Dear editor,
While it is always interesting to read other’s views of events, I wish to correct a statement that appeared in the Bowen Islanders for Ferry Fairness (BIFF) update on BC Ferries affairs in the Undercurrent of August 29th. The article states that I, as chair of the Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Advisory Committee (BIMTAC), refused to allow a member of the public to make a presentation about ferry marshalling at an unspecified meeting. The meeting in question was, in fact, an internal BIM staff workshop on August 1st, mandated by Council at its meeting of July 28th, on parking and ferry marshalling, in the context of the Queen of Capilano mid-life upgrade (MLU). At the same Council meeting Councillor Rhodes tabled a package of parking and ferry marshalling proposals which included the BIFF proposal.
BIFF was told by municipal staff that BIMTAC would be pleased to see the submission at the next BIMTAC meeting – which took place on August 26th. No request to make a presentation was received for that meeting.
BIMTAC is an advisory committee to the Bowen Island Council. All of its meetings are open to the public, under rules set out by the Community Charter, and minutes are taken. We welcome public submissions, within the usual rules that apply to all BIM advisory committees.
BIMTAC has achieved some success in dealing with the problems that the MLU will create for all islanders. These mitigation measures, which have already been discussed with BCFerries, were discussed at the BIMTAC meeting of August 29th and will presented to Council at its next meeting on Sept. 8th. It is important to note BCFerries staff from Horseshoe Bay attended the August 29th meeting and contributed materially to our discussion. BIMTAC also recommended that the BIM staff workshop report on Snug Cove parking and ferry marshalling to improve traffic circulation in time for the MLU, be submitted to Council for approval and implementation.
There is a clear role for independent discussion and dissent when it comes to dealing our ferry system. But there is also a need for careful and methodical negotiations with BCFerries with due care for the facts.
Sincerely,
Adam Holbrook
Bowen Island Transportation Advisory Committee Chair
