The City of White Rock will contribute financially to efforts focused on co-ordinating a region-wide flood response.
Council voted last week to authorize a contribution of $1,000 this year and in 2015 to the Fraser Basin Council, to help with phase-one costs of a business plan “developed… to strengthen an integrated and long-term approach to address flood risks and sea-level rise in the Lower Mainland region.”
In a report, director of engineering Greg St. Louis notes White Rock “has been identified as requiring a dike to protect against increased sea level by the year 2100.”
“Recent flooding events in both Calgary and Toronto clearly demonstrate the existing risk of social, economic and environmental costs associated with flood events, including those associated with sea-level rise,” St. Louis writes. “They also illustrate… the need for planning.”
Prior to the vote, council heard from Fraser Basin Council senior program manager Steve Litke.
Larger municipalities are being asked to contribute $5,000 per year for the next two years.
The business plan calls for approximately $250,000 per year over the next two years to implement Phase 1, with costs shared among local, provincial and federal governments, as well as regional entities such as Port Metro Vancouver and YVR.
White Rock’s contribution is to be funded from the drainage-utility consulting budget.