Water System Community Information Meetings

Communication & Engagement Plan

Water System Local Service Areas

Bowen Island Municipality is committed to providing timely and accurate communication to water users in the Local Service Areas of Bluewater Park, Bowen Bay, Cove Bay, Eagle Cliff, Hood Point, King Edward Bay and Tunstall Bay. We want to increase community participation by making Community Information Meetings less formal and more inclusive, and making communication with water users a regular part of Municipal operations. Based on Vancouver Coastal Health’s advice, we are working to make our governance model simpler and more effective.

Ways we will engage the communities in the Local Service Areas

Spring – One Committee of the Whole with Council

A Committee of the Whole meeting will be held in March each year. Everyone is welcome, but users in the Local Services Areas will be specifically invited to attend and participate. In this meeting, staff will present information about each Local Service Area’s annual budget and rates, financial results of the previous year (reserves and surpluses), status of current capital projects, and information about contemplated capital projects. Members of the public can ask questions and provide feedback directly to Council. With this model, Council will be more directly involved with decision-making and planning for our long-term water utility needs, and this will remove barriers to direct engagement with Council.

Fall – Four Community Information Meetings

One Community Information Meeting will be held for:

• Cove Bay and Eagle Cliff
• Hood Point
• Tunstall Bay
• Bluewater Park, Bowen Bay and King Edward Bay

Everyone is welcome, but users in the Local Service Areas will be specifically invited to attend and participate. In this meeting, staff will present information about water conservation guidelines, water quality reports, and progress on current capital projects. Sharing information helps water users understand infrastructure issues better, connect with others, and promote water conservation values across the island. Coordinating fewer meetings, more efficiently will help us make better use of staff time.

Following each meeting, participants will be encouraged to complete a simple satisfaction survey asking if the information provided was helpful, and if there was anything they would like more information on. Participants may also choose to write to Council sharing their thoughts. Results of this feedback will be compiled and provided to Council, and will help shape future engagement strategies.

Year Round – Billing, Newsletters & Urgent Water Quality & Supply Issues

Throughout the year we will communicate with users in the Local Service Areas by including information on the back of utility bills and the Municipality’s website. Notification of upcoming Community Information Meetings will be sent well in advance, and a follow-up Newsletter with the video recording of the meeting will be provided shortly after.

For communities with ongoing capital projects, we will provide regular progress updates and schedule meetings as required. And for urgent water quality and supply issues, we will communicate time-sensitive information to users though the Municipality’s operational communications methods such as Alertable, Social Media, E-newsletters and the newspaper and direct mailings when necessary.

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Council has a Strategic Goal to focus on maintaining strong infrastructure and asset management while ensuring good governance and community engagement. This Communication and Engagement Plan will help meet those goals and promote better communication with water users as we move towards harmonized policies and fair rate structures across the island.