Letter recommended
qathet Regional District’s (qRD) committee of the whole is recommending the regional board send a letter to City of Powell River recommending that yard and garden waste be included in the curbside collection of organic waste.
At the April 14 committee meeting, regional directors considered a staff report, which indicated that organics collection in qRD, both self-haul and with the city’s pilot organics curbside collection program, has always included the commingled collection of yard and garden waste and food scraps. The report stated that this successful pilot program has resulted in an estimated diversion of 2,621 tonnes of commingled organics since 2017.
According to the report, the city requested a letter outlining reasons why commingling of yard and garden waste should be continued when the city expands to a full rollout of its curbside collection service, when an organics facility comes online, and when the city procures a third garbage truck. The report listed a number of reasons why yard waste and food waste should be combined in any collection of organics.
Gangway sale
The committee will be recommending the regional board direct staff to dispose of the old Savary Island dock gangway, and that any proceeds from the sale be credited to the regional parks general service.
According to a staff report, the board approved improvements and renovations to the dock in 2016. The improvements resulted in the gangway being replaced and the old gangway being surplus. It has been stored at the qRD maintenance facility since its replacement.
The staff report stated there was some interest in the gangway from nonprofit groups. qRD had looked at repurposing the gangway as a trail bridge but it was deemed not feasible by consulting engineers. As a result, staff is recommending the sale of the surplus gangway.
Survey results
Results of the 2021 regional resident satisfaction survey will be forwarded to the regional board with the recommendation that the board receive the report for information.
According to a staff report, the survey accepted responses from May 14 to August 31, 2021, which generated 263 responses. The report stated that conducting the survey is an excellent way to get a pulse on community needs, expectations and contentment with service levels and delivery.
The report recommended that staff utilize the comprehensive survey data to establish a baseline to compare future community satisfaction levels for the purpose of evaluation during strategic planning sessions, and that the survey be conducted every three years.
