Peace River Regional District public meetings in 2023
21 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Public Hearing
The Peace River Regional District held a public hearing on the proposed OCP and Zoning Amendment Bylaws 2527 and 2528 for Lot B, Section 35, Township 83, Range 19, W6M. Applicants and members of the public presented comments, primarily concerning access and neighbourhood character. The Chair terminated the hearing at 6:17 pm with no decision recorded.
Chetwynd Civic Properties Commission
The commission met to handle procedural matters. The body accepted the agenda for the August 22, 2023 meeting and approved the minutes from the June 6, 2023 meeting. Reports R-1 through R-4 were received for approval.
- Approved August 22, 2023 agenda
- Approved June 6, 2023 meeting minutes
- Received reports R-1 through R-4 for approval
Public Hearing
The Peace River Regional District conducted a public hearing regarding a zoning amendment for District Lot 2485 Peace River District. No members of the public attended and no written comments were received. The minutes do not record a final decision on the bylaw.
Public Hearing
The Peace River Regional District held a public hearing to receive comments on Proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2526, 2023. Public comments were recorded in opposition to the proposal. No formal decision was made during this hearing.
- Public hearing conducted for Proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2526, 2023
North Peace Leisure Facility Replacement Steering Committee
The committee adopted the August 9, 2023 agenda and the May 2, 2023 meeting minutes. Members received a report reviewing the committee's 2022/2023 recommendations for information. The committee recessed into a closed session to discuss facility configuration and fund reallocation.
- Adopted August 9, 2023 Meeting Agenda (Carried)
- Adopted May 2, 2023 Meeting Minutes (Carried)
- Received Report CSNPLFRC-023 Review of Committee 2022/2023 Recommendations for information (Carried)
- Approved recess to a Closed Meeting to discuss facility configuration and fund reallocation (Carried)
North Peace Leisure Pool Commission
The Commission voted to permanently decommission the hot tub and sell its filtration system. It also approved replacing the chlorine gas system with a chlorine puck system to improve safety and reduce costs. Additionally, the board ratified free swims for wildfire evacuees and transitioned to online agenda packages.
- Ratified June 12, 2023 email vote for free public swims for evacuees (Carried)
- Approved permanent decommissioning of the hot tub and closure during September shutdown (Carried)
- Directed staff to remove and sell the hot tub filtration system (Carried)
- Approved replacing the chlorine gas system with a chlorine puck system for under $25,000 (Carried)
- Approved transition from printed to online meeting agenda packages (Carried)
- Adopted June 6, 2023 meeting minutes (Carried)
Broadband Internet and Mobility Committee
The Broadband Internet and Mobility Committee appointed Director Marcel Woodill as Acting Chair and adopted the minutes from the January 25, 2023 meeting. The committee also received a presentation from i-VALLEY regarding open-access rural broadband solutions and the SABRE system for underserved areas.
- Appointed Director Marcel Woodill as Acting Chair (Carried)
- Adopted the July 26, 2023 meeting agenda (Carried)
- Adopted the January 25, 2023 meeting minutes (Carried)
Solid Waste Committee
The Solid Waste Committee recommended that the Regional Board authorize staff to develop a business case for revising the waste coupon program and research other local government waste models. The committee also recommended purchasing land for the Lone Prairie Transfer Station and abandoning permits for two closed landfills.
- Recommended Regional Board authorize staff to develop a business case to revise the coupon program (Carried)
- Recommended Regional Board authorize staff to research other local government solid waste program models (Carried)
- Received report on 2023 Bessborough Leachate Spill for information (Carried)
- Received report on Kelly Lake Cleanup for information (Carried)
- Recommended Regional Board authorize staff to investigate purchasing 1-1.5 acres of land (PID 006-154-620) for the Lone Prairie Transfer Station (Carried)
- Recommended Regional Board request to abandon permits for Hudson’s Hope (Permit 2897) and Mile 62 (Permit 6557) closed landfills (Carried)
- Adopted January 20, 2023 meeting minutes (Carried)
Special Rural Budgets Administration Committee Meeting
The Rural Budgets Administration Committee approved funding for health and safety upgrades at the North Peace Fall Fair Grounds. The funds are intended to support the 2023 fair, with an option to use the money for equipment rentals if repairs cannot be completed.
- Allocated $200,000 from Area B Peace River Agreement Funds for North Peace Fall Fair health and safety upgrades (Carried)
Board Meeting
The Regional Board issued a public apology to Treaty 8 First Nations and the public regarding offensive comments made at a June 8 meeting. The Board also approved a letter of support for Halfway River First Nation's Treaty Land Entitlement.
- Issued public apology to Treaty 8 First Nations and public for offensive comments made June 8
- Approved letter of support for Halfway River First Nation's Treaty Land Entitlement
- Approved invitation to Halfway River First Nation for a Community to Community meeting
- Approved invitation to Doig River, Halfway River, Prophet River, and West Moberly Lake First Nations for a forum
- Authorized all Directors to attend BC Grain Producers Association AGM and Field Tour on July 12, 2023
- Adopted Committee of the Whole and Regional Board minutes from June 8, 2023
Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Committee of the Whole adopted the meeting agenda. The session included a delegation from the Agriculture Land Commission to discuss a Delegation Agreement with the BC Energy Regulator.
- Adopted the June 29, 2023 Meeting agenda (Carried)
Special Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Board reiterated its decision to reject a Land Sharing Network proposal by SCION Strategies Ltd. The meeting was held primarily to allow remaining delegations and the public to express concerns regarding the proposal. One report on the Peace River Local Government Association was deferred.
