Council Briefs: April 15, 2015

Council agrees with renewal

City of Powell River Council has voted for renewal of a revenue sharing agreement with the Province of BC for the Putters Mini-Golf facility adjacent to Willingdon Beach.

At the Thursday, April 2, council meeting, council voted unanimously to enter into an agreement for a five-year term commencing June 7, 2014, with the province, over part of Lot 8, Block 36, District Lot 450, Group 1, New Westminster, shown on Plan 12203. The mayor and chief administrative officer are authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the city.

Marie Claxton, city clerk, said there had been a question at the committee of the whole meeting, when the renewal was originally discussed, regarding an administrative fee accruing to the city. Claxton confirmed it was a $900 annual fee.

Supports health

Council voted unanimously that the city enter into a healthy communities collaborative agreement with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to promote the health and wellness of the community.

Councillor Rob Southcott said the agreement brings VCH into a cooperative relationship with the city, particularly with the parks and recreation department. He said he supports this because it is an initiative that supports preventative health.

“Though it can’t be quantified in terms of illness, and the cost of that,” he said, “the benefits we all know, those of us who do believe that fitness saves us money.”

Bus direction

Council unanimously passed four recommendations to provide guidance for the operation of the transit service in the city. The recommendations came out of the service review that has been carried out by BC Transit planners. The process was initiated in October 2013.

The first was that the short-term options for Powell River’s conventional (fixed route) transit system, outlined in the BC Transit service review for implementation in September 2015, be approved.

The second was that the proposed fare structure and family travel program for Powell River conventional (fixed route) transit system outlined in the BC Transit service review be approved.

A third recommendation was that the short-term options for Powell River custom (handyDART) transit system outlined in the BC Transit service review for implementation in September 2015 be approved.

Finally, council carried a motion that the proposed fare structure and family travel program for Powell River custom (handyDART) transit system outlined in the BC Transit service review for implementation in September 2015 be approved.

Supports bylaw

Council unanimously approved the city’s Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006, Amendment Bylaw 2401, 2015. This is a bylaw to rezone 7032 Cranberry Street from Single and Two Family Residential (R2) and Institutional (NT) to R2 and from R2 and NT to NT to facilitate subdivision of the property.

Names representative

Council voted unanimously that Councillor Karen Skadsheim be appointed as the city’s representative on the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee and Councillor Maggie Hathaway be appointed as her alternate.