Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors approved the allocation of money from several funding sources in order to create a new Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 

But Electoral Area B  director David Brooks-Hill withdrew from the plan, approval was not unanimous and the vote followed several complaints about the $700,000 price tag at the March 20 CSRD board meeting.

鈥淟ots of money was spent before on a parks plan, but nothing was done, so I didn鈥檛 see why we should take part now,鈥� said Brooks-Hill, explaining he opted out because a similar amount of money was spent a dozen years ago on exploring parks for Area B but to this day, the area has no parks.

Next up, Area C director Marty Gibbons said he was absolutely opposed to the plan but opted in because the money for the plan would come from pooled community works funds.

鈥淚f we opt out, we鈥檙e off the bus hoping the board will allow us to utilize some funds later on, which is a gamble I am not prepared to take,鈥� he said, calling the new master plan for parks a waste of dollars and noting that Area C, which included Area G at the time, spent $150,000 seven years ago on a parks plan. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 even started to implement that plan yet but we鈥檙e gonna spend another $700,000 of taxpayers鈥� money to plan for parks when we should be spending the money on the parks.鈥�

Board chair and Area G director Natalya Melnychuk pointed out the plan is not just for parks but recreation, and will recognize all the other types of infrastructure that exist in the community. As well, she said the master plan would be a way to address a rule in the new five-year Community Works agreement in which funds can no longer be provided directly to third-party organizations such as community groups.

Area F North Shuswap director Jay Simpson also took issue with the huge cost but declared himself to be reluctantly in favour of the plan.

鈥淲e need to get community infrastructure in place and the only way to do that it seems is through this plan.鈥�

Area E Rural Sicamous director Rhona Martin echoed Gibbons鈥� and Simpson鈥檚 remarks, particularly as the current plan for her area has not yet been fully implemented.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an awful lot of money but Area E should be able to take advantage of the pooled funds,鈥� she said. 

Chief administrative officer John MacClean stepped up, explaining staff put forward the proposal to update the recreation master plans, recognizing some current plans are on the older side.

鈥淚n the post-pandemic world, things have changed rather drastically,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is an opportunity to reengage with the communities, which has been an expressed desire of the directors.鈥�

MacClean added there is an 鈥渁bsolute need鈥� in the new community building fund requirements to address third party facilities that have traditionally been funded directly by board approval. The new master parks and recreation plan is the most efficient way to accomplish that, he said.

He noted the costs are consistent with what neighbouring jurisdictions are spending to create their recreation master plans. 

Melnychuk agreed with Golden Mayor Ron Oszust, who maintained the CSRD needs to make sure the new  plan is not relegated to a shelf.

鈥淲hen you raise expectations, there is a responsibility to deliver,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to make sure that鈥檚 taken into consideration.鈥�

Enthusiastically in favour of the new recreation master plan, Area F Falkland/Ranchero/Salmon Valley director Dean Trumbley reminded directors that while $700,000 total seems expensive, when the number of parks involved are considered, the costs are right in line with industry standards. 

鈥淚 am in full support, and the side benefit is that we鈥檒l be a step closer to utilizing community works funds,  especially when those funds were critical last year in some of the successes.鈥�

Salmon Arm director and deputy chair Kevin Flynn pointed out it is important to commit to community engagement across the region, even though it will be a very significant cost. As well, he reminded directors that although funds might be accessed through the federal Active Transportation Fund, that wouldn鈥檛 be possible without an updated parks and recreation plan.

Directors then voted on a motion to approve the use of Strategic Priorities and all Areas Communities Works funds, and Capacity Funding for Local Government Housing Initiative grant funds and to seek Columbia Basin Trust grant funds for Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Plans and that Area B be removed from the recommendation.

Gibbons opposed the motion but it was carried, with all other directors in favour.

Next steps include creating a scope of work and then putting it out to public tender, said Derek Sutherland, CSRD general manager community and protective services. 

鈥淲e expect this to be a three-year process from start to finish,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to get it right, right from the beginning.鈥