City of Courtenay Official Community Plan - 2026 update

C

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Objective 1 Infrastructure and services are resilient to risks and impacts of climate change

Policies

MI 1

Conduct a high-level risk assessment (HLRA) to determine potential risks to Courtenay’s infrastructure and identify priority areas for adaptation interventions. Ensure the HLRA includes direction to: a. Involve internal and external interest holders from neighbouring jurisdictions, the Comox Valley Emergency Program, Emergency Management BC, energy utilities, telecommunications providers, and transportation service providers, health authority, and other critical services including local food security . b. Conduct a risk and vulnerability analysis of municipally owned and operated infrastructure at the asset class and system level to determine the climate change impact vulnerability of municipal infrastructure and identify priority assets for adaptation interventions. c. Ensure risk assessments include analyses of changes expected due to climate change, such as forecasting of rainfall intensity-duration-frequency curves and sea level rise in order to assess the magnitude of climate change effects, and quantify that change over time. d. Establish a program of climate change adaptation measures to implement on local and regional infrastructure, according to the priority established in the assessments. Ensure that the program includes green infrastructure interventions including urban forest strategy recommendations wherever appropriate. e. Install or upgrade to zero-emissions back-up power in critical infrastructure (e.g., battery electric storage, green hydrogen). f. Develop inspection procedures for high-risk infrastructure to identify damage resulting from extreme events. g. Develop or update design standards for new municipal infrastructure that reflect anticipated results of the risk and vulnerability analysis.

Objective 2 Infrastructure investments are guided by a multiple bottom line decision-making approach; this means energy efficient, fiscally responsible, equitably distributed, sustainable levels of service that protect public health, safety, and the environment

Policies

MI 2

Make infrastructure planning, investment, and operations and maintenance decisions using a long-term, lifecycle, full-cost accounting approach grounded in asset management principles and practices. This includes risk analysis for design, maintenance, and renewal of infrastructure and utilities—including natural assets—and prioritizing preventative maintenance to extend asset life, protect health and safety, and optimize return on investment. Utilize ecological services provided by natural systems wherever practical. This means applying and integrating natural capital in the City’s Asset Management Plan to provide for their maintenance and regular support alongside traditional capital assets including reclamation and restoration of degraded natural assets .

MI 3

PART C Thematic Policies