Meeting 3 of 6 GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT (GVRD ...€¦ · GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL...

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July 3, 2015 Added GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT (GVRD) BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR BOARD MEETING Friday, July 3, 2015 9:00 A.M. 2 nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia Membership and Votes R E V I S E D A G E N D A 1 A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 1. July 3, 2015 Regular Meeting Agenda That the GVRD Board adopt the agenda for its regular meeting scheduled for July 3, 2015 as circulated. B. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES 1. June 12, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes That the GVRD Board adopt the minutes for its regular meeting held June 12, 2015 as circulated. C. DELEGATIONS 1. Karen Goodings, Director Electoral Area “B”, Peace River Regional District 2. Brad Sperling, Director, Electoral Area “C”, Peace River Regional District 3. Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee 4. Rob Botterell, Associate Counsel, Lidstone & Company 5. Anders Kruus, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association 6. Wendy Holm, Bowen Island, B.C. 7. D. Lynn Chapman, Roberts Creek, B.C. 8. Mayor Gwen Johannson, District of Hudson’s Hope 9. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs 10. Dr. Elaine Golds, Education-Conservation Chair, Burke Mountain Naturalists D. INVITED PRESENTATIONS 1 Note: Recommendation is shown under each item, where applicable. Meeting 3 of 6 Greater Vancouver Regional District - 1

Transcript of Meeting 3 of 6 GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT (GVRD ...€¦ · GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL...

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July 3, 2015

Added

GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT (GVRD)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR BOARD MEETING Friday, July 3, 2015

9:00 A.M. 2nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia

Membership and Votes

R E V I S E D A G E N D A1

A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 1. July 3, 2015 Regular Meeting Agenda

That the GVRD Board adopt the agenda for its regular meeting scheduled for July 3, 2015 as circulated.

B. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

1. June 12, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes That the GVRD Board adopt the minutes for its regular meeting held June 12, 2015 as circulated.

C. DELEGATIONS

1. Karen Goodings, Director Electoral Area “B”, Peace River Regional District 2. Brad Sperling, Director, Electoral Area “C”, Peace River Regional District 3. Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee 4. Rob Botterell, Associate Counsel, Lidstone & Company 5. Anders Kruus, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association 6. Wendy Holm, Bowen Island, B.C. 7. D. Lynn Chapman, Roberts Creek, B.C. 8. Mayor Gwen Johannson, District of Hudson’s Hope 9. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs 10. Dr. Elaine Golds, Education-Conservation Chair, Burke Mountain Naturalists

D. INVITED PRESENTATIONS

1 Note: Recommendation is shown under each item, where applicable.

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E. CONSENT AGENDA Note: Directors may adopt in one motion all recommendations appearing on the Consent Agenda or, prior to the vote, request an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for debate or discussion, voting in opposition to a recommendation, or declaring a conflict of interest with an item. 1. CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE REPORTS

1.1 University of British Columbia – “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and

Climate Change Community Planning” Project That the GVRD Board approve continued funding for the project titled, “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” in the amount of: a) $30,000 in 2015, contingent upon receiving confirmation that additional

partners have contributed funding as described in the report titled “University of British Columbia - Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning”, dated May 27, 2015; and

b) an additional $30,000 in 2016, contingent upon the confirmation of partner funding noted in (a) above and the submission of a progress report to the Climate Action Committee by June 2016 along with a review of project progress by Metro Vancouver staff with input from relevant municipal staff.

1.2 Metro Vancouver’s Climate Actions and Carbon Neutral Progress in 2014

That the GVRD Board receive for information the report dated June 4, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver’s Climate Actions and Carbon Neutral Progress in 2014”.

2. INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORTS

2.1 Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy

That the GVRD Board approve the Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy as presented in the report titled “Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy”, dated June 11, 2015.

2.2 Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy That the GVRD Board approve the Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy as amended in the report dated June 5, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”.

2.3 Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project

That the GVRD Board write a letter to the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, requesting a moratorium on the construction and development of the Site C Dam until the end of 2017, and that the proposed project be referred to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for review and consultation.

3. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORTS

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3.1 Metro Vancouver External Agency Activities Status Report May 2015 That the GVRD Board receive for information the following reports from Metro Vancouver representatives to external organizations: a) Agricultural Advisory Committee Status Report b) Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee Status Report c) Experience the Fraser Project Update d) Report on Recent Activities of the Municipal Finance Authority of BC – Activities

for the period of November 2014 – April 2015 e) Pacific Parklands Foundation Update for the Period October 1, 2014 to May 31,

2015 as contained in the report dated June 3, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver External Agency Activities Status Report May 2015”.

3.2 Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee June 2015

That the GVRD Board receive for information the report dated June 22, 2015 titled Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee June 2015 containing summaries received from the following delegates: a) Matt Hulse, BC Campaign Director, Our Horizon

F. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA G. REPORTS NOT INCLUDED IN CONSENT AGENDA

1. INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORTS

1.1 GVRD Board and Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw 1221 That the GVRD Board: a) Give first, second and third reading to “Greater Vancouver Regional District

Board and Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. b) Pass and finally adopt “Greater Vancouver Regional District Board and

Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. H. MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN I. OTHER BUSINESS J. BUSINESS ARISING FROM DELEGATIONS K. RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING

Note: The Board must state by resolution the basis under section 90 of the Community Charter on which the meeting is being closed. If a member wishes to add an item the basis must be included below.

L. RISE AND REPORT (Items Released from Closed Meeting) M. ADJOURNMENT/CONCLUSION

That the GVRD Board adjourn/conclude its regular meeting of July 3, 2015.

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GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

 Minutes of  the Regular Meeting of  the Greater Vancouver Regional District  (GVRD) Board of Directors held at 9:21 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2015 in the 2nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia.  MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair, Director Greg Moore, Port Coquitlam Vice Chair, Director Raymond Louie, Vancouver Director Wayne Baldwin, White Rock Director John Becker, Pitt Meadows Director Malcolm Brodie, Richmond Director Karl Buhr, Lions Bay Director Mike Clay, Port Moody Director Derek Corrigan, Burnaby  Director Jonathan Coté, New Westminster Director Sav Dhaliwal, Burnaby Director Ralph Drew, Belcarra Director Charlie Fox, Langley Township Director Maria Harris, Electoral Area A Director Linda Hepner, Surrey Director Craig Hodge, Coquitlam Director Lois Jackson, Delta (arrived at 9:25 a.m.) Director Kerry Jang, Vancouver Director Colleen Jordan, Burnaby Alternate Director Vera LeFranc, Surrey for Bruce Hayne Alternate Director Michael Lewis, West Vancouver for Michael Smith Director Mary Martin, Surrey Director John McEwen, Anmore  Director Geoff Meggs, Vancouver  Director Darrell Mussatto, North Vancouver City Director Maureen Nicholson, Bowen Island Alternate Director Angie Quaale, Langley Township for Bob Long Director Nicole Read, Maple Ridge Director Andrea Reimer, Vancouver Director Gregor Robertson, Vancouver Director Barbara Steele, Surrey Director Tim Stevenson, Vancouver Director Harold Steves, Richmond Director Richard Stewart, Coquitlam Director Rudy Storteboom, Langley City Director Judy Villeneuve, Surrey Director Richard Walton, North Vancouver District  Director Bryce Williams, Tsawwassen  

Section B    1

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MEMBERS ABSENT: Director Heather Deal, Vancouver  STAFF PRESENT: Phil Trotzuk, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Janis  Knaupp,  Assistant  to  Regional  Committees,  Board  and  Information  Services,  Legal  and 

Legislative Services  Chris Plagnol, Director, Board and Information Services/Corporate Officer, Legal and Legislative 

Services    A.  ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 

 1.  June 12, 2015 Regular Meeting Agenda 

 It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the GVRD Board  adopt  the  agenda  for  its  regular meeting  scheduled  for June 12, 2015 as circulated. 

CARRIED  

B.  ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES  

1.  May 15, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes  It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the  GVRD  Board  adopt  the  minutes  for  its  regular  meeting  held May 15, 2015 as circulated. 

CARRIED  C.  DELEGATIONS 

No items presented.  D.  INVITED PRESENTATIONS 

No items presented.  E.  CONSENT AGENDA 

At the request of Directors, the following items were removed from the Consent Agenda for consideration under Section F. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda: 2.1  2016 GVRD Sustainability Innovation Fund Applications 4.1  BC  Transportation  and  Financing  Authority  Transit  Assets  and  Liabilities  Act 

(Bill 2) – Overview and Analysis 3.1  Correspondence on a Regional Pilot Project to Prevent Illegal Fill Deposition 

   

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It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the  GVRD  Board  adopt  the  recommendations  contained  in  the  following  items presented in the June 12, 2015 GVRD Board Consent Agenda: 1.1 Electoral Area A Advisory Planning Commission Structure – Issues and Options 3.2  2015 Metro Vancouver Agriculture Awareness Grant Recommendations 5.1 Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee – May 2015 

CARRIED Director Jang absent at the vote. 

 The items and recommendations referred to above are as follows: 

 1.1 Electoral Area A Advisory Planning Commission Structure – Issues and Options 

Report dated May 4, 2015  from Marcin Pachcinski, Division Manager, Electoral Area  and  Environment,  providing  the  GVRD  Board  with  the  opportunity  to review options related to the ongoing role and structure of the Electoral Area A Advisory  Planning  Commission  (EAAAPC)  including  undertaking  community engagement  activities  and  advertising  for  EAAAPC members  for  the  2015‐17 term.  Recommendation: That the GVRD Board: a) direct staff  to undertake community engagement activities with Electoral 

Area A communities; and b) direct  staff  to  proceed  with  advertising  for  Electoral  Area  A  Advisory 

Planning Commission members for the 2015‐17 term. Adopted on Consent 

 3.2 2015 Metro Vancouver Agriculture Awareness Grant Recommendations 

Report dated April 30, 2015 from Theresa Duynstee, Regional Planner, Planning, Policy  and  Environment,  providing  the  GVRD  Board  with  the  opportunity  to consider the allocation of $40,000  in Agriculture Awareness Grants to ten non‐profit organizations in 2015.  Recommendation: That  the  GVRD  Board  approve  the  allocation  of  the  2015 Metro  Vancouver Agriculture Awareness Grants  to  the  following eleven non‐profit organizations, as described  in  the  report dated April 30, 2015,  titled “2015 Metro Vancouver Agriculture Awareness Grant Recommendations”: a) BC  Agriculture  in  the  Classroom  Foundation  for  the  “Take  a  Bite  of  BC” 

project for the amount of $5,000; b) BC Association of Farmers’ Markets for the “Farmers Appreciation Week” in 

the amount of $4,034; c) BC  Chicken  Growers’  Association  for  the  “Poultry  in Motion  Educational 

Mini Barn” project for the amount of $5,000; 

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d) Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm for the “Local Agriculture for  Public  Institutions:  Raising  farm‐to‐institution  awareness  in  Metro Vancouver” project for the amount of $2,966; 

e) Delta  Farmland & Wildlife  Trust  for  the  “Day  at  the  Farm”  event  for  the amount of $3,000; 

f) Earthwise Society for the “Tomato Festival” event in the amount of $2,500; g) Growing  Chefs!  Chefs  for  Children’s  Urban  Agriculture  for  the  “Growing 

Chefs! Classroom Gardening Program” for the amount of $4,000; h) Haney  Farmers Market  Society  for  the  “The Market  Goes  to  the  Farm” 

project for the amount of $500; i) Langley Environmental Partners Society for the “Langley Eats Local” project 

for the amount of $5,000; j) North Shore Neighbourhood House for the “Strong Roots and Fresh Starts” 

project for the amount of $5,000; and k)  The  Sharing  Farm  Society  for  the  “7th  Annual  Garlic  Festival”  for  the 

amount of $3,000. Adopted on Consent 

 5.1 Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee – May 2015 

Report  dated May  29,  2015  from  Kelly  Hardy,  Office  Supervisor,  Board  and Information  Services,  Legal  and  Legislative  Services,  providing  the  Board with information related to delegations received at Committee in May 2015.  Recommendation: That  the GVRD Board  receive  for  information  the  report dated May  29, 2015 titled  Delegation  Executive  Summaries  Presented  at  Committee  – May  2015 containing summaries received from the following delegates: a)  Councillor Colleen Jordan, City of Burnaby. 

Adopted on Consent  F.  ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA    

2.1 2016 GVRD Sustainability Innovation Fund Applications Report dated April 29, 2015 from Ann Rowan, Sustainability Strategist, Planning, Policy and Environment,  summarizing  the  staff evaluation of applications  from the GVRD Sustainability Innovation Fund (SIF), and seeking GVRD Board approval for  allocation  of  SIF  funds  to  five  projects,  some  with  multi‐year  funding requests, totalling $130,000 in 2015, $430,000 in 2016, and $135,000 in 2017.  

9:25 a.m. Director Jackson arrived at the meeting.  It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the  GVRD  Board  approve  the  allocation  of  funding  from  the  GVRD Sustainability Innovation Fund to the following projects: a) Restoration  of Degraded  Areas within  Burns  Bog  Ecological  Conservation 

Area: $80,000 in 2016 and $35,000 in 2017; 

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b) Roof to Creek Natural Drainage and Habitat Learning Landscape: $100,000 in 2016; 

c) The Drive Smart Study: $100,000 in 2016; d) Strata Energy Advisor: $50,000  in 2015; $50,000  in 2016 and $100,000  in 

2017; e) Metro Vancouver Grow Green: $40,000 in 2015 and $40,000 in 2016; and f) Home Energy Labelling Program Pilot: $40,000 in 2015 and $60,000 in 2016. 

CARRIED  

3.1 Correspondence on a Regional Pilot Project to Prevent Illegal Fill Deposition Report dated May 4, 2015  from Theresa Duynstee, Regional Planner, Planning, Policy  and  Environment,  providing  the  Regional  Planning  Committee with  the opportunity  to  review a draft  letter  to municipal members  regarding  illegal  fill on  agricultural  land  in  response  to  the Committee’s  request  at  its meeting of April 24, 2015.  In response to a question, members were informed that Barnston Island will be included in the letter sent to member municipalities.  It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the GVRD Board  send a  letter  to member municipalities  requesting  their participation  in  a  regional  pilot  project  to  prevent  illegal  fill  deposition,  as described  in  the  report  dated  May  4,  2015,  titled,  “Correspondence  on  a Regional Pilot Project to Prevent Illegal Fill Deposition”. 

CARRIED  

4.1 BC  Transportation  and  Financing Authority  Transit Assets  and  Liabilities Act (Bill 2) – Overview and Analysis Report  dated May  24,  2015  from  Allan  Neilson,  General Manager,  Planning, Policy  and  Environment,  providing  an  overview  and  analysis  of  the  BC Transportation  and  Financing  Authority  Transit  Assets  and  Liabilities  Act,  a provincial  law  that  came  into  force  on  May  21,  2015,  and  exploring  the implications of the Act for TransLink assets,  including those that were acquired in whole or in part using regional gas tax funds.  It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the GVRD Board  receive  for  information  the  report dated May 24, 2015, titled  “BC Transportation and Financing Authority Transit Assets and  Liabilities Act (Bill 2) – Overview and Analysis”. 

CARRIED       

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G.  REPORTS NOT INCLUDED IN CONSENT AGENDA  

1.1  Metro  Vancouver  2040:    Shaping  our  Future Amendment  Request  from  the Township of Langley ‐ Latimer Report dated April 30, 2015 from Terry Hoff, Senior Regional Planner, Planning, Policy  and  Environment,  providing  the  GVRD  Board with  the  opportunity  to consider  a  proposed  Type  3  minor  amendment  to  Metro  Vancouver  2040: Shaping our Future (Metro 2040) for two sites in the Latimer area as requested by the Township of Langley.  It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board: a) Initiate  the Metro Vancouver 2040 amendment process  for  the Township 

of Langley’s proposed amendments for the two Latimer sites; b) Give  first  and  second  readings  to  “Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District 

Regional Growth Strategy Amendment Bylaw No. 1222, 2015”; and  c) Direct  staff  to notify affected  local governments as per Metro Vancouver 

2040: Shaping our Future section 6.4.2. CARRIED 

 H.  MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN  

1.  Direct Coal Transfer Facility at Fraser Surrey Docks Director Villeneuve provided the following Notice of Motion on June 1, 2015 for consideration at the June 12, 2015 GVRD Board meeting: 

 It was MOVED and SECONDED That  the GVRD Board write  to Port Metro Vancouver and Fraser Surrey Docks indicating: 

that Metro Vancouver continues  its opposition  to coal  shipments  from the Fraser River Estuary other than the existing Robert Banks coal port; 

that  member  municipalities  including  the  City  of  Richmond,  the Corporation of Delta, the City of New Westminster and the City of Surrey have all expressed significant concerns with the proposed Direct Transfer Coal Facility at Surrey Fraser Docks, and that their concerns still remain unresolved; 

that  member  municipalities  including  the  City  of  Richmond,  the Corporation of Delta, the City of New Westminster and the City of Surrey have  all  expressed  significant  concerns with  the  proposed  application amendment being contemplated by Fraser Surrey Docks; 

that  the  preliminary  consultation  period  on  the  proposed  application amendment provided by Fraser Surrey Docks was inadequate; 

that  should  Port  Metro  Vancouver  receive  the  proposed  application amendment, a  further 3‐week consultation period as proposed by Port 

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Metro Vancouver  is  inadequate, and that Port Metro Vancouver should establish two consultation periods. o the first being a consultation period on the application in advance of 

the various  supporting  studies being undertaken.  This consultation period  should  for  a  minimum  of  6‐weeks  and  include  public information meetings within  the  communities potentially  impacted by this amendment, namely the City of Richmond, the Corporation of Delta, the City of New Westminster and the City of Surrey; and 

o the second being a consultation period  following the completion of all  of  the  various  supporting  studies  being  undertaken.   This consultation  period  should  for  a minimum  of  6‐weeks  and  include public  information  meetings  within  the  communities  potentially impacted  by  this  amendment,  namely  the  City  of  Richmond,  the Corporation of Delta,  the City of New Westminster and  the City of Surrey; and 

that the Human Health Risk Assessment be completed based on a Terms of  Reference  supported  by  the  chief  medical  health  officers  of  the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the Fraser Health Authority. 

CARRIED  

I.  OTHER BUSINESS No items presented. 

 J.  BUSINESS ARISING FROM DELEGATIONS 

No items presented.  K.  RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING 

No items presented.  L.  RISE AND REPORT (Items Released from Closed Meeting) 

No items presented.  M.  ADJOURNMENT/CONCLUSION  

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board conclude its regular meeting of June 12, 2015. 

CARRIED (Time:  10:01 a.m.) 

 CERTIFIED CORRECT

           Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer

 

  

         Greg Moore, Chair

 11469188 FINAL 

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GVRD BOARD ON TABLE ITEMS   SECTION C 

Delegation requests re: GVRD Item 2.3: Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project 

C 1  Karen Goodings, Director Electoral Area “B”, Peace River Regional District  

Speaking on behalf of residents of Electoral Area “B”, Peace River Regional District 

C 2  Brad Sperling, Director, Electoral Area “C”, Peace River Regional District 

Speaking on his own behalf and on behalf of Electoral Area “C”, Peace River Regional District 

C 3  Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee  

Speaking on behalf of the Wilderness Committee 

C 4  Rob Botterell, Associate Counsel, Lidstone & Company  

Speaking on his own behalf and on behalf of Peace Valley Landowner Association 

C 5  Anders Kruus, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association  

Speaking on behalf of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (delegated by the Chair of 

the organization, Alison Thompson, who is unable to attend) 

C 6  Wendy Holm, Bowen Island, B.C  

Speaking on her own behalf as a Professional Agrologist 

C 7  D. Lynn Chapman, Roberts Creek, BC 

Resident of Roberts Creek, BC  

C 8  Mayor Gwen Johannson, District of Hudson’s Hope 

Speaking on behalf of the District of Hudson’s Hope 

C 9  Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs 

Speaking on his own behalf and on behalf of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs 

C 10  Dr. Elaine Golds, Education‐Conservation Chair, Burke Mountain Naturalists 

Speaking on behalf of Burke Mountain Naturalists, Coquitlam, BC 

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             Karen Goodings – Speaking notes – July 3rd, 2015 meeting of the GVRD Board               Good morning, thank you for allowing me an opportunity to speak to you about the concerns of the 

Peace River Regional District (PRRD) electoral area “B” as it pertains to the need for an independent 

review of both the costs and the need to build this 8.8 BILLION dollar project.  

A Joint Environmental Assessment hearing was held to examine Site C.  When the Joint Review Panel 

(JRP) released their paper pertaining to Site C they made many recommendations. Three of those were 

of particular interest to the residents of the Peace River Regional District as they spoke of the need for 

an independent review to take place through the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC).   

 At the May 15th, 2014 meeting of the PRRD the regional district board unanimously resolved:  “That a letter be forwarded to the Premier of BC requesting that the British Columbia Utilities Commission be involved in the Site C Clean Energy Project approval process, in keeping with several recommendations of the Site C Clean Energy Joint Review Panel and in the interest of open and transparent decision making.”    At the June 26th, 2014 meeting the PRRD unanimously passed the following motion:   “That the Regional District’s response to the JRP Secretariat reiterate the Regional District’s position that the Joint Review Panel recommendations be followed with respect to utilizing the BCUC process, including transparency and the ability for cross‐examination under oath.”  In a letter dated September 15th 2014  Minister Bennett’s response clearly stated the provincial governments support to build Site C and that, as decision makers, they did not need any further examination.      In our response to Minister Bennett, dated November 18th 2014, we made it clear, once again, that it is in the interest of taxpayers across the Province that the single largest debt to be undertaken by the province (should they choose to proceed) needs to be a decision based on proven cost analysis and proven need. We went on to say that “there is need for further research into energy efficient geothermal and wind energy.” The PRRD Board also stated that a one year moratorium would allow adequate time for the inquiry and public hearing to proceed.   Then on April 8th 2015 the government passed Order‐In‐Council #148, which arbitrarily removed land in the Peace River Valley from the Agricultural Land reserve.  These are the food producing lands that would be flooded by Site C and compare in growing capability to the Fraser Valley.  When made aware of OIC #148, the PRRD Board submitted a late resolution to the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to request the Province rescind OIC #148.  The enactment clause stated:    

GVRD Board Delegation C 1

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  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to rescind Order in Council #148 until there has been adequate public input and respect shown for the legal requirements required to apply for removal of lands from the ALR.  The motion passed and is now forwarded to UBCM for further discussion.   As the elected representative of Area “B” and as a long‐time resident of the Peace region of British Columbia I believe it is important to make sure that an independent review of the single most costly project ever proposed by the provincial government receives the appropriate scrutiny.    I request that you pass the motion placed on your agenda today to write a letter requesting Premier Christy Clark place a moratorium on the construction and development of Site C Dam and that this project be referred to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for review and consideration.    

                     

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Metro Vancouver board resolution regarding Site C Dam project 

Brad Sperling, Director Area C  

Application to present 

Agenda item end report 2.0 and 2.3 

Delegation: Brad Sperling, Peace River regional district speaking on behalf on myself and Electoral 

Area C 

 Contact: [email protected] 

Interest and request: I represent the area that the Site C Dam is located in, but I’m not asking to speak 

to the impacts or the concerns that this project has on our area. But rather the message that we will be 

sending to future generations and governments if this project is allowed to proceed without due process 

and consultation (BCUC, ALC). A process built over decades of government to protect the people, 

resources, and future of this province. We need to ensure that these rights are safeguarded. 

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Date of submission ‐‐ July 3, 2015 

By Joe Foy – National Campaign Director – Wilderness Committee, Cell tel: 604‐880‐2580 Office tel: 604‐

683‐8220 Email: [email protected] 

The following is a short summary of my 5 minute submission that I propose to present at the Metro 

Vancouver Board meeting on July 3, 2015 

I will speak in support of the INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT – 2.3 Burrard 

Thermal and Site C Dam Project ‐‐ motion “That Metro Vancouver write a letter to the Honourable 

Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, requesting a moratorium on the construction and 

development of Site C Dam until the end of 2017, and that the proposed project be referred to the 

British Columbia Utilities Commission for review and consultation.” 

I represent the Wilderness Committee, a federally registered non‐profit environmental organization. We 

were formed in 1980 and currently have over 60,000 members and supporters. Our head office is in 

Vancouver with field offices in Victoria, Winnipeg and Toronto. Our mission is to protect Canada’s wild 

nature. 

The Wilderness Committee has been involved in many successful public education campaigns aiming to 

protect wild nature, including regions with high biodiversity values and endangered wildlife populations. 

Starting in 2008 we began to study the issue of private run of river hydro projects being proposed for 

creeks and rivers all over BC. 

During the course of our campaign to protect BC’s wild rivers, we discovered that BC already has access 

to more than enough hydro power than it needs, and that the BC government’s policies to purchase 

expensive private hydro‐power in long‐term contracts seemed destined to drown BC Hydro in a tsunami 

of debt. As we understand it there are now in excess of $40 billion dollars of long term energy purchase 

agreements signed with private power companies for electrical energy that BC can’t use and can only 

sell at a loss.  

