3 - Friday, November 20, 1987 - North Shore News GROUP PROVIDES NORTH SHORE DEVELOPMENT OUTLINE Econo THE NORTH Shore now has a unique blueprint for a united economic assault on the future. Produced by the North Shore Economic Development Advisory Committee (NSEDAC) with help from nearly 100 citizens from key area industries and. municipal of- ficials from all three North Shore municipalities, the North Shore Economic Development Strategy provides an outline for the North Shore as a united economic entity, and separate action plans for each of its main industries. ‘It’s a very comprehensive and thorough report,’’ NSEDAC chairman Alan Smith said Wed- nesday. ‘‘And as far as we know it is the first time three large municipalities have got together to cooperate on formulating an economic strategy, and been prepared to cooperate on carrying out that strategy.”’ The 88-page strategy was pro- duced by 60 community and business leaders who met more Weather: Friday, rain and windy. Saturday, rain. Highs near 12°C. INDEX Classified Ads.. Doug Coliins.... Editorial Page..... Entertainment... ..18 Home & Garden. ..21 Horoscopes.......20 Bob Hunter....... 4 Lifestyles ........17 Mailhox......... 7 TV Listings.......33 What's Going On. .31 oe than 50 times over the past four months to hammer out a North Shore economic and industrial game plan. “The North Shore is a single geographic unit,’ Smith — said. “What we want to do is to get people thinking and looking at the North Shore as a whole...that it is not a bedroum community. Over 40 per cent of the people who live on the North Shore work on the North Shore and J don’t think a lot of people realize that.”’ The strategy document, which cost $22,000 to produce, is the first major bloom from an idea ger- minated and nurtured by Capilano College to develop local economic strategies for local business and industry. In pursuing the idea, Smith, who is the college’s director of plann- ing, said the college provided a neutral, non-political ground for the major players in the strategy to come together. “A cammunity college is not just classrooms and_ educational programs,’’ Smith said. ‘‘We are interested in working with and for all the communities we serve, and in solving their problems and tak- ing advantage of opportunities.’” ittee All three North Shore municipal councils have now agreed in prin- NSEDAC chairman Alan Smith...“‘What we want to do is get people thinking and looking at the North Shore as a whole...°” ciple with the key provisions con- tained in the strategy, which in- clude continuation of the Pp NSEDAC as a representative of its seven, key members: the three municipalities, the North and West Vancouver chambers of commerce and the Squamish and Burrard In- dian bands; increasing coopera- tion and coordination among the three municipalities and the two Indian bands; marketing the North Shore; establishing a Road Trans- portation Task Force; and creating a positive climate for business and industry. The next step, Smith said, is to formulate a ‘thard’’ implementa- tion plan, which should be com- pleted by the end of the year. From there, he said, an economic development commission would be established, an economic development officer hired and economic development offices set up. Four major North Shore economic areas are covered in the Strategy: industry, murine-related industry, tourism, and commer- cial-professional. Each area’s strengths and weaknesses are analysed in the report and action recommenda- tions listed. The strategy documents both the great potential of the North Shore Ss NEWS photo Tom Burley Jans strategy and its current industry strengths along with the urea’s weaknesses and the various stumbling blocks to implementing the strategy. Most area residents, for exam- ple, probably don't know, Smith said, that the North Shore, with over 22 million tons of carge handled annually, is one of Canada’s Jargest deep-water ports. The entire port of Montreal handles 21 million tons annually. One of the North Shore's biggest shortcomings, according to the Strategy report, is inadequate transportation, particularly with no low level road to alleviate traf- fic congestion along Marine Drive. Smith said cultivating planning and economic cooperation among all three municipalities and the two Indian bands was a challenging but essential component in implemen- ting the strategy. Greater Vancouver Regional District development services coordinator Hugh Kellas said the NSEDAC represents, as far as he knows, the first time three GVRD municipalities have come together to forge a single economic plan. “4t’s a real innovation,’’ he said. “‘A lot of energy has gone in- to it.” Candidates speak out ABOUT 75 North Vancouver City residents turned out Nov. 17 to an all-candidates meeting af the North Shore