Work is being planned to examine establishing the city’s works yard as the potential site for a new emergency services facility.
At the August 20 City of Powell River Council meeting, Maggie Hathaway, chair of the emergency services facility select advisory committee, said as was reported by the fire chief at a previous meeting, the committee has picked a second site for review. She said when it was reported by the fire chief it was referred to as a secondary site and some people have concern about the use of the word secondary, she added.
“This is, in fact, the Duncan Street location that we’ve chosen and it is the preferred site of the committee,” said Hathaway. “We want to move ahead. We’ve had the architect come up and we’ve done walks through the property. There’s some advantages to that which might very well save some money.
“There is no riparian area that we need to worry about and I don’t think there is a fear of contamination as there might be at the other (Barnet Street) site.”
Hathaway said the fire department footprint would fit on the property, which is currently designated at the city’s works yard.
“It’s an industrial area already,” added Hathaway.
At the June 25 emergency services facility select advisory committee meeting, a motion was carried that the committee recommend that city council approve funding for a site plan, a geotechnical review, an environmental phase one review and a topographical study for the property located at 7160 Duncan Street.
Hathaway said in order to move forward, those studies need to be completed. She said some can be carried out by the city’s staff, but not all of them.
“It looks to me like the maximum amount of money required would be $30,000,” said Hathaway. “We have a budget for the committee but it’s more about public participation funding rather than these kinds of studies.”
Hathaway said the committee has been in touch with the finance department and it doesn’t look like there is anywhere for that money to come from, so she’s wondering if there is some place where the money could be appropriated from so the work can be carried out.
“If we don’t get these studies done, we grind to a halt until next year when we have a new budget,” said Hathaway.
She said representatives of the architects have met with the committee and it was a good meeting.
“They had all of the answers and we discussed some of the details people had concerns with,” said Hathaway. “Everything is moving forward except for that stumbling block.”
Councillor George Doubt asked if there is going to be a report coming to the committee of the whole or finance committee, at some point, asking for the funds to do those studies.
Chief administrative officer Russell Brewer said some options for funding will be identified and come back to the finance committee or committee of the whole.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he concurs with that and sooner than later would be better so the process is not held up.
“I look forward to seeing a report from the fire chief,” said Formosa, “at our most appropriate finance committee meeting when it’s available.”