One might wonder what the public watch‐dog, the BC Utilities Commission had to say about these 

money‐losing private hydro‐power contracts. The answer is nothing. The BCUC was not allowed by 

Victoria to review the private hydro‐power contracts to see if they are in the public interest. (They 

aren’t).    

Now the same thing is being done with the $8 billion and rising Site C Dam Project. Victoria is adamant – 

Site C will not be reviewed by the BCUC. This is just plain wrong. Shame on us if we allow this ruination 

of BC Hydro to continue. 

The matter becomes even more urgent when the impact on the environment is taken into account. The 

flooding of more than 100 kilometres of valley bottom lands – some of it prime agricultural land and the 

loss of critical valley‐bottom wildlife habitat is a huge impact – and would be on any landscape. Imagine 

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flooding from Fort Langley out to Chilliwack and you get the idea. All of this for hydro‐power that BC 

cannot use, because we already have more than enough at our disposal. 

The impact of the Site C Dam on Treaty 8 tribal lands, that have been hit hard by previous dams as well 

as the damage done by the oil and gas industry, would be devastating to the environment that the 

people rely upon for food, shelter and spiritual purposes. Taking away the ability to access wildlife and 

fish to feed the people is an assault on their basic human rights. If there were a prize for the most dis‐

honourable Canadian mega‐project currently being proposed – Site C would surely be a contender. 

These are a summary of the reasons the Wilderness Committee is speaking in favour of the motion.  

  

 

 

 

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 EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY        ROB  BOTTERELL  PRESENTATION  TO  GREATER  VANCOUVER  REGIONAL  DISTRICT  BOARD  

Presenter  

Rob  Botterell,  Lidstone  &  Company,  on  his  own  behalf  and  on  behalf  of  Peace  Valley  Landowner  Association.    

Agenda  Item  and  Report:  

2. INTERGOVERNMENT  AND  FINANCE  COMMITTEE  REPORT2.3   Burrard  Thermal  and  Site  C  Dam  ProjectThat  the  GVRD  Board  write  a  letter  to  the  Honourable  Christy  Clark,  Premier  of  British  Columbia,  requesting  a  moratorium  on  the  construction  and  development  of  the  Site  C  Dam  until  the  end  of  2017,  and  that  the  proposed  project  be  referred  to  the  British  Columbia  Utilities  Commission  for  review  and  consultation.  

Financial  Implications  

The  decision  on  the  biggest  infrastructure  project  in  BC  history  has  financial  implications  for  all  of  BC  including  Metro  Vancouver  and  its  taxpayers  and  ratepayers:  

• McCullough  Report  says  assumptions  out  of  date  and  renewable  portfolio  with  updatedassumptions  could  cut  cost  in  half.

• Adopting  a  lower  cost  option  will  reduce  the  Site  C  electricity  rate  increase  for  Metro  ratepayerswhich  is  on  top  of  the  28%  increase  already  announced.

• Adopting  a  lower  cost  option  will  increase  the  province’s    “borrowing  room”  available  to  fundimportant  Metro  infrastructure  projects  that  are  not  in  the  provincial  borrowing  forecast.

• It  is  not  prudent  to  bet  the  farm  on  one  solution.• A  two  year  delay  will  save  $200  million  and  allow  time  for  further  review.

May  26  Letter  to  Hon.  Premier  Christy  Clark  from  Peace  Valley  Landowner  Association  (PVLA)  

Urgent  request  to  Premier  Clark  to  delay  the  Summer  2015  start  of  Site  C  dam  construction  for  at  least  2  years  to:  

• save  BC  ratepayers  $200  million  dollars,• fully  respect  Site  C-­‐related  court  processes  now  underway,• allow  time  for  BC  Auditor  General  Carol  Bellringer  to  consider  a  finance  performance  audit  of

the  Site  C  final  investment  decision  process,  and• address  the  very  disturbing  findings  of  respected  energy  economist  Robert  McCullough

regarding  the  Site  C  business  case  through  an  open,  expert  and  independent  review  of  the  Site  Cbusiness  case  with  full  procedural  safeguards.

Contrary  to  BC  Hydro  statements,  a  2  year  delay  will  save  ratepayers  at  least  $200  million  

BC  Hydro’s  own  analysis  shows  that  delaying  the  Site  C  project  for  2  years  will  result  in  gross  savings  estimated  at  $317  million,  whether  or  not  Site  C  ultimately  proceeds.    This  is  because  surplus  Site  C  power  must  be  exported  at  a  loss  until  Site  C’s  full  5,100  GWh  are  needed.  After  adjusting  for  the  present  value  of  other  costs  of  delay,  the  net  savings  to  BC  ratepayers  of  a  2-­‐year  delay  will  be  approximately  $200  million.  A  longer  delay  will  very  likely  generate  higher  net  savings  to  BC  ratepayers.  

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Independent  Expert  Robert  McCullough    -­‐  Site  C  Likely  Twice  the  Cost  of  Alternative  Portfolio    Contrary  to  the  statements  of  Energy  and  Mines  Minister  Bill  Bennett,  Site  C  is  likely  twice  the  cost  of  other  energy  options1.    In  his  May  25th,  2015  report,  Mr.  McCullough  concludes:    

While  the  cost  and  choice  of  options  deserve  further  analysis,  the  simple  conclusion  is  that  Site  C  is  more  expensive  –  dramatically  so  –  than  the  renewable/natural  gas  portfolios  elsewhere  in  the  U.S.  and  Canada.    Our  analysis  indicates  that  the  Site  C  portfolio  may  well  be  twice  as  costly  as  the  renewable/natural  gas  portfolio  adopted  elsewhere.    (emphasis  added)  

   Moody’s    -­‐  BC  Debt  Burden  High  Compared  to  Aaa  peers  and  Remains  a  Credit  Negative2    If  Site  C  proceeds  instead  of  other  less  costly  alternatives,  the  province  will  have  much  less  borrowing  room  within  its  “credit  limit”  to  support  other  key  Metro  Vancouver  and  other  infrastructure  projects.    As  Minister  de  Jong  noted  in  a  November  2014  interview  with  Vancouver  Sun  columnist  Vaughn  Palmer:      

“It  (Site  C)  will  likely  crowd  out  many  other  projects”.    Conclusion    The  final  investment  decision  for  the  $8.8  billion  Site  C  Project  requires  independent  review.          The  Metro  Board  is  an  important  voice  on  issues  such  as  the  Site  C  Dam.    The  interests  of  all  taxpayers  and  ratepayers  including  those  in  Metro  Vancouver  will  be  impacted  by  Site  C.      As  well,  Metro’s  interest  in  prudent  provincial  financial  decisions  and  proper  due  diligence  on  major  project  decisions  is  engaged  by  Site  C.        For  all  of  the  reasons  set  out  above,  I  urge  you  to  approve  the  resolution  on  Site  C.      

   June  28th,  2015    

1 Importantly, BC Hydro has identified renewable/natural gas portfolios which make limited use of natural gas fired power generation to meet firm energy requirements and thereby comply with the Clean Energy Act. A 2 year delay will also allow time for further consideration of other viable firm capacity backup options, e.g., geothermal. 2 In March 2015, Moody’s reported that net provincial debt is estimated at $40.9 billion or 89.4% of revenues in 2014/2015 with planned capital spending of $18.6 billion for 2015/2016-2017/18. According to Moody’s, if the province’s net debt were to reach 95% of revenue, this would exert downward pressure on the Aaa rating.        

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Canadian  Geothermal  Energy  Association  -­‐  P.  O.  Box  1462  St.  M,  Calgary,  Alberta,  T2P  2L6  -­‐  www.cangea.ca

CanGEA  respectfully  requests  that  the  Metro  Vancouver  Board  approve  the  resolution  to  write  a  letter  to  the  Premier  requesting  a  moratorium  on  the  construction  of  Site  C  until  the  end  of  2017.  

The  Site  C  Joint  Review  Panel  (JRP):  

The  Canadian  Geothermal   Energy  Association,   CanGEA,   participated   in   the   Joint   Review  Panel   for   the  Site   C  Hydro   project   as   an   Interested   Party.   In  December   2013,  we  provided  oral   testimony   that  was  supported  by  a  presentation  given  at  the  Fort  St.  John  hearings.  

The   title  of  our  presentation  was  deliberately   chosen:   “Geothermal  Power,  BC’s  Hydro’s   Inconvenient  Truth”,  as  it  became  known  to  us  that  the  resource  option  work  on  geothermal  energy  prepared  by  BC  Hydro  for  its  Integrated  Resource  Plan  in  favour  of  the  Site  C  project,  was  presenting  insufficient,  out  of  date,  and  misleading  data.  This,  at  a  time  when  a  prior  review  of  Site  C  by  the  BCUC  had  already  directed  BC  Hydro  to  take  a  serious  approach  to  investigating  the  geothermal  alternative.  

At  the  conclusion  of  the  presentation,  the  Panel  Chair,  Harry  Swain,  directly  asked  BC  Hydro  what  level  of   investment  was  being  provided  to   investigating  the  geothermal  energy  option.  BC  Hydro’s  Planning  group  responded  that   less   than  $100,000  had  been  directed   towards   this  area.  At   the   time,  BC  Hydro  was   in   part   referring   to   a   jointly   funded,   along   with   Geoscience   BC,  mapping   and   resource   estimate  project  that  was  underway  with  CanGEA  but  unfortunately  not  ready  in  time  for  the  JRP’s  consideration.  

New  Resource  Option  Data  Not  Considered  by  the  Joint  Review  Panel:  

As  this  geothermal  information  assembled  by  CanGEA  was  seen  to  be  in  the  interests  of  the  BC  public  in  advance   of   a   final   investment   decision   by   the   Premier,   CanGEA   undertook   to   prepare,   using   publicly  available  data,  a  separate  but  similar  project  to  the  one  BC  Hydro  and  Geoscience  BC  initiated  but  did  not   publish.   The   British   Columbia  Geothermal   Resource   Estimate  Maps  were   publicly   released   in   late  September  2014.  They  showed  a  plentiful  hot  sedimentary  aquifer  style  geothermal  resource   in  North  East  BC  that  was  neither  expensive  to  develop  nor  risky  to  find.    

In  fact,  the  natural  gas  companies  have  already  largely  delineated  the  resource  and  are  in  fact,  in  some  cases,  already  producing  the  geothermal  energy.  What  are  lacking  are  the  surface  power  generators  to  transform   the   hot   produced   fluid   (natural   gas   and  water)   into   an   electrical   energy   form,   geothermal  power.  Instead,  this  hot  water  geothermal  resource  is  considered  a  waste  and  is  disposed  of.  

The  following  information  was  not  available  to  the  Joint  Review  Panel:  

1. In  September  2013,  the  Ministry  of  Energy’s  Senior  Geologist,  Geothermal  Energy,  published  a  studyin   the  peer-­‐reviewed   journal,   Bulletin   of   Canadian   Petroleum  Geology,   on   the  Clarke   Lake  Gas   Field’s  ability  to  “generate  between  12  and  74  MW  of  electricity”  from  geothermal  power  projects.  It  should  be  noted  that  Clarke  Lake  is  only  one  example  of  the  hot  sedimentary  aquifers  in  the  province.  

2. Aforementioned  British  Columbia  Geothermal  Resource  Estimate  Maps,  September  2014.

3. In  November  2014,  Geoscience  BC  issued  an  RFP  to  study  the  geothermal  power  prospects  in  BC.

4. In   November   of   2014,   CanGEA   published   a   report,   “Geothermal   Energy:   The   Renewable   and   CostEffective  Alternative  Site  C”.  This  report  laid  out  the  10  advantages  that  geothermal  energy  has  over  Site  C,   including   having   a   lower   capital   investment   requirement;   ensuring   lower   province   wide,   future  

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Canadian  Geothermal  Energy  Association  -­‐  P.  O.  Box  1462  St.  M,  Calgary,  Alberta,  T2P  2L6  -­‐  www.cangea.ca

transmission  costs  by  building  geothermal  projects  in  areas  that  are  in  need  of  transmission  upgrades  or  additional   capacity,   (this   substantial   benefit   was   not   considered   in   the   BC   Hydro   Site   C   assessment);  more   permanent   jobs   that   would   be   distributed   around   the   province,   especially   as   a   result   of  incorporating   direct   use   of   geothermal   heat   projects   alongside   power   projects;   significantly   better  environmental  attributes;  and  the  ability  to  build  projects  when  the  demand  arose  in  the  system,  versus  having  one  large  hydro  project  come  on-­‐line.  

5.   In  February  2015,  CanGEA  held  a  Technical  Briefing  and  publicly  shared  the  economics  of  producing  power  from  BC’s  low  risk  hot  sedimentary  aquifers.  The  lowest  hanging  fruit  opportunities  are  projected  to  cost  $56/MWh.  

6.  In  June  2015,  Geoscience  BC  issued  an  RFP  to  study  the  direct  use  of  geothermal  energy.    

7.   In   June   2015,   CanGEA  held   a  workshop   and   shared   the   results   of   a   capital  modelling   exercise   that  produced   further   economic   information   for   5   different  MW   sizes   of   plants,   in   2   different   geological  settings  (which  BC  has),  for  3  different  locations  within  the  province.  Projected  power  prices  for  2  of  the  permitted  and  finance  ready  geothermal  projects  in  the  province  are  in  the  mid  $70/MWh  price  range.  

CanGEA  is  concerned  that  BC  Hydro  and  the  BC  Government  have  not  availed  themselves  of  a  fulsome  debrief   of   newly   completed   studies   and   studies   currently   being   prepared   about   the   province’s  geothermal   energy   resource.   It   is   CanGEA’s   wish   to   have   this   information   openly   reviewed   in   an  independent  and  expert  review  of  Site  C  options  by  the  BCUC.  

A  Portfolio  of  Electricity  Sources  to  Compare  with  Site  C:  

While   CanGEA   believes   there   is   more   than   enough   geothermal   energy   in   the   province   to  match   the  capacity  and  energy  output  of  Site  C,  we  are  not  advocating  that  geothermal  energy  be  held  up  against  Site  C  as  a  stand-­‐alone  option.  We  request  instead,  that  geothermal  power  be  optimized  in  a  portfolio  of  renewable  energy  options,  alongside  expansions  to  existing  large  hydro  projects  and  possibly  natural  gas  power.   In   this   scenario,   only   a   limited   amount   of   base-­‐load   geothermal   energy   would   need   to   be  developed  in  the  province  to  present  an  alternative  option  to  Site  C.  

More  Permanent  Jobs  than  Site  C:  

According  to  the  US  Department  of  Energy,  when  compared  to  large  hydro  projects  in  OECD  countries,  geothermal  power  projects  generate  30%  more  manufacturing,  construction,  and  installation  jobs,  and  provide   a   25%   increase   in   operations   and   maintenance   jobs.   As   a   result,   geothermal   energy   can   be  considered  a  sound  choice  with  respect  to  job  creation  relative  to  the  province's  other  primary  means  of  electricity  generation.    

Conclusion:  

Inclusion   of   information   on   the   low   environmental   impact   geothermal   energy   resource   option,   as   a  BCUC  studied  alternative  to  Site  C,  is  a  straightforward  and  achievable  goal  considering  the  recent  work  now  available  on  projected  economics  of  geothermal  power,  and  the  already  de-­‐risked  hot  sedimentary  geothermal   aquifer   resource   that   has   not   just   been   identified,   but   is   being   produced   today   by   the  natural  gas  industry.  

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THE HOLM TEAM Agriculture Economics Journalism Trade Int’l Cooperation ________________________________________________________________________

292 Smuggler Cove Road, Bowen Island, B.C., Canada V0N 1G1 (604) 947-2893 (604) 417-2434 www.wendyholm.com [email protected]

Submission To The Metro Vancouver Board June 3, 2015

IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION REGARDING SITE C DAM PROJECT:

Together with colleague Eveline Wolterson (a soils Agrologist), I had the opportunity to provide expert testimony before the Joint Federal Provincial Panel on the implications of the proposed Site C dam for agriculture.

The Peace River Valley, with its highly productive alluvial soils and unique, class one climate for agriculture can produce the same range of crops as the Fraser Valley with, in many cases, higher yields due to long daylight in summer months.

This valley bottomland is extremely important to agriculture. The only area for large-scale horticulture expansion in the province, the soils to be flooded by the proposed Site C dam are capable of producing enough fresh vegetables to meet the nutritional requirements of more than 1 million people every year. In perpetuity.

BC imports over 55 % of the vegetables we consume that could be grown here. California, a major supplier of fresh vegetables to BC, is locked in unprecedented drought and is projected to “run out of water” within the year.

A recent study by Stats Canada showed fully ten percent of Canadian families with children are food insecure. This rises to one in four in single parent families. BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada. In the northern part of our province, families already pay 3 to 4 times the price for a food basket compared with families in the Lower Mainland. Only fruits and vegetables are fruits and vegetables – the building blocks of human nutrition.

The fertile vegetable soils of the Peace River Valley are closer to Vancouver than California; substantially so for northern communities.

For so many reasons, the policy implications of this proposed project cry out for more rigorous review. The BC Utilities commission is the proper channel to begin that process.

I urge you to support this motion.

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Executive Summary of Delegation by D Lynn Chapman July 3 2015.

I am not sure if the Board has reservations hearing from private citizens who are not Metro Vancouver residents. I would ask to be considered on the following grounds: I grew up in Vancouver near UBC so this is my “home town"; I have much of my immediate family (including a brand new grandson) living on the North Shore, Vancouver and Langley who will be impacted by this decision; I am a volunteer with PVEA, Peace Valley Environment Association, and am speaking with their blessing though not on their behalf. Additionally, I was involved with the Site C JRP process being one of very few private citizens from the South to speak to the Panel and was also a participant with Hydro’s last IRP process. !My comments follow: !‘Dereliction of Duty’: Chair of Site C Panel on B.C.’s Failure to Investigate Alternatives to Mega Dam !Of all people, Harry Swain, as Chair of the Joint Review Panel for Site C Dam had the best opportunity of anyone in the Province to fully consider the complexity and impacts of the proposed dam. It is unprecedented for a JRP Chair to speak out. One should take his comments seriously. [source] http://www.desmog.ca/2015/03/11/dereliction-duty-chair-site-c-panel-b-c-s-failure-investigate-alternatives-mega-dam !The Joint Review Panel said it clearly: "Justification must rest on an unambiguous need for the power, and analyses showing its financial costs being sufficiently attractive as to make tolerable the bearing of substantial environmental, social, and other costs.” [source]: JRP Report p 308 http://www.ceaa-cee.gc.ca/050/documents/p63919/99173E.pdf

The case for building Site C Dam has not been made. This $8.9 Billion (minimum) project is much too costly for the citizens of British Columbia. It will create a massive public debt (a ratepayer funded "mortgage" on our future) for at least 70 years and lose an estimated $800 Million in its first several years of operation. It is also not clear when, if ever, it will break even. !Excerpt from the JRP Summary Statement "There are other economic considerations. The scale of the Project means that, if built on BC Hydro’s timetable, substantial financial losses would accrue for several years, accentuating the intergenerational pay-now, benefit-later effect. Energy conservation and end-user efficiencies have not been pressed as hard as possible in BC Hydro’s analyses. There are alternative sources of power available at similar or somewhat higher costs, notably geothermal power. These sources, being individually smaller than Site C, would allow supply to better follow demand, obviating most of the early-year losses of Site C. Beyond that, the policy constraints that the B.C. government has imposed on BC Hydro have made some other alternatives unavailable.” [source] from the JRP Summary Statement first page

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Executive Summary of Delegation by D Lynn Chapman July 3 2015.

Energy Policy and Alternatives: We need a better energy future for BC. New and emerging technologies mean there are better alternatives that are cheaper and that have a smaller footprint. The pace of change in energy provision in the next 25 years will be exponential. [source] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-23/the-way-humans-get-electricity-is-about-to-change-forever Wise governments at all levels must recognize this reality and plan accordingly in the best interests of all citizens. !I believe it is time to re-envision BC Hydro, (perhaps as the BC Energy Corporation?) still as a crown corporation focussed on the public good. Hydro’s vision and empowering legislation no longer fits the times and economic environment of the society, and that it has failed to provide the best possible planning options for the public good. Today’s energy policy should include new, 3rd generation technology development as a core component but it does not. That in my view is a major reason we have the Site C Dam Proposal. Building Site C Dam is not an inspired or visionary solution to the energy problems we face in this province and we can do much better IF we are given that opportunity. !Lost Opportunity Costs: The lost opportunities costs of the Site C Dam derive in part from Hydro’s failure to identify, develop, support or incorporate in it’s planning, the potential for technological innovation. This is short term thinking.

Lost Opportunity? Developing carbon neutral technologies that could create the sustainable “green” economy and “green” jobs BC so desperately needs and without which we cannot prosper. This would be a far better use of our money.

Lost Opportunity?: The ability to more fully and accurately understand and account for what will be lost if the rich biodiversity of the Peace River Vally and its ecosystem services and functions are destroyed by Site C Dam.

The impacts of these lost opportunities are not confined to the people of the Peace River Valley. I and all other British Columbians will bear the costs whether we know it or not. Loss of prime agricultural land and it’s food security capability hurts us all now and into our increasingly uncertain future. Loss of the rich biodiversity of the Peace River Valley hurts life not just people. The incredible debt to build this unnecessary dam hurts us all for generations to come. Indeed the loss of the Peace River Valley to Site C Dam will hurt us all far, far beyond any possible benefits we might derive in the short term.

What BC citizens need is a thorough, transparent, public and independent review and assessment of the costs and benefits of Site C Dam and other alternative energy portfolios. While Government may insist BCUC will not be allowed to do such a review this does not abrogate its responsibility to conduct this or a similar review process.

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SummaryofPresentationtoGreaterVancouverRegionalDistrictBoard(nottoexceed2pages)

July3,2015Speaker:GwenJohansson,Mayor,DistrictofHudson’sHopeAgendaitemtobeaddressed:2.IntergovernmentandFinanceCommitteeReport 2.3BurrardThermalandSiteCDamProject:ThattheGVRDBoardwritealettertotheHonourableChristyClark,PremierofBritishColumbia,requestingamoratoriumontheconstructionanddevelopmentoftheSiteCDamuntiltheendof2017,andthattheproposedprojectbereferredtotheBritishColumbiaUtilitiesCommissionforreviewandconsultation.Summaryof5minutePresentation:IwillspeakonbehalfoftheDistrictofHudson’sHope,locatedinnortheasternBC.Iwillspeakinfavorofresolution2.3SiteCDamProjectOverview:

At$8.8Billion,(upfrom$7.9billionestimatedduringtheSiteCJointReview),SiteCisthelargestpublicinfrastructureprojectinBChistory.

May,2014–TheEnvironmentalAssessmentFederal/ProvincialJointReviewPanelReportcalledforSiteCtobereferredtotheBCUtilitiesCommissionforfurtherreviewoftheneedfor,costof,andalternativestoSiteC.

October,2014–ProvinceissuedtheSiteCEnvironmentalAssessmentCertificatewithoutreferringtheprojecttotheBCUCashadbeenrecommendedbytheJointReviewPanel.

Fall,2014–7FirstNationandnon‐FirstNationcourtchallengeswerefiled December,2014–PremierClarkannouncedapprovalofSiteC. July,2015–Constructionexpectedtocommence.

Weneedopen,independent,andexpertreviewbytheBCUCwithfullproceduralsafeguards.

BCUtilitiesCommission(BCUC)wascreatedin1980bythegovernmentofPremierBillBennettfortheexpresspurposeofreviewinglargeprojectssuchasHydrodams.However,in2010,SiteCand10otherutility‐relatedprojectswerespecificallyremovedfromBCUCoversight.

Safeguardsandchecksandbalanceshavebeenremoved: SiteCexemptedfromscrutinyofBCUC SiteCexemptedfromreviewbyAgriculturalLandCommission BCHydroIntegratedResourcePlan(whichincludedSiteC),

exemptedfromBCUCscrutiny.TheonlyagencytoscrutinizeSiteCotherthantheproponent,(BCHydro),oritsshareholder,(theprovince)hasbeentheEnvironmentalAssessmentJointReview

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Panelandtheysaidtheyhadneithertheinformation,timenorresourcestocommentontheaccuracyofthecostestimatesofSiteC.Theymade4recommendationsthatSiteCshouldbereferredtotheBCUCforfurtherexamination.BCUCReview:In2014aPanelwassetuptoreviewtheBCUC.Submissionsfromcustomergroupsandinterestedpartiesweresought.NonesuggestedthatBCHydroshouldbeunregulated.Infact,theAssoc.ofMajorPowerCustomerssaidthatalmostallthecurrentdifficultiesofBCHydro,itsshareholderanditscustomersarisefromthefactthatBCHydroisnotregulatedinamannercomparabletoanIOU[Investorownedutility]“…..allstemfromthefactthatBCHydrohaseffectivelyoperatedasanunregulatedmonopolythrough‘bypass’formanyyears.”http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/EEC/Strategy/EEA/Documents/BCUC%20review%20AMPCR7.pdfP.8‐9

SupportforSiteCReview:Severalagencies,associationsandindividualshavecalledforfurtherindependentreviewofSiteC,including:

FederalProvincialJointReviewPanelwhichcarriedouttheEnvironmentalAssessmentofSiteC.

