Approves document
qathet Regional District’s board of directors has approved the 2023 statement of financial information.
At the June 5 regional board meeting, directors gave consideration to the statement, which in part lists remuneration and expenses of elected officials and staff. According to the report, the five directors representing the electoral areas and the two directors representing City of Powell River were paid total remuneration of $172,648.57 in 2023, with expenses of $34,662.38, and benefits of $567, for a total of $207,877.95. Total remuneration for qathet Regional District employees in 2023 was $3,167,721.30, with expenses of $156,995.75.
Appoints director
The regional board has appointed Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick to support the proposed formation of a homelessness task force for the region, as coordinated by Lift Community Services.
Budget authorized
The 2024 to 2025 annual operating budget with BC Transit has been authorized to be signed. According to the agreement, qathet Regional District paratransit is expected to have total revenue of $15,041, total operating costs of $346,304, total costs of $379,613 and net local government share of costs of $165,537.
Goals submitted
Three goals for 2024 from the regional district will be submitted to Powell River RCMP staff sergeant Rod Wiebe. These include: Texada Island detachment sustainability; Savary Island reconnaissance and presence; dog control, education and enforcement. Additionally, the regional district will write the BC attorney general advocating for additional sheriff recruitment and hiring in Powell River.
Further, the regional district will write Vancouver Coastal Health requesting it prioritizes mental health-related emergency room triage to release the RCMP back to community policing services as soon as practically possible. Finally, the regional district will write to local agencies encouraging their participation and playing an active role in the newly formed situation table, and that the board direct staff to attend the situation table during the formative phases to gain more knowledge and greater insight into the purpose and direction the initiative finally takes.
Park sought
The board will direct staff to obtain a licence of occupation from the ministry of transportation and infrastructure for the undeveloped crown land at the end of Spring Bay Road on Lasqueti Island. The motion also stipulates the board designate the 2.2 hectares under the licence of occupation as a regional park, and that the board officially name this regional park as Spring Bay Regional Park.
Wants meetings
Regarding the 2024 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in September in Vancouver, the board is directing staff to register interested directors and chief administrative officer Al Radke for the convention. The board wants a meeting scheduled with provincial minister of transportation and infrastructure Rob Fleming regarding neglect of provincial assets in rural areas due to insufficient funding, as well as consideration of a safety and mobility study for Highway 101.
Resolutions presented
qathet Regional District has two resolutions for the UBCM convention. The first is that the UBCM urge the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to expand regional districts’ authority to include granting permissive tax exemptions to not-for-profit societies for non-market housing. The second is to ask the ministry of transportation and infrastructure to provide realistic asset management and funding to restore culverts on ministry of transportation managed roads.
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