Clearwater, BC and Wells Gray Park, British Columbia

Clearwater & District Chamber of Commerce

The Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce is neutral on the decision to incorporate or not. We provide this website as a service for the benefit of our members and the community of Clearwater.

Following is the Terms of Reference to be sent to consultants interested in sending in a proposal to complete the study

Joint Barriere and Clearwater Incorporation Study Initiatives

Consultant Terms of Reference

Introduction

The unincorporated communities of Barriere and Clearwater, through the MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Directors for Area "O" (Barriere) and Area "A" (Clearwater) have indicated support for an examination of the implications of municipal incorporation. A study was completed approximately eleven years ago for Barriere and five years ago for Clearwater. Both communities subsequently held a referendum, which was defeated.

Both communities support another examination of municipal incorporation. Issues raised include: changes in potential revenues; desire for local control; new drinking water and waste disposal regulations.

The Barriere and Clearwater Incorporation Studies will be treated as two separate studies for the purposes of: local committees; grants; reports and decisions. However, given the close proximity of the two communities and various commonalities, the following Terms of Reference will apply to both studies as discussed below.

Background

Barriere

The community of Barriere is a rural residential community with an expanding commercial sector situated approximately 60 km north of Kamloops on Yellowhead #5 Highway. The study area has a population of approximately 1800 residents.

Services are currently provided by several sources: the Thompson-Nicola Regional District who provide fire protection services, Community Water System, cemetery, parks, search and rescue, building inspection and the Barriere Official Community Plan; the Barriere Improvement District who provide street lighting, garbage collection and a local community office; and the Province for road maintenance and RCMP services.

Facilities serving the community as a whole include: two elementary schools with one under review to close; a secondary school; a RCMP detachment; Barriere Clinic with two Doctors; a shopping mall with a well stocked drug store; a large grocery store; many restaurants; a curling rink; numerous ball parks and play grounds; hotels; motels and bed and breakfasts for accommodation. There are also many hiking and cross country trails and other recreational activities in the area. Barriere is also the home of the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo and the fair grounds.

Clearwater

The Clearwater community is a rural residential community of approximately 2300

residents, located approximately 130 km north of Kamloops in the southern interior.

Services are presently provided to the community from several sources: Clearwater Improvement District; Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Province. Letters patent for the Clearwater Improvement District provide for the following services: fire protection; water; sewer; drainage and dyking; street lighting; cemeteries; ball parks and playgrounds. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District provide for regional services such as regional parks, regional district administration and solid waste disposal; while the Province maintains roads and provides for police protection services.

Facilities serving the community as a whole include: an elementary school; high school;

general hospital; RCMP detachment; variety of businesses; services; shops; restaurants and accommodations; sports centre including hockey and curling rink; legion; golf course, and a number of parks – Wells Gray, North Thompson, both summer and winter recreation trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and various other activities.

Incorporation Studies Objective:

The studies’ objective is to provide electors with comprehensive information on the implications of incorporation, both positive and negative. The process will entail a thorough, objective, technical examination of the current situation. The studies will subsequently consider the implications of changes that may arise from municipal incorporation. The process will include extensive public communication.

Incorporation Studies Tasks:

The consultant will be required to prepare a written report for each community under the direction of the two respective Committees. The reports will include research and analysis of the following topics and those that arise during the studies’ process:

	A description of the status quo including: population, settlement structure, tax base, existing services, current property taxes, and a review of community issues;
	Boundary definition – present scenarios showing implications of various boundary configurations with specific community considerations:
	Barriere: encompassing Barriere Improvement District, rural residential neighbourhoods in close proximity
	Clearwater: inclusion of Vavenby industrial site situated, east of Clearwater as well as several other areas that are under consideration;

A comparison of basic municipal indicators with those of existing comparable municipalities including tax multiples;

	An examination of the transfer of services from the Province, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Improvement Districts;
	An assessment of maintaining industrial taxes at the current provincial rate and have these in letters patent for the new municipality;
	A summary of financial, social, administrative, political, and service delivery implications, including impact on property taxes;
	Implication on taxes for individual properties with and without incorporation (consideration of residential, industrial and farm properties);
	A realistic assessment of road costs, including a highway maintenance program, and the establishment of a Highways Capital Works Program;
	An analysis of the offer of restructuring assistance from the Province;
	A description of funding sources available to an incorporated area verses an improvement district;

	A multi-year operating budget projection for the municipality extending one year beyond the period of provincial assistance and unconditional operating grants; and
	Other issues that may arise from incorporation as identified by the consultant, the Committees, and the public – provide an overview of current community issues including but not limited to: water, sewer, fire department, community wild fire safety issues, bug kill, environmental issues, governance, planning, street lighting, sidewalks, etc.

The consultant will produce clear, comprehensive materials for the public and will attend a minimum of three community meetings for each community in order to communicate regularly and respectfully with the public. One suggestion is to hold a meeting at the beginning of the studies’ process, one after the initial analyses (draft report) and one to present the final reports. The consultant may also wish to attend meetings of specific community groups in addition to general public meetings.

The studies will not make any recommendation on incorporation; the Committees will make final recommendations on whether an incorporation vote should be held, based on public input.

Incorporation Studies Process:

The proposal shall include the following elements, as a minimum:

	Provision for meetings with the Committees to establish the schedule of work and to report on progress;
	Provision for public meetings to identify issues and concerns, to present the draft report and possible follow-up meetings;
	Methodology for research, analysis and consultation required to prepare the studies;
	The consultant’s experience and references related to the preparation of incorporation studies; and
	A comprehensive budget to include fees, expenses, meetings, travel, per diems, etc.

Incorporation Studies Deliverables:

The consultant will be required to:

	Participate in a minimum of four Committee meetings, in person, in each Barriere and Clearwater; these can be combined with public meetings where practical;
	Take an unbiased lead role in presenting the studies’ findings directly to the public. In fulfilling this responsibility, the consultant shall provide the necessary visual aids and explain the findings in a clear and cohesive manner to the public;
	Obtain information and work with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Ministry of Community Services ( MCS ), and other provincial and federal agencies, as required;
	Provide copies of draft and final reports to each Committee member and the Regional District Directors. Hard copies of the final study reports must also be provided to MCS. Eight additional copies of the final report will be provided by the consultant for the public to view at the public libraries in Barriere and Clearwater, the Community Resource Centre in Clearwater, and the Barriere Improvement District office;
	Supply final reports in electronic version that may be readily posted on the potential website(s) [PDF and HTML formats];
	Provide succinct summary reports for distribution at the public meetings and the Committees to mail out to all households within the final study areas;
	Provide electronic copies of all study materials in PDF format to the Committees, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and MCS; and
	Posters and pamphlets to be placed in key locations within the boundary limits for easy access by the public.
	Provide news releases to cover the questions/issues raised by the public and the Committees during the study process.

Studies Administration

Disbursement of study costs shall be, by authorization of the Committees, from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. The Committees will verify that the Terms of Reference of the studies have been met prior to authorization of payment.

Incorporation Studies Timing:

The following is a tentative timeline to be finalized by the consultant and the Committees:

- Consultant selection Mid-April

- Interim report Late May/Early June 2006

- Review/public consultation June/July 2006

- Final report Late July 2006


		Clearwater & District Chamber of Commerce 425 East Yellowhead Highway Box 1988, RR1 Clearwater, BC, V0E 1N0 Phone: (250) 674-2646 Fax: (250) 674-3693 Email: info@clearwaterbcchamber.com