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OPTION 2 Establish a GVRD Department to serve only those municipalities
which are prepared to participate.

Creating a GVRD economic development department funded by some
municipalities (Option 2) would provide al] the services identified
by the Task Force. However, a body serving only part of the region
would encounter significant operational difficulties:

© the cost to participating municipalities would be higher than
those envisioned in the Task Force report.

its programs would benefit non-participating municipalities -
industrial firms attracted to the region by the department's
promotions would often settle in non-participating municipalities
because of the availability of industrial land in these areas.

it is likely that some firms currently located in participating
municipalities would make use of the department's services when
relocating to non-participating municipalities during expansion
or modernization.

Thus an economic development body supported by some of the municipalities
in the region could provide needed services but could not guarantee

that supporting municipalities would reap proportional benefits. The Task
Force report emphasizes that an economic development body cannot

direct client: to specific municipalities or sites without rapidly

losing the confidence of ‘the business community and thus destroying

its own effectiveness. In the opinion of the Planning Cepartment

the need to provide region-wide services while being financed by

only some municipalities would repeatedly piace an economic

development department in awkward Situations. It is therefore
recommended that this option not be pursued.

OPTION 3 Abandon the Organizational approach and wide Mandate recommended
by the Task Force but ask the Planning Department to develop,
aS part of its 1982 budget process, a work program and budget
which will enable the GVRD to provide some of the reactive
Services which the Task Force found were needed.

The final option is to have the Planning Department provide sone

of the needed services identified by the Task Force. This approach
would have the advantage of providing region-wide coverage through

a department which is funded by all member municipalities. © ft hus

two major disadvantages. First, not all services Proposed by tie

Task Force could be carried out by the Planning Department unless
Supplementary letters patent were granted. Second, the Task Force
emphasized that the business community tends to see a conflict between
planning and development and to be wary of economic development saryvices
offered through Planning departments. ~ The second problem could be
reduced or overcome if the Planning Department did the research and
coordination in the needed areas but left the distribution of now
Products and services to agencies currently active in the reqiun.

Selecting economic development services which are badly needed tut
complementary to the Planning Department's normal functions is the

key to maximizing the benefits of Option 3. The Task Force identified
two major roles for the Proposed department: