Waterloo Fire Protection FAQ's
Waterloo Fire ProtectionFrequently Asked Questions
- What changes are being made to fire protection services in the Yellowpoint, South Cedar, and
- Cassidy areas?
- Why are the changes being made?
- Who administers the fire protection areas within the RDN in South Cedar, Yellowpoint, and Cassidy?
- Why isn't the RDN holding another referendum on changes to the Waterloo Fire Service Area?
- What is the role of the provincial government regarding the fire service changes?
- How will fire protection service in the Waterloo Fire Service Area be affected?
- Why does Bylaw 1388.02 amend the taxation limit for the Waterloo Fire Serive from $104.185 to 136,500?
What changes are being made to fire protection services in the Yellowpoint, South Cedar, and Cassidy areas?
The RDN is working to secure long-term fire protection service and equipment for the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area, which includes a large section of Cassidy, and is served by the RDN-owned fire hall on Hallberg Road in Cassidy.Why are the changes being made?The initial plan was to amalgamate the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area with two neighbouring fire protection areas: the North Cedar Fire Protection Area, and the Cranberry Fire Protection Area. Under this arrangement, residents in the affected areas would have paid taxes for fire protection to either the North Cedar Improvement District or the Cranberry Improvement District (depending on where they lived), instead of to the RDN, which administers the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area. The RDN also proposed to borrow up to $560,000 for fire trucks and equipment at the Hallberg Road fire hall, to be used by the Cranberry Fire Department. On November 15, 2008, the RDN asked local residents in two separate referenda if they would support the proposals. Residents in the North Cedar/Yellopoint section of the Waterloo Area voted in favour of amalgamating with the North Cedar Fire Department while residents in the Cassidy section of the Waterloo Area voted against amalgamating with the Cranberry Fire Department, and against borrowing for new fire trucks and equipment. As a result, part of the Waterloo Area was amalgamated with the North Cedar Fire Department, and the RDN was left with a smaller fire protection service area for which to secure long-term fire protection services and equipment.
The RDN's revised plan is to negotiate a service agreement with the Cranberry Fire Protection Area for the reduced Waterloo Area, instead of amalgamating with Cranberry. Under this arrangement, the RDN would continue to collect taxes from residents in the affected areas, and use the fund to pay Cranberry for fire protection services. The RDN would also finance a fire truck and equipment for the Cranberry Fire Department to use at the Hallberg Road fire hall over a two or three year period using the Municipal Finance Authority's leasing corporation, instead of borrowing over a 15 year period under the original plan. These expenditures would be lower (approximately $325,000) than under the RDN's original proposal (a maximum of $560,000), but still sufficient for the provision of local fire protection. Since the RDN is financing its planned expenditures using the Municipal Financing Authority, no referendum is required under the Local Government Act. A referendum is also not required for the RDN to negotiate a service agreement with the Cranberry Fire Protection District.
Fire protection service and equipment for the Waterloo Area is currently provided through a service agreement between the RDN and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, which deploys its North Oyster Fire Department to the Hallberg Road fire hall. However, that agreement is set to terminate on Dec. 31, 2008, at which point the RDN must have a new service arrangement in place.Who administers the fire protection areas within the RDN in South Cedar, Yellowpoint, and Cassidy?A renewed agreement with the CVRD is seen as disadvantageous for local residents because the affected communities are not represented on the CVRD board of directors or its service committees. As a result, local residents have no input in the management of North Oyster fire protection assets (such as fire hall upgrades) even though they provide funding for the North Oyster Fire Department through the existing service agreement.
With service from a fire department inside the RDN, local residents could have ownership of local fire protection assets and a direct say in the management of assets, as they would be represented by the local improvement districts. Residents in the former North Cedar section of the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area voted in favour of this change by amalgamating with the North Cedar Fire Department in the November 15, 2008 referendum. Now the RDN is working on a similar solution for the remainder of the Waterloo Fire Service Area.
The RDN administers the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area and owns the Hallberg Road Fire Hall. The North Cedar Improvement District administers the North Cedar Fire Protection Area, which now includes the section east of the Trans-Canada Highway formerly of the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area. The Cranberry Improvement District administers the Cranberry Fire Department.Why isn't the RDN holding another referendum on changes to the Waterloo Fire Service Area?
The RDN must secure long-term fire protection service and equipment for the Waterloo Fire Protection Service Area by December 31, 2008, which does not allow the time necessary to conduct a referendum. Additionally, a referendum for the RDN's revised plan is not required under the Local Government Act. From a service and taxation standpoint, the RDN's revised plan is essentially the same as the arrangement currently in place - it involves a service agreement for local fire protection with the Cranberry Fire Department, instead of the CVRD.What is the role of the provincial government regarding the fire service changes?
The provincial government must approve the RDN's amendment to Bylaw No. 1388, which increases the total amount that may be requisitioned for the Waterloo Fire Protection Service to $136,500, from $104,185. The increase will provide funding for equipment required at the Hallberg Road fire hall. The amendment also changes the name of the service to the Waterloo Fire Protection Service, from the Yellowpoint/Waterloo Fire Protection Service, in response to the amalgamation of the Yellowpoint section of the area with the North Cedar Fire Department, following the November 15 referendum.How will fire protection service in the Waterloo Fire Service Area be affected?
Fire protection service in the Waterloo Fire Service Area will be unchanged under the RDN's plan, although services will now be provided by a local fire department, rather than a department based in another community.Why does Bylaw 1388.02 amend the taxation limit for the Waterloo Fire Serive from $104.185 to 136,500?
The increase will enable the RDN to pay for a fire truck and equipment at the Hallberg Road fire hall. Vehicles and equipment for the fire hall are currently provided by the North Oyster Fire Department, and will be removed when the service agreement for fire protection between the RDN and the CVRD expires on Dec 31, 2008.