Provinciallocalgovernmentassociations:NorthCentralLocalGovernmentAssociation(NCLGA)andtheAssociationofVancouverIsland&CoastalCommunities(AVICC)unanimouslyendorsedresolutionstosupportreferraltotheBCUC.

approximately30individuallocalgovernmentsincludingthePRRD.SiteCisn’tjustanissuefor“upthere”(inthefarnorth).FivereasonsthattheLowerMainlandlocalgovernmentsshouldhaveconcernsaboutSiteC:

Electricityrateswillhavetoincreasetopayforit.Lowercostoptionsareavailable.

Borrowingof$8.8billionwillaffectcapacitytobuildothermajorprojects. BCHydro’salreadysizeabledebtwillincrease. Destructionofkeyfoodproducinglandwilloccuratatimewhenfood

securityconcernsarerising. Properproceduralapprovalprocesshavebeencircumvented.

InSummary:IbelieveitisinthebestinterestofallBritishColumbians,includingthoseintheGVRD,tosendSiteCtothebodythatwascreatedtoexaminesuchprojects.Iaskyoutopassthemotion2.3.

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GVRD Board Delegation C 9

Metro Vancouver Board Meeting Speaking Summary: Burrard Thermal and Site C Project 

Date of submission: July 3, 2015  

By Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC). Cell: 250‐490‐5314 Office: 604‐684‐0231 Email: [email protected] The following is a short summary of my 5 minute submission that I propose to present at the 

Metro Vancouver Board meeting on July 3, 2015 

I will speak in support of the INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT – 2.3 

Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project ‐‐ motion “That Metro Vancouver write a letter to the 

Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, requesting a moratorium on the 

construction and development of Site C Dam until the end of 2017, and that the proposed 

project be referred to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for review and consultation.” 

I am the elected President of the UBCIC an organization of Indigenous Nations in British Columbia, founded in 1969 and dedicated to promoting and supporting the efforts of Indigenous Peoples to affirm and defend Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty Rights.  The UBCIC has achieved recognition as a non‐governmental organization with special consultative status of the Social and Economic Council of the United Nations. The UBCIC represents over 108 Indigenous Nations, more than half of the Indigenous Nations in British Columbia and it is the goal of UBCIC to work with Indigenous Nations to exercise their inherent rights, to assert and implement their Title, Rights and Treaty Rights and to hold the Crown to its obligation to honour and respect those rights.  The UBCIC is guided by the principle that Indigenous Peoples possess an inherent right and responsibility to care for and protect our lands and resources, to govern ourselves, and to enter into relationships with other Nations, guided by our laws and legal traditions.  The proposed Site C dam, associated structures and required rights‐of ways run directly through the heart of the Treaty 8 First Nations territories.  This project will have a devastating impact on the Treaty and Aboriginal Rights of Treaty 8 First Nations.  The project will eliminate the Treaty 8 First Nation communities’ ability to continue their way of life and exercise their Treaty‐protected constitutional rights to hunt, fish, trap, harvest and carry out their practises on their land. As such Treaty 8 has launched court proceedings to defend their rights.  UBCIC is extremely concerned that BC Hydro plans to start construction activities on Site C Dam, despite the fact that the court proceedings are still in motion and a decision on Site C proceeding has yet to be determined.  UBCIC fully supports Treaty 8 First Nations application for judicial review stating Site C infringes on the treaty rights of the Treaty 8 First Nations and without Treaty 8 First Nations free, prior and informed consent.    Treaty 8 First Nations have occupied the Peace River Valley and its tributaries, the Athabasca and Mackenzie watershed region since time immemorial and continue to occupy this land.  Their heritage, sacred, spiritual and burial sites are found throughout this area. This project will have 

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many interconnected, immediate, long‐standing and cumulative impacts on these communities and families.  The desecration and destruction of grave sites, destruction of habitats, disruption of fisheries migrations, elimination of significant ecosystems, obliteration of land and resources which surrounding communities rely upon, the proposed reservoirs will create a cumulative barrier to fish and wildlife, the project will release 147,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and will eradicate the land in which the Treaty 8 First Nations hold annual cultural camps to maintain their relationship with their heritage, territories and lands.  The resources that the Treaty 8 First Nations draw from the land and waters in the area where the Dam and other structures will be situated (and associated roads and power transmission lines) will be sited cannot be understated. The area supports the traditional land‐based economy of the people and for the peoples and communities affected, we hope that this assessment of this project will not be one‐sided and imbalanced as often is the case in such reviews.    In considering the economic impacts of this project, the UBCIC agrees the British Columbia Utilities Commission should review and consult on the development of Site C.  The UBCIC would urge BCUC to not overlook the impact of this project on the land‐based traditional economies of Indigenous peoples which includes but is not limited to:  

Traditional food sources gathered from the area where the Dam project and other structures is proposed to be built;  

Medicines;  

Trapping is an important part of the economy; 

Game hunted may also be a source of other materials used for buckskin, drums, and other material items;  

Plant materials can be used for baskets, utensils, clothing, etc  The proposal for the Site C dam is in clear violation of the human rights of the Treaty 8 First Nations. Canada formally endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in November 2010.  The Declaration sets out international standards for relationships between Nations states and Indigenous Peoples   Treaty 8 First Nations have applied for judicial review of Ottawa’s decision to support the project, stating the proposed Site C project infringes on the treaty rights of the Treaty 8 First Nations. The Federal Appeal begins the week of July 20, 2015.  The BC government and BC Hydro have ignored the requests of Treaty 8 First Nations to put construction on hold until the outcomes of the court proceedings are known.  All citizens of BC should be deeply concerned; by denying the Treaty 8 First Nations their day in court, the government is making an outright statement that they are above democratic rights and the judicial system. If construction begins, it will be understood as a clear message that this government has absolutely no respect for the Treaty 8 First Nation people, and is blatantly disregarding constitutionally recognized Aboriginal Title, Rights, and Treaty Rights. Lastly, irresponsibly rushing ahead of the courts and denying the BCUC to review the project is an irresponsible and negligent use of tax dollars. 

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Summary to Metro Vancouver Board Meeting of Friday, July 3, 2015

From: Dr. Elaine Golds, Education-Conservation Chair (designated speaker)

Burke Mountain Naturalists

PO Box 52540, Coquitlam Centre\

Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7J4

Re: Item # 2.3: Resolution on Burrard Thermal and Site C

The Burke Mountain Naturalists are a group of approximately 250 members who reside mainly in the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody areas of Metro Vancouver. For over 25 years, we have encouraged the Metro Vancouver Board to adopt sustainable practices and protect our natural environment. Some of the issues with which we have been involved over the years include the cessation of logging in Metro Vancouver’s drinking watersheds and the protection of Colony Farm Regional Park.

We have also regularly commented on BC Hydro’s Integrated Resource Electricity Plans. With regard to this, we have advocated for many years that the Burrard Thermal Generating Plant in Port Moody should not be shut down but, instead, should remain as an operating electricity generation plant in the lower mainland to meet periods of peak electricity demand during the winter and be available to provide emergency backup in the event of situations such as forest fires which could interfere with transmission from more remote areas of the province. In this regard, we thank the Metro Vancouver Board for their resolution recently passed to ask the provincial government to reconsider their decision to close Burrard Thermal.

In our view, a final decision about Burrard Thermal and the one to proceed with Site C should both be subject to review by the fully independent BC Utilities Commission.

With regard to Site C, we are quite dismayed by the provincial government’s decision to proceed with its construction despite the opposition of many First Nations and other citizens. There are many reasons to be concerned about this project including its exorbitant costs and the loss of vital agricultural lands.

Although its estimated cost is $8.8 billion, we feel the true cost is likely to exceed $10 billion. This is a phenomenally expensive project which will cause electricity rates to soar and could hamper the ability of the provincial government to undertake other major infrastructure projects. If one of the main purposes of Site C is to serve the LNG industry, this amounts to an unacceptable subsidy to a major fossil fuel industry. We are also very concerned about the loss of agricultural land. With southern BC now experiencing a major drought –which could be due to changes in weather patterns provoked by climate change - it becomes all the more imperative to protect significant agricultural land elsewhere in BC.

We strongly support the initiative to request a full review by BCUC.

GVRD Board Delegation C 10

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To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Climate Action Committee  Date:  June 17, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  University of British Columbia ‐ “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate 

Change Community Planning” Project 

 CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That  the  GVRD  Board  approve  continued  funding  for  the  project  titled,  “Innovative  Tools  for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” in the amount of: a)  $30,000  in  2015,  contingent  upon  receiving  confirmation  that  additional  partners  have 

contributed  funding  as  described  in  the  report  titled  “University  of  British  Columbia  ‐ Innovative Tools  for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning”, dated May 27, 2015; and  

b)  an additional $30,000  in 2016, contingent upon the confirmation of partner funding noted  in (a) above and  the submission of a progress  report  to  the Climate Action Committee by  June 2016  along  with  a  review  of  project  progress  by Metro  Vancouver  staff  with  input  from relevant municipal staff. 

 

 At  its June 17, 2015 meeting, the Climate Action Committee considered the attached report titled “University  of  British  Columbia  ‐  Innovative  Tools  for  Enhanced  Energy  and  Climate  Change Community Planning Project”, dated May  27,  2015.    The Committee  subsequently  amended  the recommendation as presented above.   Attachment: “University  of  British  Columbia  ‐  Innovative  Tools  for  Enhanced  Energy  and  Climate  Change Community Planning Project”, dated May 27, 2015   11533435 

 

Section E  1.1

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To:  Climate Action Committee  From:  Jason Emmert, Air Quality Planner 

Planning, Policy and Environment Department  Date:  May 27, 2015  Meeting Date: June 17, 2015  Subject:  University of British Columbia ‐ “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate 

Change Community Planning” Project 

 RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board: a) approve  continued  funding  for  the project  titled,  “Innovative Tools  for Enhanced Energy and 

Climate Change Community Planning” in the amount of $30,000 in 2015; and  b) conditionally  approve  an  additional  $30,000  in  2016,  contingent  upon  the  submission  of  a 

progress report to the Climate Action Committee by June 2016 along with a review of project progress by Metro Vancouver staff with input from relevant municipal staff. 

 

 PURPOSE   The report provides the Climate Action Committee and the GVRD Board the results of the first three years  of  the  “Innovative  Tools  for  Enhanced  Energy  and  Climate  Change  Planning”  led  by  the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP) at UBC. The report also describes the future directions of  the project, and  seeks GVRD Board authorization  to  continue grant  funding  for  the project for a final two years.  BACKGROUND At  the March 13, 2015 Climate Action Committee meeting, Dr. Stephen Sheppard presented  the results from the first three years and the potential future directions for the final two years of the project  titled,  Innovative Tools  for Community Energy Planning  (Attachment 1). Metro Vancouver has provided funding to the project in accordance with the following GVRD Board recommendation adopted on April 13, 2012:   

That the GVRD Board:  a.   Approve  funding  for  the  project  titled,  “Innovative  Tools  for  Enhanced  Energy  and 

Climate Change Community Planning”  in the amount of $30,000  in 2012, with similar grants to be brought forward for consideration in the 2013 and 2014 budgets. Funding in  each  of  2013  and  2014  will  be  contingent  upon  the  submission  of  an  annual progress  report  to  the  Environment  and  Parks  Committee  and  an  annual  review  of project progress by Metro Vancouver staff.  

b.   Direct  staff  to  report back on an additional  two years of  funding  in 2015 and 2016, based on a staff evaluation of the deliverables in the first three years. 

 

Policy context Metro  Vancouver’s  Integrated  Air  Quality  and  Greenhouse  Gas  Management  Plan  (IAQGGMP) supports practical research that provides knowledge and strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

Attachment

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University of British Columbia ‐ “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” Project 

Climate Action Committee Meeting Date: June 17, 2015 Page 2 of 4 

The  IAQGGMP  contains  strategies  to  “assess  the  region’s  low  carbon  energy  (e.g.,  biomass, geothermal,  etc.), waste  heat  recovery,  and  district  energy  opportunities  and  risks,  and where appropriate work with municipalities  to  coordinate  public  and  private  investment  in  supporting infrastructure,  raise  public  awareness  and  uptake  of  low  carbon  building  and  transportation options” and to work with academic  institutions and other partners to “…enhance air quality and climate change research, formal education, and public outreach within the region”.   The Innovative Tools project has resulted in a productive collaboration between local governments and an academic institution. As part of the project, several member municipalities have contributed case studies towards the development of the resources and tools. Other municipalities are currently using or have used  the  tools,  resources, and approaches developed  through  this project  for  their own community energy planning initiatives.  Results to Date 2012‐2014 As part of this project, the CALP team has produced the following deliverables to date:  

a) Illustrated Guide to Community Energy: A simple attractive educational guide to community energy solutions and issues, for use by lay‐people and community engagement practitioners 

b) Community Energy Explorer  (beta version): Web‐interface using  the  latest multimedia and presentation software, providing easy access to community energy content and interactive graphics, including unique web‐mapping of regional renewable energy supplies and energy demand across Metro Vancouver. www.energyexplorer.ca 

c) Annual Knowledge Exchange Symposia: Two well‐attended all‐day symposia/workshops for practitioners  and  NGOs,  to  foster  awareness  and  feedback  on  the  Community  Energy Explorer (CEE), and enable a broader exchange of experience with community energy issues among municipalities. 

d) Collaborative  learning projects:   Joint projects with staff and stakeholders from Richmond, Surrey,  and West  Vancouver  on  real‐world  community  energy  projects,  leading  to  case studies show‐cased in the CEE web platform 

e) Outreach  and  engagement:  numerous  presentations,  demonstrations,  webinars,  etc.  on visual  tools  for  community  energy  and  climate  change  planning,  involving  practitioners, elected officials and stakeholders across Metro Vancouver.  

 Next Phase of the Project The  next  phase  of  the  project will  build  on  the  successes  to  date. Municipal  sustainability  and energy managers  have  indicated  that  they  see  value  in  the  tools  that  show  how  local  projects contribute to regional goals. The next phase of the project will focus on the continued development of  the  Community  Energy  Explorer  as  a  platform  to  demonstrate  how  local  climate  and  energy planning and actions contribute to reaching regional and Provincial climate goals.   The deliverables for the next phase of the project will  include the development of additional  local community energy case studies, using those  local examples to generate regional energy and GHG reduction  scenarios,  and  application  of  the  Community  Energy  Explorer  in  on‐the‐ground engagement with the public and specific stakeholders in energy and emissions planning and project implementation.    

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University of British Columbia ‐ “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” Project 

Climate Action Committee Meeting Date: June 17, 2015 Page 3 of 4 

The table provided as Attachment 2 presents a preliminary  list of deliverables  for the project. Dr. Sheppard and his team are also awaiting confirmation of funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the Real Estate Foundation. As such, the final list of deliverables will be contingent on the total level of funding obtained. Metro Vancouver staff with input from municipal staff will work with Dr. Sheppard and his team to develop a detailed work plan for the final two years of the project once funding is confirmed.   Project budget The first three years of this project carried a budget of $283,000, provided by a variety of funding partners  including  Neptis  Foundation  ($70,000),  GEOIDE  NCE  ($16,000),  Vancouver  Foundation ($30,000), Real  Estate  Foundation  ($70,000),  and Metro Vancouver  ($90,000),  as well  as  several municipalities  in Metro  Vancouver.  There were  also  in‐kind  contributions  from  several member municipalities and CALP estimated at $96,000.  

Innovative Tools for Community Energy Planning Budget 

2012 ‐ 2014  2015 ‐ 2016 

Cash  In‐kind  Cash 

GEOIDE NCE (2012)  $16,000      

Neptis Foundation (2012‐2013)  $70,000      

Richmond (2013‐2013)    $20,000    

Surrey (2012‐2013)    $20,000    

CALP, UBC  (2012‐2013)    $16,000    

CIRS Decision Theatre, UBC (2012‐2013)    $30,000    

Metro Vancouver  $90,000     $60,000 

West Vancouver  $7,000      

QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow) 

  $10,000    

Vancouver Foundation (2011)  $30,000     *(TBC)  $80,000

Real Estate Foundation  $70,000     *(TBC)  $80,000 

Sub‐Totals $283,000  $96,000   $220,000 

Total Budget $599,000Note: *(TBC) – To be confirmed 

 ALTERNATIVES 1.  That the GVRD Board: 

a) approve continued funding for the project titled, “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” in the amount of $30,000 in 2015; and  

b)  conditionally approve an additional $30,000  in 2016, contingent upon the submission of a progress  report  to  the  Climate  Action  Committee  by  June  2016  along with  a  review  of project progress by Metro Vancouver staff with input from relevant municipal staff. 

2.  That the GVRD Board receive this report for  information and direct staff towards an alternate course of action.  

  

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University of British Columbia ‐ “Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning” Project 

Climate Action Committee Meeting Date: June 17, 2015 Page 4 of 4 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There  is  $30,000  allocated  in  the  2015 Climate Change program  budget  to  support  this  project. Based on Committee and Board direction, an additional $30,000 could be proposed  for  the 2016 climate change program budget.   SUMMARY / CONCLUSION Metro Vancouver has goals of reducing GHG emissions  in our region by 33% below 2007  levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The  tools and  resources developed  in  the  first  three years of  the project have  proven  valuable  for  local  governments  in  the  region.  Staff  recommends  Alternative  1, continued funding to support the further development of the Community Energy Explorer as Phase II of the project. The  integration of community energy planning with  land‐use,  infrastructure, and general sustainability plans  is  foundational  to meeting  those  targets. The  further development of the  Community  Energy  Explorer  will  provide  tools,  data,  and  other  resources  to  assist  local government staff engage key stakeholders on conversations on community energy solutions.   Attachments (Doc. #11499768): 1.  CALP Report to the Climate Action Committee on the “Innovative Tools for Community Energy 

Planning” project – March 2015. 2.  Preliminary List of Deliverables for the Innovative Tools Project – Table.  11443040 

   

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REPORT TO METRO VANCOUVER CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE

COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

26 MARCH 2015

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GStanese
Text Box
Attachment 1
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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING PG 3

PURPOSE

To provide an update on the project titled ‘Innovative Tools for Enhanced Energy and Climate Change Community Planning’ by Dr. Stephen Sheppard from the Collaborative Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP) at UBC to the Climate Action Committee.

This project supports local government planning staff and practitioners by mainstreaming visual media tools & know-how to conduct ‘climate change/community energy visioning’, in order to help Metro Vancouver communities meet carbon reduction targets & prepare for climate change. The aim is to enhance best practice in community planning processes and help bring the public on board, through:

Strengthening/expanding practitioner skills, resources, experience, and confidence in innovative tools and techniques for community engagement

Building energy literacy and interest/involvement of the public on critical energy and climate change issues at the community/neighbourhood scale

Developing a support-base among municipal council-members, key stakeholders, and decision-makers for best practice methods and policy change.

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

This report will describe the following project deliverables and outcomes to date (2012-2015): –

These deliverables (described next) have been made possible by leveraging Metro Vancouver’s support and networking closely with other funders, partners and associates – Real Estate Foundation (REFBC), Neptis Foundation, Community Energy Association (CEA), Climate Action Secretariat (CAS), Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), UBC, and various municipalities.

Illustrated Guide to Community Energy: A simple attractive educational guide to community energy solutions and issues, for use by the lay-people and community engagement practitioners

Community Energy Explorer (beta version): Web-interface using latest multimedia and presentation software, providing easy access to community energy content and interactive graphics, including unique web-mapping of regional renewable energy supplies across Metro Vancouver and energy demand

Annual Knowledge Exchange Symposia: Two well-attended all-day symposia/workshops for practitioners and NGOs, to foster awareness and feedback on the Community Energy Explorer (CEE), and enable a broader exchange of experience with community energy issues among municipalities.

Collaborative learning projects: Joint projects with staff and stakeholders from Richmond, Surrey, and West Vancouver on real-world community energy projects, leading to case studies show-cased in the CEE web platform

Outreach and engagement: numerous presentations, demonstrations, webinars etc. on visual tools for community energy and climate change planning, involving practitioners, elected officials and stakeholders across Metro Vancouver.

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PG 4

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Illustrated Guide to Community Energy

COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The Illustrated Guide to Community Energy provides an attractive visual information package (as a hard-copy report or pdf file) which helps planners and other municipal staff improve communication to and engagement with the public and policy makers on community energy solutions, risks, and trade-offs. This Guide is a resource that can be used to build energy literacy and dispel misconceptions about unfamiliar ways of conserving and generating energy at the neighbourhood and community scale. The idea is that better informed public and policy-makers can support policy change for community energy solutions across Metro Vancouver.

The Guide includes: an introduction to community energy technologies and issues, the first comprehensive maps of regional-scale renewable energy resources ever compiled, and neighbourhood-level visualisation and information graphics. In order to ensure that the Guide is user-friendly for local government staff and the content is understandable by the public, the draft guide was reviewed by a number of committees and stakeholder groups. The Guide has been available free to the public for over a year, from the CEE and CALP websites.

PDF: http://web.forestry.ubc.ca/calp/CALP_CommunityEnergyGuide_highRes.pdf

The cover of the Illustrated Guide to Community Energy

PG 5

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The Community Energy Explorer is an online, expanded version of the Illustrated Guide (previously known as the Interactive Web-Interface for Sustainable Energy (iWISE). The idea to create a dynamic online resource came from participants in our stakeholder engagement workshops on the hard-copy Guide; they strongly recommended developing an interactive version, giving policy makers, municipal staff and members of the interested public access to digital visualization, communication and data tools and resources that can assist in community planning. A primary purpose is to provide better tools for municipal staff to engage and inform residents in vital discussions on local energy projects. These tools help municipalities engage the public in understanding the implications of low carbon energy projects (e.g., district energy, solar thermal, biomass, etc.) for their own neighbourhoods and communities.

The Community Energy Explorer (http://www.energyexplorer.ca/) builds on the earlier project content to deliver a highly visual, engaging, & interactive web-interface (see sample images below). In its current beta-version, it provides easy-to-understand information explaining key concepts and messages on community and renewable energy, with the ability to zoom into, explore, and query mapping on potential renewable energy supply as well as home energy demand, across the Metro Vancouver region. CEE is a one of-a-kind resource on community energy for non-experts: it provides clear & compelling graphics, maps, animation, video clips, and other visualizations that will help broaden and deepen community engagement and social learning on critical issues related to community energy and planning. To date, the CEE beta version has the following resources available:

Interactive maps of regional renewable energy resources

identifying opportunities for public and private investment in low carbon energy opportunities (e.g. solar thermal, waste heat recovery, biomass, etc.), comprehensive information that has never before been provided across the region

1)

Community Energy Explorer

PG 6

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Interactive map of estimated household energy demand

zoomable data on modelled energy use for single family residential neighbourhoods

Screen capture of regional renewable energy resource map: Biomass potential (previous) and Wind potential (above)

Screen capture of interactive map of Estitamted household energy demand. http://www.energyexplorer.ca/home-energy

http://energyexplorer.ca (click on the ‘explore renewable energy maps’ icon on the homepage & select category).

2)

PG 7

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Neighbourhood-level visualizations and information graphics

realistic visualizations of low carbon, resilient neighbourhoods and local-level energy projects, that residents and other stakeholders can quickly understand and relate to;

simple animations, videos and dynamic diagrams that explain the pros and cons of various energy solutions

warehouse of images on community energy for free use by practitioners and the public

3)

PG 8

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

CALP has worked closely with energy researchers, web designers and energy planners to build on existing data sources and develop this content for the website. In February 2015, CALP conducted a beta-test survey of the CEE (beta-version), with practitioners who have provided in-depth and valuable feedback on the usability & implementation of the CEE web-tool. Review of the beta test survey shows strong consensus on the usefulness of the energy mapping and local case studies in CEE as a resource for building energy literacy with several suggestions on where improvements and extensions are needed (see Impacts Section below for summary of results).

Blog with supporting technical information

Contextual information on how the new energy information and mapping was created (based on Rory Tooke’s doctoral research), and to track the website development process

Link to the Illustrated Guide to Community Energy (pdf version)

Certain aspects of the CEE are still incomplete or in preliminary form, e.g. the energy landscape animation which will provide a more intuitive and user-driven alternative to accessing information. Planned improvements of the CEE include:

interface improvements to simplify access to maps and back-up technical information mapping of sewage heat recovery

more compelling narrative information and visualization on GHG emissions/implications and economic benefits of community energy

neighbourhood-level toolkit for community engagement more community case studies

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PG 9

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

CALP, in partnership with Metro Vancouver, has successfully organized two full-day Symposia that offered a forum to share knowledge on various low carbon energy projects among local governments and other regional stakeholders. These invited partners, funders and representatives from all Metro Vancouver municipalities and enabled a dialogue on policies, planning, innovations, implementation, best practices and stakeholder engagement on community energy.

