Members of Council March 29, 1973

The inauguration of the land freeze and the introduction of the Land Commission

Bill obviate the immediate necessity for introducing more onerous voting requirements
in regard to Official Regional Plan amendment applications in the floodplain. on

the other hand, there is the continuing necessity to make the Provincial and Federal
Governments aware of the need for more comprehensive legislation and Programs in
regard to floodplain Management. Discussion with Municipal Councils indicates the
need for specific guidelines for floodplain management in each Municipal area or

part thereof. Co-operative efforts by staffs to draft such guidelines in the context
of a firm Provincial and Federal policy on flood protection including upstream storage,
should be a first step. Secondly, determination of appropriate flood risk in various
sectors of the floodplain is required if sensitive programs are to be developed.
Thirdly, a political review of the costs of various levels of protection and the
risks involved should be undertaken. The utilization of the Tri~Level Committee

for Greater Vancouver in this process should be considered, but specific involvement
of the affected Municipalities and other Regional Districts to such review would be

essential. Accordingly, the Regional Board adopted the following recommendations:

i) That the GVRD recognize the Floodplain Policies of the Official Regional
Plan and the Fraser River Flood Control Program as important but incomplete
means for dealing with the flood risk in the Lower Fraser Valley.

That the GVRD and the affected Municipalities seek to improve flood protection

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legislation and progrems which will take account of situations not now
covered by existing policies and programs.
That the Regional Board direct its officials to Prepare in conjunction

with Municipal officials, a brief in Support of a request to Provincial and

Os eee A ea ene

Peron

Federal Governments for augmented legislation and programs, and that this

brief include a request that the four Regional Districts in the Lower Fraser
Valley and the affected Municipalities in the floodplain be brought together
by the Provincial Government for discussion of floodplain and floodproofing
problems prior to the preparation by the Provincial or Federal Governments

of any new or revised legislation or action programs.

That in the Meantime, the GVRD re-affirm the present floodplain/floodproofing
policies of the Official Regional Plan until such time as further studies are

completed and revised policies and programs adopted.

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