Funds for food policy
Powell River Regional District board voted at its Thursday, July 27, meeting to provide $5,000 in assistance to the Powell River Food Policy Council, a group developing recommendations for the Powell River region’s local governments to address food security. Half of the funds will come from the regional district’s emergency services management contingency fund, while the other half will come from its waste-management contingency.
Accepts name change report
The board voted to accept a July 13 staff report on the process for the regional district’s proposed name change to qathet Regional District. Chief administrative officer Al Radke told the board that staff will be approaching each of the board directors individually to organize public-engagement sessions in each electoral area and City of Powell River. Radke told the board that staff have not yet determined a cost for the name change, but he said the regional district would not be updating every sign in the region with its new name on it right away.
Plans transportation group
The board voted to adopt the terms of reference for the regional public transportation service exploration working group. The working group is being established to explore the viability and feasibility of enhancing regional public transportation services with emphasis on rural areas currently underserved. The regional district board will be sending the terms of reference to City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation for discussion at the next meeting of the region’s three local governments.
Approves fire department approval process
The board approved to undertake an alternate approval process to gain electoral areas B and C permission to borrow the funds required to replace two of Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department’s fire trucks. Regional district staff will send out notices to households in the voting areas and ask the public to send them back only if they disagree with the borrowing. If more than 306 responses are received, the potential borrowing will be defeated.
Increases celebration funds
The board voted to increase the budget for the regional district’s 50th anniversary celebration from $2,000 to $5,750. The event is planned to take place between 5-9 pm on Wednesday, December 6. Powell River Regional District turns 50 years old on December 19.
Re-appoints board of variance members
Powell River residents Sandy Dunlop and Molly Arial were re-appointed to the regional district’s board of variance for another three-year term. During the past three years, the board of variance has not been required to meet once.