Community Energy Innovations: Knowledge Exchange Symposium on June 4, 2013 at the BC Hydro Decision Theatre, UBC

The objective of this event was to bring together local stakeholders with a direct interest in community energy for a day-long symposium addressing some of the current topics and issues surrounding local energy planning and management initiatives. A total of 59 participants registered for the event. One of the major successes of the Symposium was the attendance of representatives from all major Metro Vancouver member municipalities. In addition, the Symposium had representation from Provincial Government, Metro Vancouver, utilities, academia, NGOs and private firms.

The Symposium consisted of an entire day split into fundamental topics each of which included initial presentations or showcases followed by a panel discussion and a more general dialogue / interaction with all attendees. Feedback and notes were collected during each session. The final session covered policy, which led to the proposal of a collaborative initiative between attendee organizations to draft a letter of recommendation to the Provincial Government for amendments to Provincial legislation that would grant greater authority to local governments to initiate energy strategies.

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Annual Knowledge Exchange Symposia

PG 10

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Community Energy Symposium: Turning Good Ideas into Real World Solutions on September 11, 2014 at Anvil Centre in New Westminster, BC

This event was organized in partnership with QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow) to foster a dialogue between local governments, developers and utilities staff on community energy and innovative building energy policy. The exciting one-day event saw a total of 125 participants and included sessions on – integrating land-use plans with energy and emissions plans; building code and policy innovations; and how to engage the public on energy and emissions. CALP presented the CEE and had interactive stations (iPads on pedestals) to demo / introduce the CEE web-platform to the symposium participants. Some initial feedback on it implementation was also received and around 20 attendees signed-up to be beta-testers.

QUEST concluded the day with their Roundtable Session – “Community Energy Systems: Fostering a Dialogue between Developers and Local Governments” – to explore opportunities and barriers around community energy systems. It addressed critical issues like – How do community energy systems work? What are the ownership and operation models? How can developers and local governments mutually address barriers such as financing, legacy for building users, meeting building energy performance targets, and opportunity cost? And how can business relationships between developers, local governments, and others, be improved to advance smart energy communities in the lower mainland?

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PG 11

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

CALP has been working closely with the municipalities of Richmond, Surrey & most recently West Vancouver on Collaborative Learning Projects to develop community case-studies focused on real places and issues. CALP (with Support from Ron Kellett’s Elements Lab at UBC) has provided specialized technical support and advice to municipal staff, to produce new visualizations, energy modelling and mapping for decision support and community engagements. To date, these case studies include:

These case studies are displayed in the CEE in the form of visual stories or scenarios that may be replicable across the region.

Richmond urban centre redevelopment: illustrating how jobs, population, and density can be accommodated with net reductions in per capita & total carbon emissions, through improved building codes, rooftop solar energy, and district energy with renewables,

Surrey green field development: illustrating how row housing and small lot single family homes reduce energy use & GHGs relative to conventional single family homes.

West Vancouver Community Energy & Emissions Plan (CEEP): conducting modelling and visualization of iconic high-carbon building archetypes; devising feasible ways to reduce energy use and emissions that resonate with the community (in progress); and advising council’s Working Group on community engagement strategies.

Collaborative Learning Projects

PG 12

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

CALP has worked closely with energy and sustainability managers, city-planners, municipal engineers, consultants, NGOs, other research groups, communities, and the general public, in various outreach and engagement activities as spin-offs from the CEE development process. These have included numerous presentations and capacity building workshops on CEE and related visual media tools, to demonstrate & test best-practice visioning techniques, designed to leave a legacy of increased awareness and expertise for future community energy projects, such as –

Webinar jointly hosted by CALP & Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) for practitioners and energy managers, Vancouver

Presentations to the Regional Engineers Advisory Committee-Climate Protection Subcommitee (REAC-CPS)

Workshop at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ (CCPA) ‘Conversation on Climate Justice’ project (with 30 citizen leaders), Vancouver

Workshop at the Building Sustainable Communities Conference, Kelowna

Workshop at the Community Innovations Lab, Kamloops

Several public lectures and presentations, organized by PICS, UBC, and others.

Planned future presentations /meetings include –

Regional Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC): April 10, 2015

Renewable Cities Forum: May 13-15, 2015

BC Hydro Community Energy and Emissions Modelling (CEEM) group: May, 2015

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Outreach and Engagement

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The deliverables produced so far on this project have been used in the following ways (that have so far been documented):

The CEE has also been used in various educational settings, including:

By Surrey, Richmond and the North Shore municipalities, to engage their residents in discussions about a range of climate change issues, including the renewable energy potential in their communities. Surrey for example has used images from the Guide in its Community Climate Action Strategy.

The outcomes from this municipal work continue within planning processes such as CEEP implementation and climate change adaptation planning, e.g. Richmond conducted a follow-up energy modelling study from UBC for its city centre development plan, and West Vancouver is using the CEE renewable energy mapping for its CEEP analysis.

Renewable energy mapping from CEE is being used to support discussions with industrial partners in the Tilbury Eco-Industrial Network (Delta).

Images produced to date on the project have also been used in Metro Vancouver’s “The Sustainable Region” videos and numerous presentations, workshops, webinars and training sessions by other practitioners.

Undergraduate courses (e.g. CONS 210, FRST 490, APSC 232) and graduate courses (LARC 542, FRST 551), as a resource for class projects

Graduate research in Forestry on local energy sources

Delta high schools, as an information source supporting an educational climate change videogame.

CEA is planning to list CEE as a key reference source for enrollees in their Certificate in Community Energy Management.

Impact of the Project

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The recent beta test on the CEE, from 14 volunteer energy and community engagement practitioners/NGOs in the region, found that comments were generally very positive: 73% of participants felt that CEE was easy or very easy to use, and all felt that the graphics were either very useful (60%) or somewhat useful (40%). Comments included:

The most useful components of the CEE ranked by participants were the energy maps, renewable energy description section, and local case studies.

“By far the most visually appealing website on energy I have ever seen. Definitely helps you scroll through everything.”

“Excellent visual tool taking very complex information and making it accessible to a general audience”

10

7.5

5

2.5

9.1%

45.5% 45.5%

40.0% 40.0%

20.0% 20.0%

Val

ues

0Energy Maps

Not at all useful

Website Usefulness by Section

Not very useful Somewhat useful Very useful

EnergyAnimation

‘Energy inContext’ Section

‘Renewable Energy’ Section

‘Case Study’ Section

10.0% 10.0% 10.0% 10.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

PG 15

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The priority areas needing more emphasis were economic implications of energy use and climate change, and impact of individual behaviour change on energy demand.

20.0%

40.0% 40.0% 40.0%

Energy implications for climate change

Land use implications for energy demand

E�ect of transportation on energy demand

Impacts of individual behaviour on energy demand

Economic implications of energy use and climate change

E�ects on national and/or provincial policies on local energy issues

Information that Needs More Emphasis

7.5

5

2.5

Val

ues

0

70.0% 70.0%

PG 16

“The maps are one of the greatest assets, but not intuitive to find. The content was great though, and I look forward to sharing this with teams I’m working with”

“The energy maps were impressive in terms of making GIS data accessible, but there is probably not enough legend/contextual information to make this action fully understandable.”

There were several recommendations on how the CEE could be strengthened and used to further efforts on energy planning & outreach; for example,

A beta test summary report documenting results will be provided to Metro Vancouver staff in the next few weeks.

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Specific ways in which practitioners and attendees of the 2014 Symposium have envisioned using the CEE (along with other tools) include:

Supporting community engagement and planning for OCPs, CEEP implementation, and neighborhood plans.

Specific applications for use of CEE in-practice, e.g. in training sessions (Lighthouse), local planning activities (North Vancouver), and engagement (Cool Neighbourhoods).

In combination with other tools, such as NRCAN staff suggestion identifying “synergy between TaNDM (spatial GHG data from utility records in BC) and the Community Energy Explorer, if sample TaNDM data could be available for selected communities – it would be a concrete demonstration of making measured building energy information available in the context of an education/outreach mapping and visualization tool”.

This feedback indicates that the CEE platform, once complete, would provide valuable information and tools for informing both non-experts and the decision makers about community energy, and thus assisting member municipalities and the region in reaching their greenhouse gas reduction goals. Also, CEE would support initiatives for reducing dependency on non-local energy sources, and for attaining other regional energy and sustainable development objectives.

In particular, the existing and planned CEE tools would support objectives such as Strategy 3.2 and Action 3.2.3. in the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan (IAQGGMP), e.g. in assessing the low carbon energy potential for the region and identifying opportunities for local governments to support development of those opportunities. The engagement and visioning tools can also help staff link regional growth objectives outlined in the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) to community energy planning in municipalities and neighbourhoods. Metro Vancouver staff will continue to work closely with the CALP team to ensure the transferability of the tools to municipalities throughout the region.

PG 17

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Broader lessons have been learned from feedback on the project and discussions with partners and government staff, with implications for next steps over the following two years. We recognized the importance of partnering more substantively for future funding, planning, hosting, publicity, roll-out and embedding of CEE in-practice e.g. – with Metro Vancouver & Community Energy Association (CEA). There exists some sensitivity around certain energy issues such as forest biomass harvesting as a regional energy source, micro-hydro, and biomass district energy plants, indicating the need for further stakeholder discussion and a possible support role for CEE, given careful consideration of communicating messages and using citizen focus groups to test outcomes, as was done with the Illustrated Guide. A recent meeting with the Regional Engineers Advisory Committee (REAC) to review the CEE web tools, suggested expansion of the platform to permit citizen input. Clearly, there is also significant potential of CEE as an educational tool in schools, universities, and continuing education.

Since February 2015, Metro Vancouver staff has worked with Dr. Sheppard and the CALP team to refine the priorities and deliverables for the next 2 years’ activities. Metro Vancouver staff has provided feedback that helps ensure the proposed deliverables continue to align with the needs of Metro Vancouver and its member municipalities. In addition, Dr. Sheppard also received feedback from the Regional Engineers Advisory Committee Climate Protection Subcommittee (REAC-CPS) on the remaining 2 years of the project.

A new proposal for continued partnering with Metro Vancouver has been submitted to the Real Estate Foundation of BC to extend and complete the CEE web-tool, apply it to building community capacity on local energy and climate change issues, and establish a generic template for use by communities across BC. New partners and collaborators are being sought. This will effectively complete and launch the Community Energy Explorer web-tool, although opportunities for ongoing development may remain.

The proposed tasks and possible ideas for further enhancement and extension of CEE are listed in the following table, in rough order of chronology and certainty, pending further discussions and partner funding decisions. This list will be refined and narrowed down through consultation with regional and local government staff, including a ‘brainstorming session” to be held in in the next few weeks.

Next Steps (2015-2016)

PG 18

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COLLABORATIVE FOR ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Implement highest priority CEE improvements based on beta phase feedback

Additional local case-studies to the CEE website

Neighbourhood Toolkit on Climate Action

Hosting / launch / support plan

Design ‘enter-your-own-data’ capability (Citizen Science)

Training/capacity-building

Support Climate Action Advisors

E.g. functional interface improvements/bug fixes; additional renewable resources (e.g. sewage heat); more depth on land use/ density/energy/GHG trade-offs; visualizing GHGs and local economic benefits (in partnership with CEA); mapping improvements (e.g. linking demand map to supply maps, aggregating renewable capacities by municipal or neighbourhood boundaries, Regional Climate Action Map, etc.)

Year 1: West Vancouver: develop an online illustrated narrative on key building archetypes (with modelled scenarios) that resonate with the community, from current CEEP project.

Year 2: Develop 1 additional case study, or incorporate pre-existing case studies from leading edge consultants/ municipalities

Develop online ‘Neighbourhood Toolkit for Climate Action’ from current prototype to a simple hands-on, block-level visual toolkit, to engage residents in local climate change solutions

Year 1 planning & Year 2 implementation with partners

Year 1: Brainstorming and scoping on needed functionalities of a platform for residents/organizations/NGO’s to enter their own energy consumption data’

Year 2: Preliminary work/ design/ prototyping of user input interface

Partnering with CAS and/or other organizations for capacity building/practitioner training/collaborative projects with Community Energy Managers, planners, consultants, etc. on using tools/ processes (around CEEP implementation); deliver CEE user workshop at Knowledge Transfer Symposium

Explore CEE applications to support advisors for Strata Councils and businesses

OBJECTIVES PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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Attachment 2

Table: Preliminary List of Deliverables for the Innovative Tools Project

Objectives Activities Timeframe Deliverables

1. Implementhighest priority improvements to CEE, to improve usability and broaden its applications to fill key gaps, based on beta test feedback

- Functional improvements / bug fixes; - Additional renewable resources (e.g., sewage heat recovery); - More in-depth content on land use / density / energy / GHG trade-offs; - Visualizing local economic benefits; - Mapping improvements for users (e.g., linking demand map to supply maps, aggregating energy supplies by municipal or neighbourhood boundaries, GHG mapping, linking to Metro Vancouver ‘Climate Action’ map); -Adding more links to complementary online material, e.g., new PICS summary recommendations on energy literacy; - Review by expert & non-expert groups.

Year 1 - Fully functional expanded version of CEE, with enhanced user experience and usability

2. AddNeighbourhood Toolkit for Climate Action

- Develop ‘Neighbourhood Toolkit for Climate Action’ as an online resource, building on current prototype of a DIY, block-level visual toolkit, to stimulate discussion & build awareness of climate change issues at block scale, with a focus on engaging residents in developing practical energy solutions (e.g., retrofitting and solar energy) collectively; -Test with participants from a sample block / neighbourhood, e.g., Evergreen’s Project Green Bloc or Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s (CCPA) Good Life, Green Life team.

Year 1 – 2 - New module within CEE, providing guidance to neighbourhood groups

3. Training /capacity-building

- Partnering with Climate ActionSecretariat (CAS), Community Energy Association (CEA), and/or other organizations for capacity building / practitioner training / collaborative projects with Community Energy Managers, planners, consultants, etc. on using tools / processes (around Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) implementation); deliver CEE user workshop at Knowledge Transfer Symposium; - Apply CEE and other visual learning tools to BC Mayors Climate Leadership Council, Community Energy Planning: Getting to Implementation in Canada!, and in training materials for Certificate in Community Energy Management

Year 1 - Presentation materials, guidance with focus on building support for implementation

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Preliminary List of Deliverables for the Innovative Tools Project Page 2 of 2

Objectives Activities Timeframe Deliverables

4. Provide a‘template’ for similar web platforms in other regions of BC

- Document CEE as a template by producing a ‘developer guide’ with basic structure and guidance on developing a similar web-tool, enabling communities beyond Metro Vancouver to generate their own content and mapping using their respective data on renewable energy supplies, demand, etc. - The guide will be designed primarily for users at regional districts or larger BC cities, though other users may also find it useful. It will: identify existing CEE content that is generally applicable; describe how non-transferable data was created, as a guide to re-creating local data, at 2 different skill levels with assumed data sources; and provide tips on website assembly. - Create a separate ‘Tab’ on the website for the guide, making it easy to access and download.

Year 2 - A developer guide available online on how to replicate CEE in other regions, with tips on basic website development, reusable content, & mapping methods.

5. Add local case-studies to the CEE website

- Develop an online illustrated narrative on key building archetypes in West Vancouver for effective public engagement in their Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP). - Develop 1 additional case study (subject to further funding) such as University Neighbourhood Association (UNA), which has expressed interest in working with CALP.

Year 1

Year 2

- New case studies included in CEE

6. Develophosting / launch / support plan

- Planning & implementation with partners (e.g., Metro Vancouver) for CEE launch, publicity, hosting & ongoing maintenance.

Year 2 - Publically accessible CEE platform via partner organizations

7. Explore ‘userdata-entry’ (citizen science) capabilities on CEE

- Brainstorming & scoping with partners on needed functions for a platform for residents / organizations / NGO’s to enter their own energy consumption data. - Preliminary design / prototyping of user input interface in pilot neighbourhood.

Year 1

Year 2

- Work-plan for prototype implementation - Prototype interface for user-generated data

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   To:  Climate Action Committee  From:  Conor Reynolds, Senior Project Engineer   Jason Emmert, Air Quality Planner 

Planning, Policy and Environment Department  Date:  June 4, 2015  Meeting Date: June 17, 2015  Subject:  Metro Vancouver’s Climate Actions and Carbon Neutral Progress in 2014 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the  GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  report  dated  June  4,  2015,  titled  “Metro Vancouver’s Climate Actions and Carbon Neutral Progress in 2014”.   

 PURPOSE   To  inform  the GVRD Board of Metro Vancouver’s Climate Actions  2014  report  submitted  to  the Province  under  the  Climate  Action  Revenue  Incentive  Program  (CARIP)  and Metro  Vancouver’s progress toward being carbon neutral in 2014.   BACKGROUND Metro  Vancouver’s  corporate  carbon  footprint  is  reported  each  year  to  the  Province  under  the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP). This program arose from the BC Climate Action Charter, and  is more generally referred to as the Carbon Neutral Local Government program. The program requires Charter signatories to annually report their climate actions, measure their carbon footprint, take action to reduce their carbon footprint, and work towards balancing that footprint with emissions  reductions  from projects outside of  the corporate scope. Local Governments who fulfill  these  requirements  are eligible  to  receive  a  refund of  their  carbon  tax paid on direct  fuel purchases.   As  described  to  the  Committee  during  its  orientation  session  in  February  2015,  the  collective corporate greenhouse gas  (GHG) emissions of Metro Vancouver and member municipalities are a relatively  minor  contributor  to  total  GHG  emissions  in  the  region.  Nevertheless,  many  local governments  aspire  to  carbon  neutrality  as  a  way  to  get  their  “own  house  in  order”,  and demonstrate leadership to the broader community in taking climate action.   METRO VANCOUVER’S CARBON FOOTPRINT The  scope  of  activities  included  in Metro  Vancouver’s  corporate  carbon  footprint  is  limited  to “Traditional Services”, which  includes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy use  in  Metro  Vancouver’s  buildings,  fleet,  facilities  and  some  contracted  services.  Metro Vancouver’s  carbon  footprint  reported under  this  program does  not  include  emissions  from  the final disposal of solid waste (i.e.,  landfills and waste‐to‐energy) since this function is outside of the scope designated by  the Provincial  government  as being part of  a  local  government’s  corporate carbon footprint. Instead, GHG emissions from the final disposal of solid waste are reported under separate Provincial and Federal GHG legislation.  

Section E 1.2

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  For the 2014 reporting year, Metro Vancouver’s initial corporate carbon footprint (before offsets or credits) was 6,224 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide‐equivalent), of which approximately 10% was from fuel use by  contracted  services.  The decrease  from  the  2013  footprint  (7,367  tonnes CO2e) was largely due to a provincially mandated change in BC Hydro’s GHG intensity factor, which decreased from 14 to 10 tonnes CO2e/GWh. Natural gas purchases  in 2014 were similar to 2013, while fleet fuel use was reduced by approximately 6%.   Also  of  note  is  that  the  Board  adopted  a  Corporate  Energy  Management  Policy  in  2014. Implementation  of  this  policy, which mandates  continuous  improvement  in  energy  performance within Metro Vancouver  facilities, began  in 2014. Metro Vancouver’s provision of core services  in water,  liquid waste and solid waste  to a growing  regional population  tends  to  increase corporate energy use, so the policy is essential to ensure that energy – and corresponding GHG emissions – is measured and managed effectively.   GHG REDUCTIONS AND CARBON CREDITS Metro Vancouver  is making progress towards  its carbon neutral goals not only by tackling energy‐related emissions, but also by  identifying GHG emission reductions outside  its  traditional services scope.  In  2014, Metro Vancouver  secured GHG  reduction  credits  (the  non‐market  equivalent  to “carbon offsets” in the Carbon Neutral Local Government Framework) from two solid‐waste related GHG  reduction  projects  that  balanced  85%  of  its  footprint.  Both  were  landfill  gas  capture optimization projects: one at the closed Coquitlam Landfill (carbon credits = 354 tonnes CO2e) and the other at Vancouver Landfill (Metro Vancouver’s share of carbon credits = 4,936 tonnes CO2e). The application of  these credits  reduced our  footprint  from 6,224  tonnes  to 934  tonnes CO2e  for 2014.   In total, the Vancouver Landfill project generated 135,660 tonnes of verified GHG credits  in 2014. The City of Vancouver  transferred a  total of 44,767  tonnes CO2e  (33% of  total verified credits)  to Metro  Vancouver, which were  subsequently  shared with member municipalities  according  to  a methodology developed and agreed to through the Regional Engineers Advisory Committee. Metro Vancouver  staff  have  also  been  assisting  its  member  municipalities  with  the  calculation  and reporting of  carbon  credits  from  their municipal organics diversion programs.  In 2014, municipal organics diversion programs resulted in a total of approximately 35,000 tonnes of carbon credits for the  member  municipalities,  which  is  over  50%  higher  than  in  2013  due  to  the  expansion  in municipal organics collection programs. Metro Vancouver is also assisting its member municipalities in  implementing  various  region‐wide  community  projects  related  to  building  energy  and  clean vehicle technologies.   As a direct consequence of the carbon credits from organics diversion programs plus the allocation of carbon credits from the Vancouver Landfill Gas Capture Optimization project, most municipalities in the region are better than 80% toward carbon neutrality. A number of municipalities have been able to achieve carbon neutrality for the 2014 reporting year through carbon offset credits from a variety  of  sources,  including  the  landfill  gas  and  organics  diversion  projects,  and  in  some  cases additional projects being pursued independently.    

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 REGIONAL PROGRESS It is important to emphasize that corporate emissions are a small fraction of total community and  industrial emissions.  Thus,  while  progress  towards  local government  carbon  neutrality  demonstrates leadership and GHG  reduction credit projects  reduce regional emissions,  additional  actions by all  levels of government will be required to meet community‐wide and  Provincial GHG  reduction  targets.  The  figure  on the  right  shows  that  an  8%  decrease  in  total  GHG emissions  for  the  region  is  expected  in  2015 compared  to  the 2007  levels.  Yet without  concerted additional action  the  region will not  reach  its  targets of 33% reduction by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (from the 2007 baseline), and in fact emissions could increase in future  years.  The  combined  effect  of  municipal, provincial  and  federal  GHG  reduction  policies  and programs  (e.g.  Community  Energy  and  Emissions Plans, the Provincial carbon tax and energy efficiency provisions  in  the  building  code,  federal  vehicle standards,  etc.)  in  conjunction  with  regional  policy and programs have contributed to this reduction, but will  need  to  be  scaled  up  to  achieve  the  regional targets.   Metro Vancouver is currently undertaking (or planning) a range of regional projects that, within the scope  of  the  organization's  authority  and  corporate  reach,  are  designed  to  address  regional emissions. These projects include:  

Emotive, the electric vehicle driving experience;  

Home Energy Labelling Pilot Program (HELPP);  

an energy advisor program targeting stratas of multi‐unit residential buildings, and  

the  “Taking  Action  on  GHG  Emissions”  (TAGGE)  program  for  small  and  medium  sized businesses.  

 In  addition,  the  integrity  of  and  adherence  to  the  policies  in  the  Regional Growth  Strategy  are essential  for  ensuring  the  continued  development  of  compact  and  complete  communities  that create low carbon transportation and building energy options.  In  response  to  the  discussion  at  the  Board’s  strategic  planning  session,  and  the  anticipated emphasis on climate action within the next Board Strategic Plan, staff are initiating development of a  regional  climate  action  framework  that  encompasses  corporate  and  regional  GHG  emission reduction targets and actions, as well as climate adaptation actions. This framework will necessarily include  integration with provincial and municipal plans –  including mitigation and adaptation, and corporate and community scopes. The link between GHGs and energy conservation and generation will  also  be  recognized.  Performance measurement  and  sharing  of  best  practices will  be  a  key element of this framework.  

