The Artificial Turf Field Will Be Built This Summer

I have dragged my feet over reporting this, partly because I don't know what the next step is, and partly because it's just too upsetting.

Last year many of us pledged to camp out under the trees, to tie ourselves to them if need be, to stop the machines turning one of the most prominent tree-groupings of our beautiful community school into a plastic field... but we didn't have to camp out, because our council decided the following (quoted from council minutes, July 28, 2008):

It was Moved and Seconded
That staff continue to investigate and report back to Council in the Fall, 2008 on the option of building an artificial turf field subject to the following conditions:
1. a needs analysis to compare advantages and disadvantages to a grass field;
2. cost not to exceed $375,000;
3. satisfactorily addressing human and environmental health concerns;
4. no cutting of the marked cedar trees;
5. a full public process that presents results back to the community; and
6. if the community remains divided, staff review the process required to have a public opinion poll at the time of the November 2008 election .
CARRIED
Councillors Barrett and Shatzky in Opposition

Since then, the following items have been outrightly ignored or rescinded:
2. exceeded by $20,000.00, as requested by Christine Walker, June 8th, 2009 -- this will come from a different pot, but still funded by tax increases.
3. the field was approved, despite the fact that staff does not yet know which product will be installed, and has gone with the cheapest bidder, as well as shaved much of the work from the plan, to save costs and come in under budget.
4. since the field will be installed in the originally-suggested location, the trees will obviously be cut

So... as you know, a group of dedicated Living Bowen members wrote up the Plan B report, which was handed to council before the June 8th meeting. The item was not discussed, other than to get "thanks" from various councilors, in their approval speeches for the AT field.

All but Nerys Poole voted in favour of proceeding with the AT field, to be completed this summer. Yes, that includes the mayor. I suspect it is a matter of days before the 13 marked trees are cut.

Where do we go from here? I don't know. Your comments and ideas will be gratefully accepted (email livingbowen@gmail.com or comment to this post), and I will share them with the group (anonymously, if you want) via another Living Bowen email.

And what's next for Living Bowen? Some of us are hoping to have some input in the upcoming OCP review. It's a potentially exciting, and potentially very dangerous time on Bowen Island. After the dismantling of the sustainability and trails committees, I believe it is more important than ever for us to gather as a community and ensure that the home we love endures.