The GVRD Partnership

1
The GVRD Partnership
2
Overview

• The GVRD is a partnership of 21 municipalities
  and one electoral area that delivers regional
  services to 2 million residents of the
  metropolitan area

3
Key Responsibilities

• regional strategic growth management planning
• regional water supply and distribution
• regional liquid waste collection and treatment
• regional solid waste management
• regional parks
• affordable rental housing
• regional air quality management
• labour relations for 14,000 municipal employees

4
Organizational Structure - Reality

• Single administration for legal entities, (GVRD,
  GVSDD, GVWD) subsidiaries and affiliates (GVHC,
  LRB)
• Close working relationship with sister
  transportation organization (GVTA) based upon
  legal, political, financial, and administrative
  interdependencies

5
Organizational Structure - Context

• The GVRD system tries to combine regional
  economies of scale with maximum local autonomy
• More formal two-tiered regional governments are
  being replaced by unicities in other parts of
  Canada
• Our best defence against amalgamation is to make
  the GVRD work as a partnership

6
The GVRD as a Working PartnershipHistorical
Pattern for Each Function

• Two or more municipalities decide their interests
  are best served by cooperation
• They create an entity to enable them to do that
• They request enabling legislation from the
  Province
• Other municipalities join as and when they
  consider it advantageous

7
The GVRD as a Working Partnership - Principles

• One non-hierarchical system of local government
• Municipal partners role is to deliver services
  directly to the public the GVRDs role is to
  provide services that enables them to do this job
  better
• The interests of individual partners will prevail
  over everything except the collective interest of
  the partners
• Resolve issues through consensus and avoid
  surprises and destructive conflict

8
The GVRD as a Working Partnership - Mechanics

• Board decisions are taken only after public
  consultation and municipal review
• Municipal staff involvement through active
  committees - RAAC (managers), REAC (engineers),
  RFAC (treasurers), TAC (planners), and direct
  dialogue with specific municipalities on specific
  issues
• Council of Councils meetings provide opportunity
  for dialogue and direction-setting

9
GVRD PARTNERSHIP
10
The GVRD as a Working Partnership - Finance

• All members benefit from joint borrowing on
  collective credit
• There is only one taxpayer and he/she expects us
  to keep costs down and balance priorities -
  regional and local social, economic and
  environmental

11
What We Do

• Cost-effective utilities Water, Sewerage and
  Drainage, Solid Waste
• Where we live, work and play
• (and how we get about)
• Environmental stewardship

12
Cost-effective Utilities

• GVRD is wholesaler members are retailers
• GVRD delivery is by a combination of
  directly-provided services (e.g. wastewater
  treatment operations) and contracts (e.g.
  Incinerator)

13
Work in Progress - Utilities

• Liquid Waste Management Plan
• Watershed Management Plan
• Drinking Water Improvement Program
• Water Conservation and Harrison Lake Studies
• Continuous Operations and Maintenance Improvements

14
Where We Live, Work, Play (and How We Get About)

• GVRD has strategic planning responsibilities
  under Growth Management Act
• GVTA strategic plan has to serve objectives
  established by GVRD in the Livable Region
  Strategic Plan and for economic development

15
Work in Progress - Where We Live, Work, Play (and
How We Get About)

• Housing affordability
• Greenways and outdoor recreation
• Cultural Strategic Plan
• Support to private sector (GVEP)
• Strategic Transportation Plan (short-term)

16
Environmental Stewardship

• Manage the GVRDs direct impact on the ecosystem
  and key resources - air, land, water
• Manage regional growth for sustainability
  objectives, bringing economic, environmental and
  social development into a sustainable balance

17
Work in Progress - Environmental Stewardship

• Air Quality 2000 and
• Air Quality Management Plan
• Watershed Management Plan
• Liquid Waste Management Plan
• Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
• Parks acquisition and partnership programs
• Demand-side management programs

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Fundamental Needs

• Need for clear accountability
• Transparent and consultative decision making
• Need for performance measures and reporting
• Need for cost effectiveness
• Need for fiscal constraints
• Need to respond to changing roles
• Need to recognize the complexities of regional
  governance

19
Program Planning and Budget Process
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2000 Budget

• Key Drivers
• Affordability targets and capital cap
• Drinking Water Treatment Program
• Maintenance of Sewer Collection Systems and
  Plants
• Pay-as-you-go