City releases closed meeting dispensary decisions
City of Powell River council went public with the contents of its Thursday, May 5, in-camera meeting regarding medical marijuana dispensaries opening up in the city.
Councillors discussed how to handle the problem of unlicensed dispensaries and made two decisions, according to a document provided by city clerk Marie Claxton and read by mayor Dave Formosa at council's Thursday, May 19, public meeting.
Council decided to draft a letter to the federal government asking that it expedite the implementation of legalizing marijuana, noting that municipalities have been put in a tough position since the federal government announced it would legalize it next year.
Second, council decided to have its lawyers send letters to the dispensaries notifying them that they were operating without business license against city bylaws. The letters inform the dispensaries they could be subject to $15,000 in daily fines and request their “voluntary compliance” to close down. The letter was also sent to the property owners who leased the dispensaries the storefront space. Staff were to report back regarding the dispensaries’ responses.
Announces grant-committee representatives
The final two members of City of Powell River’s Grant Funding Advisory Committee were confirmed at the city council meeting Thursday, May 19.
Councillors Russell Brewer and Karen Skadsheim will join Powell River Council for Arts, Culture and Heritage representative Myrna Leishman, interim Powell River Community Forest representative Greg Hemphill and public members Ann Nelson, Kim Miller and Karen Kamon.
The committee will review city council’s permissive-tax exemption and grants-in-aid policies throughout the summer.
Gives readings to Westview Avenue zoning amendment
Council gave first and second reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2440, a bylaw that rezones a vacant parcel near the intersection of Duncan Street and Westview Avenue from single and two-family residential (R2) to compact residential (RM1). A public hearing will be scheduled before third reading.
Approves herring resolution
Powell River’s herring resolution that was not accepted to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities conference last month, as it came in late, will be submitted to the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities conference. The resolution calls for a moratorium on the Pacific herring fishery to allow it to recover.
Adopts Lindsay Park zoning-amendment bylaw
Council gave third reading and adopted Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2439, a bylaw to rezone a portion of the property located east of Lindsay Park for parks and playing fields (PK) to single and two-family residential (R2). Councillor Rob Southcott, who holds the council’s planning portfolio, said the amendment was a housekeeping measure.
Approves grants-in-aid for refugee volunteers
City of Powell River council announced it would provide $400 of grants-in-aid for the Evangel Pentecostal/Westview Baptist Churches Refugee Sponsorship Group to pay for the cost of 40 required criminal-record checks for volunteers working with refugees coming to Powell River.
