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qathet Regional District briefs

Authorizes organics trailer purchase; Endorses fire department funding application; Approves transit expansion initiatives
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Authorizes purchase
At a meeting on September 29, qathet Regional District's board authorized the direct award to Ocean Trailer Delta to procure an organics transfer trailer in the amount of $116,295, plus taxes, as well as up to $1,500 plus GST for delivery to the site of the waste transfer station for the resource-recovery centre project.

According to a staff report, the collection and transfer of organics, including food and yard waste, is a key component of the qRD resource-recovery project. Organic materials will be collected on the tipping floor of the bay, inspected, and then pushed into the organics transfer trailer, which will collect and hold wet organic materials. The trailer will then be transported to the organics processing facility for unloading.

Emergency program
An application to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for the volunteer and composite fire departments equipment and training funding stream has been endorsed. The community emergency preparedness fund application would be for the Northside Volunteer Fire Department, Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department, Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department and Lasqueti Island Fire Department.

Transit expansion
The board has authorized its chief administrative officer and chair to sign the three-year transit expansion initiatives 2023/2024 to 2025/2026 letter, and to reaffirm its commitment to service expansion to Texada Island in the 2023 operating year. The planned transit expansion for Texada Island costs $34,722 per annum, set to begin in 2023. The expansion will provide an additional service day for the Texada Island route.

qRD would provide overall grant management for the project. Under the community emergency preparedness fund, each fire department can receive a maximum of $30,000 to meet amended requirements in the soon to be released updated version of the provincial fire commissioner’s British Columbia fire service minimum training standards.

Identify buildings
The board is directing staff to identify buildings in each electoral district area that are open to the public and already have cooling, and to provide the list to Vancouver Coastal Health and the health authority for heat warning notifications and events.

Seeks consultant
Siebring Consulting will be commissioned to facilitate the board review of the code of conduct at a mutually agreed date in the new year. According to a staff report, the cost will be $150 per hour. Within six months after its first regular council meeting following a general local election, an elected body must decide whether a code of conduct should be reviewed.

Ratifies release
The board ratified the ongoing release of regional district digital mapping files and orthophotos to Powell River Search and Rescue free of charge, subject to the signing of a revised limited use agreement. The board has also ratified the release of the regional district’s 2022 ortho photos to Powell River Community Forest free of charge, subject to the signing of a limited use agreement. Staff have also been directed to bring forward a draft open data sharing staff report for future consideration.

Climate allocation
A budget amendment has been approved to allocate $2,400 from the local government climate action program to the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities climate leadership steering committee for completion of the 2030 climate leadership plan.

Sanctions fees
The regional board approved five per cent increases to the 2023 Myrtle Pond water user fee schedule, and also approved a five per cent increase to the 2023 Lund sewer user fee schedule.