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living water smart bc

    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “There is no question that we have come a long way in overcoming memory loss in regional growth management and the future looks promising,” stated Ken Cameron, co-architect of Metro Vancouver’s Livable Region Strategic Plan in the 1990s (4th installment in a preview series)


    “In Spring 2023, a group of us had meetings with Metro Vancouver planning staff to pass on our knowledge and experience. Our message was, use the strengths of the unique regional planning system you have. We did this in the interest of providing current and future Metro planning staff with some personal background on the people and, in some cases, organizations, that influenced the preparation and adoption of the Livable Region Strategic Plan in 1996 and the subsequent evolution of the planning function,” stated Ken Cameron.

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    AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE GROUNDS NATURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT: “We see EAP as a closely aligned initiative with the things that we promised to do in the 10-year work plan for the region’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Program,” stated Murray Walters, Manager of Water Services with the Regional District of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island


    “Our focus in moving forward with EAP, the Ecological Accounting Process, is on land we own. The RDN is all-in with our participation. As an organization, we need to get wiser about natural asset management. We need to be able to open people’s eyes about natural asset management in general and as an element of municipal infrastructure services. We also need to open eyes more so to the financial side of what these natural assets contribute. And vice versa. How much financial aid we need to put into these assets to allow them to do that,” stated Murray Walters.

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    AFFORDABLE, EFFECTIVE AND PRAGMATIC NATURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT: “The credibility of the Ecological Accounting Process is building. With UBCM involvement, it is about hitting that critical mass piece as you get more and more understanding,” stated Bill Sims, General Manager of Engineering and Public Works with the City of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island


    “The EAP program is embedded in our Integrated Action Plan. This supports City Plan: Nanaimo Reimagined which provides direction for the coming 25 years on everything…land use, transportation, climate adaptation, etc. We made sure EAP is part of that. It is firmly rooted,” stated Bill Sims. “By being pragmatic and making the financial case using real numbers, we answer the question of why we should be investing in stream maintenance and management. You also need the Repetition Factor to reinforce what EAP stands for…so that people have the context in their minds.”

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    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “We need to think of local government as being more like a Mars Rover with wheels that can move in different directions,” stated Pete Steblin, former City Manager in the Metro Vancouver region (3rd installment in a preview series)


    “It is important for each generation to learn to look back to see ahead so that they can turn rather than reinvent the wheel. At the same time, I think the Mars Rover is an appropriate analogy to describe how things work in local government. If it flips over, and we are not there to right size it…well, all is lost. Wheels are good to go in one direction. You need a steering wheel. But you need something different to change direction. Direction is going to be changed as you move forward. You have to at least recognize that reality so that you can adapt to it,” stated Pete Steblin.

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    THE PERFECT STORM – WHY ‘ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY’ PROVIDES SOLUTIONS: “With limited resources, how do we balance priorities across the organization to provide the range of services yet maintain affordability in very tough times,” wrote Wally Wells (Summer 2024 issue of Asset Management BC Newsletter)


    “Our biggest challenge today is affordability for our residents and businesses. Our local governments and First Nations Councils and Boards are challenged more than ever with balancing priorities of service against tax and fee increases and availability of capital for projects,” stated Wally Wells. “With an Asset Management policy to drive the process, the asset management framework and plan, along with the long-term financial plan, Councils and Boards have the background and analysis necessary to make informed decisions and stay within financial limits.”

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    EAP TRANSITION STRATEGY PARTNERSHIP: “There are lots of partnerships that exist for selfish reasons. But the EAP Partnership is selfless; and from all angles. The strategy ensures that knowledge is retained at an institutional level, that is, Vancouver Island University,” stated Graham Sakaki, Manager of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute


    “The story behind the story is about the importance of embedding knowledge of EAP into the youth who are going to be the future of our local governments. The framework that we have set up ensures this will happen. Vancouver Island University, as a smaller university, is very focused on applied research and community engagement. This is a good fit for the EAP mission. The program enhances the ability of students to take part in applied research and have direct links to future jobs with these local governments who are providing project work experience for students,” stated Graham Sakaki.

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    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Being an elected leader goes beyond saying I care about my community. We take that as a given. That’s the starting point,” stated Darrell Mussatto, former mayor North Vancouver City (2nd installment in a preview series)


    “Now how do we become educated? What are we bringing to the table that is going to help make good decisions? Politicians know how to get elected. But do they know all that other stuff that they need to know? Today, the people getting elected know how to use social media to get people to vote for them. But do they know and care about what matters in local government? To ask the tough questions, you must be informed and educated about what matters,” stated Darrell Mussatto.

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    ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY: “Our investments in relationships, clarity, understanding, and direction-setting will help us in the work to come. We’ve laid the foundation, and now it’s time to build upon it,” wrote the City of Abbotsford’s Gracelyn Shannon (Summer 2024 issue of Asset Management BC Newsletter)


    “Asset management is a complex, arduous, exciting, long-term, involved process. As practitioners, we wholeheartedly embrace this journey because it empowers us to collaboratively make informed decisions about our infrastructure, ultimately benefiting the public we serve. But where do we begin? In the article, I explain what tools, documents, or processes I’m using to set the foundation for the asset management work to come in Abbotsford,” wrote Gracelyn Shannon. “With a better understanding of our stakeholders and current practices, we wrote our Asset Management Policy.”

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    ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY: “When data collection is undertaken in the absence of critical thinking, one runs the risk of analysis paralysis,” stated Kim Stephens, Partnership for Water Sustainability (Summer 2024 issue of Asset Management BC Newsletter)


    “Local governments need data that is meaningful for infrastructure asset management, but quality and usefulness have emerged as issues of paramount concern. Before collecting data, make sure you ask the right questions,” states Kim Stephens. “Be clear on why data is needed. What is the desired outcome? How will you use the information or data? Will it help you make better decisions? How much and what kind of data do you actually need? Does the cost meet the test of being affordable and effective? What are the tradeoffs between risk, complexity and cost?”

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    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “With the housing issue dominating the conversation, how will you reframe the goal and objective for restoration of stream systems in a way that restores political commitment and rebuilds the coalition?” asks Ray Fung, stated Ray Fung, a retired Director of Engineering in local government (1st installment in a preview series)


    In the 1990s, there was trouble in paradise. In response, the provincial government launched the Georgia Basin Initiative. It was all hands on deck and catalyst for the green infrastructure movement. “Knowing what we know, you have to build new political commitment and basically start all over again in a new crucible phase…where you coalition-build to develop a new shared vision, etc. The task at hand is about how to redefine things in a new political environment so you would be able to get a new vision and new political commitment,” stated Ray Fung.

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