A plan to send Capital Regional District directors and staff to Europe on a learning trip about wastewater management sank at the CRD Wednesday (Sept. 13).

B次元官网网址淚 think there was a feeling amongst the directors that it wasnB次元官网网址檛 necessary at this time and more work has to be done and more information gathering can be done without going to Europe,B次元官网网址� said CRD director Nils Jensen, Oak Bay mayor.

The Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 integrated resource management (IRM) approved sending three CRD directors and two staffers to Europe to tour sewage treatment and biosolids processing facilities, as a way to learn more about IRM strategies.

The plan had to make its way through the environmental services committee earlier in the day.

B次元官网网址淚t had been completely replaced by the time,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

Instead, the CRD board voted to gather the kinds of information required.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really pleased the board accepted the shift. I donB次元官网网址檛 know that it took a lot of convincing,B次元官网网址� said board chair Barb Desjardins, Esquimalt mayor. B次元官网网址淭hey still needed to understand why and how the shift happened.B次元官网网址�

One reason, she says, is they heard the concerns of constituents over the proposed trip. They went so far as to add an amendment that no travel would be considered.

B次元官网网址淚t assures the public that weB次元官网网址檙e into doing this now. WeB次元官网网址檙e moving forward on the criteria and we thank you for your input,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲e have information weB次元官网网址檝e gathered from the task force on IRM (integrated resource management) as well as the IRM committee,B次元官网网址� Desjardins said. Staff will now bring all of that information forward and work with the consultant to bring forward a process to develop the criteria for the project to move forward as well as develop a request for proposals.

B次元官网网址淲e jumped right through the hoop saying staff youB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of information letB次元官网网址檚 try and start sorting out the criteria,B次元官网网址� Desjardins said.

The original idea was to discover projects that were clearly unsuitable and could be rejected quickly or major successes.

B次元官网网址淭hat was the intent, to see it on the ground. But that wasnB次元官网网址檛 necessary at this point. We should be relying more experts than politicians who had a bit of exposure to information in a few reports and on the internet,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淭hat can be gathered from a whole bunch of sources including staff and the facilities in Europe and other parts of North America. ItB次元官网网址檚 not going to slow the exploration of options is the bottom line.B次元官网网址�

cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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