Town of Gibsons

Barry Janyk

As mayor since1999 I’ve really tried to take a strong role to ensure the Town of Gibsons exemplifies leadership to support the vision and goals of the Sea-to-Sky Air Quality Management Plan. Specifically, I have worked to develop actions through town programs, policies, and bylaws that were implemented to manage air quality and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in our region.

1.1) Do you support the creation of TDM through smart growth planning and changes to infrastructure such as increasing sidewalks and bike paths and identifying new park & ride areas? What specific outcomes do you support? If no, why not?

You bet! I support TDM outcomes and have worked to implement the following specific outcomes:

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions targets are incorporated into the Town of Gibsons Official Community Plan (OCP)
Collaborated with the Sunshine Coast Regional District on a comprehensive Integrated Transportation Study designed to create a more livable region and reduce GHG emissions through planning and implementing improvements to the transportation infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast
Gibsons was one of the first communities in BC to enact an anti-idling bylaw to regulate the idling of vehicles (Bylaw No. 1010 2005)
Authorized the use of low-speed electric-powered vehicles on public highways (Bylaw No. 1095)
Created a bicycle parking bylaw to require standard bike parking in the town short term (racks) and long term (covered and secure)

1.2) Do you support marketing tools like carpooling and school bike plans and promoting events such as bike to work week and car-free days in the town centre? If yes, what tools do you support? If no, why not?

Yes, I have – and will! – continue to support various marketing tools like Bike-to-Work Week, which the Town of Gibsons has been a registered participant. I have encouraged car-free days in the town centre. For example, during Gibsons’ Sea Cavalcade festival, certain areas in the town centre are closed to vehicle traffic, while bus service is increased to encourage festival goers to leave their vehicles at home.

2.1) Do you ride local or regional buses on a regular basis (public transit or private carriers)? If not, what would be required for you to start taking the bus? (For example: better schedule, different routes, lower cost? Or other?)

I live 3 blocks from my office and the RD is well off the bus route. We’re working on it…

2.2) Do you support the development of an inter-regional transit plan that would integrate services in communities from Metro Vancouver and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (from West Vancouver to Mount Currie)?

N/A

2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?

My work with the SCRD has involved identifying and implementing key priorities for region-wide improvement of transit identified within the Sunshine Coast Regional District Integrated Transportation Study. To develop this the plan calls for, among other things, a community needs assessment survey to determine community transit use (existing and/or potential), and consideration of establishing Park and Ride facilities to better serve areas with low population densities, as well as facilitate ride share services along the transportation corridor. A successful plan requires collaboration, input and participation from all communities in the region – both elected officials as well as citizens.

3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?

There are no industries with heavy industrial emissions located within the Town of Gibsons. The Town’s zoning provides clear standards and prohibits any uses that do not meet provincial standards for emissions and waste discharge. I support the Town’s ongoing collaboration with neighbouring Howe Sound Pulp and Paper to ensure air quality monitoring and compliance that meets or exceeds provincially established standards. Additionally, I support the Town’s objectives, as identified in the OCP, to attract clean light industrial commercial uses as a means to encourage economic development within the town.

4.1) How will you ensure that all new residential and commercial development occurs in existing developed areas, thereby increasing walkability and proximity to shops and services?

This is a core guiding planning principle for the Town of Gibsons, and is well established within our OCP. I am committed to advocating an developing planning that prioritizes increased density/development in core areas, near public transit and our commercial amenities. Some of the existing policies, programs and bylaws that I support in this effort include:

New Draft Subdivision and Development Bylaw deemed by AECOM to be one of the most sustainable and environmental bylaws in Canada (encourages infill development, and incorporates road standard changes to calm traffic and encourage walking/cycling)
Requirement that a ‘Smart Development’ checklist be completed for all town developments
Neighbourhood Plans and the Gibsons Harbour Plan have key or top priority goals that encompass smart growth principles thereby increasing walkability, cycling and public transit options as well as increasing residential development – new and infill development – nearby existing and developing commercial areas

4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?

The most effective policies will build on existing programs and policies, take a co-management approach to identify air quality as a GHG co-management option, incorporate region-wide approaches and collaboration as well as demonstrate commitment by leading by example. Some approaches taken that I support:

In 2009, the town began a Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (an ongoing annual analysis) resulting in the identification of various actions we undertook to substantially reduce GHG emissions from Town activities (by utilizing more energy efficient materials as well as upgrading our fleet and buying policy to include hybrid vehicles and Smart Cars)
Not a policy, but defined by a bylaw, Council has established and intends to operate a district geo-exchange heating and cooling service within the service area defined by this bylaw
Collaborating with the Sunshine Coast Regional District on area-wide strategies and plans eg) a region-wide Energy Strategy, “We Envision” Regional Sustainability Plan, and Integrated Transportation Study
A policy restricting tree removal on public land unless the tree is deemed to be a danger to public safety (trees are natural ‘air filters’ therefore should be preserved as much as possible)
Supporting future knowledge building by participating in academic studies such as Gibsons’ participation in UBC’s Climate Change Study
Implementing a Green Building Policy as Gibsons did in 2008

5.1) The Province of BC is considering a province-wide ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides. Regardless of the outcome, would you support a local bylaw banning pesticide use in your community?

