City of Powell River Council has approved $957,530.50 to be withdrawn from the Powell River Community Forest reserve fund to be distributed to 18 different projects.
It was a subdued announcement at the June 4 city council meeting. Typically, at community forest announcements, council chambers are full, and recipients gather for a photograph with a huge ceremonial cheque signifying the significant disbursements the community forest makes throughout the community.
For the spring 2020 allocation, community forest president Greg Hemphill appeared without the grant recipients in the era of social distancing. He said with the larger dividends of the past few years, the community forest has planned separate spring and fall allocations. He added that normally, community forest announces spring grants and disburses the majority of funds then, but with the uncertainty going forward, the community forest board’s feeling is that it will make the majority of funds available in the fall.
“There will be a little more clarity on which projects make sense,” said Hemphill. “Directors would normally be the first ones to say, ‘let’s get this money in the community, let’s get it working,’ but, with COVID-19, there is a level of uncertainty on what restrictions there will be and how that will affect different projects.”
Hemphill said some grants are relevant to COVID-19, such as allocations to Powell River Public Library and Evergreen Care Unit. He said there are also a number of outdoor projects with seasonal restraints, and it is important to get them started before the summer.
“We’re very pleased to support the thermal energy conversion for the Powell River Recreation Complex to reduce our carbon footprint and operating costs,” said Hemphill. “It’s very critical in maintaining this asset for the whole community.”
Spring community forest grants were allocated as follows:
· 100+ Women Who Care – grant matching for 2020 - $35,000
· Powell River Salmon Society – roof and rearing trough - $51,100
· Harvest for Health (Powell River General Hospital) – top-up grant for gazebo project - $8,000
· Powell River Parks and Recreation Society – top-up grant, Sunshine Coast Trail - $15,000
· Timberlane Barracks sponsor committee – club building renovations - $64,785
· Royal Canadian Legion Texada – contribution to install backup generator - $13,225
· City: recreation complex front reception counter – $25,000
· City: parks and trails - signage and wayfinding – $55,000
· City: park shelters for bike park and Sunset Park - $132,000
· City: recreation complex - Community Forest recognition wall - $13,500
· Evergreen Care Unit – separated family room - $25,831
· City: recreation complex – protective flooring, dressing rooms and tunnel area - $70,000
· Powell River ATV Society – trail brushing machine - $5,500
· K-Lumet pilot project – wax recycling system, ventilation requirements and vehicle - $46,919, subject to finalizing the employment of persons with disabilities.
· Powell River Public Library – self-serve holds unit in building foyer - $40,000
· Powell River Kings Society – top-up grant to complete concession counter - $4,562.50
· Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association – Emma Lake and E-branch cabins repairs - $95,800
· City: recreation complex - thermal energy project - $256,308
City chief financial officer Adam Langenmaier said at the end of 2019, there was $469,599 available in the community forest reserve fund. The 2019 dividend, he said, was $2,860,996, which brings the total available funds for 2020 to $3,330,595.
“Of that, council authorized about $60,000 for COVID-19 response and before you today is an additional $957,000 to be allocated to different groups,” said Langenmaier. “There is $2.3 million left in the fund for the fall and the next spring update in 2021.”
Mayor Dave Formosa said the city is well served by the community forest team and thanked them on behalf of the whole community.
