Islands Trust Executive Committee
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- Islands Trust Executive Committee - Bowen Island Municipal Council September 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bowen Island Agenda 1. Introductions and Welcome 2. History and Introduction 3. Review of IT-BIM Protocol Agreement 4. Bylaw Referral Process 5. Trust Council Policy re Municipal Tax Requisition Calculation 6. Mapping Services to BIM – existing and potential 7. Islands Trust Fund – introduction and update 8. Trust Area Services to BIM – existing and potential 9. Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program 10. Islands Trust Protocol with Province re Crown lands 11. Other discussion topics History and Introduction The Islands Trust Area History The Islands Trust today • The act • The object • Political structure • Islands Trust Policy Statement The Islands Trust Area • 5200 square kilometers • 13 major islands • over 450 smaller islands • 25,000 people • Originally established in 1974 History of the Islands Trust Area • Area inhabited for 2000-3000 years by the Coast Salish people • First visited by Spanish explorers in late 17th century • Settlement in the mid 1800s by farmers, loggers and fishermen Why was the Islands Trust created? 1960s: • Booming Canadian economy • BC Ferries was created • Improved access • Growing concerns on the islands about unregulated development A Tipping Point • Magic Lake Estates subdivision was created on North Pender • Small lot subdivisions are created on many other islands around this time • Chambers of Commerce on several islands request land use regulation • 1969 – province adopts a ‘ten acre freeze’ •In the 4-month window before the freeze was in force, 2500 additional lots were created in the Islands Trust Area The Islands Trust is created and evolves... • 1974 – Islands Trust Act enacted • Mandate to preserve and protect… • 1977 – The province amends the Islands Trust Act to make structural changes and increase local decision- making powers • 1982 – Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Vanderzalm introduces Land Use Act • It would have eliminated the Islands Trust. • Withdrawn after widespread public protest. 1989 – the next milestone • The Province amends the Islands Trust Act to create the current structure. • The boundaries of the Islands Trust Area are maintained • The provincial ‘object’ (mandate) is maintained. • Governance structure and 16 corporate bodies are established, along with specific powers and duties • Islands Trust Fund is enabled • Potential for municipalities is created • A Policy Statement is required and all LTC and municipal bylaws must comply with it The Island Trust today Enabling Legislation Community Charter Local Other Government provincial Act legislation Islands Trust Act The Islands Trust ‘Object’ “The object of the Trust is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.” The Islands Trust Act The Islands Trust object The object provides the ‘purpose’ for all Islands Trust corporate bodies For example (s. 24): “For the purpose of carrying out the object of the trust, each local trust committee may…” Islands Trust Governance Structure • The Islands Trust Act creates 16 autonomous corporate bodies and gives specific duties and powers to each: • Trust Council • Executive Committee • 13 Local Trust Committees • Trust Fund Board • The Islands Trust Act also gives specific duties to Island Municipalities Islands Trust Functions Trust Wide Local Trust Council (and Executive Committee) Islands Trust policies Provincial advocacy and Local Trust Committees cooperation Community land use planning Administrative and support Land use regulation functions Development management …in cooperation with others Trust Fund Board Acquires and manages land The Islands Trust Council Typical Trust Council work • Adopt the Islands Trust’s annual budget • Adopt and implement a Strategic Plan • Establish policies for the Islands Trust Area • Influence provincial policies and decisions • Participate in an on-going exchange about island issues More Trust Council activities • Hearing from islanders • Developing tool kits and model bylaws to help local trust committees and island municipalities address common issues 3 standing committees of Council Some examples of their work… Financial Local Trust Planning Planning Programs Affordable Marine Recommends housing and food advocacy annual budget security toolkits Mapping Indicators Oversees programs audit study Bylaw Financial enforcement Encouraging policies Riparian Areas community Regulation stewardship Executive Committee’s Role • ‘Day to day’ management of the Islands Trust • Considers approval of bylaws of LTCs and Island