After more than a few high-profile livestock attacks, regional district director Julian Fell wants the RDN to consider changing Coombs/Errington’s current animal control bylaw in an effort to address “dogs at large.”
Fell, the area’s representative, produced a notice of motion at Tuesday’s regular RDN meeting, asking staff to prepare a report proposing changes that will bring the community’s animal control bylaw up to similar standards as neighbouring regions. RDN planner Geoff Garbutt said “animal control regulations in area F (Coombs/Errington) do not allow for the capture of dogs at large, an incident has to happen” before dogs are apprehended. Garbutt said each electoral area has different animal control bylaws based on history, which is why Coombs/Errington does not have the same bylaws as other areas in the regional district.
Fell has long expressed frustration over the issue, last week calling the problem “a headache.”
He claims the problem stems from provincial legislation — but is hopeful that amending the current bylaw may give some flexibility to livestock owners in the area victimized by marauding dogs.
Last week, an Errington resident’s alpaca was attacked and killed, she suspects, by dogs in the area, leading her to call for more stringent regulations regarding dogs at large.
Other highlights from Tuesday’s regular RDN meeting:
• Nanoose Bay resident Penny Spence, who lives “a couple hundred yards” from a controversial well on Parker Road, made a passionate plea claiming neighbouring residents “were not, and still are not, in agreement with the taking and selling of water from our aquifer.”
The issue came up late last year and then-director George Holme directed staff to work with residents on a well monitoring program. Maz-Can Investments purchased a lot to drill a well that would serve a development slated to have 16-20 homes and approximately 150 additional water connections. Some residents have expressed concern that their water supply may dwindle as a result.
Nanoose Bay director Bob Rogers asked staff to prepare a brief report for directors “so they don’t think this Parker Road thing is unattended … I’ve had discussions with residents, and as far as I know, they are being kept quite well aware” about the situation.
Spence delivered a statement from West Coast Environmental Law to directors suggesting there may be discrepancies in the Maz-Can and RDN agreement. RDN staff said they will be looking into the legal document.
• The board approved the use of $15,000 from the Community Works Fund for the installation of a speed reader board as a highway infrastructure project for Deep/Bowser.
“I’m pleased about the support I got from staff on this,” said Veenhof. “We’re going forward and it’s great.”
The project comes as a result of community engagement in 2014, where “traffic calming measures” were identified as part of the Bowser Village Centre Plan. Veenhof said the RDN will work with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“We buy it, MOTI will manage it,” he said. “We’ve had dialog with MOTI that we may move it (the speed reader board) periodically.” The project is slated to proceed early this year.
• Director Howard Houle, who represents Gabriola Island, brought forward a notice of motion for staff to spend $10,000 per year, for three years, acknowledging the three First Nations who fall into the regional district boundaries: Qualicum First Nation, Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and Snuneymuxw First Nation. Houle said acknowledgement could be in the form of artwork from each First Nation.
• Regional district chair Joe Stanhope announced RDN chief administrative officer Paul Thorkelsson was honoured with a certificate in local government executive management recognizing Thorkelsson’s academic qualifications and work experience in the local government field.
