Comox Valley can learn from the recent experience of our peers in the Cowichan Valley," states Glenn Westendorp, Public Works Superintendent with the Town of Comox. He is Chair of the 2011 Seminar Series.

To access the Seminar #3 “homepage”, click here.

Comox Valley Update #2011-10

June 8, 2011

Province approves Metro Vancouver’s visionary plan for Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management

Requirement for On-Site Rainwater Management is Regulatory Driver for Water Balance Model

Two years in the making, the Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan establishes the framework for moving beyond regulatory compliance to transitioning Metro Vancouver to an approach that achieves the Sustainable Region Vision.

“The region’s integrated plan provides municipalities with clear direction for implementing green infrastructure – for example, Action #1.1.20 commits us to updating our bylaws to require on-site rainwater management. By achieving a lighter water footprint, we can protect stream health; and we can adapt to climate change,” reports the District of North Vancouver’s Richard Boase. He is Co-Chair of the Water Balance Model Partnership.

Richard Boase, WBM Co-Chair

“Action #1.1.20 is now the regulatory driver for the Water Balance Model. So, it is timely that Version 2.0 is currently in beta-testing mode. We will go live in a matter of weeks. This scenario comparison tool is used to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure.”

To learn more, first click on Province approves Metro Vancouver's visionary plan and then click on Rollout Plan for Re-built Water Balance Model to read two supporting stories posted on the Water Bucket website.

Advisory Role of the Reference Panel: Appointed by the Metro Vancouver Board in April 2008, the advisory Liquid Waste Management Plan Reference Panel played a key role in informing and educating members of the Board through interaction with two regional committees. The Reference Panel produced A Recommended Policy Framework for Liquid Resource Management in Metro Vancouver.

News Release #2011-26

June 7, 2011