City of Powell River Council has reduced the amount of money it will be providing through its grant in aid program to Third Crossing Society because it is already making a contribution through the Powell River Regional District.
At the Thursday, July 2, council meeting, members considered a report from the finance committee that called for the awarding of $2,500 to Powell River Sea Fair Society, $2,000 to Marine Area Business Association (MABA), $1,000 to Third Crossing Society and $1,000 to Gay Pride Powell River.
Councillor Russell Brewer said he had mentioned at a committee of the whole meeting that the regional district has already approved the granting of $1,000 to Third Crossing Society. Brewer said this was through a regional district general grant in aid fund, meaning half the contribution is from rural residents and city residents fund the other half.
“This means that $500 from each jurisdiction was provided,” he said.
The request to the city from the society was for $1,000 and the recommendation from the finance committee was for $1,000, but if council wanted to be consistent with grant in aid relative to population, the city would provide $500, which would still help the society meet its objectives, according to Brewer.
“I’d like to suggest an amendment from the $1,000 recommendation to $500,” he said.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she didn’t have a good feel for how the entire community feels about a road out of Powell River but she said the $500 grant in aid makes more sense to her.
Brewer said that if the society makes a grant in aid request next year it can go straight to the regional district for another general grant in aid for whatever amount it deems appropriate.
“It’s a good way to seek grants in aid that may be of a regional nature,” he said.
Councillor Jim Palm said pertinent points were raised at the committee of the whole meeting regarding Third Crossing Society and the retired individual who is leading the charge.
“Third Crossing Society has come a long way recently in terms of getting other municipalities and jurisdictions and regional districts on board,” Palm said.
He met Gary Fribance in the mayor’s chamber, when Fribance was at city hall advocating for his cause.
“I like his enthusiasm and I like his support for what he was trying to accomplish. I think he has a long-term vision and is on the right track. I like his approach.”
Formosa said he had mentioned to Fribance that the city had already provided $500 to the society through the regional district and had explained how the granting system works. He wanted Fribance to be aware that of the $1,000 pledged by the regional district, $500 came from the city.
Formosa said the society appears to have “its act together” and there is a good group of people working together to advance the third crossing notion.
“They have really connected many communities now from the Interior, right through to Pemberton and Squamish, the Whistler area, and Vancouver Island,” Formosa said. “They’ve gone to councils and have support. They are looking at this as a corridor now through from the Interior to Vancouver Island. They are looking at the effects of the pressure coming off Horseshoe Bay, Duke Point and Departure Bay.”
Formosa said he’s not sure how he feels about a road coming here. He has not received a lot of public opinion on the matter.
Council carried an amended motion to reduce its Third Crossing Society grant in aid contribution to $500 and then carried a motion to allocate the four grants in aid as amended.