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 ALTERNATIVES This report is provided for information only. No alternatives are presented.  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS A  critical  component of  the Climate Action Revenue  Incentive Program  (CARIP)  is  the  carbon  tax rebate to local governments that have signed the BC Climate Action Charter, and which fulfill their reporting  obligations.  This  rebate  is  equivalent  to  the  carbon  taxes  they  pay  directly, which  for Metro Vancouver is approximately $200,000 per year. Within Metro Vancouver, the annual rebate is used to directly support Metro Vancouver’s climate action and GHG mitigation projects, towards achieving the Charter goals of measuring and reporting GHG emissions, taking action to reduce GHG emissions, and creating complete, compact, energy efficient communities.   Staff  efforts  undertaken  in  2015  toward  the  creation  of  a  broader  regional  climate  action framework will be funded out of existing program budgets. Resources required to continue work in 2016 will be proposed for inclusion in 2016 budgets.  SUMMARY / CONCLUSION In 2014, Metro Vancouver made  substantial progress  towards  its  goal of being  a  carbon neutral organization, using over 5,000 tonnes of carbon credits from landfill gas capture projects to balance over 85% of  its corporate carbon  footprint, resulting  in a net  footprint of 934 tonnes  for 2014.  In spite of  increased  levels of  service,  the  initial amount before offsets of 6,224  tonnes  for 2014  is almost  15%  less  than  in  2013.  This  progress  has  recently  been  reported  to  the  Provincial government as part of the Carbon Neutral Local Government program.  Overall,  Metro  Vancouver  and  its  member  municipalities  are  making  strong  progress  towards carbon neutrality. Although many  local governments aspire  to  carbon neutrality as a way  to get their  “own  house  in  order”,  and  demonstrate  leadership  to  the  broader  community  in  taking climate  action,  it  is  recognized  that  the  collective  corporate  greenhouse  gas emissions of Metro Vancouver and member municipalities  is a  relatively minor contributor  to  total GHG emissions  in the region.   Metro Vancouver and municipalities are implementing a wide range of not only corporate but also regional  actions  that  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  increase  climate  resilience.  It  is anticipated  that  there will  be  a  strong  emphasis  on  climate  action within  the  upcoming  Board Strategic Plan. In response, staff are initiating development of a regional climate action framework that encompasses  corporate and  regional GHG emission  reduction  targets and actions as well as climate  adaptation  actions;  integrates  with  provincial  and  municipal  plans;  addresses  energy conservation  and  generation;  and  includes performance measurement,  outreach,  and  sharing  of best practices.  Attachment and Reference:  Metro  Vancouver’s  2014  Climate  Actions  and  Carbon Neutral  Progress:  Climate  Action  Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) Public Report, June 1, 2015 (Doc. #11472702). Available at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air‐quality/climate‐action/our‐operations/corporate‐action‐plan/Pages/default.aspx   11455749 

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and Carbon Neutral Progress

Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) Public Report

June 1, 2015

PHOTO GOES HERE

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GStanese
Text Box
Attachment
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General Information Regional District: Metro Vancouver (Greater Vancouver Regional District) Population 2,427,000 (2013) Regional Growth Strategy: “Metro Vancouver 2040 – Shaping our Future” (adopted July 2011)

Report Preparation and Contact Information This report was prepared by the staff of the Air Quality and Climate Change Division of Metro Vancouver, with input from across the organization. Questions on the report should be directed to [email protected] or the Metro Vancouver Information Centre at 604-432-6200. Reported by: Roger Quan Director, Air Quality & Environment Planning, Policy and Environment Department [email protected] Contact us: Metro Vancouver 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4G8 604-432-6200 www.metrovancouver.org Cover photo shows aerial view of Burns Bog in Delta (credit: Loger Aure)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Information ..................................................................................................................................... 2

Report Preparation and Contact Information ............................................................................................... 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 3

BROAD PLANNING......................................................................................................................................... 4

BUILDINGS ................................................................................................................................................... 10

ENERGY GENERATION ................................................................................................................................. 13

GREENSPACE ............................................................................................................................................... 16

SOLID WASTE .............................................................................................................................................. 18

TRANSPORTATION ...................................................................................................................................... 20

WATER and WASTEWATER ......................................................................................................................... 24

OTHER CLIMATE ACTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 26

INNOVATION ............................................................................................................................................... 29

CORPORATE - Innovation ............................................................................................................................ 29

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Innovation ................................................................................................................ 30

CARBON NEUTRAL PROGRESS REPORTING ................................................................................................ 31

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BROAD PLANNING

Broad Planning refers to the high level, strategic planning that sets the stage for GHG reductions. Land use planning that focuses on Smart Growth principles (compact, complete, connected and centred) plays an especially important role in energy and GHG reduction. Plans that relate to a certain sector are included in that sector, e.g. transportation plans in the 'Transportation' sector.

Regional Growth Strategy (RGS)

As a regional government, Metro Vancouver has a Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), rather than an Official Community Plan (OCP). Metro Vancouver 2040 – Shaping our Future was adopted on July 29th, 2011, after being unanimously accepted by all local governments in the region. The RGS contains targets, policies and actions to reduce GHG emissions, as per the requirements under the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act. Strategy 3.3 is to “Encourage land use and transportation infrastructure that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality”. Metro Vancouver’s role is to implement the strategies and actions of the RGS, which contribute to regional targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent below 2007 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2007 levels by 2050. Examples of strategies and actions contained in the RGS to address climate change include: efficient goods movement; green infrastructure; protected and managed natural areas; mixed use, transit-oriented communities; low-impact development; work and play close to home; protected farmland; increasing share of trips by transit, cycling and walking; green buildings; and focusing growth in urban centres and transit corridors. Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy is available here: www.metrovancouver.org/services/regional-planning/metro-vancouver-2040

Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan

Metro Vancouver also adopted an Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan in 2011 with 5 strategies comprised of 37 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These actions include: strategies to reduce short-lived climate forcers such as methane and black carbon; establishment of a regional climate action fund; support for small and medium enterprises to reduce their emissions; support for low carbon vehicle infrastructure; exploration of carbon sequestration opportunities; and raising public awareness of low carbon building and transportation options. Metro Vancouver's Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan is available here: www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/plans-reports/iaqggmp

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Response Please specify or comment

Since initially establishing OCP targets, policies, and actions for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as required by the Local Government Act, has your local government updated those targets, policies and actions?

Yes See description of the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), and the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan (IAQGGMP), above.

Response

Does your local government use the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory (CEEI) to measure progress?

No; Metro Vancouver conducts and verifies its own detailed region‐wide emissions inventory every 5 years.

Has your local government established Development Permit Areas (DPAs) for climate action (i.e. energy conservation, water conservation and/or GHG emission reduction)?

No

CORPORATE - Broad Planning

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Tracking System: Metro Vancouver has implemented its new Energy and Greenhouse Gas Tracking System, the SoFi 5 web‐based platform from PE International. The new system has been configured to track and report Corporate energy and greenhouse gas emissions in a more efficient and timely manner, and increase our ability to identify opportunities for better energy management of facilities and services over the long term. Implementation of the software system was completed in June 2014, and it is now in regular use.

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Tracking System: Metro Vancouver will continue to improve its Energy and Greenhouse Gas Tracking System, adding more data and expanding its use within the organization.

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Capital project evaluation: Metro Vancouver has improved its methods for considering greenhouse gas emissions in its capital project evaluation process. For the purposes of comparing project alternatives at the feasibility stage and the prioritization stage, GHG emissions may be monetized. The actual quantity of GHG reductions or increases associated with a capital project is tracked. Once a particular method of tackling a problem has been decided upon, capital projects are ranked by priority based on a number of factors, including GHG emissions. Projects that reduce GHG emissions more than other projects (all else being equal) will be assigned a higher priority.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Corporate Energy Management Policy: Metro Vancouver's Corporate Energy Management Policy was adopted by its Board of Directors in July 2014. The Policy commits Metro Vancouver to continuously improving energy performance in its operations, and to continuously improving the efficiency with which it produces, generates and recovers energy. The Policy is derived from the first three strategies in the 2010 Corporate Climate Action Plan that aim to reduce the corporate carbon footprint: (1) Reduce energy consumption; (2) Switch to renewable energy; and (3) Maximize energy recovery.

Corporate Climate Change Standard: Metro Vancouver’s Corporate Climate Change Standard (CCCS), related to corporate climate adaptation strategies, will continue to be developed. CCCS is likely to be reviewed by member municipalities of the Region, and could support their own local standards.

Policy Implementation

Corporate Energy Management Policy: Implementation of the Corporate Energy Management Policy began shortly after it was adopted by the Metro Vancouver Board in July 2014. The Policy will establish a strategic planning process for achieving targets using triple bottom line analysis.

Corporate Energy Management Policy: Implementation of Metro Vancouver's Corporate Energy Management Policy will continue in 2015.

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Funding Sustainability Innovation Funds: Metro Vancouver has been accumulating balances in four Sustainability Innovation Funds – one for broader regional district functions as well as one for each of the utilities (liquid waste, water and solid waste). In 2015, the GVRD, Liquid Waste and Water funds will be accessed to support innovative projects and initiatives that will make measurable contributions to the region’s sustainability.

Only proposals from within the corporation are eligible though in the case of the GVRD Sustainability Innovation Fund, member municipality involvement is encouraged. The themes for the initial round of funding from the GVRD fund will focus on decreasing regional greenhouse gas emissions and/or increasing awareness of nature and natural systems. The scope of applicability for proposals for the Liquid Waste and Water funds is broad, from innovations in technology, practices, to promotion of behavioural change and research that will advance sustainability objectives of these utilities.

Project proposals will be based on a triple-bottom line analysis and must demonstrate alignment with the Metro Vancouver Board Strategic Plan. A standing committee of the Board, the Climate Action Committee, will review the project proposals and make recommendations on which projects should be funded to the appropriate Metro Vancouver Board.

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COMMUNITY-WIDE - Broad Planning

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Urban Centres and Frequent Transit Development Areas (FTDAs): In 2014, Metro Vancouver gathered analytics and conducted planning work in collaboration with TransLink and member municipalities on metrics and indicators to use in monitoring the effectiveness of the Centres and FTDAs Growth Management Tools.

Climate Adaptation: In 2014 Metro Vancouver contracted a consultant to conduct a scan and gap analysis of climate change adaptation initiatives that member municipalities have undertaken. Concurrently, Metro Vancouver staff began an internal scan and gap analysis of corporate climate change adaptation initiatives.

Urban Centres and FDTAs: In 2015 Metro Vancouver will conduct an intensive review of Regional Growth Strategy implementation through an analysis of the Centres and FTDAs growth management tools. Metro Vancouver staff will work with external agencies and key stakeholders in implementation and member municipalities in order to review the effectiveness of current growth management tools used in coordinating growth in the region.

Climate Adaptation: In 2015 Metro Vancouver will continue and finalize both the external and internal scans and gap analyses. The results of these processes will be used to coordinate Metro Vancouver’s role in climate change adaptation in the region, as well as coordinate Metro Vancouver’s corporate initiatives.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan: Conducted a progress review of the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan, and released a Progress Report (available at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/plans-reports/iaqggmp)

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Community Education, Engagement

Metro Vancouver e-Library of Sustainability Initiatives: This e-Library will be a web portal to explore innovative sustainability solutions being implemented around our region. Initiatives will be those undertaken by municipalities or Metro Vancouver itself; they could pertain to water, waste management, urban planning & transportation, green spaces, energy & climate, and/or community & culture. Residing on www.metrovancouver.org, the e-library will feature a map-based interface for browsing projects, and will also allow users to search by tags pertaining to project type or by municipality.

Committees, Staffing

Climate Change Workshop: Held a workshop on climate change for the members of two of Metro Vancouver's committees: the Intergovernmental & Administration Committee and the Environment & Parks Committee (February 2014).

Climate Action Committee: The Climate Action Committee was formed in January 2015, and is the new standing committee of the Metro Vancouver Board that provides advice and recommendations on policies, bylaws, plans, programs, budgets and issues related to the Air Quality & Climate Change service, as well as the Environmental Planning function within Regional Planning.

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BUILDINGS

Low-carbon buildings use the minimum amount of energy needed to provide comfort and safety for their inhabitants, and tap into renewable energy sources for heating, cooling and power. These buildings can save money, especially viewed over the long term.

Variable Response

Does your local government have green building/construction policies, plans or programs?

Yes

CORPORATE – Buildings

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation:

- Replaced over 100 domestic hot water tanks with higher efficiency models

- Replaced one natural gas furnace with a high efficiency model

- Replaced 3 large boilers (above 500,000 btu/h) with higher efficiency models

- Continued replacement of incandescent light fixtures with LED lighting

Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation:

- Implement BC Hydro’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) across portfolio, to manage and reduce tenant demand for electricity, building heating and hot water.

- Water heating: replace 1 large boiler (above 700,000 Btu/h) and approximately 4 smaller boilers (70,000 Btu/hr)

- Space Heating: replace 2 additional furnaces with high efficiency models, and potentially more units depending on availability of funding.

- Lighting: convert all common area rooms to occupancy sensor lighting controls; target underground parkade lighting for upgrade to higher efficient fixtures and sensors.

- Other actions: replace all laundry equipment (~400 units) with higher efficient models, and develop phase-out plan for 24 gas fireplaces

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Physical Improvements, Construction (cont.)

Other Metro Vancouver Facilities:

- Lake City Operations Centre lighting upgrade: complete replacement of metal halide lighting with T8 fluorescent lamps.

- Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant parking lot lighting: upgrade parking lot lighting from metal halide to LED.

Other Metro Vancouver Facilities:

- Head Office heat pump replacement: upgrade approximately 24 heat pump units on two floors at Head Office.

- Upgrade selected exterior lighting at Head Office and Kathleen buildings to LED.

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation: Developed an energy benchmark analysis of Metro Vancouver’s Housing portfolio. In addition, business models were developed and evaluated for replacing old boilers with new high efficiency units.

Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation:

- Develop standard annual reporting for energy conservation, and benchmark energy consumption across the housing portfolio and target select sites for further energy reduction measures.

- Budgeting: prepare 10 year capital budget for energy reduction measures & window replacement.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Corporate Energy Policy: Metro Vancouver's Corporate Energy Policy commits to continuous improvement in energy performance, which includes building energy.

COMMUNITY-WIDE – Buildings

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Home Energy Labelling Strategic Planning: Collaborated with Pembina Institute and RedBird Communications to develop a Marketing and Communications Plan for Home Energy Labelling outreach, as well as a Home Energy Labelling Strategic Plan.

Home Energy Labelling Pilot: Develop and implement a home energy labelling pilot program. The aim of this project is to encourage voluntary disclosure of home energy efficiency ratings on new residential single‐family and low‐rise multi‐family homes through piloting a project with the aim of labelling and publicly disclosing 300 homes within a year.

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Community Education, Engagement

Innovative Tools for Community Energy Planning: Metro Vancouver continued support for the Innovative Tools for Community Energy Planning managed by UBC’s Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP). The purpose of the project is to develop tools to enable community energy solutions. Building on the Illustrated Guide to Community Energy, CALP has developed the Beta version of the Community Energy Explorer (www.energyexplorer.ca) which provides regional specific information and maps describing renewable energy, energy demand, and basic concepts of community energy. The CALP team is also working closely with the District of West Vancouver to use visualization and modelling tools in the development of their CEEP.

Community Energy Innovations: Knowledge Exchange Symposium. Co-organized with Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow (QUEST) and CALP, this event was attended by 100 representatives from member municipalities, Provincial government, utilities, academia, and the development industry. The Symposium included presentations on the new energy requirements in the BC Building Code, linkages between land-use and community energy planning, and a discussion forum on district energy between developers and local governments. A summary of proceedings can be found here: http://www.questcanada.org/

Innovative Tools for Community Energy Planning: Plan and implement the final two years of the Project by building on the Community Energy Explorer platform and the Community Energy and Emissions Plan pilot in the District of West Vancouver.

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ENERGY GENERATION

A transition to renewable or low-emission energy sources for heating, cooling and power supports large, long-term GHG emissions reductions. Renewable energy including waste heat recovery (e.g. from biogas and biomass), geo-exchange, micro hydroelectric, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic, heat pumps, tidal, wave, and wind energy can be implemented at different scales, e.g. in individual homes, or integrated across neighbourhoods through district energy or co-generation systems.

Variable Response

Has your local government undertaken district energy projects in 2014? No

Has your local government undertaken renewable energy projects 2014? Yes

Are you aware of the integrated resource recovery (IRR) guidance page on the BC Climate Action Toolkit? (http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/tool/integrated-resource-recovery-irr)

Yes

CORPORATE - Energy Generation

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Iona Island waste water treatment plant flared biogas utilization: Modifications were made to the plant’s electrical system and cogeneration control system to allow the currently flared biogas to be fed into engines, to generate additional electricity for the plant’s use. In addition to the new electrical equipment installed at Iona, a connection to BC Hydro power feeders is necessary.

Iona Island waste water treatment plant flared biogas utilization: All the equipment has been installed and is ready to be connected in 2015. However, since connection requires shutting down the power feeders (one at a time), dry weather is needed to lessen the influent load on the plant. Once the connection is completed, it will be possible to supply the cogeneration engines with additional biogas (Spring 2015).

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Electricity Generation:

- Refined costs in evaluating electricity generation using organic rankine cycle technology at Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

- Completed business case for an electricity generating turbine at the new Barnston Maple Ridge Pump Station, with potential to sell hydroelectricity to BC Hydro.

- Completed business case for an electricity generating turbine in the new Angus Drive Main Pressure-Reducing Valve Chamber, with potential to sell hydroelectricity to BC Hydro.

Effluent heat recovery:

- Completed a business case for effluent heat recovery opportunities at the new Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant facility. Selected a nearby district energy system owner to enter into further discussions for the potential development of energy recovery infrastructure and purchase of effluent heat.

- Completed a business case for effluent heat recovery opportunities for Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project explored the capacity and economic feasibility of providing nearby Vancouver International Airport with heat extracted from Iona Island WWTP effluent.

- Completed a business case for effluent heat recovery opportunities at the Lulu Island Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant facility. Final Report issued July 2014

Electricity Generation: Continue to evaluate the electricity generation potential of upcoming capital projects within the water transmission system.

Effluent heat recovery:

- Refine the conceptual design and financial model for effluent heat recovery at Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant.

- Refine Richmond energy loads and conduct more detailed analysis and conceptual design of potential district energy pipework and routing from the Lulu Island Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant facility.

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Co‐digestion: Completed second round of trials for co‐digesting materials for energy recovery at the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

District Heating: Renewed a project to study the feasibility of connecting the Waste to Energy Facility in Burnaby (WTEF) to a district heating system that would provide space heating and hot water to existing and proposed developments. Such a system would replace natural gas as a fuel in these developments; it would also more efficiently exploit energy compared to the existing turbo-generator at the WTEF (which generates electricity to sell to BC Hydro).

Co‐digestion: Begin pilot testing of regular operation of co‐digestion facility for energy recovery at the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant

District Heating: Complete a pre-feasibility study for a potential WTEF district heating system.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Sewer Heat Policy: Completed the final long‐term Sewer Heat Policy framework and received Board approval.

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Energy Generation

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Community Education, Engagement See Community Energy Explorer discussion above.

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GREENSPACE Greenspace refers to parks and greenways, boulevards, community forests, urban agriculture, riparian areas, gardens, recreation/school sites, and other green spaces, such as remediated brownfield/ contaminated sites. Greenspaces support climate change mitigation (reducing emissions by absorbing and sequestering GHG) and adaptation (providing shade, cooling, deflecting strong wind, and improving air quality). Please note that the 'Greenspace' sector only has a community-wide actions section.

Variable Response

Does your local government have urban forest policies, plans or programs? Yes

COMMUNITY-WIDE – Greenspace

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Ecological Restoration: MV played a large role in a multi-partner project to enhance the Seymour Estuary. Work included restoring stream and nearshore habitat, by adding boulders and large woody debris, and planting the riparian area.

Designed and implemented a roughly 200 square metre Eco-Hedge at the Annacis Research Centre to provide screening between the Research Centre and Wastewater Treatment facility. The Eco-Hedge increases site biodiversity and uses largely native species to support local pollinators.

Ecological Restoration: Further restoration of the Seymour River Estuary is currently underway and includes: additional habitat complexing (addition of boulders & large woody debris) to increase juvenile rearing habitat, inter-tidal, riparian and terrestrial planting, and invasive plant removal.

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Ecosystem Health and Carbon: Investigated opportunities to protect and restore forests, wetlands and peatland to sequester more carbon and realize co‐benefits of conserving valuable and sensitive ecosystems. Two studies were completed related to Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area: 1) Quantifying summertime greenhouse gases fluxes from soils in various stages of ecological recovery; and, 2) Peatland Ecological Restoration Best Practices for Potential Application in Disturbed Areas of Burns Bog.

Ecosystem Health and Carbon: Metro Vancouver will continue to manage the Burns Bog Conservancy Area to promote ecological recovery and will explore opportunities to actively restore degraded areas within it. Restoration efforts are expected to result in the return of carbon sequestration and methane oxidation rates associated with intact bogs, which could decrease regional greenhouse gas emissions. A design will be prepared for a multi-year experimental program that will test restoration

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Regional pollinators: In collaboration with Simon Fraser University, synthesized primary and secondary research on the state of regional pollinator populations and evaluated the impact of managed honeybees on wild pollinator populations. These findings included recommendations for supporting wild pollinator populations.

approaches on small subplots prior to any large scale application. Additional carbon flux measurements are also planned in support of this restoration initiative.

Regional pollinators: In 2015, recommendations to support wild pollinator populations will be assessed and the potential benefits of further Metro Vancouver policy and land management guidelines evaluated.

Community Education, Engagement

Ecosystem valuation: Held a workshop on Ecosystem Valuation for staff from Metro Vancouver, member municipalities, UBC, SFU, BCIT and others to learn how to incorporate ecosystem services valuations into decision making.

Ecosystem valuation: Pilot projects are being developed to help raise awareness of how and when to use ecosystem services valuations and to develop a consistent methodology and associated tools.

Committees, Staffing

The Regional Parks Committee was formed in January 2015, and is the new standing committee of the Metro Vancouver Board that provides advice and recommendations on policies, plans, programs, budgets and issues related to the Regional Parks service.

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SOLID WASTE

Reducing, reusing, recycling, recovering and managing the disposal of the residual solid waste minimizes environmental impacts and supports sustainable environmental management, greenhouse gas reductions, and improved air and water quality.

Variable Response

Does your local government have construction and demolition waste reduction policies, plans or programs?

Yes

Does your local government have organics reduction/diversion policies, plans or programs?

Yes

CORPORATE - Solid Waste

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Coquitlam Landfill: Operation and continued optimization of the upgraded landfill gas (LFG) collection system at the north side of the closed Coquitlam landfill (owned by Metro Vancouver) to maximize LFG recovery and reduce methane emissions.

Coquitlam Landfill: Design work for expanding the LFG collection system to the south side of the Coquitlam Landfill is ongoing.

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Coquitlam Landfill: Verification of 2013 GHG reductions and calculation of GHG reduction credits (256 tonnes of CO2e).

New Waste-to-Energy Capacity (NWTEC): Continued to move forward the procurement process to increase Metro Vancouver’s capacity for disposing of solid waste using waste-to-energy. The increased waste-to-energy capacity would divert waste from landfills, which produce significantly more GHGs than waste-to-energy. In addition, the energy created by the NWTEC could be used to generate electricity, be used in a district energy system, displace fossil fuels used in industrial processes, or provide energy for another use.

Coquitlam Landfill: Verify 2014 GHG reductions, and continue to explore options for beneficial use of landfill gas.

New Waste-to-Energy Capacity (NWTEC): Continue to assess options for developing new waste-to-energy capacity.

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Policy Implementation

Material recycling and reuse: Refined the material recycling and reuse requirements in demolition tender documents and applied them for the deconstruction of a building located on the site of a future transfer station expansion.

Material recycling and reuse: Continue application of recycling and reuse requirements in corporate demolition tender documents. Metro Vancouver will work with member municipalities to expand such purchasing policies in public works across the region.

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Solid Waste

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Organics Diversion GHG Reduction Credits: Calculation of Organics Diversion Credits on behalf of local governments, in support of their carbon neutral goals. Total Green Communities GHG reduction credits for all eligible municipalities have been calculated to be approximately 22,500 tonnes CO2‐equivalent for the additional diversion undertaken in 2013 beyond the 2007 baseline.

Organics Diversion GHG Reduction Credits: Continue to support the regional municipalities by calculating their GHG reduction credits for additional organics diversion activities that occurred in 2014.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Regional Organics and Clean Wood Disposal Bans: Conducted stakeholder consultation to support the Regional Organics and Clean Wood Disposal Bans identified in the Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan, which are designed to encourage additional organics diversion activities in the region. Because organics and clean wood are such a large portion of the region’s garbage, significant GHG reductions can be achieved when they are diverted from landfills.

Regional Organics and Clean Wood Disposal Bans: Implementation of the Regional Organics and Clean Wood Disposal Bans, effective January 2015. These local government “disposal bans” will take the form of a financial disincentive, which will be phased in during 2015, starting with an educational period. Organics and clean wood recycling opportunities for small loads are available at Metro Vancouver transfer stations.

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Community Education, Engagement

Love Food – Hate Waste campaign: With residents now separating food from their garbage at home and at work, many are realizing how much of that food could have been eaten. Metro Vancouver will launch a Love Food – Hate Waste campaign in May 2015, modelled on the successful UK campaign, which will provide practical steps for motivated residents to reduce their household avoidable food waste. Reducing avoidable food waste will reduce the GHGs related to transporting food scraps from residential collection bins to the region’s composting facilities as well as those related to landfilled organics.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation actions that increase transportation system efficiency, emphasize the movement of people and goods, and give priority to more efficient modes, e.g. walking, cycling, ridesharing, and public transit, can contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and more livable communities.

Variable Response

Does your local government have policies, plans or programs to support alternative modes and technologies of transportation (e.g. walking, cycling, transit, electric vehicles)

Yes

Does your local government have a transportation demand management (TDM) strategy? (http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/resource/transportation-demand-management-small-and-mid-sized-communities-toolkit)

No

Does your local government have policies, plans or programs to support local food production (thus reducing transportation emissions)?

