Amends policy
qathet Regional District (qRD) directors have voted for amendments to the financial assistance policy.
At the September 27 regional board meeting, the board requested staff to produce a report regarding potential changes to the qRD finance assistance process, including eliminating grants-in-aid from the social planning and economic development services, and limiting grant-in-aid funding streams to general grants-in-aid and local grants-in-aid, for Electoral Areas A through E.
Another component was setting an objective in the financial assistance policy for general grants-in-aid to regionally balance benefits over time among the collection of projects supported rather than for each project. There was also a suggestion for options for establishing a multi-year financial assistance arrangement with groups that have received relatively large grants over multiple years.
The final recommendation was changing to a single grant intake per year rather than two.
Makes referral
The board has referred the Savary Island wharf fire protection project proposed for 2024 to staff for a report to be brought back to a future finance committee meeting.
Endorses application
The board has endorsed an application to the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia for provincial funding for live fire training props for the firefighting training facility at the Lund fire hall.
Given exemption
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 on Texada Island has been granted a permissive tax exemption on land and buildings classified as recreation/nonprofit for the 2024 tax year only.
Changes bylaw
qRD’s directors’ remuneration and expenses bylaw has been amended to include language outlining impacts to directors’ remuneration in the event of a breach of the code of conduct that was adopted on July 26 of this year. The bylaw reduces remuneration for directors who have been found by a third-party investigator appointed under the qRD code of conduct policy to have breached the policy.
Seeking funding
Staff have been directed to apply for funding from the provincial community wood smoke reduction program for 2024, and that $10,250 be included in the solid waste management service budget for advertising, development of program material, community outreach, program oversight and rebate top-ups for the program.
Writing letter
The board will write a letter to the ministry of environment and climate change strategy regarding Inland Lake Provincial Park, expressing the board’s concern with the disrepair of the park.
Send correspondence
At the September 27 Powell River Regional Hospital Board meeting, directors voted to send a letter to Lift Community Services asking for collaboration on social issues in the area of regional hospital district lands adjacent to 4910 Joyce Avenue. The board also voted to conduct an extensive FireSmart program in the area, taking out brush, limbs and saplings, changing the space to be a more open space, yet remaining mostly treed. The third recommendation was that the board direct staff to apply for FireSmart grant opportunities for the project.
