Council briefs
Rampant rabbits
Feral rabbits are causing continued concern for Cranberry residents. Crown Avenue residents recently sent City of Powell River council another letter requesting measures be taken to bring the population under control.
According to the letter, rabbits are causing property damage at Powell River Regional Cemetery and lure predators, such as cougars, to their neighbourhood. The city sent letters to residents asking them to desist from feeding the rabbits.
Council asked staff to prepare a report on associated bylaws and provide options to reduce the number of rabbits, which is currently more than three dozen.
Less gassy
City of Powell River has been recognized for its efforts to measure and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2014.
Council received a letter from the joint provincial Union of BC Municipalities Green Communities Committee congratulating the city.
Powell River is one of more than 180 local governments in the province that signed on to the BC Climate Action Charter. The city is eligible for grants equal to its carbon-tax bill and that money recognizes local government’s efforts to reduce GHGs and achieve charter goals.
Healthy environment
Council approved a declaration of the right to a healthy environment. City of Powell River is the most recent of 36 local governments in BC that have drafted a declaration outlining its environmental commitments.
According to the city, this declaration is consistent with the its core values and environmental commitments, identified both in the Sustainable Official Community Plan and Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. The declaration includes recognition of citizens’ rights to a healthy environment and that the wellbeing of a community is directly connected to the health of its surrounding environment.
Lease rates
Council adopted Lease Rates Bylaw 2416, 2015, local legislation that sets the rate for land owned by the City of Powell River for the next five years. Space covered by the bylaw includes the terminal building and land at Powell River airport, leased space within city facilities, commercial and non-profit occupied land and city property on Timberlane Avenue.
Inclusion month
Councillor Karen Skadsheim, who was acting mayor while Dave Formosa was in China, proclaimed October as Community Inclusion Month and the week of September 28 to October 3 as Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week. Powell River Fire Rescue are continuing their annual Boot Drive to raise money for muscular-dystrophy research.
