Hello Mudgekins,Just a reminder that the Local Trust Council and Staff are coming to Mudge where they will conduct their regular meeting. The meeting will be at 1pm at MICS Hall on July 16th. There are two agenda items: Bylaw Enforcement Policies and Public Water Access.
MICA has a mandate to address Policy, Land Use By-laws, and at a later time the Community plan. We have therefore focused first on working with the Local Trust Council on addressing Policy and will later address some minor changes to the Land Use By-laws. We have only prepared for the Bylaw enforcement part of the agenda.
At the last Local Trust Council meeting in June, Bylaw enforcement staff prepared a policy proposal for bylaw enforcement which we have previously shared with the community. This proposal was a good first step. We would like to thank the Mudge Islanders who provided feedback. It was very helpful and although the feedback was not 100% consistent, we were able to prepare some enhancements and amendments based on the majority of feedback and the perspective of the elected committee members. We feel that this policy is consistent with the community’s perspective and values and will be effective while we start to look at the bylaw changes.
Our Goals in these policy recommendations are as follows:
1. Ensure that authentic and serious issues can be addressed simply and quickly;
2. Ensure that complainants must address how the complainants are directly impacted by the bylaw infraction;
3. Policies represent the unique aspects of having a home and living on a small remote Island with no ferry access or public facilities; and
4. The stay of enforcement is maintained until the bylaws can be improved to the satisfaction of the community and represent the culture and realities of Mudge.
We have attached our recommendations and a document that provides the rationale for our proposed changes to the Policy. As a reminder, this represents policy recommendations and does not address the needed changes to Land Use Bylaws…yet.
The upcoming meeting represents a unique opportunity for our Island to welcome Local Trust Council and Islands Trust staff to our island and we sincerely hope that we can put a positive foot forward that shows that we are trying to work collaboratively with them. While there may be in some people’s mind reason for mistrust and suspicion, we hope that everyone can continue to represent that positive spirit that we have demonstrated so far.
We realize that the 16th of July is a Tuesday and many of you may not be on Mudge. We have been told that Islands trust will broadcast the meeting and that information should be available on the Gabriola Local Trust events page closer to the date. We encourage you to use that broadcast. If this broadcast does not allow for questions from remote participants MICA have set up a zoom call where remote participants will be able to ask questions. The connection info Is below. For those of you who are or can be on Mudge, we can not emphasize enough the importance for you to please take the time to show up and prepare as many questions and comments in person at 1pm at MICS Hall. This show of engagement and support will go a long way to ensure that we get the changes that we as a community are looking for.
Thank you
Mudge Island Community Association
Attachments
Copy of Letter to Trust Council and Rationale for changes
