Opposes shellfish licence
At its meeting on Thursday, June 27, qathet Regional District’s board of directors voted to strongly object to BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development over the revised application for crown land tenure for licence of occupation (aquaculture-shellfish) in Northeast Bay, Texada Island. The board’s reasoning is that it is inconsistent with the Texada Island Official Community Plan Bylaw 395, 2005.
Wants park
Regional directors voted to enquire with the province about the possibility of transferring the Northeast Bay land designated for use, recreation and enjoyment of the public reserve (UREP) to qathet Regional District to be used as a regional district park.
Resource recovery
The regional board has directed chair Patrick Brabazon and chief administrative officer Al Radke to execute the project agreement, lease agreement and licence of use and occupation for the Marine Avenue old incinerator site closure and the resource-recovery centre project. Brabazon said it had been a long time coming and a welcome initiative for most people.
Amends bylaw
The regional district’s fees and charges bylaw has been updated to provide for fees associated with cannabis applications. There will be a $350 fee for processing cannabis-related business applications. The fee is based on the advertising costs for public notice in two consecutive issues of the newspaper plus a $100 processing cost for reviewing and collating public comments.
Climate emergency
A climate emergency has been declared by qathet Regional District. Regional board city representative CaroleAnn Leishman said that as of Tuesday, June 25, there were 674 jurisdictions worldwide that have declared a climate emergency.
Planning grant
The regional board has approved an application to BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on behalf of Pine Tree Place Improvement District to offset the estimated $10,000 cost to develop a pond to be used as a water reserve for firefighting purposes, and if the actual study costs exceed the estimate, Pine Tree Place Improvement District shall be responsible for the costs not covered by the grant.
Fee undercharge
qathet Regional District’s board of directors had to approve writing off $20 in cemeteries service to account for the undercharge of two grave liners. The board directed staff to bring back a report with recommendations of an acceptable dollar amount and a process to delegate authority to staff to waive fees.
Meeting location
This year’s on the road regional district board meeting will be held in Electoral Area C on Thursday, August 22; the meeting will be rescheduled to 6 pm to accommodate travel time.