Yes

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CORPORATE – Transportation Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Corporate Fleet: Purchased two new electric smart cars for Metro Vancouver’s Corporate Pool Vehicle Fleet. These replace two leased prototype electric smart cars, which were returned to vendor.

Corporate Fleet: Electric or Electric Hybrid Vehicles will be considered for replacement of Pool Car vehicles where appropriate.

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Life cycle analysis tool: Developed an improved life cycle analysis tool for new vehicle purchases, to project future fuel costs and calculate the total fuel consumption over a 10 year time period. The purpose of this tool is to ensure that the impact on the environment from new vehicles is minimized.

Studied the feasibility of buying two new electric hybrid vehicles as replacements for two regular sedan cars.

Life cycle analysis tool: The fuel economy and the effect on environment will be one of the critical decision criteria in purchasing all new light duty vehicles.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Electric Vehicle Charging: Explored options for corporate policy to allow for employee and visitor charging of electric vehicles at more Metro Vancouver facilities.

Electric Vehicle Charging: Continue to explore options for potential EV charging locations, costs and long-term implications.

Explore potential for an EV on-street demonstration project at Head Office

Explore the integration of EV charging requirements in Metro Vancouver’s Green Buildings Policy

COMMUNITY-WIDE – Transportation

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Local Bylaws for EV Charging: Worked with students at UBC to conduct a survey of local municipal bylaws and policies to support electric vehicle charging in multi-family residential buildings.

EV Owner Experiences with Stratas Survey: Work with students at UBC to conduct a survey of electric vehicle owner experience with obtaining charging infrastructure in multifamily strata buildings.

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Metro Vancouver Car Share Study: This study is the first comprehensive analysis of car sharing in the region. Evidence was gathered from car share providers and municipal staff about current practices, and from two online surveys of car share households and apartment households. The study also identifies issues and considerations for regional growth management and community planning. Municipal planners and engineers, and developers can all use the information to further their respective and shared objectives around sustainable transportation choices, housing and transportation affordability, and the environment.

Federal Gas Tax Transfer for Regional Transportation Projects: The GVRD Board endorsed TransLink’s application for federal gas tax funding under the final year of the initial federal gas tax agreement. The following projects were endorsed: 2016 and 2017 conventional bus replacement; Metrotown trolley overhead rectifier replacement; automated train control equipment replacement; Surrey Transit Centre CNG facility retrofit; buyout of the West Coast Express rail cars; additional funding for Compass Card bus upgrades; and additional funding for the Hamilton Transit Centre in Richmond.

Greater Vancouver Regional Fund: A new federal gas tax agreement was struck between the Federal Government, Provincial Government, and the Union of BC Municipalities. In this new agreement, the GVRD Board has approval authority over all TransLink application for federal gas tax funding (now called Greater Vancouver Regional Fund).

EV Charging in Strata Website: Develop website materials targeting property managers, residents, and strata councils in strata multifamily residential buildings on installing and managing electric vehicle charging stations.

Smartphone OBD app: Develop a pilot project to distribute 500-1,000 devices to track emission control equipment health, fuel consumption and trips in light duty vehicles in the Metro Vancouver region. These devices connect to the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic port (OBD) and use Smartphones to send information. This intent of the pilot is to determine effectiveness of this technology in reducing air emissions, greenhouse gases and collecting trip information

Greater Vancouver Regional fund: Metro Vancouver will develop a process to implement the Greater Vancouver Regional Fund to ensure funds are awarded to eligible regional transportation projects to be submitted by TransLink in 2015, and that support the objectives of the GVRD Board.

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Community Education, Engagement

Emotive Electric Vehicle Campaign: Implemented an electric vehicle outreach campaign in partnership with Plug‐In BC known as Emotive. [See: http://www.emotivebc.ca/]

Emotive: Continue to implement the Emotive campaign both online and at events throughout Metro Vancouver. Emotive is scheduled to deliver the Vancouver Auto Show’s “Green Ride n’ Drive” in 2015.

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WATER and WASTEWATER

Managing and reducing water consumption and wastewater is an important aspect of developing a sustainable built environment that supports healthy communities, protects ecological integrity, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Variable Response

Does your local government have water conservation policies, plans or programs? Yes

CORPORATE - Water and Wastewater

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Physical Improvements, Construction

Annacis Island and Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plants lighting upgrade: Design/planning to replace older inefficient metal halide and high pressure sodium lighting with more energy efficient lighting.

Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant pumps upgrade: Parts are no longer available for the original variable frequency drives for the influent pumps and trickling filter pumps, so new efficient variable frequency drives (VFDs) have been installed in 2014 (and will continue through 2015).

Central Park Pump Station VFD: project planning for installation of a variable frequency drive in 2017.

Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant: upgrade eight additional ultra‐violet disinfection reactors with energy saving lamps and ballasts.

Upgrade lighting at Iona Island and Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plants from metal halide to LED.

Annacis Island and Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plants lighting upgrade: Construction/commissioning.

Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant pumps upgrade: Detailed design for influent and trickling filter pump VFD upgrades, for installation in 2016. Also, Stage 5 Trickling Filter Pump Station Feasibility Study.

Central Park Pump Station VFD: detailed design for installation of a variable frequency drive in 2017.

Pumping System Optimization Program: Scheduled to start in 2015.

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Micro bubblers for waste water treatment: About 40% of the energy used at a WWTP is to move air and a portion of that is to maintain high levels of dissolved oxygen in certain wastewater processes using bubble diffusers. By generating smaller bubble diameters than are presently used, it may be possible to reduce the required volume of air in various treatment processes, and reduce the size and power demand of the air blowers. A research initiative is underway to investigate the potential to implement micro and nano bubblers to improve treatment processes and increase energy efficiency.

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Sewer Heat Policy: Completed the final long‐term Sewer Heat Policy framework and received Board approval (see Energy Generation section).

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Water and Wastewater

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis

Biosolids Management: Examined the potential to use biosolids in landfill methane oxidation biofilters or biocovers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at unregulated landfills.

Biosolids Management: Metro Vancouver is exploring the potential to conduct a pilot study that would evaluate the effectiveness of a biofilter (containing Metro Vancouver biosolids) to oxidize methane emissions from a closed landfill. In addition to achieving greenhouse gas reductions, a goal of this study is collaboration with the Province on the development of a GHG reduction calculator that could be used by other local governments in BC who are considering biofilters or biocovers for unregulated landfills. Depending on the success of the pilot, there is the potential to expand to a full scale project for additional GHG reduction credits.

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Feasibility Studies, Research, Analysis (cont.)

Trenchless Technology: Metro Vancouver collaborated with an industry association and an independent consultant to develop a GHG reduction calculator for trenchless technology. Using trenchless approaches to pipe replacement instead of conventional open-cut trenching in municipal water and waste-water systems could enable local governments to claim GHG reduction credits.

Trenchless Technology: Complete the GHG reduction calculator, and collaborate with the Climate Action Secretariat to release an “Option 1” profile for local government use.

OTHER CLIMATE ACTIONS

This section includes other climate actions that could not be captured in the above sectors, including climate change adaptation actions.

Variable Response

Has your local government begun to integrate the impacts of a changing climate (adaptation) into its planning and operations?

Yes

Are you aware of the climate change adaptation guidance page on the BC Climate Action Toolkit? (http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/adaptation-challenges-and-opportunities)

Yes

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Other Climate Action

Actions taken in 2014 Actions proposed for 2015

Plans, Policies, Regulations

Staff are engaging in consultations with Environment Canada on proposed federal rules to control the import, manufacture, and sale of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in Canada. This consultation and eventual outputs are a key first step in exploring commercial refrigerant regulation.

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Community Education, Engagement

School & Youth Leadership Program – Climate change outreach, education & relationship building activities:

- Convened Metro Vancouver Youth-4-Action Sustainability Leadership events reaching high school youth leaders, school districts and other partners in sustainability education) actively involved in sustainability action projects – including climate action projects. Reached 1000+ high school youth via 15 unique Youth-4-Action events. Delivered Youth-4-Action Digital Story-telling Workshop (in collaboration with Pacific Cinematheque), and one of three student-produced videos targeted climate action at school. Held A Youth-4-Action Leadership Field Course, “Metro Vancouver Sustainability Toolbox 2014”.

- Convened Metro Vancouver Teacher Professional Development Workshops where strategies and resources to integrate sustainability topics, concepts and actions (including climate change and climate action) to the K-12 classroom were explored. More than 400 K-12 teachers were reached via 12 teacher workshops.

- Ongoing collaboration with Metro Vancouver School Districts in support of K-12 teacher leadership and youth leadership to advance sustainability objectives including climate action objectives in Metro Vancouver School Communities.

- Provided review and input to the BC Ministry of Education Curriculum regarding inclusion of Environmental Literacy and Sustainability content / concepts.

School & Youth Leadership Program: Continue to develop Metro Vancouver School & Youth Leadership programs and resources on topics of regional sustainability, such as energy and climate change. Continue to collaborate with Metro Vancouver School Districts in support of teacher leadership and youth leadership to advance sustainability objectives including climate action objectives in Metro Vancouver School Communities.

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Community Education, Engagement (cont.)

LiveSmart BC Small Business Program, Business Energy Advisor Walk-Through Assessments: With partial funding from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Metro Vancouver hired City Green Solutions Inc. to provide Business Energy Advisor (BEA) services to small and medium sized businesses in the Metro Vancouver region. The program included free walk-through energy assessments including custom energy reports and facilitated access to energy incentives offered by local energy utilities and qualified contractors. The program ran from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. 300 businesses received walk-through assessments resulting in over 80 upgrades saving between 430,000 – 890,000 kwh in electricity.

Caring for the Air Public Report: This report is an illustrated, plain‐language publication introduced by Metro Vancouver in 2012. This report includes articles and infographics on the potential impacts of climate change, actions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and strategies needed to prepare for climate change in the region. The 2014 issue included information about greenhouse gas emission trends and patterns (per capita emissions versus per area emissions reporting) in the region, electric vehicles, active transportation, climate adaptation, refrigeration GHG emissions, and climate actions by local governments in the region. Download current and past issues of Caring for the Air at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/information-public/caring-for-the-air/Pages/default.aspx

Caring for the Air will be published annually. The 2015 issue will include updates on climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in the region.

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Community Education, Engagement (cont.)

Metro Vancouver Update: Starting in September 2014, Metro Vancouver began publishing a monthly public-friendly online newsletter called “Metro Vancouver Update”. Metro Vancouver Update includes news and information from around the region on a wide range of topics, and includes items related to energy and climate change. New issues of the Metro Vancouver Update are available here: http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate. Archived copies can be accessed at the bottom of the page.

New Website: Metro Vancouver unveiled its new mobile-friendly website in January 2015. The enhanced climate change section of the website, which contain reports, information for the public, and program information, can be accessed here: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/climate-action. This section will be further enhanced in 2015.

INNOVATION

This section is intended to give your local government an opportunity to describe any energy and GHG emission reduction activities that have been undertaken over the past year(s) that your local government is particularly proud of and would like to share with other local governments.

CORPORATE - Innovation

Tools for Calculating Local Government GHG Reductions

Metro Vancouver has been collaborating with its member municipalities to identify innovative opportunities to reduce greenhouse gases in the community, and to develop profiles and calculator tools to quantify those reductions. This work is being conducted in close collaboration with the BC Climate Action Secretariat, and builds on previous successes related to organics diversion and avoided forest conversion profiles. Metro Vancouver is now working towards implementing additional promising community project profiles, including Trenchless Technology and the use of biosolids for control of fugitive methane at landfills.

Trenchless Technology: Metro Vancouver has been collaborating with an industry association and an independent consultant to develop a GHG reduction calculator for trenchless technology. Using trenchless approaches to pipe replacement instead of conventional open-cut trenching in municipal water and waste-water systems could enable local governments to claim GHG reduction credits. In 2015, Metro Vancouver intends to have the GHG reduction calculator third-party validated, and collaborate with the Climate Action Secretariat to release an “Option 1” profile for local government use.

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Biofilters and Biocovers for Landfills: Metro Vancouver is exploring the potential to use biosolids in landfill methane oxidation biofilters or biocovers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at unregulated landfills. It is hoped that a pilot study can be undertaken that will evaluate the effectiveness of a biofilter (containing Metro Vancouver biosolids) to oxidize methane emissions from a closed landfill in BC. Lessons learned from the pilot will feed into a proposed GHG reduction calculator that could be used by other local governments in BC who are considering biofilters or biocovers for unregulated landfills. Working in collaboration with the Provincial Government, there is the potential for this calculator to also be released as an “Option 1” profile.

COMMUNITY-WIDE - Innovation

Emotive – Electric Vehicle Campaign 2014

In the summer of 2014, in partnership with Plug In BC, Metro Vancouver launched Emotive: the electric vehicle experience. Emotive, which started in June 2014 and will run through to at least the end of 2015, is a campaign aimed to raise awareness about plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in BC. The campaign is delivered through a website (www.emotivebc.ca) and a Facebook (facebook.com/emotivebc) page that provides information and access to resources on EVs.

With zero emissions at the tailpipe, and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, Metro Vancouver has many reasons to support the uptake of this technology. Although EVs such as the Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 are now numbering almost 1,000 in the Lower Fraser Valley region and 1,400 across BC, awareness of them is still very low, with only half of Canadians reporting any knowledge of EVs. The Emotive campaign aims to change this.

Emotive is taking a unique approach to get people excited about EVs, focusing on the personal experience of driving and owning an EV, rather than on facts and figures or technical myth-busting (although we do a little of this too). Automakers have known for years that most car-buyers base their decisions on emotion rather than logic, so Emotive emphasizes the tactile experience of driving electric through:

Fun contests. A sweepstake was held on the Emotive Facebook page offering a two week EV test drive, ski passes and dining certificates to Grouse Mountain and a GoPro camera to capture the adventures.

EV Ambassadors. Emotive relies heavily on actual EV owners who volunteer at the Emotive tent at community events around the region to share their first-hand account of being an EV owner to the public. They are equipped with training, T-shirts, and other materials and then attend events around town, such as the TD Jazz Festival, the Richmond night markets and the Surrey Fusion Fest. Last year, Emotive participated at 9 events across the region, and more events are planned in 2015.

A Facebook Community (facebook.com/emotivebc): Already with over 1,800 “likes”, Emotive’s Facebook page delivers interesting articles on a daily basis about EVs and related topics, including announcements about Emotive contests and events. It’s also a place where the public can ask questions and connect with other people that are curious about EVs.

“Open-Source” Sharing: Emotive is available to any BC municipality that wants to deliver a public awareness campaign about EVs in their community. Plug In BC provides training, collateral and online promotions.

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CARBON NEUTRAL PROGRESS REPORTING

2014 Corporate GHG Emissions and Reductions

METRO VANCOUVER’S CORPORATE GHG EMISSIONS Tonnes CO2e

Corporate emissions from services delivered directly 5,518

Corporate emissions from contracted services 706

TOTAL Corporate GHG Emissions (rounded to the nearest tonne) 6,224

METRO VANCOUVER’S OPTION 2 GHG REDUCTION PROJECTS

Coquitlam Landfill Gas Collection System Upgrade Project 1 -354

Vancouver Landfill Gas Capture Optimization Project 2 -4,936

Offsets purchased for this reporting year (Option 3) 0

Balance of corporate emissions for this reporting year 934

Making Progress on Carbon Neutral Commitment

CARBON NEUTRAL STATUS Making Progress

Surplus offsets to be carried forward to 2015 0

1 For more information about the Coquitlam Landfill Gas Collection System Upgrade Project, please refer to the validated Project Plan and the 2014 Project Report, available at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/climate-action/our-operations/capturing-landfill-gas/Pages/default.aspx 2 The City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver and the Corporation of Delta have put in place a legal agreement to share the GHG reduction credits from the Vancouver Landfill Gas Capture Optimization Project. Metro Vancouver’s share of credits from the Vancouver Landfill Offsets Project have been allocated amongst Metro Vancouver and its member municipalities for use in the 2014 reporting year. For more information, please refer to the 2014 Vancouver Landfill Carbon Credits Allocation Report, available at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality/climate-action/our-operations/capturing-landfill-gas/Pages/default.aspx

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GStanese
Text Box
11472702
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  To:  Intergovernment and Finance Committee  From:  Carol Mason, Commissioner/CAO  Date:  June 11, 2015  Meeting Date:  June 18, 2015  Subject:  Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy 

 RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board approve the Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy as presented in the report titled “Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy”, dated June 11, 2015.  

 PURPOSE   The purpose of  this  report  is  to bring  forward  the Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy  for consideration by  the Board. The Policy  is  intended to articulate  the principles by which Metro Vancouver  (GVRD, GVWD, GVW&DD, MVHC) will participate, both at a national and at an international  level,  in  events  that  either  promote Metro Vancouver  in  a  leadership  role  or  that provide  opportunity  for  engagement  and  continuous  improvement  in  the  advancement  of organizational goals.   BACKGROUND For a number of years, Metro Vancouver has maintained an engagement program that facilitates the advancement of its goals and objectives on a national and international level. Most recently, in July 2010 the Board endorsed a series of recommendations that supported the international engagement program  for  the  2010/2011  budget  year.  Key  themes  that  were  incorporated  into  those recommendations are summarized below:  

(1) Achieve goals that advance knowledge and skills that directly benefit the Metro Vancouver region, influence global action, and provide assistance where capacity exists; 

(2) Pursue objectives  that promote  innovation and best practices  in areas directly related  to Metro Vancouver initiatives; 

(3) Participate  in  international  local  government  organizations  that  advance  an  agenda  of collective local government action. 

 This  report  incorporates  the 2010/2011  themes  into a Board Policy  for  the purpose of providing overall  guidance  and  direction  on  the  development  of  the  annual  national  and  international engagement program and to inform in the development of the annual standing committee work plan and events program.     

Section E 2.1

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INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT POLICY The Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy builds upon Metro Vancouver’s reputation and  recognition  as  a  global  leader  in  its  delivery  of  services  to  the  population  of  the  region. International recognition has included hosting delegations and receiving invitations to speak on wide variety of subjects including regional governance, land use planning, air quality, regional parks, and affordable housing. In addition, as one of the largest utilities in North America, Metro Vancouver is frequently cited and consulted on its initiatives and achievements in the delivery of drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management.  To further Metro Vancouver’s role as a leader in the delivery of complex regional services and utilities to a large metropolitan area, and to enhance its interest in learning from the experiences of other organizations, a program has been developed  that  facilitates engagement with  communities and organizations from around the world. This program will enable Metro Vancouver to provide a strong advocacy role on its policy initiatives at both a national and at an international level and would take advantage of opportunities for Metro Vancouver to enhance cultural and economic exchange. The program builds upon the strategic priorities identified in the Board Strategic Plan and encompasses all aspects of the organization.   The  attached Policy highlights  four  key  components  that define  the  leadership  and engagement program. These program components are defined as follows:  

International Organization Memberships 

International Study Tours 

International Engagement & Education 

North American Engagement & Education  As the policy sets out, on an annual basis the Standing Committee designated with the authority to oversee  the general government budget will  review  the engagement program  to ensure  that  the program falls within the overall budget for the service and to ensure that it aligns with the goals and objectives of Metro Vancouver. In accordance with the Board Remuneration Bylaw, the Board Chair approves individual attendance at program events within the scope of the annual budget.  ALTERNATIVES 1. That  the  GVRD  Board  approve  the Metro  Vancouver  Leadership  and  Engagement  Policy  as 

presented  in  the  report  titled  “Metro Vancouver  Leadership  and  Engagement Policy”, dated March 9, 2015. 

2. That the  Intergovernment and Finance Committee receive the report titled “Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy” for information and provide alternate direction. 

 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no direct budget implications associated with the approval of this Policy, as it is intended to provide guidance and direction on the consideration and selection of national and international engagement  events  and  on  the  development  of  the  annual  work  plan  for  individual  Standing Committees within the scope of the general government program budget.      

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SUMMARY / CONCLUSION For a number of years, Metro Vancouver has maintained an engagement program that facilitates the advancement of  its goals and objectives on a national and  international  level. Building upon  this history is the development of a Board Policy that is intended to provide overall guidance and direction on the preparation of the annual national and international engagement program and to inform the development of the annual standing committee work plan and events program. It is recommend that the Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy be approved as presented  in alternative one.   Attachment:  Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy

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 METRO VANCOUVER LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT 

Effective Date:   

Approved By:   

 

 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of the Metro Vancouver Leadership and Engagement Policy is to articulate the principles by which Metro Vancouver (GVRD, GVWD, GVW&DD, MVHC) will participate, at both a national and at an international level, in events that either promote Metro Vancouver in a leadership role or that provide  opportunity  for  engagement  and  continuous  improvement  in  the  advancement  of organizational goals.    POLICY 

Metro Vancouver is recognized as a global leader in its delivery of services to the population of the region. International recognition has included hosting delegations and receiving invitations to speak on wide variety of subjects  including  regional governance,  land use planning, air quality,  regional parks and affordable housing.  In addition, as one of  the  largest utilities  in North America, Metro Vancouver  is  frequently cited and consulted on  its  initiatives and achievements  in  the delivery of drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management.  To further Metro Vancouver’s role as a leader in the delivery of complex regional services and utilities to a  large metropolitan area and to enhance  its  interest  in  learning from the experiences of other organizations, a program has been developed  that  facilitates engagement with  communities and organizations  from around the world. This program enables Metro Vancouver to provide a strong advocacy role on its policy initiatives at both a national and at an international level and also creates opportunities for Metro Vancouver to enhance cultural and economic exchange. The Leadership and Engagement program builds upon the strategic priorities identified in the Board Strategic Plan and encompasses all aspects of the organization.   LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT 

Four leadership and engagement components form the foundation of Metro Vancouver’s program for participation in North American and International events. Those program components are defined as follows:  

International Organization Memberships 

International Study Tours 

International Engagement & Education 

North American Engagement & Education  International Organization Memberships Participation  in major  international  local  government  organizations  provides  the  opportunity  for Metro Vancouver to take a leadership role in advancing its goals and initiatives at an international level. Specifically, maintaining a presence  in  leading  international  local government organizations 

BOARD POLICY

Attachment

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BOARD POLICY 

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presents the opportunity for Metro Vancouver to provide an advocacy role and to advance an agenda of collective local government action on:  

Mitigating and responding to climate change 

Advancing zero waste innovation 

Promoting regional governance resiliency  Local government organizations that are identified as important to pursuing these goals include ICLEI, UCLG and IRBC. Metro Vancouver will maintain its participation in these organizations and will review events on an annual basis to evaluate those events that are best aligned with the overall objectives of Metro Vancouver’s international leadership and engagement program.   International Study Tours Participation  in  international study tours provides the opportunity  for Metro Vancouver to obtain specific knowledge on best practices and technologies in other parts of the world on a broad range of topics. Study tour themes will be reviewed annually to  identify those topics that fall within the annual work plan and that are focused on large organizational projects or initiatives of region wide significance. Study tours will be evaluated based on organizational priority and will be designed to maximize the benefit to both the organization as a whole and to the  individual participant on the tour.  International Engagement & Education Participation  in  international  engagement  and  education  provides  the  opportunity  for  Metro Vancouver to demonstrate leadership at international events and conferences on best practices and innovation while also giving Metro Vancouver the opportunity to learn from others on leading edge initiatives. Selection of international events will be reviewed annually and will be focused on themes that are most relevant to Metro Vancouver where there is an exceptional opportunity to learn from international experiences.  North American Engagement & Education Participation in North American engagement and education is focused on Metro Vancouver standing committee initiatives and provides the opportunity for Committee members to participate directly in learning, interaction and engagement with other North American communities, organizations, local government officials, and international experts. It provides standing committee members with the chance to represent Metro Vancouver on a broader scale. Events under this category will be selected based on their relevance to the annual work plan of the individual Standing Committee.  AUTHORIZATION 

The annual budget for the Metro Vancouver leadership and engagement program is included within the general government service and is approved annually by the designated Standing Committee that has  oversight  of  the  general  government  budget.  The  Board  Chair  has  authority  for  approving attendance in program events in accordance with the Board Remuneration Bylaw.  

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To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Intergovernment and Finance Committee  Date:  June 18, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy 

 INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board approve the Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy as amended  in the report dated June 5, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”.  

 At its June 18, 2015 meeting, the Intergovernment and Finance Committee considered the attached report titled “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”, dated, June 5, 2015.    Members considered a reduction in the internal funding threshold for authorizing sponsorships from $10,000  to a maximum of $1,500 and suggested  language be strengthened  to  reflect  the Policy’s intent to support not‐for‐profit proposals rather than those with private or commercial interests. The Committee subsequently directed staff to amend the Policy accordingly, prior to being forwarded to the Board at its meeting of July 3, 2015, and passed the motion as presented in the report, as reflected above.   Attachment: “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”, dated, June 5, 2015  (together with the Policy, as amended by the Intergovernment and Finance Committee on June 18, 2015) 

  11539592

Section E  2.2

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 To:  Intergovernmental and Finance Committee   From:  Heather Schoemaker, Senior Director, External Relations Department  Date:  June 5, 2015  Meeting Date:  June 18, 2015  Subject:  Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy 

 RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board approve the Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy as presented in the report dated June 5, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”.   

