The residents of Nanoose Bay reaffirmed their strong opposition to a proposed bylaw that would see them paying taxes for Ravensong Aquatic Centre. The pool is located in Qualicum Beach.
Residents stressed this opposition at the Regional District of Nanaimo board’s special meeting held on Tuesday, (April 18) to review the results of the public engagement that was conducted from November to December in 2022, and also in early January 2023.
A number of delegations were heard, all calling for the RDN board not to endorse the proposed Bylaw No. 899 that will include Electoral Area E (Nanoose Bay) in the pool service and also change the apportionment of the tax collected for the service to one-third assessment, one-third usage and one-third population base.
Nanoose Bay residents felt they were not given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process that some referred to as undemocratic and unfair. They also considered the proposed tax funding model to be inequitable due to only a small portion of the community using the pool. Most residents said they prefer using some of the private pools in Nanoose Bay or the public pools in Nanaimo, as they are closer to them compared to the Ravensong pool.
They urged the board to listen to the wishes of the Nanoose Bay residents as indicated in the public engagement report presented by consultant RC Strategies. Engagement was collected through six open houses across the region and two virtual events. There was also an online survey offered on the RDN’s Get Involved site.
READ MORE: Nanoose Bay residents sign petition against proposed taxation for Qualicum Beach pool
The consultant reported that 81 per cent of all survey respondents are from Nanoose Bay and a majority — 83 per cent — opposed the addition of Area E to the pool service. As well, 66 per cent opposed the new funding model for cost recovery while 15 per cent supported an alternative model.
Some respondents commented the funding model appears to be capitalizing on the higher assessment values in Nanoose Bay and that it looks like a “cash grab.” Some also stated Area E was not involved when the pool was established in the 1990s and should not be considered as a participant in the service now. Some respondents indicated they would support a new pool in Parksville.
Staff report on options for a District 69 Swimming Pool Local Service Area was received by the RDN board, and also suggested re-establishing the District 69 Swimming Pool Service Select Committee to review funding options and models as well as the possibility of another aquatic facility in Parksville. The select committee could then provide recommendations to the RDN.
The board also directed staff to provide the select committee with the detailed usage survey data, as appropriate, from 2010 and 2015. As well staff was asked to provide a variety of cost apportionment models for the consideration.
Area H director Stuart McLean endorsed bringing back the District 69 Swimming Pool Service Select Committee as he felt it to be effective; the committee came up with a unanimous recommendation in the past, he noted.
“The committee did good work and I believe we can do that again,” said McLean. “And I believe…adding the discussion of an additional aquatic facility in Oceanside would further facilitate a long-term, broader view of where we’re going as a community when it comes to aquatic facilities. We’ve been stalled for the past almost five years waiting for Parksville to make up their mind about whether they would like to build a pool on their own or not. I think the reality is setting in that no one small community of 13,000 people is going to be able to build an aquatic facility on their own. And if that’s going to happen, it’s going to be a regional discussion and regional participation. We need to work together as a region.”
Area E director Bob Rogers and Nanaimo director Sheryl Armstrong both suggested moving the discussion to the RDN’s committee of the whole in order to review the options and models for District 69 Swimming Pool Service and the Southern Community Recreation Local Service area aquatics and provide recommendations to the board.
Rogers argued the Southern Community Recreation service should be included as Nanoose residents use pool facilities there. However, a point of order was brought up about Rogers’ amendment and their suggestion didn’t go anywhere.
READ MORE: Qualicum Beach mayor wants Nanoose Bay residents to pay pool tax
Parksville director Doug O’Brien said that discussion of an Oceanside pool should be discussed by District 69 communities that consist of the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach, Electoral Areas E, F, G and H.
Those currently paying to the Ravensong pool service include the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and Electoral Areas F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood), Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) and Area H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay). Nanoose Bay property owners have not been paying any taxes to the pool since it was established in 1993.
