Parkland levy could get bigger role

Residents’ views would be sought on using funds to build facilities, trails and parking lots

Greater Victoria residents will likely be asked whether they want the $20-per-household levy collected specifically to buy parkland also used to build park infrastructure such as parking lots, trails and washrooms.

Under a consultation plan approved by the Capital Regional District parks committee on Wednesday, residents will be offered four options through an online survey on how the levy should be used: • Land purchases and associated costs only — the existing policy. • To purchase land and open new newly acquired lands with trails, parking lots, etc. • To purchase land and build new facilities anywhere in the parks and trails system, including in existing parks. • To purchase land, build infrastructure and cover maintenance costs of existing parks and trails.

The consultation plan needs to be approved by the CRD board. To ensure a representative sample of the CRD’s residents respond to the survey, postcards would be mailed to a random sample of residents inviting them to the complete the survey. The initial mailout would be in March 2018.

CRD staff say residents already indicated in a 2016 survey they favour extending the $20 levy for another 10 years when it expires at the end of 2019.

Of the 1,256 respondents, 73 per cent supported the extension, four per cent opposed and 23 per cent had no opinion.

Officially called the Parks Land Acquisition Fund, the levy was initially $10 per household when established in 2000.

In 2010, it was extended for 10 years, starting at a rate of $12 per average household assessment. It was to increase $2 per year to a maximum of $20 in 2014 through to 2019.

The fund generates about $3.7 million per year.

Over the past 16 years, it has enabled the CRD to contribute $36 million to buy — with partners — more than 4,500 hectares of land valued at more than $52 million.

But CRD staff say that extra land comes with extra costs to open for public use and maintain.

The fund has an existing balance of about $9.2 million.

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor noted that if a further $3.7 million a year is collected over the next two years, there would be a balance of about $16 million.

“I do wonder, though, when the public answered the question about continuing that fee [beyond 2019], if they were aware that, potentially, there was going to be the $16 million and whether or not the public might view that as sufficient for the time being for us to take a pause in the requisition,” Windsor said.

Parks general manager Larisa Hutcheson said there are some planned and approved purchases that will be reducing the fund balance.

Hutcheson said a context statement will be included with the consultation.

Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt, who supports using the fund for parkland acquisition, said he doesn’t support a pause in the fund collection, noting $16 million “can be burned through in a hurry.”

He said there are substantial areas of the capital region lacking legislative protection and the CRD’s fund is an effective mechanism for protecting wilderness areas and other sensitive ecosystems.