Concerned Community Representatives Recommend Change to Governance and Public Accountability for Arrowsmith Water Service

On April 20, 2011 members of several community organizations met to review their concerns about information provided to the public by the Arrowsmith Water Service (AWS) – a joint venture of the City of Parksville, Regional District of Nanaimo (for certain service areas) and Town of Qualicum Beach. Their concern arises out of an anticipated extremely large capital investment in the near future requiring substantial tax support.

The AWS has existed for almost fifteen years. Until now it has been responsible for the construction and operation of a dam which controls the Arrowsmith Lake reservoir near the headwaters of the Englishman River.

The stored water from winter precipitation is released in the summer to improve fish habitat and increased volumes for several Oceanside water utilities. To date only the City of Parksville and the Nanoose portion of the Regional District of Nanaimo have taken advantage of the improved summer flows by means of the existing water intake owned by the City.

The AWS management committee has met many times over the past 15 years and assigned many work orders to consulting engineers and others to determine how best to proceed to gain the full benefit of the water from the Arrowsmith reservoir. The public has been given virtually no opportunity to contribute to the ideas or to critically review the experts’ incremental recommendations as a plan is assembled.

It has been noted in the press recently that AWS management meetings are open to the public just like council or RDN board meetings – yet time and location are never clearly announced, and agendas and minutes are not freely provided. Further, there seems to be excessive use of in camera discussion with inadequate reporting out of decisions.

The April 20 meeting of concerned citizens compiled the following ideas to improve discussion and the flow of information between the public and the AWS management committee, and improve accountability of the Service in general. It is understood the committee’s primary purpose is to develop a great proposal to deliver water in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner from the Englishman River to the ratepayers in the three areas.

Can the following be considered:

- Establish governance and ownership representation that is sensitive to the need for equitable treatment of all participating ratepayers,

- AWS management committee meeting dates be advertised, with agendas supplied well in advance, and minutes received for information by councils and boards,

- Annual independent financial and engineering audits of AWS operations, construction and planning activities,

- The AWS management committee hold annual public meetings to report on financial condition and the status of all planning and projects,

- The joint venture partners will respect the constraints and limits voiced by their ratepayers,

- Establish an AWS citizen advisory panel populated with ratepayers from each jurisdiction in proportion to population, and

- Prepare a comprehensive water strategy for Oceanside?

The concerned community members are affiliated with, but do not represent any positions which may be taken by Arrowsmith Watersheds Coalition Society, Eaglecrest Residents’ Association, French Creek Residents’ Association, Nanoose Property Owners and Residents Association, Parksville Residents’ Association, and Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association.

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April 22, 2011

Contacts:

Michael Jessen, P.Eng.

250-752-4579

Elaine Hofer

250-248-3417