Powell River public meetings in 2021
24 substantive meetings from 2021, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Council Meeting
Powell River City Council meets December 16, 2021 to consider a range of zoning amendments, harbour rate bylaws, and committee recommendations. Council will also hear a delegation on public pool access and decide on a lease extension for the Council for Arts and Culture. Several items were referred from the Committee of the Whole, including a development variance permit for a Resource Recovery Centre and a grant program with the Community Energy Association.
- Development Variance Permit 262 for 4924 Marine Avenue (Resource Recovery Centre) to relax building height from 13.5m to 15.35m
- Lease extension for Unit 215 - 6975 Alberni Street to Powell River Council for Arts and Culture to Dec 31, 2022, with a $31,910.35 grant in kind
- Bylaw 2678 for Zoning Amendment 107 at 4000 Saturna Avenue to be read a third time and adopted
- Bylaw 2682 (North Harbour Rates and Regulations) and Bylaw 2683 (South/Westview Harbour Rates and Regulations) to be adopted
- Draft Bylaw 2685 for Zoning Amendment 110 at vacant Manson between Charlotte to be read a first time, with conditions for water/sewer capacity and affordable housing contribution
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee
Powell River's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee meets Dec. 15, 2021 to hear updates on active transportation, Vision Zero grants, and the Zunga Bus pilot. The committee will discuss forwarding CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 priorities to Council and consider AVICC/UBCM resolutions. A staff report recommends continuing the on-demand bus pilot with existing funding through April 30, 2022, and sending a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Transit advocating for on-demand transit funding.
- Zunga Bus pilot: staff recommend continuing with existing allocated funding through April 30, 2022; total available funding $321,366, with $163,447.13 spent as of Nov. 30, 2021
- CleanBC Roadmap to 2030: suggested recommendation to forward priorities to Council and ask staff to review and report back
- Active Transportation OCP update and Vision Zero Grants update from the Sustainability Planner
- AVICC/UBCM Resolutions discussion; AVICC deadline noted as Jan. 13, 2022
- Slideshow on 'Active Transportation in the Netherlands' and provincial climate action updates from BCMCLC meeting with Minister Heyman
Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Committee of the Whole meets Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 3:30 PM to work through delegations, correspondence, and staff reports. Items include a UBCM resolution on wastewater treatment plant contaminants, letters about a proposed food waste disposer ban and a mill closure, and a development variance permit for 4184 Bowness Avenue. Reports cover an automatic aid agreement between Powell River Fire Rescue and the Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department, a 2022 lease for the Powell River Council for Arts and Culture, amendments to the Council Procedure Bylaw on electronic meetings, and an On Demand Bus Pilot.
- Delegation: Lesley Armstrong on UBCM Resolution NR31 regarding contaminants released from wastewater treatment plants
- Correspondence on a proposed food waste disposer ban, a mill closure, a public health order affecting the Powell River Recreation Complex, and a municipal boundary extension at 9440 Nootka Street
- Development Variance Permit 257 for 4184 Bowness Avenue
- Automatic Aid Agreement between Powell River Fire Rescue and Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department
- Powell River Council for Arts and Culture Lease 2022 and amendments to the Council Procedure Bylaw on electronic meetings
Liquid Waste Management Plan Monitoring Committee
The Liquid Waste Management Plan Monitoring Committee meets to adopt its agenda and September 27, 2021 minutes, receive correspondence and construction progress reports, and discuss unfinished and new business. Reports cover construction of the consolidated wastewater treatment plant, including budget figures and possible use of horizontal directional drilling for pipe installation. The committee is not scheduled to vote on any bylaws or contracts at this meeting.
- Construction progress reports from Associated Engineering for periods ending October 14 and November 10, 2021
- Budget to date of $89 million, including $55.7 million in federal and provincial grants, $27.2 million in city contributions and $6 million from the sewer reserve
- Contract 3 (treatment plant) awarded to Graham Construction for $61,016,432.65; Contract 4 (conveyance and lift stations) awarded to Graham for $18,430,314.22
- Outfall contract into the Salish Sea not yet awarded; $3 million allowance in Graham's contract
- New business item on Westview Treatment Plant - New Membranes
Sports Hall of Fame Committee
The City of Powell River Sports Hall of Fame Committee meets Monday, December 13, 2021 at 5:30 PM in the Committee Room at City Hall. The agenda covers adoption of the November 8, 2021 minutes and committee updates on display cabinetry, a sponsor/donor list, budget, an event checklist, recognition of Indigenous athletes of Canada, and standardized first contact with inductees. The committee will also consider a motion to move into a closed meeting after adjournment under Community Charter Sections 90(1)(a), (j), and (n).
