City of Powell River councillors have approved a $25,000 grant application to fund construction of a sidewalk in front of the Powell River RCMP detachment office.
At the September 12 council meeting, chief administrative officer Lisa Bhopalsingh said the city participates in the joint accessibility and inclusion advisory committee with qathet Regional District and Powell River Public Library.
“This committee has shown support for applying for a Social Planning and Research Council of BC grant for up to $25,000,” said Bhopalsingh. “This particular project is endorsed by the committee and it is a sidewalk improvement project outside the City of Powell River’s RCMP building.”
Bhopalsingh directed councillors to a photograph of the RCMP station, with two areas having been delineated for improvement. The first is a 27-metre section in front of the building, which would cost $12,000 to upgrade, and a 25-metre section, which would cost $11,000 to upgrade. There was a third section of 15-metres, which would cost $7,000, that would not be included in the grant application.
Bhopalsingh said the amount of the two sections comes to $23,000, and if the community is wondering why the third section will not be completed, the reason is the city is trying to keep the expenditure under the prospective grant allocation amount. She said the third area can be developed in the future.
“Staff is seeking support for the application, which we hope will be successful,” said Bhopalsingh.
Councillor Trina Isakson asked if the joint accessibility and inclusion advisory committee had specifically requested upgrading of this sidewalk, versus other sidewalk issues in the community. Bhopalsingh said she would have to find that out.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said she was curious about whether the city was making an application for this improvement because the city owns the RCMP building. She asked if the focus was on city-owned properties for accessibility.
Bhopalsingh said this particular application had been endorsed by the committee as a priority.
Isakson said she wanted to note that the bus stop for the RCMP station is just beyond the third section that is not being improved.
“This doesn’t fully address accessibility issues,” said Isakson. “That section and however it ties into the property north of Barnet is really important, but given what we know about what is needed right now, I appreciate this is a first good step.”
Councillor Rob Southcott said he wondered if the bus stop location could be changed.
Bhopalsingh said that was something she could find out, and looking through planning and other measures, what timing might be like for other improvements, such as development of the third section.
Council voted unanimously to have staff submit a $25,000 grant application for construction of a sidewalk outside the RCMP detachment, and that the five-year financial plan be amended to recognize $25,000 in grant funding.
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