City Minutes/General Purposes Cmt., September 2, 2008: Steveston Community Fishing Harbour Long Term Development Plan

by City of Richmond
(Richmond, BC Canada)

DELEGATIONS
 
2. (1) Bob Baziuk, General Manager of the Steveston Harbour Authority accompanied by Adrian Rowland, Regional Engineer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours Branch, made reference to two conceptual drawings of the Steveston Harbour Long Term Development Plan (Attached as Schedule 1 PDF), and briefly reviewed the concept which included reconfiguration to the harbour entrance, and to the east side of Shady Island.

Mr. Baziuk noted that issues related to making the harbour fit into the community better; to supporting the active fishing industry; and to keeping the harbour viable were all being explored. He concluded by stating that silting and dredging were the most important issues facing the Steveston Harbour.
 
Mr. Rowland noted that the harbour’s primary mandate was to support the fishing industry. He further noted that primary objective was to reduce long term financial impact including the costs of dredging. Mr. Rowland advised that involvement from many stakeholders would be required in developing the Steveston Community Fishing Harbour Long Term Development Plan, including the City of Richmond.
 
A discussion ensued during which the following was noted:

• a $50,000 modeling study for the Steveston Harbour had been undertaken, and was expected to be completed by the end of September 2008. The study would not include detailed information related to costs of construction for the Steveston Harbour;


• the recreational boat industry could possibly provide some financial and economical benefits to the harbour;


• the concept of the Steveston Community Fishing Harbour Long Term Development Plan had been presented to the Steveston Harbour Authority Board of Directors;




• an accurate time line could not be predicted for completion of the Steveston Harbour Authority Long Term Development, however it would be a project that would take several years to complete;


• other parties needed to participate in developing the Steveston Community Fishing Harbour Long Term Development Plan would include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment Canada; the Canadian Wildlife Federation, among others;


• a meeting with Port Metro related to the Steveston Community Fishing Harbour Long Term Development Plan concept is scheduled to take place on September 29th, 2008; 


• deflection of debris was essential to the Steveston Harbour;


• dredging costs had been reduced by cleaning the sediments; and


• the size of waves would increase as a result of erosion of the banks.

During the discussion, several questions were raised related to the City owned lands adjacent to the harbour, and reference was made to previous studies that had been done in connection to the Steveston Harbour.
 
Mr. Baziuk was requested to send Committee members copies of aerial photos that had previously been taken of the Steveston Harbour during a low tide.
 
It was moved and seconded
 
That the matter of the Steveston Harbour Authority Long Term Development Concept be referred to staff for analysis and a report back on the issue of FREMP designations and potential land offsets, and the options for City land in the harbour.
 
CARRIED