Municipalities • Facilitates strategic planning • Communications • Intergovernmental liaison and advocacy • Liaison with management More about the Executive Committee • Members chair each Local Trust Committee • Act as a Local Trust Committee for the Ballenas/Winchelsea islands • Prepare for Council meetings • Other duties assigned by Trust Council Local Trust Committees (LTCs) • The Islands Trust area is divided into: • 13 local trust areas • 1 island municipality • Each local trust area has a local trust committee with responsibility for land use planning and regulation • Islands Trust Act transfers jurisdiction from regional districts • Much of the work of the Islands Trust is undertaken by local trust committees LTC Structure Local Trustee Executive Committee Local Trustee Member (Chair) Local Trust Committee What do LTCs do? • Regulate the development and use of land • Develop, adopt and implement Official Community Plans through community consultation • Develop, adopt and implement land use bylaws • Zoning, subdivision servicing • Other land use regulations (parking, signage) • Respond to land use applications What does the Islands Trust Act say about Island Municipalities ? THEY MUST: • Have regard for the object of the Trust in adopting a bylaw or issuing a permit or license • Submit Official Community Plan bylaws for approval • Have bylaws consistent with Islands Trust Policy Statement • Have Municipal Trustees on Trust Council • Contribute to financial requisitions for the operations of Trust Council Significance of the Policy Statement Islands Trust Act Islands Trust Policy Statement Official Community Plans Land use bylaws Somewhat similar to a Regional Growth Strategy in other parts of BC An RGS doesn’t apply within the Trust Area Islands Trust Policy Statement • The Islands Trust Act requires Trust Council to adopt a policy statement • The current policy statement was adopted in 1994 after extensive public process and ministerial approval • All island land use bylaws must be consistent with the Islands Trust Policy Statement • Includes policies to achieve the Islands Trust object • Three main goals identified • Ecosystem protection • Stewardship of resources • Healthy and sustainable communities Goal 1: To foster the preservation and protection of ecosystems • Identify and protect environmentally sensitive ecosystems • Plan for a network of protected areas • Protect unfragmented forest ecosystems • Freshwater bodies • Coastal and marine ecosystems Goal 2: To ensure that human activity and the scale, rate and type of development are compatible with the maintenance of integrity of ecosystems • Preserving and protecting agricultural land and farming • Sustainable forestry • Fish and wildlife • Freshwater resources • Marine and coastal areas • Soils and other resources Goal 3: To sustain island character and healthy communities • Aesthetic qualities • Growth and development • Transportation and utilities • Disposal of waste • Recreation • Cultural and natural heritage • Economic opportunities • Health and well-being Examples of policies • Islands Trust Policy Bowen Island Statement Official Community Plan 4.4.2 Local trust committees and • Objective 121 - To protect and island municipalities shall, in their maintain the quantity and official community quality of water used for plans and regulatory bylaws, domestic purposes. address measures that ensure: • neither the density nor intensity of land use is increased in areas which are known to have a problem with the quality or quantity of the supply of freshwater, • water quality is maintained, and • existing, anticipated and seasonal demands for water are considered and allowed for. A few clear prohibitions • No development within 300 m of Crown islets • No artificial reefs • No finfish farms • No bridges • No destination casinos Questions so far? Agenda 1. Introductions and Welcome 2. History and Introduction 3. Review of IT-BIM Protocol Agreement 4. Bylaw Referral Process 5. Trust Council Policy re Municipal Tax Requisition Calculation 6. Mapping Services to BIM – existing and potential 7. Islands Trust Fund – introduction and update 8. Trust Area Services to BIM – existing and potential 9. Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program 10. Islands Trust Protocol with Province re Crown lands 11. Other discussion topics Protocol Agreement • Islands Trust – Bowen Island Municipality • Required by Bowen Island Municipality letters patent • Adopted in July 2000, revised in 2010 • Approved by Minister of Community Sport and Cultural Dev. • Recognizes shared responsibility to carry out the object of the Islands Trust Act • Agreed upon principles • Notice period for Policy Statement amendments