Extends emergency powers of delegation for CAO
qathet Regional District (qRD) board has extended the extraordinary emergency powers of delegation for the chief administrative officer (CAO).
At the August 27 regional board meeting, directors voted in consideration of the unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis, to delegate operational and administrative duties to the CAO until November 30, 2020, unless extended. The delegation has occurred to deal with matters that are urgent and require immediate attention to be able to facilitate nimble and flexible responses to public health officer orders, higher tiers of government, or reduced service levels to the community.
For matters related to requirements for bylaw amendment, policy revision or other legislative resolutions of the board, the CAO will bring those forward to a board meeting as soon as practically possible.
Allocates funds to Tourism Powell River
The regional district will provide a $15,000 contribution to Tourism Powell River to assist with funding student summer jobs.
This would include $12,820 from the regional district’s economic development service and $2,180 from the Electoral Area B grant-in-aid service.
Supports Lund Community Centre upgrade project
The regional board will direct staff to submit an application for grant funding for the Lund Community Centre upgrade project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The board supports the project and commits to its $1.6 million share of the project cost.
The board directed staff to proceed with plans to upgrade Lund Community Centre if grant funding is successful and that the loan authorization bylaw for the centre upgrade borrowing be forwarded to the board for first through third reading. The board will also direct staff to seek elector assent using the alternate approval process in order to borrow up to $1.1 million.
Directs staff to issue RFP for organics processing
The regional board will direct staff to issue a request for proposals for a local organics processing facility.
According to a staff report, over the past nine years, qRD has taken strides toward separating organics from the waste stream and has proven there is sufficient volume in the region to support a local composting facility. The report states the qRD greenhouse gas strategy cites the waste sector as the biggest contributor to the corporate greenhouse gas inventory.
“Recognizing there is need for improvement in the waste management sector for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, targeting organics and removing them from the waste stream would significantly decrease associated greenhouse gas emissions,” the report stated. “There is an opportunity to engage both the private and public sector through a request for proposals process for the development of a local organics processing facility.”
