Lessons learned by the City of Courtenay in implementing its “soil sponge policy”
City of Courtenay “Soil Depth Policy”
In January 2004, the City of Courtenay was the first BC municipality to adopt a policy requiring developers to provide a minimum soil depth on building sites. Because the City places importance on the soil sponge as a rainwater management tool, it has been exploring options to ensure that developers and house builders fulfil their obligations to provide and preserve the minimum required depth.
Cowichan Valley Seminar
At the second in the Cowichan Valley Learning Lunch Seminars, Kevin Lagan, Director of Operational Services for the City of Courtenay, provided an overview of 
Lessons Learned on Soil Depth. This sharing of experience formed part of the curriculum for informing local practitioners. The Learning Lunch series is a precedent-setting approach to delivering continuing education to local government practitioners in the places where they work. Vancouver Island is the pilot region.
To download a copy of Kevin Lagan’s presentation, click here. To view a video clip of Kevin elaborating on his slides, please click here.
Learning Lunch Seminar Series
The Learning Lunch Seminar Series promotes a consistent provincial approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure. The Cowichan Valley Regional District and City of Courtenay are the host local governments for Learning Lunch Seminar Series in the Spring and Fall of 2008, respectively. In total, the Vancouver Island local governments that will be participating represent some 250,000 people.
The Learning Lunch Seminar Series is the first step in building a regional team approach so that there will be a common understanding and consistent messaging regarding on-the-ground expectations for rainwater management and green infrastructure. The Seminar Series is part of the implementation program for Beyond the Guidebook: The New Business As Usual.
Posted July 2008