Jumbo dissolution among several notable proposed municipal affairs amendments

Proposed legislative amendments were introduced today that aim to give communities new tools to help deliver housing, as well as dissolve the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality.

If passed by the legislature, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendments Act (No. 2), 2021, will authorize the dissolution of the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality.

The Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality was incorporated in 2013 with no residents, to facilitate the development of a ski resort proposed in the upper Jumbo Valley. As that ski resort proposal is not proceeding and Jumbo does not have residents to request dissolution as required under existing legislation, the proposed amendments are required to disincorporate the municipality, a Ministry of Municipal Affairs media release outlined.

The proposed changes to the Local Government Act and Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act will create a specific regulatory authority to allow the province to dissolve Jumbo by revoking its letters patent and providing additional powers to address any administrative matters that may arise.

“The amendments will also withdraw the authority to incorporate a mountain resort municipality without residents in the future. The disincorporation of Jumbo is an integral step to support the proposal to create an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the Jumbo Valley,” the ministry stated.

The proposed amendments would also require local governments to consider developing or updating codes of conduct for councils or board members.

“Local elected officials have a responsibility to act in the best interests of their communities and be accountable to the residents of those communities for their choices. Proposed amendments to the Local Government Act, Community Charter and Vancouver Charter will add a new requirement for all municipal councils and regional district boards to publicly consider developing codes of conduct for their council or board members,” the ministry explained.

The change provides a tool to strengthen local government responsible conduct by creating a regular process for elected officials to engage in conversations about shared expectations for conduct as they carry out their responsibilities and govern together, the ministry said.

“This is another step in ongoing work that the province, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Local Government Management Association have committed to doing together, and the approach was supported by a special resolution endorsed at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in September 2021.”

The amendments would also streamline local government development approvals processes.

The proposed changes will remove the default requirement for local governments to hold public hearings for zoning bylaw amendments that are consistent with the official community plan (OCP).

“The amendments will also enable municipalities and regional districts to delegate decisions on minor development variance permits to local government staff, which will help decrease the amount of time it takes for approval. Together, these proposed changes will provide the authority for local governments to improve their processes and help get homes built faster throughout the province,” the ministry stated.

Proposed amendments would also modernize local government public notice requirements.

“Local governments have requested more flexibility for providing statutory public notices, as is the case in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec. Proposed amendments to the Local Government Act, Community Charter, Islands Trust Act, Municipal Replotting Act, University Endowment Land Act and Vancouver Charter will enable local governments to determine and specify, by bylaw, the methods they will use to provide public notice that will reach the greatest number of people in their communities. Local governments that choose to adopt a public notice bylaw will have to first consider principles of effective public notice,” the Ministry of Municipal Affairs said.

Lead image: Jumbo Dome will not be traced by ski lifts and runs and a proposed resort village with a full capacity population similar to the City of Fernie will not twinkle beneath it.  e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

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