A public referendum on amalgamating Duncan and North Cowichan could be held as early as next spring.
Councillors in both municipalities voted this week to either hold the referendum at the same time as the next municipal elections in the fall of 2018, or possibly sooner.
They also agreed to appoint two councillors from each municipality to a join an amalgamation information working group that will make recommendations to both councils on a process for developing and providing the referendum question.
Councillors at a committee of the whole meeting in North Cowichan on June 7 thanked the 36-member Citizens’ Assembly for its hard work in the efforts that led to the recommendation to move forward with the referendum.
But the fact that the assembly concluded that amalgamation might not see the significant cost savings by combining services that many had hoped for raised concerns.
In fact, costs to North Cowichan could even increase through amalgamation, according to the assembly’s report, even though its members still concluded that amalgamation would better serve both municipalities.
North Cowichan mayor Jon Lefebure had said earlier that he personally hadn’t made up his mind about moving forward with amalgamation and that he first wanted to discuss it with North Cowichan’s financial managers.
He asked North Cowichan’s director of finance Mark Frame for his opinion at the meeting.
“Consultants usually use the worst-case scenarios for everything,” Frame said.
“I think amalgamation will be a lot more cost neutral for North Cowichan than what is being reported.”
Lefebure then said he doesn’t see amalgamation as a “monumental change” from the status-quo.
“I’m happy to go to a public referendum, but I think we need to do our due diligence and ensure that the public is educated properly on the issue before the vote,” he said.
Coun. Tom Walker said he supports going to a referendum, but he wants to see it held this spring, rather during the fall’s municipal elections.
He said the process to study amalgamation began in 2014 and the municipality has spent more than $140,000 on studies alone on the issue so far, so it’s time to put it to the people.
“Also, if we wait until the fall, the issue will be voted on at the same time as the province is expected to put proportional representation to a referendum,” Walker said.
“That will dominate everything at the time, as well as the other issues around the municipal election. The assembly has done good work and I’d rather hold this referendum sooner rather than later. I wouldn’t be impressed if we are scared to hold this referendum outside of the election period.”
Coun. Al Siebring said he had assumed that North Cowichan would see costs savings with amalgamation.
He said the fact there may be increased costs for the municipality is something that “resonates” with him.
“But, costs not withstanding, amalgamation still makes sense and I’m willing to put it to the community,” Siebring said.
“But I do have some concerns around holding the referendum before the municipal elections. I’m not sure we can move quickly enough to have it before then.”
Coun. Kate Marsh also expressed her concerns about added pressure on staff to prepare a referendum by next spring.
“They are already overextended,” she said.
Coun. Rob Douglas said the benefits of amalgamation are still unclear.
He said the main benefits that are expected are better harmonization of zoning and bylaws, the leveling of the playing field for businesses and the development of one official community plan for both municipalities.
But he said North Cowichan and Duncan have already accomplished a lot regarding those issues while separate jurisdictions.
“I’m not arguing against amalgamation, but maybe we should have a staff report on this before we proceed,” Douglas said.
Coun. Joyce Behnsen said she supports having the referendum next spring.
She said in reference to the citizen assembly’s report that council has a “monumental achievement” in front of it and it has a responsibility to move forward based on its findings.
“I believe the public wants action on this,” she said. “If not now, when?”
