Letter from CRD re: Agreement to a Non-Binding Dispute Resolution Process for RGS Bylaw 4017

Re: Notification of Agreement to a Non-Binding Dispute Resolution Process for 2016 Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Bylaw 4017

This letter is to notify you that the Capital Regional District (CRD) Board and the seven municipalities who did not accept Bylaw 4017 "Capital Regional District Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No.1, 2016" have agreed to a non-binding dispute resolution process.

The non-binding dispute resolution process was prepared in response to direction from the Honourable Minister Peter Fassbender in a letter dated March 28, 2017. The process was prepared in accordance with the requirements of section 439 of the Local Government Act.

On June 14, 2017 the CRD Board unanimously passed the following resolutions:

• That the proposed mediation team and non-binding dispute resolution process for the 2016 Regional Growth Strategy (Bylaw No. 4017) as set out in Appendix A be approved, and a Board member and an alternate, and the General Manager of Planning and Protective Services and the Senior Manager of Regional and Strategic Planning be selected as CRD representatives for the RGS non-binding dispute resolution process; and
• That a request be made to provide Director Hicks an opportunity to represent the Juan de Fuca at the table for at least an hour.

In addition to the CRD Board and the seven municipalities who did not accept the RGS (Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, North Saanich, Saanich and View Royal), the municipalities of Metchosin, Sooke and Victoria will participate in the process.

For information on the non-binding dispute resolution process, please see the attached staff report. CRD staff will continue to work with Ministry staff on this process. Should you have any questions, please contact Signe Bagh, Senior Manager, Regional and Strategic Planning, at sbagh@crd.bc.ca or by phone at 250.360.3244.

Thank you for your continued attention to this matter.

Yours truly,

Barbara Desjardins Chair Capital Regional District Board

Attachments: Staff Report to Capital Regional District Board considered on June 14, 2017:

1. Regional Growth Strategy Non-Binding Dispute Resolution Process
2. Appendix A - Proposed Non-Binding Dispute Resolution Process
3. Appendix B - Steps Taken to Prepare the Non-Binding Dispute Resolution Process
4. Supplement - Decisions to Particpate in RGS Mediation

cc: CRD Board Directors Mayor Richard Atwell, District of Saanich Mayor Barbara Desjardins, Township of Esquimalt Mayor Alice Finall, District of North Saanich Mayor Carol Hamilton, City of Colwood Mayor Lisa Helps, City of Victoria Mayor Nils Jensen, District of Oak Bay Mayor Steve Price, Town of Sidney Mayor John Ranns, District of Metchosin Mayor David Screech, Town of View Royal Mayor Maja Tait, District of Sooke Mayor Ken Williams, District of the Highlands Mayor Ryan Windsor, District of Central Saanich Mayor Stew Young, City of Langford Director Mike Hicks, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Chair Jon Lefebure, Cowichan Valley Regional District Kris Nichols, Manager, Intergovernmental Relations and Planning Branch, Province of British Columbia Robert Lapham, Chief Administrative Officer, Capital Regional District Signe Bagh, Senior Manager, Regional and Strategic Planning, Capital Regional District