Chair, School District 68
I
am in receipt of the letter that was forwarded to the Honourable
Steve Thomson, Nanaimo City Staff, School Board personnel and the Dam
Safety Branch. In it you have expressed a concern with regard to the
Colliery Dams and the decision made by the City on August 07, 2013 to
cancel the tender for their removal. As our group of concerned
citizens was specifically mentioned in this motion, I thought it
prudent to offer some feedback.
The
motion was passed unanimously by Nanaimo City Council with the
expectation that a short term risk mitigation plan be brought to
council at the first available opportunity (Sept 09, 2013). It was
further moved and seconded that Council continue to engage the
Snuneymuxw First Nation, the Colliery Dam Preservation Society, and
the public and return at the first opportunity to Council to adopt a
new strategy to deal with the long term mitigation of risks
associated with the dams. This motion was also carried unanimously.
Finally, Council also directed Staff to provide a recommended process
that outline the key steps and estimated completion dates of each
step that will focus the organization on diligently addressing the
life safety and property concerns that have been made known to City
of Nanaimo Council and the community. This recommendation should take
into consideration the commitments of City Council to thoroughly
engage Snuneymuxw First Nation and the community at large as
identified in the 30 day process that has recently been completed.
The motion carried unanimously.
