Council members shut the tap Monday on installing water meters at Roots and Blues Festival campgrounds.
At the June 4 meeting of the city’s development and planning services committee, the mayor and councillors present voted unanimously to not make water meters a requirement for two sites offering temporary camping during the festival. City engineering staff had recommended installing meters because the current city standard for residential properties getting a plumbing permit – which the campgrounds require – triggers the need for an upgrade to a metered service. That allows the city to manage water in a way that conserves energy, sustains the environment, saves money and other benefits, states a city report.
Roots and Blues had applied for a temporary use permit for properties across from the fairgrounds at 550, 690 and 1300 10th Ave. SW. Only the latter two properties were cited, because a meter was recently installed at 550 10th Ave. SW when a building permit was required for a building on the site.
David Gonella addressed the meeting on behalf of Roots and Blues, saying he has spoken to the landowners in question and their response to water meters was negative. He said they feel they are doing the festival a favour so would prefer not to do it at all if they have to go to the expense of installing meters.
“It’s not a financial gain for them, they’re doing it for the community,” he said.
Mayor Nancy Cooper and Couns. Debbie Cannon, Ken Jamieson, Denise Reimer and Chad Eliason all voted against including the staff recommendation for water meters. Couns. Alan Harrison and Marg Kentel were absent.
Eliason said he thinks meters are unnecessary and requiring their installation would be “going overboard.” Cannon said the festival brings lots of people to the community, so she doesn’t support meters, particularly if the campgrounds don’t have water available at individual campsites, just at one main location.
Reimer said she thinks low-flush toilets would be a priority before the city starts looking at water meters. Jamieson said water meters are not something council has identified as a priority, but he thinks this should serve as a heads-up it could become one.
“I’m not in favour (of including water meters now) but I think it’s important that it’s part of the conversation in the future.”
Last June, the council of the day unanimously upheld the decision to waive the need for water meters for 2011 on the temporary camping sites, with the intent of reviewing the matter in 2012.
This year the festival plans to open the campgrounds at Thursday noon instead of Friday in order to alleviate congestion. In addition, a queue system will be used which is intended to remove campers from lining up on 10th Avenue.