City of Powell River officials provided an opportunity for residents to review and comment on a draft strategic plan during a meeting on April 2. The approximately 40 residents who attended asked questions directly to councillors, then wrote down comments about the plan after the formal part of the meeting ended.
“Some folks would argue that this is not a true strategic plan and we acknowledge that observation,” said Mayor Dave Formosa during his introductory remarks. “In reality, this is a work plan for the remainder of this council’s term. It will help guide the city’s short-term corporate decision making, corporate working plan and budget implementation process.”
Councillors took turns speaking about each of the six strategic priorities: live within our means; governance; economic revitalization plan; sustainability; asset management; and liquid waste management plan.
Following the presentations, participants asked a number of questions, ranging from logging within city boundaries, taxation levels and hiring local workers on capital projects, as well as making comments on the plan. The city’s liquid waste management plan and proposed Freda Creek run-of-river project were also topics of discussion.
In response to a question about whether council cared about proposed logging in Millennium Park and around Valentine Mountain, Formosa said city officials have been in discussions with Island Timberlands about its plans. He explained the land around Valentine Mountain is private managed forest land, which has its own set of rules, yet city representatives have expressed to the company that the visual impact of logging there is important. “We do get an opportunity to give input and we are very stern in our approach to that,” Formosa said. “But at the same time, they have their own rules.”
Formosa also explained that Island Timberlands owns the trees in Millennium Park, although the city owns the land. “We’ve been negotiating very vigorously with Island Timberlands, trying to save all the trees,” he said. “If we get our way, that’s what we’re hoping to achieve, but it’s very difficult to deal with those Island Timberlands folks.”
Councillors were also asked about their promise during the last local government election campaign that there would be a referendum on co-treatment, a proposal to treat the city’s sewage at Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River mill. Formosa said he believes elected officials who made that promise need to keep their commitment. “I can’t force council to do anything, but my vote would be that we do that,” he said. “But when we do that, we need to have a comprehensive look at both consolidated and non-consolidated, with actual numbers, costs of both and tax implications, so people can make a very informed decision.”
Councillor Debbie Dee said she stands behind the commitment. “But I also firmly believe we can’t go to referendum until we have an informed public that can make an informed decision and we’re not at that point right yet,” she said.
During answers to questions about the Freda Creek project, a partnership between the city and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation to build a run-of-river facility and sell the power to BC Hydro, it emerged that a business plan for the proposal is underway, but not completed. Formosa explained that a feasibility study about the transmission lines is the next step for the project, but officials have decided not to proceed until after the May 14 provincial election, in order to determine if the government would support the proposal.
In answering a question about why the city doesn’t hire local workers on capital projects, councillors explained the regulations they have to follow to tender projects. Formosa also explained that companies that are hired for large capital projects have to be bonded and that is an issue for many local businesses. “As custodians of public funds, we have to know if that contractor doesn’t fulfill his job, there’s a big enough bond there that we can step in as the city and finish the job with the funds that are available,” he said. “That really puts some of our locals at a disadvantage.”