 PURPOSE   To provide the GVRD Board with a Metro Vancouver sponsorship policy for its consideration.  BACKGROUND At its regular meeting of November 30, 2012, the GVRD Board of Directors endorsed the following resolution directing staff to develop a policy that provides guidance on sponsorship requests:  

…to develop a policy for Metro Vancouver to fund or support municipally hosted  events that have a regional benefit and report back to the Intergovernmental and Administration Committee. 

 At its regular meeting of April 23, 2015, the Intergovernment and Finance Committee discussed the draft policy developed by staff, with comments focusing on:   

…sponsorship acknowledgement, budgeting, evaluation criteria, and the need to  ensure that sponsorships are function‐based or related to statutory functions,  and the need to clearly identify in the policy that applications must be regionally‐ beneficial in terms of advancing regional goals and objectives. 

 The Committee referred the policy bask to staff for further revisions.  The attached Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy (Attachment 1) responds to the Committee’s direction.   METRO VANCOUVER SPONSORSHIP POLICY The  Sponsorship  Policy  provides  specific  criteria  for  determining  the  circumstances  under which Metro  Vancouver  sponsorship  support,  either  direct  or  in‐kind,  is  appropriate  for  events  and programs. Its intent is to facilitate Metro Vancouver support for events and programs that achieve the following broad objectives:  

1. Clearly advance Metro Vancouver’s corporate goals and objectives; 2. Relate directly to one or more of Metro Vancouver’s statutory functions (Greater Vancouver 

Regional District  (GVRD), Greater Vancouver  Sewerage  and Drainage District  (GVS&DD), Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD), Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation (MVHC); 

3. Provide a clear, positive community benefit to the Metro Vancouver region overall. 

Attachment

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 Specific changes that were made to the Sponsorship Policy in response to the Intergovernment and Finance Committee’s direction of April 23, 2015 include:  

(1) More clearly defined and targeted policy objectives (see “Overview”); (2) The expansion of sponsorship categories that are considered to provide higher value to Metro 

Vancouver  to  include  those  opportunities  that  have  a  “prominent  connection  to Metro Vancouver or member facilities” (see “Overview”); 

(3) The  addition of  application  timelines  for  all  funding  requests  (i.e. both  above  and below $10,000 in total value – see “Application and Review Procedure”); 

(4) An exception clause  in  the application and  review procedure  for  funding requests greater than $10,000 that would give the Board discretion to consider applications made after the suggested 3‐month deadline (see “Application and Review Procedure”).   

 ALTERNATIVES 1. That the GVRD Board endorse the Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy as presented in the report 

dated June 5 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy”.  2. That  the  GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  report  dated  June  5  2015,  titled  “Metro 

Vancouver Sponsorship Policy” and provide alternate direction.  

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no immediate financial implications for Metro Vancouver related to the endorsement of a sponsorship policy. Currently, requests for sponsorship support are received intermittently but there are no clear guidelines on how  to consider  these  requests. Under  the proposed policy,  individual sponsorship  submissions  will  be  considered  in  future  on  a  case‐by‐case  basis  within  existing departmental budgets. Funds allocated  for sponsorship requests will be  included  in the  individual department budgets for consideration by the appropriate standing committees at the time that the annual budgets are presented.  SUMMARY / CONCLUSION Metro Vancouver is periodically presented with opportunities to build awareness of Metro Vancouver and  the Metro Vancouver  brand  “Services  and  Solutions  for  a  Livable  Region”  and  to  showcase specific Metro  Vancouver  projects,  programs  and  initiatives  and  those  of  its members  through sponsorship of local and regional events. However, at the current time, specific criteria do not exist to guide decision‐making with respect to external funding requests. The attached Sponsorship Policy is  intended  to  provide  clear  guidelines  as  to  the  type  of  sponsorship  opportunities  that will  be considered and how they will be given that consideration. The Sponsorship Policy as presented will address  this  gap;  therefore,  staff  recommend  that  the Board  endorse  the  Sponsorship  Policy  as presented in Alternative 1.   Attachment:  Metro Vancouver Sponsorship Policy  

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  Sponsorship Policy Page 1 of 4 

SPONSORSHIP POLICY Effective Date: July 1, 2015 Approved By:    

 PURPOSE 

This policy provides specific criteria for determining the circumstances under which Metro Vancouver sponsorship support, either direct or in‐kind, is appropriate for events and programs being hosted by external organizations or by Metro Vancouver’s members.  DEFINITIONS  

“Metro Vancouver” refers to any of the four legal entities that comprise the organization: the GVRD, GVS&DD, GVWD, and MVHC.  “Sponsorship”  refers  to  the  provision  of  cash  or  in‐kind  contributions  by Metro  Vancouver  in exchange  for a defined set of benefits, such as  logo placement, speaking opportunities by Metro Vancouver directors or senior staff, advertising in event publications or on event websites, etc., for any local or regional events.   “In‐kind contributions” are specific contributions that Metro Vancouver may provide in lieu of a cash contribution to an event or program, including: 

a) Goods, such as: supplies (printed promotional materials); use of Metro Vancouver facilities (waived  fees  for  hosting  events  at  Metro  Vancouver  venues/facilities);  use  of  Metro Vancouver proprietary supplies or materials (e.g., water for event participants supplied via the Metro Vancouver water wagon) and food/catering;   

b) Services, such as: staff support (assignment of Metro Vancouver staff to provide expert advice or  professional  services  in  support  of  the  sponsored  event  or  program,  e.g.,  event web casting/live streaming, etc.).       

 POLICY 

Overview  Metro Vancouver is periodically presented with opportunities to build awareness of Metro Vancouver and  the Metro Vancouver  brand  “Services  and  Solutions  for  a  Livable  Region”  and  to  showcase specific Metro  Vancouver  projects,  programs  and  initiatives  and  those  of  its members  through sponsorship of local and regional events. This policy is intended to provide clear guidelines as to what sort of sponsorship opportunities will be considered and how they will be given consideration.     

Attachment

BOARD POLICYBOARD POLICY

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  Sponsorship Policy Page 2 of 4 

Overall, Metro Vancouver seeks to support events and programs that achieve all of the  following broad objectives:  

1. Clearly advance Metro Vancouver’s corporate goals and objectives; 2. Relate directly to one or more of Metro Vancouver’s statutory functions (Greater Vancouver 

Regional District (GVRD), Greater Vancouver Sewerage &Drainage District (GVS&DD), Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD, Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation (MVHC); 

3. Provide a clear, positive community benefit to the Metro Vancouver region overall.  This policy applies to all sponsorship proposals regardless of their cost or the type of contribution (i.e., cash or any in‐kind contributions), although a separate review procedure has been put in place for sponsorships with a total value of more than $1,500. In addition to the eligibility criteria set out below, sponsorship opportunities that promote Metro Vancouver’s brand, projects, programs and initiatives will  be  considered  as  providing  higher  value  to Metro Vancouver,  as will  sponsorship opportunities  that  involve  or  promote  four  or more Metro  Vancouver members  or  that  have  a prominent connection to Metro Vancouver or member facilities.     This policy does not apply to grants or the provision of other forms of assistance.  Eligibility Criteria  To be considered, a sponsorship proposal must meet ALL of the following criteria:  

(1) It must offer specific benefits to Metro Vancouver or its members and must clearly outline the specific roles and responsibilities of each party in a formal agreement.   

(2) The event or program for which sponsorship is being sought must: a) Have  an  overall  community  objective  and  purpose  that  is  consistent with Metro 

Vancouver’s vision, mission and roles;  b) Have  operating  guidelines  and  procedures  that  are  consistent  with  Metro 

Vancouver’s Sustainability Framework and Board Strategic Plan; c) Be organized and/or  supported by a  registered  charitable organization or not‐for‐

profit entity. (3) Metro Vancouver must receive benefits having a fair value that is consistent with the cost of 

the sponsorship to be provided. (4) Metro Vancouver must receive appropriate acknowledgement of its contribution to the event 

or program being sponsored.  Sponsorship opportunities that involve or promote four or more Metro Vancouver members will be considered as providing higher value to Metro Vancouver.     Metro Vancouver will not consider any sponsorship proposals for events or programs that:  

(1) Primarily promote a private or commercial interest; (2) Promote or support political or religious organizations; (3) Exclude or marginalize minority community groups; (4) Pose potential environmental hazards;  (5) Involve the taking of unnecessary risks, or that put the general public at risk.  

 

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  Sponsorship Policy Page 3 of 4 

Notwithstanding any of the criteria or procedures outlined  in this policy, Metro Vancouver has no obligation to provide sponsorship and may, at  its sole discretion, decline to sponsor any event or program for any reason, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing:  

(1) The stated purpose of the event or program for which sponsorship is being sought;  (2) Metro  Vancouver  budgetary  or  financial  considerations  at  the  time  of  the  sponsorship 

request; (3) The projected reach of the event or program and its visibility in communities that make up 

the Metro Vancouver region.    Sponsorship Budgets The annual budgets for the Metro Vancouver sponsorship program are included within the individual department budgets and are considered annually by the designated Standing Committee that has oversight of  those budgets.  Final approval of  sponsorship program budgets  shall be  through  the applicable Board  following  review by  the  standing  committee with  responsibility  for  the  general government budget.  Application and Review Procedure   1. Funding Requests Greater than $1,500 

Organizations seeking a sponsorship with a  total value greater  than $1,500 must submit  their request to Metro Vancouver in writing at least three months in advance of the event/program for which sponsorship is being requested, and must provide the following details with respect to the event or program for which sponsorship is being sought:  

a) The official name of the event or program; b) The date(s) and times(s) of the event or program, as applicable;  c) A general description of the event or program, including its overall objective(s);  d) The overall budget for the event or program and the total cash or cash equivalent amount 

of sponsorship being sought; e) An accounting of how event organizers plan to allocate the cash or in‐kind contributions 

provided by Metro Vancouver should the sponsorship application be approved; f) A  listing of other stakeholders that will be approached to provide sponsorships for the 

event or program;  g) A  listing of the specific benefits that will accrue to Metro Vancouver should  it proceed 

with the sponsorship being sought; h) A detailed description of how and to what degree Metro Vancouver’s members will be 

involved in the event or program; i) A description of the anticipated outcomes of the event or program and how this will be 

measured and reported.  Notwithstanding the prescribed timeline outlined  in the application process above, the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors may, at its sole discretion, waive this requirement for sponsorship opportunities that meet the objectives of this policy and that meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2.   

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  Sponsorship Policy Page 4 of 4 

For proposals seeking sponsorship with a total value greater than $1,500, Metro Vancouver staff will  prepare  a  Committee  report  for  consideration  by  the  appropriate  standing  committee (including  a  recommendation on  the proposal), which will  assess  the proposal based on  the criteria included in this policy. If endorsed by the standing committee, the report and attached sponsorship  proposal  will  be  forwarded  to  the  relevant  Metro  Vancouver  Board  for  its consideration.  

2. Funding Requests For $1,500 or Less Organizations seeking a sponsorship with a total value of $1,500 or less must submit their request to Metro Vancouver in writing at least two months in advance of the event/program for which sponsorship is being requested, and must provide the following details with respect to the event or program for which sponsorship is being sought:  

a) The official name of the event or program; b) The date(s) and times(s) of the event/program, as applicable;  c) A general description of the event or program, including its overall objective(s);  d) The overall budget for the event or program and the total cash or cash equivalent amount 

of sponsorship being sought; e) A  listing of the specific benefits that will accrue to Metro Vancouver should  it proceed 

with the sponsorship being sought.  For proposals seeking sponsorship with a total value of $1,500 or less, the proposal will initially be assessed by the applicable Metro Vancouver department based on the criteria included in this policy and will be reviewed by the department General Manager/Senior Director and the CFO/GM of  Financial  Services  in  accordance  with  the  approved  sponsorship  program  budget.  The sponsorship program  request may  either be  approved or denied, or may  be  referred  to  the appropriate Metro Vancouver standing committee for further consideration. 

  

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To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Intergovernment and Finance Committee  Date:  June 18, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project 

 INTERGOVERNMENT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That  the GVRD Board write a  letter  to  the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, requesting a moratorium on the construction and development of the Site C Dam until the end of 2017, and  that  the proposed project be  referred  to  the British Columbia Utilities Commission  for review and consultation.  

 At its June 18, 2015 meeting, the Intergovernment and Finance Committee considered the attached report titled “Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project”, dated, June 4, 2015.   The Committee also heard  from delegation Mayor Gwen  Johannson, District of Hudson Hope, Rob Botterell,  Lidstone and Company,  and Robert MCullough, McCullough Research,  expressing  concerns  related  to  the proposed Site C Dam Project.   The Committee subsequently passed the recommendation  in the report, as presented above, and requested that the Board Chair extend an invitation to BC Hydro and other appropriate authorities to present further information on the project to the GVRD Board at its meeting of July 3, 2015.  Attachment: “Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project”, dated, June 4, 2015   11539574

Section E  2.3

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11452411

 To:  Intergovernment and Finance Committee  From:  Utilities Committee  Date:  June 4, 2015  Meeting Date:  June 18, 2015  Subject:  Burrard Thermal and Site C Dam Project 

 UTILITIES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That  the GVRD Board write a  letter  to  the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, requesting a moratorium on the construction and development of the Site C Dam until the end of 2017, and  that  the proposed project be  referred  to  the British Columbia Utilities Commission  for review and consultation.  

 At  its May 28, 2015 meeting,  the Utilities Committee considered  the attached on‐table  summary and  correspondence distributed by a Committee member. The Committee  subsequently  referred the on‐table material and  the  recommendation as presented above  to  the  Intergovernment and Finance Committee for discussion.    Attachments  (Orbit 11456425): 1. Summary – Burrard Thermal, Energy Alternatives and Site C Dam Comparison. 2. Correspondence dated May 26, 2015 from the Peace Valley Landowner Association addressed 

to  the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of BC,  regarding  fundamental  flaws  invalidating BC Hydro’s Site C Dam Business Case. 

3. Correspondence dated  January 29, 2015  from City of Richmond addressed  to  the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of BC, regarding the Proposed Site C Dam Project. 

 

Attachment

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SUMMARY

1) Burrard Thermal, Energy Alternatives and site C Dam comparison:

Burrard Thermal presently operates as a peaking plant. If maintained it would continue as a peaking plant while other energy alternatives were developed and conservation practices reduced need. No estimates have been given for domestic power needs that would justify construction of the Site C dam.

Metro Vancouver Estimates: Site C Dam: 1,100 MW is designed to produce power for 450,000 homes , capable of 880,000 Burrard Thermal: 950 MW is used as a peaking plant, capable of powering 760,000 homes Existing Metro WTE: 20 MW producing power for 16,000 homes New Metro WTE: 30 MW producing power for 24,000 homes

CALP Community Energy Guide Estimates (Dr. Stephen Shepherd): Rooftop Solar potential power for 900,000 homes Local Run of River Hyedro: 7,500 homes Industrial Energy Recovery: 7,500 homes heat energy Livestock biogas: 17,000 homes Forest Biomass: 26,000 homes Wind: not calculated

Canadian Geothermal Energy Association: Borealis Lakelse/Terrace: 15 MW Borealis Valemount: 15 MW Tecto Energy South Meager Creek: 15 MW Additional geo thermal power plants can be built to meet demand 11 times as many jobs as Site C Lowest physical and environmental footprint

Richmond District Energy: 12,000 homes heat energy with plans to expand

2) Agricultural Value of Site C land: Site C neither clean nor green

ALR Land: 9,180 acres removed from ALR April 2015 Statutory Reserve Land: 24,620 acres (much as farmland previously removed from ALR) Total: 33,800 acres Class 1 & 2 alluvial soil not affected by drought Capable of producing food for 1 million people Capable of sequestering 52,000 tons of CO2/yr (3,500 lb/ac/yr for traditional organic agriculture – Rodale Institute; 5,000 lb/ac/yr for trees) Fishery and environmental loss substantial.

3) Business Case Flaws - attached

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Attachment 1
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PEACE VALlEYtandown.r aSsociation

Ss#2, SIte 12, Comp. 19, Fort $t Joli, British Columbia, Vii 4M7

Via E-Mail [email protected]

M4y 26th, 2015

The Honourable Christy ClarkPremier of Bnt;sh ColumbiaP 0 Box 9041 Stu Prov GovtVitoria B.C. V8W 9E1

Dear Premier c1ark

Re: Fundamental Flaws Invalidate BC Hydro’s Site C Dam Business Case

I am writing to urgently request that you delay the Summer 2015. start of Site C dam constructionfor at least 2 years to:

o save BC ratepayers $200 million dollars,

• fully respect Site C-related cot processes now underway,

• allow time for BC Auditor General Carol Belfrmger to consider a finance performanceaudit of the Site C frnal investment decisionprocess, and

• address the very disturbing findings of respected energy economist Robert McCulloughregarding the Site C business case through an open,, expert and mdependent review of theSite C business case with full procedural safeguards.

Contrary to the statements ofEnergy and Mines litnister Bitt Bennett, Site C is likely doublethe cost ofother energy options

On December 16, 2014, you announced your govemmenCs approval of the Site C dam At $8 $billion, Site C is the largest public infrastructure project in BC history.

We ietained respected energy economist Robert McCullough to prepare an independent expertreview of Site C business case assumptions. In bus reports M, McCullough concludes:

While the cost and choice of options deserve futther analysis, the. simple conclusion isthat Site C is more expensive — dramatically so — than the renewable/natural gasportfolios elsewhere in the U S and Canada Our ana[ysi indicates that the Site Cportfolio may well be twice as costly as the renewable/natural gas portfolio adoptedelSøwhe.re. (emphasis added)

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BCHydro’sfinancial analysis is skewed tofavour Site C over alternatives

In the cover letter to his report, Mr. McCullough states:

In the course of our review we have found evidence from the. U.S. Bonneville PowerAdministration that suggests that British Columbia Hydro’s choice of a discount ratemay have differed from their usual practice Since this is the single most importantassumption many cost benefit study, a careful review of BC Hydro’s decision to use thisdiscountrate is in order. (emphasis added)

You and your Cabinet appear to have relied on incomplete, misleading or inaccurate advice fromthe staff of BC Hydro and the Ministry of Energy and Mines Otherwise how could Minister ofEnergy and Mines, Bill Bennett conclude that Site C is the least cost option for BC ratepayers, ashe did at the December 1 Site C technical briefmg:

WhatI’d like to say to start wjth is that what has driven inn as the Energy minister oVerthis last year and a half is what’s best for the ratepayer of British Cobimbia, how wecan acquire the powci that we need at the least cost possible, and the answer turnedóutto be the Site C project. (emphasis added)

Our serious concerns do nOt end there.

Contrary to BC Hydro statements, a 2 year delay wilt save ratepayers $200 mittioit

In January 2015, BC Hydro Commercial Manager of Site C, Michael Savidant, stated in anaffidavit that Site C will cost $175 million more if the start of project construction is delayed forone year. We conducted the attached review and found, using BC Hydro’s own analysis, that a2-year delay will save BC ratepayers approximately $200 million, whether or not Site Cultimately proceeds:

The $175 million cost of delay estimate contained in the Savidant Affidavit is incompleteand misleading. It is incomplete because it does not take inte account the sale ofsurplus Site C power at a loss until Site C’s full 5,100 GWh are needed If theconstruction of Site C is delayed 2 years, significant export losses will be avoidedThe Savidant estimate is misleading because it is a cash cost estimate rather than apresent value estimate Other BC Hydro cost estimates are routinely presented mpresent value temis to ensure comparability.

BC Bydro’s analysis shows thatilelaying the Site C project for 2 years will result in gresssavmgs estimated at $317 m:ilhon After adjusting for the present value of other costs ofdelay, the net savings to BC ratepayers of a 2-year detaywill be approximately $200milhon A longer delay will very likely generate higher net savings to BCi atepayers(emphasis added)

The Site Cfinal investment decision ignores critical new information on geothermal energy

In apparent reliance on BC Hydro and Ministry of Energy staff advice, Minister Bennettmdicated at the December 2014 technical br]efing that geothermal is not a viable option and thatidentification of the resource can be veryexpensive and risky. This is directly contradicted byinformation provided to the BC government by the Canadian Geothermal Association inNovember 2014 in its report entitled “Geothermal Energy: The Renewable and Cost Effective

2

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Alternative to Site C “. Please refer to the attached backgroundet for more information ongeothermal; there appears to he a tacit government moratorium on hot sedimentary aquifergeothermal hi Northeast BC.

contrary to finance Minister Mike de long’s stqtcrnent, Site C is a green project

Most recently in April 2015, Bloomberg News interviewed finance Minister Mike de Jong andthe Minister indicated Site C is a very large green project:

Finance Minister Mike de Jong said be discussed the possibility of raising money viagreen bonds for the [Site CJ project in meetings last week With fund managers in Boston,New York and Chicago.

“We obviously have a very large green project in Site C and We’re asking, ‘Is there anopportunity, what would that opportunity look like, and can you advance somethingalong those lines without. sacrificing liquidity’?’ “de long said. (emphasis added)

It is very imisleading, if not untrue, to suggest that largehydm projects such as Site C are greenproj ects for financing purposes We contacted Jacob Securities Inc ‘,provided their $VPResearch, lobli Mdflveen2 with the Bloomberg article and asked Mr. Mcllveen whether or notSite C is a green project. In the attached letter dated April . 8th,201• he stated unequ vocally:

Large hydro is not green and does not qualii’ for green credits. This is due to-the largereservoir and dam that damage the environment. (emphasis added)

Conclusion

Clearly, the final investment decision for this $8 S billion project contains fundamental flawsFor all of the above reasons, we askyou to act in the best interests of BC ratepayers and delaythe start of Site C construction until at least Summer 2017.

In the circumstances, I respectfully request a written response from you by June 5th, 2015.

Sincerely,

Ken BoonPresidentPeace Valley Landowner Association

Cc: Carol Beliringer C-PA, FCA, Auditor General for British Columbia

1 Jacob Securities inc. is an independent full-servIce investment bank providing underwriting and financial advisoryservices to companies in the power, infrastructure, technology, energy and mining sectors.2 John Mcl]veen has 30 years experience in debt markets private equity and public equity.

3

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The Honourable Christy ClarkPremier of British ColumbiaOffice of the PremierP0 BOX 9041 $Th PROV GOVTVictoria, BC V$W 9E1

Dear Premier Clark:

Re: Proposed Site C Dam Project

Malcolm D. BrodieMayor

6911 No.3 RoadRichmond, BC V6Y 2C1

Telephone: 604-276-4123Fax No: 604-276-4332

www,richmond,ca

• This is to advise that at its Regular Council meeting held on Monday, January 26, 2015, Richmond CityCouncil adopted the following resolution:

That the City write a letter to the Province ofBC requesting a moratorbtm on theconstruction and development of Site C until the end of 2015, and that theproposed project be referred to the BC Utilities commission for review andconsultation.

if you require further information, please feel free to contact John Irving, Director,604.276.4140.

Yo.rp truly,

Malcolm D.$rodieMayor /

Engineering at

ichmond

City ofRichmond

January 29,2015

4493706

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DDavis
Text Box
Attachment 3
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 To:    GVRD Board of Directors 

 From:  Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer, Board and Information Services  Date:  June 3, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Metro Vancouver External Agency Activities Status Report May 2015 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the  GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  following  reports  from  Metro  Vancouver representatives to external organizations: 

a) Agricultural Advisory Committee Status Report b) Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee Status Report c) Experience the Fraser Project Update d) Report on Recent Activities of  the Municipal  Finance Authority of BC  – Activities  for  the 

period of November 2014 – April 2015 e) Pacific Parklands Foundation Update for the Period October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015 

as contained  in the report dated June 3, 2015, titled “Metro Vancouver External Agency Activities Status Report May 2015”.  

 PURPOSE To  convey  written  summaries  of  the  activities  of  external  agencies  to  which  the  board  has appointed representatives.  BACKGROUND Each  year  the  Board  appoints  representatives  to  various  external  organizations.  Board  Policy requires  appointees  to  provide  the  Board  semi‐annually  (May  and  October),  with  written summaries of key current and planned activities of  the external agency  to which  they have been appointed.  Submissions  outlining  the  recent  activities  of  the  various  external  agencies  are  attached  for  the Board’s information.  Attachments and References: A. Agricultural Advisory Committee Status Report B. Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee Status Report C. Experience the Fraser Project Update D. Report on Recent Activities of the Municipal Finance Authority of BC – Activities for the period 

of November 2014 – April 2015 E. Pacific Parklands Foundation Update for the Period October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015   

Section E 3.1

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 To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Harold Steves  Date:  June, 2, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Agricultural Advisory Committee Status Report 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the GVRD Board  receive  for  information  the  report dated  June 2, 2015,  titled  “Agricultural Advisory Committee Status Report”.  

