Partial Minutes from the June 23, 2015 PRRD Public Consultation Meeting at the Hall

I wasn't able to attend the beginning of the Community Consultation Meeting, so these minutes begin when I arrived:

Wendy S.: Until we find common ground, we can't come up with solutions. Totally baffled about where the RD initiatives have started; 911 isn't exactly a liability issue. Why now? We want a better idea of where you're coming from.

Patrick B on behalf of the Regional District (PBoRD): this has been noted.

Bruce B: if we ever had an earthquake, Petes Lake would wash out Main road and cut the island in half.

PBoRD: not new to any of us

BB: what's your solution?

PBoRD: there's no solution to an earthquake

Merrick A: we've had many consultants come and they all say I wish I was here when it hits. We have the equipment on island to take care of those types of issues.

PBoRD: Some people...

Tolling J: here's a request for the August meeting: present alternatives to 911; a financing plan for a built-on-Lasqueti Fire Hall; a plan for the dump that doesn't leach. Those would be positive initiatives from the Board

Gordon S: Show us that you really listened by responding to each of our suggestions that you received.

Ezra A: helpful if you publish our comments.

Judy P: some of us don't have online access; we need it in print. The Board is a bunch of nice guys; you're trying to fix us and we're not broken. There is a disconnect. We're not at the same place.

John M.: I keep looking at the plans for the new Fire Hall. Board has come to listen...to what? To our reaction to what they have planned? Yes, the 1^st Responders need a place to wash up. To even propose 911 with our terrible phone system, is like buying a new pair a rubber boots with holes in them.

Robert W: I feel threatened by you and I feel threatened by the RD; the reason is your response to our question of what the issues are for the next meeting. You are dodging that question. That plan for the Fire Hall cost time and money. We want a level playing field.

PBoRD: I'm sorry that you feel threatened; the answer still is that the Directors are going to go away and think; you won't get an individual opinion or a shoot-from-the-hip response.

RW: I'm not asking for that; I want you to tell us what the issues are. What are the issues that drive you to make these elaborate plans.

PBoRD: I will promise you that you'll get a statement from us.

MA: I do believe that the Fire Dept identified what they want.

Richard C: I was asked what I want and my wish list has a Firehall with 4 bays, 3 for existing vehicles and 1 for future expansion, and a meeting room

MA: the RD rejected it as too elaborate. The rest of the issues are ongoing.

Peter J: there have been 2 consultations with the community.

John O: Both had admission charges: Firefighter's Picnic and ...

MA: the existing dump was selected by a committee of 5: Johnny Oslund, Peter Millicheap, Tom (who owned the lake below, and Pete Forbes. They said it should go in where it is because it was a gravel pit and outflows down with the belief that the effluent would be cleansed by the vegetation below.

And this didn't just come out; it's been developed over the years.

PBoRD: it's been acknowledged that communication has been abysmal.

Sailor J: I think this process has been very undemocratic; I'm concerned that the system would approach our Fire chief to come up with a plan for our community; that it would approach 1 contractor rather than the community.

Sailor J: I'm disappointed that it has come to this, Merrick.

Marti W: this is how it has been from the RD. What's new is that we have Google News to find out about the RD. Contrast to Islands Trust, with meeting here and info in Isle&Times. Not fair to dump on Merrick since it has been done for 40 years.

Gail F: Looking for a taxpayer arrangement.

PBoRD: we heard that.

Kristos K: With the technology that exists today, there's no reason why we can't see the public meetings here. We can't attend in Powell River. I think we should have an option to see public meetings. Today it's easy to do that.

Shelley: Marti brought up this point about communication: let's move forward. Thank you for bringing a Board meeting here.

PBoRD: it's a tradition to hit the road in the summer. Last year was here. We do get out in the summer.

David H: I looked a little further into 911: they are developed by the US military; we need emergency supplies on-island.

John M: Islands Trust meetings are quarterly meetings; who is Merrick's alternate?

MA: Laurence F is my alternate.

David R: many people have asked to be more involved in assisting the Board in providing what we need. Is it possible for the Board to make us an equal? If we're just the guys digging the ditches, that is not equal. I want to be assured that when our community is involved I want us to be heard and respected.

PBoRD: the RD is not the equal of the Province.

DR: I acknowledge that. If the Board utilizes our manpower to man the chimpanzee wheel, I'm not interested.

PBoRD: We have advisory committees; in my area, we're doing an OCP and they are helping us along with the planner. Colin meets with Committees as well.

MA: On Lasqueti, the RD has the Ferry Committee and the Ramp Committee.

PBoRD: There's a challenge for you. Create committees that can work with Merrick.

?: What about this process?

MA: I assumed that that was Andrew F's Committee.

Richard A: Andrew, could you review the process you outlined?

Andrew F: The community process is online.

PBoRD: Andrew has provided us with a proposed structure; I have taken it under consideration.

Ezra A: we've heard from you; I think that's enough.

PBoRD: Thank you all for coming.