West Shore Parks and Recreation is set to get over the hurdle of passing its 2014 budget, but concerns over governance are still causing worries for the principle players.

Langford council has agreed to approve the document now that the city is no longer being asked to help pay for an athletic field at Royal Bay secondary, currently under construction.

At the same time, council also declared it doesnB次元官网网址檛 want the recreation body undertaking capital spending without municipal approval.

Mayor Stew Young also wants West Shore Parks and Rec. to return LangfordB次元官网网址檚 share of reserve funds collected over the years for capital projects, to the tune of about $500,000.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want them putting money in their capital budget, charging us for things which may or may not get built,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e building a recreation facility next year, weB次元官网网址檙e going to use that money B次元官网网址� Why would they just keep it down there for the next three or four years and build nothing?B次元官网网址�

Langford initially rejected the budget, objecting to contributing money to the Royal Bay project while being the lone contributor to a field for the new Belmont secondary. The City of Colwood stepped in with an offer to pay half of the $150,000 needed for the Royal Bay field, allowing Langford to bow out.

The city does, however, support West Shore Parks and Rec. building a new skatepark and is willing to contribute $50,000 to the project. The Belmont land sale to SobeyB次元官网网址檚 will eventually see the existing park torn out.

Young said all capital projects should be funded this way, with municipalities shelling out money on a per-project basis. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have the money in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 bank account and weB次元官网网址檒l give the money to them when needed.B次元官网网址�

West Shore Parks and Rec. board chair and Colwood Coun. Rob Martin agreed with the concept.

B次元官网网址淚t made good fiscal sense to have a long-term plan,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he problem has been that the municipalities have not been able to agree on the capital projects, and that is, I think, where the frustration from Langford comes from.B次元官网网址�

Martin holds out hope that Langford can work productively with the group to create more recreation opportunities on the West Shore and not do everything on its own.

B次元官网网址淚 still very much believe in the model of West Shore Parks and Rec., where weB次元官网网址檙e all contributing,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淭he problem is not from an operational standpoint, the problem is political. The problem is the politicians wonB次元官网网址檛 get out of the way.B次元官网网址�

Martin hopes some of these issues are discussed at the next ownerB次元官网网址檚 meeting in May.

West Shore Parks and RecreationB次元官网网址檚 governance agreement expires at the end of June, and considerations of its operation will be discussed in drafting a new deal. A report from 2012 recommended switching the current model requiring unanimous vote to pass motions, to one using a simple majority, with votes weighted by the financial input of contributing municipalities.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 keeping my fingers crossed, but IB次元官网网址檓 not sure what the agendas are of each municipality,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淲e have to continue to expand our recreational opportunities, otherwise weB次元官网网址檙e just going to fall further and further behind.B次元官网网址�

kwells@goldstreamgazette.com