VOTE JOHN DACOMBE FOR COURTENAY COUNCIL

This Council’s Record

Like almost every administration at every level of government in Canada, the performance of this Council has been varied: a good job on some issues, a fair job on others, and a poor performance on some others.

Here’s my take:

Water

Grade: D

Universal volumetric metering is a good idea that should have been launched seven years ago and enacted at a far faster rate, not slow-rolled in the last six months of this Council’s second term in control. And a lack of actual enforcement of water restrictions means water is still the biggest operational cost to Courtenay taxpayers. (To be clear, every Council before this one deserves an F.)

Sewer

Grade: A

In concert with the CVRD, this Council has approved expensive but necessary upgrades to existing systems.

Roads

Grade: C

Most gridlock inside City boundaries is on provincial roads, but a lack of advocacy to the province, and significant funds wasted on Back Road when far cheaper options were available, has hampered progress.

Waste Management

Grade: A

Partially a CVRD responsibility, the partnership with a private contractor for collection and haulage has reduced equipment and HR costs.

Active Transportation

Grade: B+

Great work on crosswalks, but many dangerous locations remain.

Parks and Recreation

Grade: B

Generally well governed, except for the expensive plan to rebuild the Lewis Park outdoor pool, something that should be off the table unless every member government of the CVRD pay their fair share for both construction and management.

Criminal and anti-social behaviour

Grade: D

Contract policing is the #3 cost to Courtenay taxpayers, and the City has little real control over how it is carried out. But the lack of meaningful bylaw enforcement through fines, and weak enforcement against problem properties that are crime vectors, has had significant negative financial and social impacts.

Growth

Grade: A

Densification has been well managed, and the trap of extending municipal boundaries has been avoided. (This would be a hard F for previous Councils.)

Housing

Grade: A

Building of both multi-unit rentals and SFR have only been constrained by the market.

Tax rates

Grade: D-

Tax increases above rate of inflation, year after year, are inexcusable. A mill rate below that of most other cities around here prevented this from being an F.

Debt

Grade: D-

Sometimes debt is worthwhile, but a tripling in debt servicing over the next five years, from $1.5M in 2026 to $4.5M in 2030, is troubling.