- Confirmed decision not to support SCION Strategies Ltd. Land Sharing Network proposal
- Approved adoption of the June 28, 2023, Special Meeting Agenda
- Approved varying the agenda to move the delegation before gallery comments
- Approved extension of the 15-minute gallery comment time limit
- Deferred Peace River Local Government Association Discussion (DR-COW-001) to fall 2023
Electoral Area Directors Committee
The Committee adopted the agenda and the amended minutes from the May 17, 2023 meeting. Directors discussed adding structural protection systems and wildfire funding to the agenda but decided to consult staff at a separate meeting on June 26, 2023 instead.
- Adopted June 23, 2023 agenda
- Adopted May 17, 2023 meeting minutes as amended
Rural Budgets Administration Committee
The Rural Budgets Administration Committee approved various grants for recreation, culture, and community projects across several electoral areas. The committee also denied several grant requests based on policy requirements regarding membership and organization type.
- Approved $121,476.86 for a Multi-Sport Community Court at Charlie Lake Elementary School
- Approved 2023 Electoral Area B grants for eight organizations, including $66,900 for Rock of Ages Bible Camp
- Approved $5,000 grant to Rotary Club of Dawson Creek for electronic equipment
- Approved $4,500 multi-year grant for Rolla Community Cemetery Committee lawn maintenance
- Approved $32,403 for Cecil Lake Recreation Commission outhouses and ball diamonds
- Approved $27,000 for Goodlow Community Club parking lot construction
- Approved $14,250 for North Peace Historical Society façade replacement
- Denied $112,684.50 request from North Peace Fall Fair Society pending engineering study
Emergency Executive Committee
The Emergency Executive Committee agreed to review 2023 Search and Rescue grant applications for recommendation to the Regional Board. The committee also authorized staff to contact Chetwynd Search and Rescue regarding a missing 2023 application.
- Approved review of 2023 Search and Rescue Grant applications for Regional Board recommendation
- Approved appointment of one Committee member to chair the grant allocation meeting
- Authorized staff to contact Chetwynd Search and Rescue regarding their missing 2023 grant application
- Recommended that the Regional Board invite Chetwynd Search and Rescue to apply for the 2024 grant allocation
- Adopted February 1, 2023, meeting minutes
Public Hearing
The board held a public hearing to receive comments on a proposed zoning amendment for a property owned by Daniel and Nancy Desjarlais. No decision was recorded in the minutes; the meeting served as a forum for staff summaries and public testimony.
Committee of the Whole Meeting
The Committee of the Whole adopted the meeting agenda and heard a delegation regarding the Treaty Land Sharing Network. The meeting was adjourned early after the City of Fort St. John Fire Chief advised that the number of attendees exceeded fire regulations.
- Adopted the June 8, 2023 meeting agenda (Carried)
- Approved varying the agenda to bring forward the Treaty Land Sharing Network delegation (Carried)
- Deferred delegation from Landry Women's Institute and Nor' Pioneer Women's Institute
- Deferred Peace River Local Government Association Discussion (DR-COW-001)
Regional Hospital District Board Meeting
The Board adopted the meeting agenda and the minutes from May 18, 2023. The Board then recessed to a closed meeting to discuss closed meeting minutes and negotiations with the Provincial Government regarding the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Project.
- Adopted June 8, 2023 meeting agenda (Carried)
- Adopted May 18, 2023 meeting minutes (Carried)
- Recessed to closed session to discuss Dawson Creek and District Hospital Project negotiations and closed meeting minutes (Carried)
Board Meeting
The Regional Board approved several service contracts, including a landfill feasibility study and a collaborative accessibility strategy. The Board also established a priority ranking for minister meetings at the 2023 UBCM Convention and authorized a letter of support for Rising Above Ministries.
- Awarded RFP 20-2023 to Tetra Tech Canada Inc. for Chetwynd Landfill replacement project ($550,000)
- Awarded contract to Urban Matters CCC Ltd. for collaborative accessibility strategy (PRRD share estimated at $30,000)
- Authorized letter of support for Rising Above Ministries grant application (up to $10,000)
- Authorized rental and tipping of solid waste bins for illegal dumping clean-up at Kelly Lake
- Waived quote requirement for McLeod Recreation and Social Services Society roof replacement grant
- Authorized procurement of board governance training for non-profit groups in Electoral Area D
- Approved priority ranking for six Minister meetings at the 2023 UBCM Convention
- Authorized resolution requesting BC Wildfire Service use Coulson Aviation
North Peace Leisure Pool Commission
The North Peace Leisure Pool Commission ratified a previous email vote to provide free public swims for evacuees. Commissioners also reviewed a report on public shower usage and determined that current rates and access policies remain acceptable.
- Ratified unanimous May 16, 2023 email vote for Community to Community Free Public Swim for evacuees (Carried)
- Adopted agenda as presented (Resolution No. 47/23)
- Adopted April 4, 2023 meeting minutes as amended (Resolution No. 48/23)
- Adopted amended April 4, 2023 Aquatics Manager Report and statistics (Resolution No. 49/23)
- Decided to maintain current protocols for notifying Commissioners of pool closures
- Determined current public shower rates are acceptable
- Decided to keep the Lost and Found bin in its current location
Chetwynd Civic Properties Commission
The Civic Properties Commission approved an operating bid for the Chetwynd and District Rec Centre Concession. The lease is awarded to Don Bombuwala of Papa Don’s PIZZA Pvt. Ltd and is scheduled to begin on July 2, 2023.
- Approved three-year lease of Chetwynd and District Rec Centre Concession to Don Bombuwala of Papa Don’s PIZZA Pvt. Ltd
- Accepted June 6, 2023 meeting agenda
- Accepted minutes from April 4 and May 2, 2023 meetings
- Received reports R-1 through R-4 for approval