City of Powell River Council has voted for new council chambers that will have ground-level entry in the old Powell River Public Library space below city hall.
At the City of Powell River Council meeting on Thursday, September 19, councillors voted to proceed with relocation of the council chambers and planning department to the ground floor of the city hall building with funding allocated in the 2019 capital budget. Councillors also voted that council direct staff to include funding in the 2020 capital budget for installation of a heat pump with appurtenances on the ground floor of city hall, and to have a building envelope review.
At the meeting, councillor Rob Southcott, whose portfolio is planning, said he wanted to emphasize that moving council chambers is an initiative that has been going on for years. He said the accessibility of the current council chambers on the third floor of city hall became particularly apparent two terms ago when councillor Chris McNaughton had difficulties navigating stairs to the third floor after having a stroke. Southcott said over the years the location of council chambers has affected many others who have wanted to participate but were unable to because of inaccessibility.
“I’m really delighted we are finally moving to make our chambers accessible to everyone,” said Southcott.
Councillor George Doubt, chair of the city’s finance committee, said the component of the recommendation related to the heat pump will provide ventilation and heating and make the new council chambers area habitable.
“We’ll do that in 2020 after the budget has been approved,” said Doubt.
Mayor Dave Formosa said the recommendation also included the envelope of the building. He said the building currently has all single-paned windows and the stucco is cracking all over the place, which means, most likely, there is moisture behind it.
Formosa said he, director of infrastructure Tor Birtig and director of engineering services Nagi Rizk, had a good walk around the building and agreed it is time to take on the task of the envelope of the building.