- Display cabinetry update from Roger Pagani and Drew Ferguson
- Sponsor/donor list update from Tod English and Bob Bogoslowski
- Budget update from Tod English
- Event checklist update from Lisanne English
- Recognition of Indigenous Athletes of Canada update from Paul Galinski and Larry Louie
Regular Council Meeting
Powell River Council is holding its regular meeting on December 2, 2021, with a revised agenda covering committee recommendations, bylaws, and reports. Key decisions include a Temporary Use Permit for an extreme weather shelter and respite at 4746 Joyce Avenue, a development variance at 3307 Hernando Avenue, and final adoption of a zoning amendment at 4184 Bowness Avenue. Council will also consider harbour rate bylaws and a reserve fund amendment, and will move to a closed meeting afterward.
- Temporary Use Permit 005 for non-commercial short-term overnight accommodation at 4746 Joyce Avenue (Lift Community Services extreme weather shelter and respite)
- Development Variance Permit 260 at 3307 Hernando Avenue to allow a secondary suite up to 101 square metres
- Final adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2660, 2021 for 4184 Bowness Avenue
- Five-year Licence of Occupation Agreement with Powell River Brain Injury Society
- First three readings of North Harbour (Bylaw 2682) and South/Westview Harbour (Bylaw 2683) rates and regulations bylaws
Public Hearing
Powell River City Council is holding a public hearing on Bylaw 2678, 2021, which would amend the zoning bylaw in two ways: adding short-term and vacation rental uses to RS1, RS2 and RS3 residential zones, and rezoning the parcel at 4000 Saturna Avenue from RM1 (Compact Residential) to CD4 (Comprehensive Development 4 Residential Small Lots). The bylaw received first and second reading on October 21, 2021, and public notice was given November 19 and 26, 2021. The public may attend in person or join remotely to provide verbal comments; the hearing is followed by adjournment.
- Public hearing on Bylaw 2678, 2021, amending Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006
- Would add short-term rental and vacation rental as permitted uses in RS1, RS2 and RS3 zones
- Would rezone 4000 Saturna Avenue (PID 018-886-884) from RM1 to CD4
- Bylaw read a first and second time October 21, 2021; public notice given November 19 and 26, 2021
- Public input accepted in person or by phone at 1-833-782-7295, meeting ID 463 985 350#
Special Council Meeting
Powell River City Council is holding a special meeting on December 1, 2021, starting with a resolution to waive notice of the meeting itself. The agenda then moves to adopting the agenda and a motion to go into a closed meeting after adjournment. The closed session would cover labour or employee relations, land acquisition or disposition, information protected under FOI legislation, discussions on the annual municipal report, and whether a meeting should be closed. No decisions on bylaws, contracts, or public business appear on this agenda.
- Resolution to waive notice of the special meeting under s.127(4) of the Community Charter and s.7 of Council Procedure Bylaw 2415, 2015
- Motion to hold a closed meeting after adjournment under Community Charter s.90(1)
- Closed session topics include labour relations (s.90(1)(c)) and land acquisition or disposition (s.90(1)(e))
- Closed session also covers FOI-protected information (s.90(1)(j)) and preparation of the annual municipal report (s.90(1)(l))
- No public hearings, contracts, rezonings, or fee changes are listed on this agenda
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Powell River's Committee of the Whole meets Nov. 30, 2021 to hear delegations and staff reports. Council will consider a development variance permit for a Resource Recovery Centre at 4924 Marine Avenue, a zoning amendment on vacant Manson land, and an airport master plan update. It will also receive correspondence on a possible city name change and a request for a public apology over conduct at a Nov. 3 finance meeting.
- Development Variance Permit 262 for 4924 Marine Avenue (Resource Recovery Centre) would relax building height in the Parks and Playing Fields Zone from 13.5 m to 15.35 m
- Zoning Amendment 110 for vacant land on Manson between Charlotte
- Development Variance Permit 257 for 4184 Bowness Avenue
- Airport Master Plan Update and a Community Energy Association Game Changer Grant report
- Correspondence from Sept. 1 to Nov. 25, 2021 regarding a City Name Change, plus a letter requesting a public apology over conduct at the Nov. 3, 2021 Special Finance Committee meeting
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is reviewing several financial reports, including a progress update on the Consolidated Wastewater Treatment Plant showing $87.8 million in construction costs to date, deferred property taxes, a reserve fund policy amendment, harbour bylaws, a public art plan, and the preliminary 2022-2026 financial plan. The committee will also adopt minutes from October 28 and November 3 meetings. Most items are reports for discussion and information rather than final decisions.