Absolutely! Gibsons already has in place a bylaw to regulate the cosmetic use of pesticides – has for years!

Gibsons also addressed backyard burning, as mentioned above, by enacting a bylaw prohibiting residential backyard burning. As an incentive, this bylaw was enacted in coordination with the creation of a free green waste disposal facility and was supported by a public education program.

Lee-Ann Johnson

Yes! Gibsons OCP and ongoing planning contain extensive provisions for pedestrian and cycling improvements despite some controversy about the need to make these adaptations.

Yes! We tend to focus on improving our local transit service although BC Transit has not supported us much. We definitely need a local community bus circulating within the Town, primarily to move people between upper commercial areas and the lower village area. Gibsons has not held car-free events. I strongly support Bike to Work week.

Our school car problem has more to do with inclement weather and a very steep hill than by walking distance. Some neighbourhoods need improved safety in walking routes for children. For years I have supported making such improvements, and they are happening although more slowly than I’d like! We are hampered by lack of funding.

I used to catch the bus to the ferry frequently when I was commuting to work in Vancouver but now find it much less convenient. There is a bus stop very close to my house but service is every two hours at best. I can walk to Town Hall and I almost always do The bus cost from my home to stores within Gibsons, less than .5 km is the same as a ride to Sechelt about 40 km.away.

We need better transit integration, especially with the frequentlychanging BC Ferry schedules.

2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?

Being able to purchase ticket books for transit at both destinations of our ferry run from on-board the ferry would help, especially for seniors to obtain relevant discounts. At present we are able only to buy day passes – better than nothing but impractical for short trips.

3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?

We need to be more vigilant about what gets permitted to be burnt at HSPP. We desperately need more than just one air quality monitoring station, and that one omits important measurements! This is exclusively a Provincial issue since the HSPP mill is not located in a Municipality.

4.1) How will you ensure that all new residential and commercial development occurs in existing developed areas, thereby increasing walkability and proximity to shops and services?

The Town of Gibsons is limited to decisions for the 4,000 people living within our jurisdiction. We have very few industries in the Town that impact our air quality. The major impacts to air quality come from the 6,000 people and the industries in the adjacent SCRD areas where the Town has no jurisdiction.

4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?

Job number one is to convince residents in adjacent rural areas to ban backyard burning! The Town started a green waste drop-off facility which is used heavily and is partially funded by our rural neighbours. We could increase its use substantially if backyard burning was prevented, as it is in the Town.

5.1) The Province of BC is considering a province-wide ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides. Regardless of the outcome, would you support a local bylaw banning pesticide use in your community?

(Did not answer).

5.2) Would you support adopting a similar backyard burning bylaw(s) in (Pemberton/SLRD Electoral Areas)?

Not applicable in Gibsons, we’ve already done the burn and persticides bans – included campfires at the beach. Just need adjacent rural areas to join us!

Hammy McClymont

You can imagine, I’m sure, what a busy time it is with voting day just 10 days away, so I won’t have the time to take the exam you have provided. I did get the most of the meeting on October 18^th at the Cedars Inn in Gibsons when staff of the Ministry of the Environment presented a report on the status of the permit amendment for Howe Sound Pulp and Paper. I was glad to hear staff report that the mill is meeting the standards set forth in the permit amendment. I was even happier to hear a representative of the Clean Air Society say he was generally pleased with the report and the mill’s performance. It sounds to me that the major industrial piece of the clean air effort is on the right track.

Cheers,

Hammy McClymont

Candidate for Gibsons Council

Bob Curry

Gibsons poses a special problem for TDM re elevation between the Harbor Landing and the Town Centre on Gibsons Way. Our economic sustainability depends on solving this problem with minimum impact on our carbon footprint.

As a retired construction civil engineer/ executive I am concerned about how we can reduce the CO2 emission problems from the cement industry something that is not going away. Pulp & Paper is minor in comparison. Asphalt production will be with us for some time.

I am disappointed with the lack of leadership within the Civil Engineering Professions - we as a municipality struggle to award contracts based on lagging standards that do not reflect the need to recognized ‘severe events” and plan and adapt for the next 100 years.