RDCK postpones Climate Action Open Houses
By Regional District of Central Kootenay
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) regrets to announce the postponement of the RDCK Climate Action Open Houses, which were scheduled to take place from May 23 to July 5, 2023. This decision has been made in response to recent safety concerns and is driven by the RDCK`s commitment to ensuring the well-being and safety of all attendees.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but at this time postponing the open houses is the responsible course of action,” said Stuart Horn, RDCK Chief Administrative Officer. “Our primary objective is to create a safe and respectful environment for all participants to share constructive feedback. We value the input from the public and want to ensure all members of the community have a chance to participate without the fear of intimidation. We understand the disappointment this announcement may cause, however, we firmly believe prioritizing the safety of our staff, attendees, and the community as a whole is paramount. The RDCK’s intention is to have a fulsome consultation process and the open houses will be rescheduled as soon as possible.”
The Board has committed to work with residents, emphasizing the need for the RDCK to prepare a more comprehensive approach in coordinating consultations within communities. The Board will not be adopting the RDCK Climate Action plan in August 2023. This decision aims to provide staff members with additional time to present recommendations for a revised timeline for public consultation.
“While it is a difficult decision to postpone the meetings planned, the Board welcomes these measures, which prioritize safety, foster effective public engagement, and demonstrate a commitment to a thorough and inclusive decision-making processes, ” said Aimee Watson, RDCK Board Chair.
With the feedback received to date the RDCK wanted to pause the process and plan an appropriate engagement and consultation timeline in order to meet the needs of our residents. We encourage residents to continue to provide feedback and questions as we prepare for the open houses throughout the RDCK.
The Draft RDCK Climate Actions is a proposed four-year guidance plan, focused on identifying supports that reflect the diverse needs of RDCK residents. The draft action plan – RDCK Climate Actions and accompanying Climate Action workbook are available to the public and the RDCK is seeking feedback from the community.
This is an opportunity to correct some of the misinformation that has been circulating in the public and on social media. It has come to the attention of the RDCK that inaccurate information has been shared, causing confusion and misunderstanding among the public. To clarify:
1. This is a guidance plan not a regulatory plan. What does that mean? This means that adoption of this plan will provide staff Board direction to explore opportunities through projects and programs that could support greater resilience in your community and are aligned with community needs We want to work with you to understand what makes sense in your neighborhood.
2. The concept of 15-minute cities is not included in this plan. The RDCK is not planning for 15-minute cities.
The RDCK remains committed to providing reliable information and promoting transparency on RDCK Climate Actions. Members of the community are encouraged to stay informed by reading all material on the RDCK website.
1. Stay updated: Check the climate action webpage regularly and follow RDCK’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates. We will share information on how to get involved and add events to the RDCK Events Calendar.
2. Get informed:
a. Pathway webinars – There are 10 pathways in the climate action plan: Land Use Planning, Transportation, Energy, Resource Recovery, Buildings, Water, Food & Agriculture, Floods and Geohazards, WildFire and Leadership & Operations. Curious to learn more about an individual pathway? We will be hosting online webinars that will be recorded and available as reference on the specific pathways. Find out more here: www.rdck.ca/ClimateActions.
b. Take the time to read the Draft RDCK Climate Actions and the accompanying Climate Action workbook. If you prefer a printed copy, email us at ClimateAction@rdck.bc.ca with your address and the number of copies requested, and we’ll mail them to you.
c. Have questions? Send them to ClimateAction@rdck.bc.ca or check out some of frequently asked questions
3. Provide feedback: We want to hear your thoughts! Click here to submit your response or email us at ClimateAction@rdck.bc.ca.
Your involvement matters! Together, let’s make a positive impact in our region and create a resilient future for the RDCK community.
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