- Consolidated Wastewater Treatment Plant construction cost to date: $87,806,511.61 against a total budget of $89,010,800.00
- Deferred property taxes have grown from 103 participants ($222,154) in 2015 to 333 participants ($1,033,145) in 2021
- Amendment to Council Policy 255 on Reserve Funds proposed by Manager of Accounting Services
- North Harbour and South/Westview Harbour Bylaws update for 2021
- Preliminary 2022-2026 Financial Plan presented by the Chief Financial Officer
Special Council Meeting
Powell River City Council is holding a special meeting on November 25, 2021, with a short public agenda: adopting the agenda, taking questions from the public, and adjourning. The main substantive item is a motion to move in camera after the meeting to discuss matters permitted under Section 90(1) of the Community Charter, including personal information, labour relations, land matters, litigation, and legal advice. No decisions on bylaws, contracts, or budgets appear on this public agenda.
- Motion to go in camera after adjournment to discuss items under Community Charter Section 90(1), including labour relations, land acquisition/disposition, litigation, and solicitor-client advice
- Public question period at the end of the meeting, with questions accepted by phone or email during the meeting
- In-person attendance allowed with mandatory masking under the Provincial Health Officer order
- Meeting webcast live with up to a 30-second broadcast delay
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee
Powell River's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee meets to discuss the provincial CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, a memo from Councillor Leishman suggesting bylaw amendments for a more resilient and equitable community, and ideas for 2022 AVICC/UBCM resolutions ahead of a January 28 deadline. The agenda is otherwise procedural, with adoption of the agenda and October 27 minutes. No decisions are scheduled; items are listed for discussion.
- Discussion of the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, the province's plan to meet its 2030 emissions target
- Memo from Councillor Leishman suggesting bylaw amendments for a more resilient and equitable community
- Open discussion on ideas for AVICC/UBCM resolutions, with a January 28, 2022 deadline
- Adoption of minutes from the October 27, 2021 committee meeting
- No delegations, correspondence, or reports listed on the agenda
Special Sports Hall of Fame Committee
This is a special meeting of the City of Powell River's Sports Hall of Fame Committee. The published agenda lists only routine procedural steps — adopting the agenda and minutes, delegations, correspondence, committee reports, unfinished and new business — with no specific items described. The only substantive entry is a recommendation to move into a closed meeting after adjournment to discuss matters under Community Charter Sections 90(1)(a), (j), and (n).
- Closed meeting recommended after adjournment under Community Charter Section 90(1)(a) — personal information about an identifiable individual
- Closed meeting also cites Section 90(1)(j) — information prohibited from disclosure under Section 21 of FOIPPA
- Closed meeting also cites Section 90(1)(n) — whether a Council meeting should be closed
- No specific delegations, contracts, or dollar amounts are listed in the published agenda
Regular Council Meeting
Powell River Council is considering several development variance permits and a development permit for a multi-family project at Joyce Avenue and Edgehill Crescent, along with receiving the qathet Ending Poverty Strategy Final Report. Council will also vote on third reading of Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2677 for 4304 Garibaldi Place and adoption of the Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw 2679. Other items include a liquor licence structural change for Townsite Brewing at 5824 Ash Avenue and library trustee reappointments.
- Development Variance Permit 261 and Development Permit 319 for a multi-family residential development at Joyce Avenue and Edgehill Crescent (Veyron Properties)
- Development Variance Permit 255 at 4328 Marine Avenue to allow accessory building lot coverage to exceed the principal dwelling
- Development Variance Permit 259 at 3624 Marine Avenue to permit a carriage house sited to the front of a principal dwelling
- Townsite Brewing at 5824 Ash Avenue seeks to make its temporary patio permanent and increase capacity from 45 to 58 inside and 14 on the patio
- Third reading of Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2677 for 4304 Garibaldi Place and adoption of Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw 2679
Special Council Meeting
Powell River City Council is holding a special meeting on November 18, 2021, at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers. The agenda consists of adopting the agenda, a motion to go into a closed (in camera) meeting after adjournment, a public question period, and adjournment. The closed session is proposed to cover matters under the Community Charter, including personal information about identifiable individuals, labour or employee relations, land acquisition or disposition, litigation or potential litigation, solicitor-client advice, FOI-protected information, preliminary service negotiations, and whether a meeting should be closed. No substantive decisions, contracts, or bylaws appear on the public agenda.