Neighbour- hood House. Candidate Par- bara Sharp (standing) addresses the audience while aldermanic hopeful Bob Davis (to Sharp’s right) and (from Sharp’s left to close right) incumbent Ald. Stella Jo Dean, challenger Jim Houston, incumbent Ald. Eiko Kroon and challenger Frank Morris wait their turn. City voters wil! choose six aldermen from 12 candidates when they go to the polls tomorrow. Other aldermanic candidates include incumbent aldermen = Allan Blair, Ralph Hall and John Braithwaite and former aldermen Rod Clark and Gor- don Cross and public informa- tion officer Bill Bell. See editorial, page 6, for a voter participation plea. MORTH VAN DISTRICT, WEST VAN DISTRICT TO BE COVERED BY NEW SCHEME lunicipalities cut insurance costs THE NEWLY established Municipal Insurance Association (MIA) will be officially up and running Dec. 1, Two of the three North Shore municipalities have signed up for the joint self-insurance program formed in the face of escalating private industry insurance costs. West and North Vancouver districts have joined the program to save money. But, happy with the current rates available private- ly, North Vancouver City has decided not to join. With coverage kicking in next month, approximately 50 per cent of the provincial population will be covered through the association pool, The remaining are covered in municipalities which have individ- ual self-insurance schemes or live in municipalities which are insured by the private insurance industry. The association will provide $5 million coverage for comprehen- sive general liability insurance and By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter $1 million errors and omissions in- surance per claim per municipality. The first $1 million of a liability claim would be directly covered by pooled funds of the 139 par- ticipating municipalities and regional districts, while the balance would be drawn from the private market. “If a claim costs $3 million, the association would cover $1 million and private industry (premiums) would cover the remaining $2 mil- lion,’’ said MIA executive director Richard Taylor. The cost to municipalities is worked out on a per capita basis. Money paid into the fund depends on the size of the municipality and the choice made in deductible costs paid. Said Taylor: ‘‘There are very few municipalities still buying all of their liability insurance from the private market. In 1984, everybody was in the private market. Since that time municipalities have made decisions to self insure.” Representing 80 per cent of all local governments in B.C., the program contains all of the small and medium-sized municipalities which Taylor said can’t afford in- dividual self insurance. “The MIA coverage is much broader than what is currently available. For example errors and omissions coverage is difficult to buy in the private market. The municipalities haven’t come into this for cost savings alone,’’ he said. Municipalities participating must make a three-year commitment to the program. Said Taylor: ‘It’s not something you go into for a year and then opt out of.” Choosing not to opt in, North Vancouver City administrator Gerry Brewer confirmed the city will continue to insure privately. Said Brewer: ‘‘Ongoing risk assessment, loss prevention pro- gram and staff training have put us in the position that we’re enjoy- ing a reasonable rate in the private market. There is no financial in- centive for us to go with the Union of B.C.Municipalities program.”’ City council reaffirmed its cur- tent insurance provisions Oct. 26 in response to a Union of British Columbia Municipalities letter ask- ing the city to review its position regarding participation in the new insurance pool, But both West Vancouver and North Vancouver districts have found the financial incentive to join the Municipal Insurance Association. With the pooling scheme, liabili- ty insurance premiums plus deduc- tibles are expected to cost North Vancouver District $114,000 for 1987. The private industry rate quoted for the year is $190,000. “We'll be paying a premium penalty on our private insurance which is scheduled to June 1, 1988. But the cost saving merits the switch to municipal insurance in December,’* said North Vancouver District municipal manager Mel Palmer. West Vancouver's current private industry rate for liability is $92,400. The municipal pooling tate for comparable coverage would be $78,700. Said West Vancouver municipal manager Terry Lester: ‘'We're participating but because of the starting date on our annual policy and the premiums we’d have to eat to cancel the current policy, we won’t actually be participating un- til November, 1988.’’ Provincial legislation aliowing for the program was passed in the spring. The first municipality to self in- sure in B.C, was Saanich in 1984.