Deputy treasurer
Sara Zacharias was appointed as deputy treasurer for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) on Jan. 28 during the regular board meeting.
In her new role, Zacharias will oversee the day-to-day administration of financial systems and perform statutory financial administrative functions in the absence of the treasurer.
Zacharias will also be in charge of managing staff and will act as the treasurer for the Sunshine Coast Regional Hospital District.
GIA submissions
Grant-in-aid submissions for rural areas within the SCRD must be in by March 30. Rural area directors will receive copies of all of the submitted applications at the beginning of April and preliminary funding decisions are expected to be made by the end of that month.
Water rates
Directors adopted water rate increases previously recommended at a Jan. 14 infrastructure services committee meeting.
The rate increases approved for the regional water service area (with the exception of North and South Pender Harbour, and Hopkins Landing) for 2016 are 1.17 per cent for residential parcel taxes, 3.71 per cent for residential user fees and 1.33 per cent for metered usage fees.
Directors also adopted rate increases of four per cent for the North and South Pender Harbour water service areas.
Ferry vouchers
The SCRD board asked for a report outlining what kinds of BC Ferries travel vouchers are available in an effort to see who can access the vouchers and for what purposes.
The request came forward after board members debated the merit of asking BC Ferries to open up the travel voucher program to children involved in arts and culture activities that take them off-Coast.
Currently youth involved in sports and Cadet activities off-Coast appear to be making use of the vouchers, but directors were unclear whether arts and culture groups could apply.
The vouchers offered by BC Ferries cover the full cost of travel for youth between the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver.
Financial award
The SCRD will once again be the recipient of a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting for their financial report of the fiscal year ending on Dec. 31, 2014.
Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell noted the honour was one that has been awarded to the SCRD “year after year after year.”
Pender Harbour director Frank Mauro said the board was “appreciative” of the “excellent work” of the corporate and administrative service department that has resulted in several awards over the years.