- Motion to move in camera under Community Charter Sections 90(1)(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (i), (j), (k), and (n)
- Closed session topics include labour relations, land acquisition or disposition, litigation, and solicitor-client advice
- Public question period with call-in at 1-833-782-7295, Meeting ID 685 658 033#
- Mask requirement in effect per Provincial Health Officer order for in-person attendees
- Meeting viewable via live webcast at powellriver.ca/PAGES/WEBCASTS
Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Committee of the Whole meets Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 3:30 PM to hear three delegations and consider staff reports. Members will decide whether to direct staff to give notice for a development variance permit at 3307 Hernando Avenue and a temporary use permit for an extreme weather shelter at 4746 Joyce Avenue. Other reports cover a licence of occupation with the Powell River Brain Injury Society, a sanitary sewer and storm drain bylaw amendment, and 2022 acting mayor and meeting schedules.
- Development Variance Permit 260 at 3307 Hernando Avenue would relax Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 section 5.7(d) to allow a secondary suite up to 101 square metres
- Temporary Use Permit 005 would allow non-commercial short-term overnight accommodation at 4746 Joyce Avenue for the Lift Community Services Extreme Weather Shelter and Respite
- Licence of Occupation Agreement with the Powell River Brain Injury Society
- Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drain Source Control Bylaw 2054, 2005, Amendment Bylaw 2668, 2021
- Delegations: Karen Kamon on a 3 Year Public Art Plan, Vivian Thickett on Reconciliation, and Gerri Watmough on speed on Harvie Avenue
Sports Hall of Fame Committee
The City of Powell River Sports Hall of Fame Committee meets Monday, November 8, 2021 at 5:30 PM in the Committee Room at City Hall. The agenda includes adopting the October 4, 2021 minutes, unfinished business on a cabinetry quote and a list of sponsors and donors from the previous event, and new business on the budget, an event checklist, and recognition of Indigenous athletes in Canada. The meeting is scheduled to end with a motion to go into a closed meeting under Community Charter Sections 90(1)(a), (j), and (n).
- Unfinished business: request quote for cabinetry
- Unfinished business: list of sponsors and donors from previous event
- New business: budget (draft 2022 event budget shows total income and expenses each estimated at $93,500)
- New business: event checklist for the 2022 induction event
- New business: recognition component of Indigenous athletes in Canada
Regular Council Meeting
Powell River City Council meets Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 7:00 PM to decide on several items referred from committees. The largest is a recommendation to withdraw $1,648,269.95 from the Powell River Community Forest Reserve and distribute it to nine organizations, including $700,000 toward the Airport Runway Extension Project. Council will also consider three development variance/temporary use permits, a contribution agreement with PRISMA, and first readings of borrowing and zoning amendment bylaws.
- Community Forest grants: $1,648,269.95 total, including $700,000 to the City for the Airport Runway Extension Project Phase 1 and $300,000 for active transportation matching funds
- Development Variance Permit 254 at 7251 Huntingdon Street to allow a carriage house 5.7 metres from the front lot line
- Development Variance Permit 258 at 5557 Park Avenue to allow a carriage house in front of the principal dwelling
- Temporary Use Permit 004 at 4578B Marine Avenue for outdoor commercial use, subject to permanent washroom facilities
- Bylaw 2679 (Revenue Anticipation Borrowing) for first three readings; Bylaws 2680 and 2681 for first reading to allow conversion of 4766 Michigan Avenue from commercial to residential
Public Hearing
The City of Powell River Council is holding a public hearing on Bylaw 2677, 2021, which would rezone the property at 4304 Garibaldi Place from R2 (Single and Two Family Residential) to CD4 (Comprehensive Development 4 Residential Small Lots). The bylaw received first and second reading on October 7, 2021, and public notice was given on October 22 and 29, 2021. The agenda includes correspondence and public input before adjournment. The bylaw has not yet received third reading or adoption.
