Water rates increasing
City of Powell River Council has approved that staff implement a two per cent water rate increase per year for the budget years 2015-2018 and a one per cent increase for 2019.
Councillor Karen Skadsheim said the initiative came out of the city’s finance committee meeting on February 26. Councillor Jim Palm said as he was not in attendance at the finance committee he wanted to hear the rationale. Shehzad Somji, chief financial officer, said because the city has the new water main on the books it has to forecast and ensure there is enough reserve in place. Palm suggested the city set a one-year rate and based on what happens over the next year, review.
Councillor Russell Brewer said the two per cent cost for 2015 for an average household is $5.90, and on a commercial facility, it’s about $16.
Palm said the water rates are typically reviewed on an annual basis so he didn’t understand why the motion included carrying out fee increases to 2019, because things can change.
Council carried the motion with Palm opposed.
Second auditor
Council has allocated up to $5,000 from health and safety reserve funds annually to fund wages for a second auditor for the city’s annual internal Certificate of Recognition (COR) Safety Audit. Councillor Rob Southcott said it is a program that actually saves the city money.
Barb Mohan, acting city clerk at the council meeting, said COR recognizes that the city has a proactive safety program. It gives a discount against insurance premiums. WorkSafeBC conducts audits every third year and in intervening years, the city self-audits.
“I’m finding it difficult to free up my staff member every year,” Mohan said. She added that it makes sense to have a second person trained.
According to Mohan, funding for the auditor comes back from the discount that is received from administering the program. Mohan said the annual insurance discount from running the program is $13,000 to $14,000 each year. The total, since 2010, is about $57,000. She said there is about $28,000 in the reserve and council’s motion was just requesting $5,000 so there is money available for other projects.
Posting signs
On the matter of Cranberry Lake model speed boat use, council passed a motion that signage be installed in selected locations around the perimeter of the lake supporting the 2013-2015 Fresh Water Fishing Regulations Synopsis that all motorized boats be banned from Cranberry Lake, including model boats.
Replacing boilers
Following a Powell River civic building energy assessment, council has approved the expenditure of $133,000 for boiler replacement and $78,140 for lighting upgrades for city hall, Dwight Hall and the Public Works Service Centre buildings funded from the Community Works Fund.
New lighting
Replacement of pendant-style street lighting with LED lighting has been approved by council. Council’s motion calls for the expenditure of $34,500 to replace a total of 46 pendant-style streetlights with LED lighting in four locations within the city. The initiative will be funded from the Community Works Fund.
Performing audit
Council has carried a motion for a wastewater treatment facilities energy audit. An expenditure of $9,800 has been approved to enter into a contract with Frontline Centre Inc. to complete the energy efficiency audit for the city’s three wastewater treatment facilities, to be funded from the Community Works Fund.
Joining association
The city will become an associate member of the Truck Loggers Association. Brewer said this was something that was initiated subsequent to he and the mayor attending the last convention in Victoria. The mayor has been a regular attendee. Brewer said it was a good opportunity to network with a lot of the industry players and find out what is going on, plus what possible investment opportunities exist. There is also an opportunity to meet with government representatives.
Mayor Dave Formosa said the association appreciates it when councillors or mayors attend. “They like to see local government there,” he said. He said the industry is looking for workers and he’s hoping that some of the people being laid off in Alberta will come back.
Approves directors
Council has approved the re-election of Lori Brown, Greg Hemphill and Howie McKamey to three-year terms as directors of Powell River Community Forest Ltd. effective as of the upcoming annual general meeting. The approval was given at the Thursday, March 5, council meeting.
Formosa said council really appreciates this group. “They are a dedicated team of professionals,” he said. “They do it for their community and they enjoy doing it. Their president, Mr. Hemphill, puts in a lot of extra work. We are really happy to see he is signing up for another term.”
