Briefs from the last regular council meeting of 2020 on Dec. 14:
Tourism down
Closing out a tough year, Tourism Bowen Island gave its year-end report to council.
The visitors’ centre opened in late June, once B.C. started opening up, and employees conveyed local COVID-19 safety and awareness information. While administrator Jody Lorenz had conversations with locals who mentioned they’d never seen so many people on Bowen, the centre saw lower visitation this year over the previous year.
While there weren’t the usual number of international and national travellers in 2020, there were many visitors from Metro Vancouver. “And they were doing what the B.C. government told them, which was to go outside, to socialize outside,” said Lorenz.
While they don’t have Experience Card-separated data, BC Ferries saw monthly traffic declines of between 13% (Sept.) and 67% (April) this year.
Tourism Bowen Island also surveyed local businesses to see how they’d been affected by the pandemic. Of the 18 respondents, all except the real estate agents had seen a decrease in revenue and all said that they were receiving a provincial or federal support.
“Moving forward into 2021, of course, the concern continues to be COVID,” said Lorenz. “The uncertainty, what it will mean, solvency for the businesses – they’re concerned about winter, which is typically slow.
“A lot of people [noticed] that tourism was reduced this past summer and they’re concerned if that will continue into the new year.”
Lorenz has received at least one inquiry about visiting Bowen due to the Netflix TV series Virgin River, which spent a few days filming on-island in early 2019. Dozens of articles have come out since the second season’s release in late November naming Bowen as one of the series’ locations.
Lorenz also said that the organization hopes to work with BIM to adjust Tourism Bowen Island’s fee for service agreement.
Fire dept. long service awards
Fire chief Aaron Hanen gave his biannual update to council, reporting on how the recommendations of the department’s core services review are progressing.
B.I. Fire Rescue hired a part-time training officer, who has extensive training and experience, in July. The BIFR paid team also includes the deputy fire chief who completes local fire inspections and is responsible for the FireSmart course and a temporary administrative assistant, who is also a trained firefighter.
Up to Nov. 18, the department has seen 1,776 training hours and 1,150 call hours (over 137 calls) in 2020.
Earlier this year, BIFR entered into a mutual aid agreement with the District of West Vancouver, allowing the two to share resources as needed.
The report also lists several long service awards department employees and volunteers are receiving including from the federal government: one 40-year bar, two 30-year bars and one 20-year medal. From the provincial government, Hanen himself is receiving a 25-year medal along with a department captain.
In the details
The Land Use Bylaw is getting a minor makeover. A housekeeping bylaw that sees minor changes and tweaks throughout passed first reading.
While some of the changes are changing a word here or there, some changes are more significant, like changing part of the roof height calculation (determining where the bottom of the building is isn’t as simple as it sounds), or the lot coverage calculation (no more cantilevering more area because it’s not technically footprint), or the lot line definition (a front setback is different from a side setback).
The bylaw now passes to a public open house.
Other morsels
Council passed first second and third readings of a council procedures bylaw that is also essentially a housekeeping bylaw, bringing the document up to date with current practice (like allowing virtual council meetings). Of note, each council meeting starts with 15 minutes available for public comment – each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Given the capacity issues with the Snug Cove Sewer System, council rejected a rezoning application to allow the construction of eight rental units on properties along Miller Road.
Coun. Michael Kaile also announced that the Islands Trust would be conducting an independent review. See his letter to the editor for his statement.