- Rezoning of 4304 Garibaldi Place (PID 009-444-904) from R2 to CD4 under Bylaw 2677, 2021
- Bylaw 2677 received first and second reading on October 7, 2021
- Public notice given October 22 and 29, 2021
- Public hearing includes correspondence and public input
- Bylaw not yet read a third time or adopted
Special Finance Committee
The City of Powell River Finance Committee meets in a special session on November 3, 2021 to receive a report from Chief Financial Officer Adam Langenmaier on recommendations from the Community Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC). The committee is asked to receive the report for information and discussion and to provide direction using a Priority Matrix (Appendix A) that ranks each recommendation by priority and time horizon. No decisions are being made at this meeting; the recommendations cover permissive tax exemptions, parks and recreation cost sharing, harbour rates, reserves, land, and modernization.
- CFAC recommends Council consider capping the total value of permissive tax exemptions per year; Council already adopted a $400,000 cap for 2022 on September 2, 2021
- Recommendation to maintain Parks, Recreation and Culture services at current levels and improve cost sharing with the qathet Regional District
- Recommendation to investigate a tiered harbour rate system based on customer's primary residence (City, qathet Regional District, all other)
- Recommendation for quarterly reserve reports and a report identifying optimum reserve balances with a 10-year plan
- Recommendation to expedite sale of easily developable City land for residential use; Council approved $100,000 from the Covid-19 safe restart reserve for an electronic timesheet payroll process
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Powell River's Committee of the Whole meets Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 3:30 PM to hear delegations on COVID mandates and a provincial COVID response letter, receive the qathet Ending Poverty Strategy Final Report 2021, and consider three development variance permits and a development permit for a multi-family project at Joyce at Edgehill. The committee will also review housekeeping updates to the Sustainable Official Community Plan on active transportation and housing, a Townsite Brewing liquor licence structural change, and Fall 2021 Community Forest grant recommendations. The meeting ends with a motion to go into closed session on topics including land, litigation, and labour relations.
- Delegation: Michelle Riddle regarding COVID Mandates
- Letter dated October 24, 2021 from George Orchiston regarding Provincial Government Response to COVID
- qathet Ending Poverty Strategy Final Report 2021 (Social Planner)
- Development Variance Permit 255 – 4328 Marine Avenue: relax accessory building lot coverage rules
- Development Variance Permit 259 – 3624 Marine Avenue: allow carriage house in front of principal dwelling
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is receiving reports on the City's long-term debt position, including the $83.01 million Consolidated Wastewater Treatment Plant project, and a proposed Sports Hall of Fame Reserve. The committee will also review the 2018-2020 capital plan budget versus actual spending and a revenue anticipation borrowing bylaw. Most items are reports for information or discussion rather than final decisions.
- CWWTP project estimated at $83.01 million, with $55.73 million in federal/provincial grants and $27.28 million to be borrowed by the City
- Construction change orders include $335,500 in credits from Graham Infrastructure for alternate pumps, centrifuge, and concrete specs
- Linear works and lift stations contract awarded to Graham Infrastructure LP at not-to-exceed $18,430,314.22 plus GST
- City served with Notice of Civil Claim over terminated marine outfall contract with Caribou Mountain Construction
- Proposed establishment of a Sports Hall of Fame Reserve
Special Council Meeting
Powell River City Council is holding a special meeting to adopt six permissive tax exemption bylaws (2671–2676) that exempt various organizations from certain taxes for the 2022 taxation year. The agenda also includes adoption of the agenda and a public question period. No other substantive business is listed.
- Bylaw 2671 would exempt 95.1% of taxes for numerous properties, including Tla'amin Nation land leased by the Alano Club at 5903 Arbutus Avenue and multiple Inclusion Powell River Society properties
- Bylaws 2672–2676 are additional permissive tax exemption bylaws for 2022, with details partially shown in the agenda
- Bylaw 2671 lists exemptions for organizations including Life Cycle Housing Society on Cranberry Street, LIFT Community Services of qathet Society, and the Powell River Historical Museum & Archives Association
- Bylaw 2671 was read three times on October 7, 2021, third reading rescinded and amended on October 21, 2021, and is now up for adoption
- Public question period allows questions by phone or email during the meeting
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee
Powell River's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committee meets to review electric vehicle charging station use data, bicycle network strategy, and climate action engagement ideas. Members will also discuss a local climate risk assessment and a suggested motion asking Council to extend the Committee's term to June 30, 2022. Several items are updates or discussion topics rather than decisions.
- Suggested motion: that the CCMAC recommend Council extend the Committee term to June 30, 2022
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations use data presented by the Sustainability Planner
- Bicycle Network Strategy Review
- FCM Sustainable Communities Conference highlights from Councillor Leishman and Councillor Southcott
- Local Climate Risk Assessment Analysis & Climate Resiliency Plan discussion