Correspondence: Agenda Item 9.2.4 a) for July 9, 2024

Re: Agenda Item 9.2.4 a) for July 9, 2024

From: Jane Devonshire Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 12:24 PM To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: Re: Agenda Item 9.2.4 a) for July 9, 2024

Dear Mayor and Council,

We are sweltering in yet another heat wave and time is of the essence to mitigate and to adapt.

We understand that our staff resources are limited but natural asset management is already on the staff radar. They have just taken a cursory look into natural asset management. We were delighted to discover that in the Saanich Natural Assets Initiative Inventory Summary Report that was brought to Saanich Council last night, it showed that our View Royal staffer Ben Lubberts had participated in one of their workshops on April 9th. We are so proud of View Royal for stepping up to participate along with Victoria, Central Saanich, Esquimalt and the CRD. Colwood did not participate as they had already completed their Municipal Natural Assets Inventory in 2022. Here is a quote from Colwood regarding the MNAI:

The City recognizes the financial benefits for the residents of Colwood in managing our assets in the most cost-effective, and resilient way. Natural assets are land based - streams, ponds, ditches, trees and green spaces - therefore they appreciate in value, unlike man-made structures (constructed assets) which continually depreciate.

Colwood strives to use natural assets like ditches, ponds, creeks and wetlands to provide stormwater services ….and considers natural assets a vital part of Colwood’s asset infrastructure.

A natural progression for View Royal would be to select 3 members of staff to take the Natural Asset Management Roadmap Program. A team of highly trained staff members would be an invaluable asset for the Town as we head into the OCP review. This could be transformative as we weave natural assets into all areas of our OCP and design the best View Royal of the 21st Century that we can, a View Royal that is climate safe, healthy and livable.

As for commitment of staff time for the program, it truly is minimal and would not start until mid to late September if we are fortunate enough to be selected. The timeline of the program for each cohort is 3 to 4 months, however, it takes staff time anywhere from just 2 to 4 working days to complete these tasks:

Task 1: attending the launch webinar 1.5 hours
Task 2: familiarizing with NAM roadmap worksheet
Task 3: attending the virtual roadmap workshop 2.5 hours
Task 4: completing the roadmap
Task 5(optional): 30-minute coaching session with NAI team to go over the finalized roadmap

Funding

As for funding, the NAM Roadmap Program is valued at $2000 and is heavily subsidized by IPE reducing the cost to local governments to only $850. When the headlines from Forbes are screaming “Climate Change Will Cost the Global Economy $38 Trillion Every Year Within 25 Years, Scientists Warn” $850 is even less than a drop in the bucket. As we declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, would it not be prudent for us to create a contingency Climate Action fund now to address any relevant issues that might arise?

If we don’t act now, we may risk losing this wonderful opportunity to get our staff trained. It would require substantially more staff hours to navigate this roadmap on their own without this expert support. Our Return on Investment would be substantial. Hiring a consultant can be extremely expensive so it makes sound economic sense to build our own staff capacity now.

In Seth Klein’s book, “A Good War - Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency'' his signed note at the front says. “This is the task of our lives.”

Two of his key strategies are:

We need to adopt a wartime mindset prepared to do what it takes to win
Spend what it takes to win

Nature is showing us at every turn that she desperately needs help. She has gifted us with wonderful natural assets like trees and waterways and it is our responsibility to nurture and protect these priceless assets.

In these disturbing times of unnatural wildfires, droughts, atmospheric rivers and flooding, the residents of View Royal need reassurance that the Town understands the urgency of the Climate Emergency that we declared in 2019 and that everything must be viewed through the lens of climate change. They need reassurance that the Town is working hard to secure a livable future and is ready to tackle all the challenges that we, as well as our children and our children’s children will have to face.

We ask tonight that you please support Councillor MacKenzie’s motion concerning the Natural Asset Management Roadmap Program.

Our small but mighty Town of View Royal has been a trailblazer with the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, Sue Big Oil and the Zero Carbon Step Code. Let’s lead by example yet again by participating in the NAM Roadmap Program.

With hope for a better future,

VRCC Core Team Roz Isaac, Ian Brown, Jane Devonshire, Linda Jeaurond

PS Please see attached for more supporting information.