 PURPOSE To provide the Board with an update on the activities of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.  BACKGROUND Only one meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee was held, April 29, 2015. The Committee received a presentation from Mark Robbins on “Farm Property Tax  Investigation”. The Committee received reports from staff on: 

‐Metro Vancouver 2015 Agriculture priorities 

‐Options to improve or replace Barnston Island Ferry 

‐Update on solutions to illegal fill on agricultural land 

‐Farm property Taxation results 

‐Agricultue and Food System funding recipients 

‐Update on Regional Food Action Plan The Committee endorsed staff recommendations for Metro Vancouver 2015 Agricultural Awareness Grants.  ALTERNATIVES This is an information report. No alternatives are presented. 

ATTACHMENT A

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 To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Councillor Ian Paton, Corporation of Delta – Delta Airpark Management Committee   Date:  June 1, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee Status Report  

 RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board receive for information the report dated, June 1, 2015 titled “Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee Status Report.”   

 PURPOSE   To provide the Board with an update on the activities of the Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee.   BACKGROUND  Delta Heritage Airpark (DHAP) is owned by Metro Vancouver and operated by Recreational Aircraft Association  (RAA) Chapter 85 by way of a  License Agreement.   The  license Agreement defines a Management  Committee membership  comprising  representatives  from  the  Airpark  neighbours, Province  of  BC,  Non  Profit  organizations,  RAA,  Metro  Vancouver  staff,  and  staff  from  the Corporation  of  Delta.    The Management  Committee  formulates  operating  rules  governing  the Airpark and advises Metro Vancouver on policy matters.   The Committee meets a minimum  two times a year.   Highlights The Delta Heritage Airpark Committee first meeting of the year was held on May 12, 2015.  It was attended  by  the  president  of  the  Recreational Aircraft Association  (RAA),  the  chair  of  the Delta Airpark Committee, the chair of the Delta Airpark Operating Committee, one Corporation of Delta staff member, one member  from  the neighbourhood  and  two Metro Vancouver  staff members.  Highlights of the Delta Heritage Airpark meeting and follow‐up outcomes are:   

the business of the Flight Monitoring group was reviewed with two incidents presented and reviewed.    The DHAP Operating  Committee  Chair  followed  up  on  a  previous  incident;  a failed takeoff, on August 23, 2014. He reported that the vintage aircraft repairs are nearing completion  and  the  pilot  plans  to  return  to  DHAP  in  the  summer  of  2015.  The  second incident occurred on or about April 28, 2015  regarding an aircraft  that was not  following flight procedures and flying too  low over a neghbours property. After an  investigation, the pilot acknowledged that he had miscalculated his approach and provided assurance that  it would not reoccur; 

the DHAP Budget including the reserve statement, the reserve fund forecast, operating and 10 year capital plan were approved unanimously; 

  

ATTACHMENT B

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Page 2 of 2

 

operating updates  include; The DHAP Operating Committee Chair reviewed the recent and upcoming events in 2015; DHAP participated in the annual Celebrating Parks event, April 25, 2015; 

every second Sunday of every month, the Recreational Aircraft Association, Delta Heritage Airpark  Committee  and  the  Boundary  Bay  Flying  Club  host  a  pancake  breakfast  to  their members and the public;  

the annual fly‐in is being organized by the Recreational Aircraft Association on June 27, 2015  

a vintage airplane show will be held during the summer Annual Remembrance Day event on November 11, 2015;  

other business – discussions regarding the DHAP license Agreement Renewal which expires July 31, 2015 for another five‐year term are nearing completion;  

a verbal report was requested and provided on the status of the Embree House restoration; occupancy is planned for December 2015.   

 ALTERNATIVES  This in an information report.  No alternatives are presented.   FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS  There are no financial implications   SUMMARY / CONCLUSION  This  report provides  information on  the  current  state of operating  and  financial  activities  at  the Delta Heritage Airpark.  

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 To:  GVRD Board  From:  Director Heather Deal and Director Bob Long  Date:  June 1, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Experience the Fraser Project Update  

RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board receive for information the report dated June 1, 2015, titled “Experience the Fraser Project Update Report”. 

 PURPOSE To provide the GVRD Board with an update on the Experience the Fraser (ETF) project and its’ Joint Political Steering Committee.   DISCUSSION The  Experience  the  Fraser  Joint  Political  Steering  Committee  (PSC)  is  intended  to  comprise  two elected members from each of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts, two provincial MLAs  and  one  senior  provincial  staff  liaison.    Currently  the  PSC  does  not  have  appointed MLA members or a new provincial senior staff  liaison to replace the retired Assistant Deputy Minister, Mr. Peter Walters.  The primary liaison with the Province is rather through Mr. Lorne Mayancourt, Director of Outreach at BC Government Caucus.  The last full Joint Political Steering Committee on April  11,  2014  led  to  the  Board  adoption  of  the  Canyon  to  Coast  Trail  and  Blueway  Signage Guidelines and presentation of the draft ETF North Arm Concept Plan to affected municipalities  in the study area in June 2014. The draft Concept Plan will be brought forward to the GVRD and FVRD Boards once it has endorsement from all of these municipalities ‐‐ Burnaby is pending. .  An ETF delegation was  invited  to meet with  the Province  in Victoria on April 27, 2015 and made presentations to five MLAs and one Legislative Assistant.   An ETF brief has been requested by the Province  that can be distributed  to all MLAs.    In addition  to context and progress  to‐date on ETF other points covered included  

opportunities for ETF to benefit from other provincial programs, like the Job Creation Program (Metro Vancouver received a  labor crew and $95,000  in  fall 2014   and an FVRD application  is pending);  

access to provincial technical and policy staff to advance ETF interests; 

a possible role for Destination BC in marketing ETF and related tourism venues; 

consideration of ETF vision and Concept Plan with design of provincial infrastructure 

ongoing ETF overall partner development, planning and administration funding; 

the  ideas  of  a  dedicated  capital  fund  for  local  government  projects  in  the  ETF  foundational program; 

opportunities to engage First Nations; and 

renewing provincial participation on the Joint Political Steering Committee.  

Further dialogue on these topics is anticipated later this year led by Regional District PSC members.  

ATTACHMENT C

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Experience the Fraser Project Update Report Page 2 of 2 

A progress and 2015 work plan report is being provided to the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Committee on June 18, 2015 and will be forwarded to the Board.  SUMMARY / CONCLUSION This report provides an update on the status of the ETF Joint Political Steering Committee and other liaison with the Province of BC on this project.  An upcoming Regional Parks Committee report with details of the progress and 2015 workplan for ETF will be provided to the GVRD Board.    

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 To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  M.  Brodie,  D.  Corrigan,  G. Moore,  R. Walton, M.  Clay,  R.  Louie,  D. Mussatto,  J. 

Villeneuve, L. Jackson, R. Stewart  Date:  May 22, 2015  Meeting Date: July 3, 2015  Subject:  Report on Recent Activities of  the Municipal Finance Authority of BC – Activities 

for the period of November 2014 – April 2015 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  report  dated May  22,  2015  titled  “Report  on Recent Activities of the Municipal Finance Authority of BC – Activities for the period of November 2014 – April 2015”.  

 PURPOSE   To report  to  the Board of Directors on  the activities of  the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia (“MFA”).  CONTEXT The following  is a summary of activities of the MFA for the six‐month period of November 2014 – April 2015.  Trustee and Member Meetings During  the  reporting  period,  the MFA  Board  of  Trustees  attended  three  meetings.    The MFA Members and Trustees attended the AGM on March 26, 2015.  The MFA Investment Advisory Committee, comprising all Trustees, held one meeting.  The purpose of  these meetings  is  to  receive  reports  and  analysis  from our pooled  investment  fund manager, Phillips, Hager & North (PH&N).  The  Annual  General Meeting  of Members was  held  on March  26,  2015.   Malcolm  Brodie was elected as the Chair of the MFA.  Derek Corrigan, Greg Moore and Richard Walton were re‐elected as  Trustees.    Al  Richmond  (Cariboo  Regional  District)  was  elected  Vice‐Chair.    Joe  Stanhope (Nanaimo Regional District) was re‐elected; new Trustees are Susan Brice (Capital Regional District), Rob Gay  (East  Kootenay  Regional  District),  Ron  Toyota  (Central  Kootenay  Regional District)  and Sharon Gaetz (Fraser Valley Regional District).  Trustees are elected annually.  The Financial Forum was held prior to the AGM and speakers were Dr. Lynda Gagné, PhD Economics (UBC), Assistant Professor, Public Administration, Community Development, Luc Vallée, Ph.D. Chief Strategist, Laurentian Bank Securities, Kevin De Sousa, CFA, Vice President, Fixed  Income, Phillips, Hager  &  North  Investment  Management,  and Mark  Hadden,  Managing  Director,  Group  Head, Scotiabank Government Finance.  

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The MFA  Executive  presented  an  orientation  session  on  the MFA  to Members  and  Trustees  on March 25.  MFA Credit Ratings Our annual review and presentations with our  three credit rating agencies were held at  the MFA Head  Office  in  Victoria  on  April  28  and  29,  and May  1.    Chair Malcolm  Brodie,  Vice‐Chair  Al Richmond  attended with  Robin  Stringer,  CAO, Graham  Egan,  Director  of  Finance,  Shelley Hahn, Director of Business Services, and Renata Hale, Manager of Strategic Initiatives.  Phil Trotzuk, Chief Financial Officer, provided a presentation for Metro Vancouver.  The MFA ratings have been affirmed by the three agencies – AAA, Outlook Stable.  Our Commercial Paper program was rated the highest rating “A‐1 (high)” by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.  2014 Financial Results Contributions  to  the  MFA  Retention  Fund  were  a  record  $6.7  million.    The  three  sources  of recurring  income  include Operating  Income, $2.3 million  (positive  to budget by $201,000), Short‐term debt Fund, $2.7 million and interest on the Retention Fund of $1.1 million.  A gain on the sale of the former Head Office contributed $603,000.  The Retention Fund balance of $40.2 million at the end of 2014 is not restricted and is available for operating  activities,  debt  obligations  and  additional  distributions  to  clients  as  approved  by  the Authority.  Financing On November 19th, 2014, the MFA re‐opened the June 2, 2019 debenture, raising a further $180 million with a yield of 1.932% with a tight spread to Ontario of 1.5 basis points.   Spring Issue – An historical low rate of interest The MFA  re‐opened  the October 14, 2024 debenture, adding $165 million – now at $300 million outstanding.    The  yield  of  2.22%  is  the  lowest  rate  the MFA  has  ever  achieved  on  a  10‐year debenture issue.  This funded the requests for financing that were approved at the AGM.  One measure  of  our  success  is  how we  perform  against  the  “benchmark” Ontario  and  Canada bonds;  to  this end, we have seen  the MFA rates continue  to come closer  to  these rates over  the past several years.  

Our short‐term borrowing program maintains a running balance of $500 million in Commercial Paper  outstanding.    This  program  provides  interim  financing  for  capital  projects  during construction.  The current offered rate is 1.49%.  The  MFA  continues  to  achieve  lower  interest  rates  when  compared  to  all  other  municipal participants  in  the bond market  across Canada.    This  reflects our  triple A  credit  ratings  and  the strong local governments throughout BC.  We  are  able  to  re‐lend  to  all our members  at  the  same  low  rate,  regardless of  the  size of each community we serve in BC.     

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Pooled Investment Funds The 2014  results  for  the  three managed  funds are all positive  relative  to  the benchmark  indexes.  These are Money Market Fund, 1.09 % (Index 0.74 %), Intermediate Fund, 1.28% (Index 0.79%) and Bond Fund, 3.15 % (Index 2.86%).  The total pooled funds at year end was $2.185 billion (2013, $2.147 billion), with the Money Market Fund at $1.236 billion ($1.189 billion), the Intermediate Fund at $0.329 billion ($0.341 billion) and the Bond Fund at $0.620 billion ($0.616 billion).  Community Support The Len Traboulay Education Fund provides an annual contribution of $60,000 for the education of elected  officials  and  employees  in  local  government.    $30,000  is  contributed  to  the  Local Government Leadership Academy and $30,000 is available for the education of employees in local government.   The Government Finance Officers’ Association receives an annual contribution up to $3,000 towards their “Bootcamp” program.  MFA employees take an active role in presenting at this four day session.  The MFA  contributes up  to  $12,000  ($12,000  in  2014)  for  the  James R. Craven  Fund  to provide support to students travelling  from rural areas  for the Municipal Administrators Training  Institute Level I.  The MFA contributed a further $63,000 for annual conferences of UBCM, LGMA and GFOA as well the  chapter  and  area  association meetings  for elected officials  and officers  in  local  government.  MFA employees are requested, from time to time, to instruct or facilitate at these events.  The MFA  employees  and  Trustees  continue  to  support, present  and  ‘teach’  at  several  seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the province on the MFA.  MFA Management and Employees The MFA balance sheet exceeds $7.7 billion at the end of 2014 and is managed by a team of eight.  At the end of 2014, the MFA finances 1,959 long‐term loans, through 28 regional districts and three other entities.  Short‐term loans of $329.1 million are for 221 requests and 594 lease arrangements.  2015 Opportunity Review and Strategic Plan During 2015, we will continue  to preserve our core while building  towards a  future  that  includes continuous  improvement  and  to  create  greater  value  for  taxpayers  in British Columbia.   We  are committed to the delivery of outstanding performance within our mandate.  At this time, we have identified  three  groupings  for  the  review  –  organizational  capacity,  operational  excellence  and financial management. 

MFA Semi‐Annual Meeting 2015 The MFA  Semi‐Annual Members meeting will  be  held  September  22nd  in  conjunction with  the Annual UBCM Conference, in Vancouver from 4:00 ‐ 5:00 p.m.  Robin Stringer, CAO Retirement Robin Stringer will  retire on September 30, 2016.   The Board of Trustees will be  recruiting  in  the summer of 2015, with the expectation that a transition plan will be in place by this fall. 

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To:  GVRD Board  From:  Director Craig Hodge  Date:  May 31, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Pacific Parklands  Foundation Update  for  the Period October 1, 2014  to May 31, 

2015 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the  GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  report  dated  May  31,  2015,  titled  “Pacific Parklands Foundation Update for the Period October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015”.  

 PURPOSE   To  provide  the  GVRD  Board with  an  update  on  the  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation  activities  and highlights for the period October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015.  BACKGROUND Formed  in  2000,  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation  is  a  registered  charity with  a mission  to  support Metro Vancouver Parks  to  conserve, preserve  and enhance  the Metro Vancouver  regional parks system  for  today and  for  future generations. The Foundation  raises  funds  to help bridge  the gap between government funding and the need for special projects and programs in our regional parks.  An independent Board of volunteer Directors meet four times per year to oversee the management and  operation  of  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation.  Since  2007,  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation  has received an annual operating grant of $175,000  from Metro Vancouver. These  funds are used  to hire a full time staff person and 3‐4 contractors annually. In addition, the Foundation ensures that it remains both a society and registered charity in good standing. Its fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and each year  the Foundation’s  financial statements are audited. Pacific Parklands Foundation strives to provide a strong “return of investment” to Metro Vancouver and through its grant  is  able  to  ensure  that  100%  of  all  donations  received  are  directed  to  the  projects  and programs it supports.  HIGHLIGHTS  1. A  new  Executive  Director  was  hired  in  February,  2015.  His  name  is  Joe  Hargitt  and  his 

background is fund raising for the new Ronald McDonald House BC and Variety ‐ The Children’s Charity. 

2. The Annual General Meeting was held on April 16, 2015 and the audited  financial statements for the 2103/14 fiscal year were unanimously received and approved. 

3. It was unanimously carried to appoint Craig Hodge, Councilor, City of Coquitlam, to serve as the non‐voting representative on the Board of Directors of Pacific Parklands Foundation for 2015. 

4. The Board approved the Annual Report for 2013/14. 5. The Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Centre Project  (Phase 2) has met the  financial goal 

and  this campaign has been successfully completed. Tenders are out and construction should begin this summer. 

ATTACHMENT E

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6. A grant program  is being created  from the  interest generated  from the George Ross bequest. The proposed name  is the “George Ross Legacy Stewardship Program,” to be administered by PPF.  

 ALTERNATIVES This is an information report. No alternatives are presented.  

 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no financial implications.  SUMMARY / CONCLUSION The  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation  continues  to  deliver  on  its mission  under  the  direction  of  the previous  (but  newly  re‐elected  board).  Some  possible  capital  projects  are  being  reviewed  and finalists will be presented to the Board for approval. Pacific Parklands Foundation is working closely with  the  Parks  Management  Group  under  the  direction  of  Mitch  Sokalski,  Director  of  Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks Division.   The board gave approval to the Executive Committee to find a facilitator to begin a strategic review process.   Further  information  on  the  activities  of  the  Pacific  Parklands  Foundation  can  be  found  at www.pacificparklands.com or by contacting their Executive Director, Joe Hargitt at 604.451.6168 or at [email protected]   Attachment and Reference: 2013/14 Annual Report: http://www.pacificparklands.com/AAFiles/AnnualReports/PPF2014.pdf   

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To:  GVRD Board of Directors  From:  Kelly Hardy, Office Supervisor, Board & Information Services, Legal and Legislative 

Services  Date:  June 22, 2015  Meeting Date:  July 3, 2015  Subject:  Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee June 2015 

 RECOMMENDATION That  the GVRD  Board  receive  for  information  the  report  dated  June  22,  2015  titled Delegation Executive Summaries Presented at Committee  June 2015 containing summaries received  from the following delegates:  a)  Matt Hulse, BC Campaign Director, Our Horizon  

 PURPOSE This  report  is provided  in  response  to Board direction  to keep  the Board  informed of delegation activities at Committee by providing information related to delegations at Committee.  Attached are summaries of the delegates to the following committees:  Climate Action Committee 

 a) Matt Hulse, BC Campaign Director, Our Horizon 

The Climate Action Committee heard the delegation on climate change and air pollution warning labels on gasoline pumps and received the delegation executive summary.  The Committee subsequently directed staff to report back to a future Climate Action Committee meeting on jurisdictional and other issues raised at the meeting. 

     11451439

Section E  3.2

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ATTACHMENT A

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11033725 

 To:  Intergovernment and Finance Committee  From:  Chris Plagnol, Director, Board and Information Services/Corporate Officer  Date:  March 9, 2015  Meeting Date:  June 18, 2015  Subject:  Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Board  and  Committee  Remuneration 

Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015  

 RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board: a)  Give first, second and third reading to “Greater Vancouver Regional District Board and Committee 

Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. b)  Pass and finally adopt “Greater Vancouver Regional District Board and Committee Remuneration 

Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”.  

 PURPOSE The purpose of this report  is to propose amendments to the Board and Committee Remuneration Bylaw related to attendance at events outlined in the leadership and engagement program.  BACKGROUND The  current  Remuneration  Bylaw  includes  provisions  which  set  out  the  approval  approach  for attendance at events that fall within the leadership and engagement program. A review of the Bylaw provisions  and  the  current  process  for  the  Committee  and  Board  Chair  to  approve  events  has highlighted some opportunities that can be considered to simplify the process and to address annual timing issues for the way in which attendance at events is authorized.  AUTHORIZATION PROCESS Currently,  the bylaw provision  sets out  the  following  authorization process  in  Schedule C of  the Remuneration Bylaw 1057:  

9. except as set out in sections 10  and 11 below, courses, conventions, seminars, workshops and conferences (“Events”) where: a)  the  Event  falls  within  the  mandate  of  a  select  or  standing  committee  or 

subcommittee (“committee”); b)   there are sufficient funds in the budget allocated to the committee for Events to 

pay the remuneration; c)  the committee has passed a resolution supporting remuneration for attendance 

and identifying the recommended attendee(s); and d)  the Board chair authorizes the remuneration for the recommended attendee(s). 

10. Events attended by Board chair, Board vice chair and electoral area director where there are sufficient funds within the Board approved budget for Events.  

Section G  1.1

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11. Where remuneration for attendance at Events will exceed a board approved budget, a request for remuneration for attendance at an Event must be made to the board and the board may pass a resolution authorizing remuneration for attendance at an Event. 

 In  practice,  the  process  (as  outlined  in  section  9  above)  is  problematic:  first,  some  standing committees meet  infrequently which delays the approval process  (particularly  for events that are early in the term); second, identifying and recommending by way of resolution a specific attendee is sometimes premature and often not possible during the meeting itself.  To remedy this situation, some housekeeping language is proposed to the Remuneration Bylaw. Since most events relate to long‐standing memberships in organizations or to annual conferences in which elected  officials  regularly  participate,  the  list  of  events  is well  understood. While  there  is  some variation in the events, this list forms the basis of the annual budget that is adopted each Fall.   Because the events budget is included in the general government service, it is appropriate that the standing committee that has oversight of the general government budget authorizes the list of events early in the new year and forwards the names of attendees, if known, to the Board Chair for approval. In 2015,  the  Intergovernment and Finance Committee has  responsibility  for  this oversight of  the general  government  budget.  Individual  standing  committees  are  still  responsible  for  identifying specific events within  their  terms of  reference  for  recommendation  to  the  Intergovernment and Finance Committee for approval and to the Board Chair for individual participant authorization.   Proposed Bylaw Amendments To simplify the remuneration process and provide flexibility where timing constraints exist, a bylaw amendment is required in Schedule C of the Remuneration Bylaw 1057. The proposed changes are as follows:  Section 7.  In section 7, define the term “event” as courses and similar education or research activities, conventions, seminars, workshops and conferences.  Section 9.  In section 9, replace the existing text with the following:  

except  as  set  out  in  sections  10  and  11  below,  Events within  the  scope  of  the  Board approved budget for Events, which have been approved by a resolution passed by the standing committee that has oversight of the general government budget, and where the attendance and associated remuneration has been authorized by the Board chair. 

 Sections 10 & 11.  In section 10, fix a coordinating conjunction to clarify the meaning of the phrase. Sections 11 would not  change and will  continue  to provide  for Board  involvement  if  the budget requires additional funds.     

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ALTERNATIVES 1.   That the GVRD Board: 

a)  Give  first,  second  and  third  reading  to  “Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Board  and Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. 

b)  Pass  and  finally  adopt  “Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Board  and  Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. 

 2.  That  the  Intergovernment  and  Finance  Committee  receive  for  information  the  report  titled 

“Board  Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Board  and  Committee  Remuneration  Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. 

 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no financial implications with respect to the proposed change to the Remuneration Bylaw. The remuneration associated with attendance at events is accommodated within the 2015 general government budget and was approved by the Board in October 2014.  SUMMARY / CONCLUSION The Remuneration Bylaw sets out the approval approach for attendance at events that fall within the leadership and engagement program. Since the budget associated with this program is included in the general government service, it is appropriate that the Intergovernment and Finance Committee authorizes the list of events, and forwards the names of attendees to the Board Chair for approval. This approach will simplify the remuneration process. For this reason,  it  is recommended that the Board amend the Remuneration Bylaw as proposed in alternative one.   Attachment:  Greater Vancouver Regional District Board and Committee Remuneration Amending 

Bylaw Number 1221, 2015     

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GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT BYLAW NUMBER 1221, 2015 

 A Bylaw to Amend Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Board and Committee 

Remuneration Bylaw Number 1057, 2007  WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Regional District has adopted "Greater Vancouver  Regional District  Regional  Board  and  Committee  Remuneration  Bylaw Number  1057, 2007"; and 

WHEREAS  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  wishes  to  amend "Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Board and Committee Remuneration Bylaw Number 1057, 2007"; 

NOW THEREFORE the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows: 

1.  "Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Regional  Board  and  Committee  Remuneration  Bylaw Number 1057, 2007" is hereby amended as follows: 

a)  In Schedule C (Qualifying Meetings), in section 7, by striking the phrase: “meetings of other outside  organizations  (excluding  courses,  conventions,  seminars,  workshops  and conferences)”,  and  replacing  it  with  the  following  phrase:  “meetings  of  other  outside organizations  (excluding  courses and  similar education or  research activities,  conventions, seminars, workshops and conferences (“Events”))”. 

b)  In Schedule C (Qualifying Meetings) by striking section 9 in its entirety and replacing it with the following phrase: 

“9.  except as  set out  in  sections 10  and 11 below, Events within  the  scope  of  the Board approved budget for Events, which have been approved by a resolution passed by the standing committee that has oversight of the general government budget, and where the attendance and associated remuneration has been authorized by the Board chair.” 

c)  In Schedule C (Qualifying Meetings),  in section 10, by striking the term “and”, and replacing it with the term “or”. 

2.   This  bylaw  shall  be  cited  as  “Greater  Vancouver  Regional  District  Board  and  Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015”. 

 READ A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TIME this _____ of _________________, 2015.  PASSED AND FINALLY ADOPTED this _____ of _________________, 2015.  

______________________________________ Greg Moore, Chair 

 ______________________________________ 

Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer  

Greater Vancouver Regional District Board and Committee Remuneration Amending Bylaw Number 1221, 2015  Page 1 of 1

Attachment 

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