Skip to content

Directors set to pass procedure bylaw

Provincial regulation does not allow electronic participation at committee meetings

Powell River Regional District directors will be considering a new draft procedure bylaw at the June board meeting.

Staff prepared an amended bylaw, which directors discussed at a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting. In doing research, staff discovered that a provincial government regulation exists that does not allow for regional districts to conduct committee meetings electronically, only board meetings. That means the long-standing practice of the Lasqueti Island director participating in committee meetings electronically must stop.

The proposed bylaw allows electronic participation by directors at board meetings only if they are in the regional district.


Appointment

Directors passed a motion to appoint Director Maggie Hathaway, who represents the City of Powell River, as the regional district representative on the North Island 911 Corporation, effective June 1, 2012.


Open burning restrictions

Electoral Area B Director Stan Gisborne asked staff at a rural services committee meeting to look into having a forest fire prevention bylaw, such as the one that exists on Denman Island. He reported that the Coastal Fire Centre restrictions that came into effect on May 18 prevent any fires smaller than two metres high and three metres wide, including burning barrels. The ban does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws.


Blubber Bay telephone

Texada Island Director Dave Murphy reported Telus removed the public telephone from Blubber Bay and noted it was a potential safety concern. Ryan Thoms, regional emergency program coordinator, said he is following up on the issue because it could be an emergency need. He will report back to the rural services committee on his findings.


Investigative permit

Directors voted to advise the ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations that the regional district has no objection to Tide Line Services Inc.’s application for a two-year investigative permit for aggregate and quarry materials (sand and gravel) over about 11.5 hectares of Crown land located within Woodlot W0029. The permit would allow about 15 test pits to find the extent of the aggregate material.


Texada airport

Regional district staff are investigating the pros and cons of maintaining certified status for the Texada airport and how that would impact medevac landings. Staff will research what other airports are doing and report back to the rural services committee.


Subdivision

Directors passed a motion to advise the ministry of transportation and infrastructure that the regional district has no objections to the proposed two-lot subdivision on property located on Shearwater Terrace Road, subject to a five per cent park dedication.


Agricultural land

Directors voted to advise the Agricultural Land Commission that the regional district supports the construction of a second dwelling on property located in the agricultural land reserve on Craig Road.