City of Powell River Council has approved revisions to meeting schedules effective immediately.
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, and in the interests of public health and safety, council meetings are now scheduled for every Thursday at 7 pm in council chambers at city hall, except for the last Thursday of each month when there is a conflict with the qathet Regional District Board meeting, according to a media release from the city. When such a conflict occurs the council meeting for that week will be held on Wednesday.
Council meetings will remain open to the public but will be held in compliance with the provincial health officer’s physical distancing parameters, according to the release. However, the city recommends following the meetings via the live stream service available on its website at powellriver.ca.
All committee of the whole (COTW) and finance committee meetings up to the end of August are cancelled.
It may be necessary for council to meet and be able to make decisions in a timely manner for the next several months, according to the release. Neither the COTW nor finance committee have delegated authority to make some of those decisions. Matters that would have come forward to a COTW or finance committee meeting will be presented and discussed at the weekly council meeting. Should a matter be found important and urgent, it could be introduced and decided at the same council meeting, the release stated.
In terms of delegations, the council procedure bylaw establishing the deadline for 4 pm the Thursday prior to the council meeting does not change.
News, updates, and any changes to the city’s responses and actions due to the COVID-19 situation are posted on the city website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.
