Community forest bylaw remains standing
On Thursday, April 16, City of Powell River Council voted that no changes would be made to the Powell River Community Forest mandate and the Powell River Community Forest Reserve Fund Bylaw 2212, 2008. Council had looked at expanding the mandate to include funding legacy work, including Powell River Community Foundation and Powell River Council for Arts, Culture and Heritage. It also looked at the process for how community forest dividends are spent.
Since the community forest’s inception as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the city more than $5 million in dividends have been provided for city and community projects. The current mandate is to support a range of projects with differing themes and sizes. Funds must be used for capital projects, not planning, administration or ongoing operations.
Sponsorship of vital signs
Council voted unanimously to support Powell River Community Foundation with $1,500 to go toward publication of the second edition of Vital Signs to be published in the fall. The first edition of the report, published in 2011, is still being used by charities, non-profits and others in the community to help them decide where to focus their efforts and to demonstrate the significance of their projects, but the information needs to be updated. Vital Signs provides a snapshot of life in Powell River from a large-scale community survey.
Driveway letdown
A recommendation to have a homeowner pay the full cost of the construction of a driveway letdown was defeated in council on Thursday, April 16.
City staff recommended, based on the city’s existing policy, that despite the historical circumstances of the development, the homeowner at 4659 Michigan Avenue should bear the full cost of the project, which was estimated at $2,000.
The recommendation was defeated with a tie; Mayor Dave Formosa and councillors CaroleAnn Leishman and Jim Palm voted against. Councillors Russell Brewer, Karen Skadsheim and Rob Southcott voted for. Councillor Maggie Hathaway was away with leave.
Those who voted against the recommendation said they did so because they wanted the city to take partial responsibility for the situation and pay for half of the project. But, because there is not a provision for flexibility in the city’s policy on constructing driveway letdowns, council was not able to offer the homeowner that option at the time.
City Clerk, Marie Claxton, reminded council that it would be undertaking a review of the city’s policies and bylaws and updating where necessary. This policy is earmarked for review. The issue, therefore, will be looked at again after review of the policy.
Receives report
Council received a report from the city clerk dated April 2, 2015 regarding City of Powell River Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006, Amendment Bylaw 2401, 2015 and City of Powell River Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006, Amendment Bylaw 2402, 2015.
