North Delta residents deserve a fair shake from the City of Delta — and a motion accepted by councillors Monday night is designed to make sure they get it.
Coun. Dylan Kruger brought a motion regarding "fairness in investment for North Delta" to the table for discussion at the Dec. 2 council meeting, following on the heels of a lengthy discussion at the Nov. 19 meeting surrounding installation of bus shelters and equity between North and South Delta.
Kruger's motion calls on city staff to "undertake a comprehensive study to evaluate and address infrastructure and service needs in North Delta," with a specific eye on three main areas:
• Recreation centre: Undertake a feasibility study for a new recreation centre in North Delta;
• Bus stop upgrades: Review and identify critical bus stops in North Delta that need upgrades, and implement a timeline and budget for improvements; and
• General infrastructure: Conduct a review of current infrastructure in North Delta, including parks, sidewalks, roadways and public spaces, to identify areas where new investment is needed, prioritizing projects that address safety, mobility and long-term sustainability.
Kruger noted North Delta is the most populated and fastest-growing area in the City of Delta and it's important to ensure all residents have equal access to services and amenities. He said community needs in North Delta need "urgent attention" to maintain quality of life for residents, especially as its demographics become more diverse and younger.
He said that as the city finishes up with the new Winskill recreation centre in South Delta, it's appropriate to look to the next biggest need in the city.
"Fundamentally, this motion is about respect for North Delta," he said.
Coun. Rod Binder, a 30-year resident of North Delta, said North Delta has benefited from many amenities over the years, including Sungod Recreation Centre and the North Delta Centre for the Arts expansion, but the growing population means much more will be needed in the future.
He said having a study done will help the city to prioritize its efforts and lay out a plan for the northern part of the city.
Mayor George Harvie attempted to amend Kruger's motion, suggesting it be expanded to spell out plans for a further two per cent capital levy for recreation in 2026 and 2027. He said spelling out specific amounts would demonstrate "fairness" for recreational investments in the city, coming on the heels of a similar levy that's helping to cover the costs of the Winskill upgrade in Tsawwassen.
The motion didn't find favour with the rest of council, however.
Kruger said his motion already calls for providing a timeline and budget for improvements, adding the city shouldn't decide how much it's going to spend before it figures out exactly what it needs.
“You don’t throw the credit card out before you put the family budget together," he said.
Coun. Daniel Boisvert agreed, noting the motion doesn't call for building a new recreation centre but simply for a feasibility study. He said it would be "premature" to spell out how much money will be needed at this stage.
Coun. Alicia Guichon questioned how much of the work spelled out in Kruger's motion overlaps with work already being done by the city, such as its parks and recreation master plan.
City manager Donny Van Dyk said a "significant amount" of the work is being done in the city through a variety of processes — including a recreation needs analysis and the parks and recreation master plan — but added the motion would "put more of a North Delta lens" on those efforts.
Kruger said some of the work in his motion, namely the bus shelter aspects, can be carried out more quickly than others. He noted staff can move to expedite the bus shelter work and then continue with its feasibility studies for recreation and other infrastructure upgrades.
Council supported Kruger's motion, with no one voicing objections.
