Directors endorsed a provincial referral for a private moorage on Keats Island, clearing the way for its construction.
Directors voted that they had “no objections to the proposed moorage” at the Jan. 10 planning committee meeting. Those comments will be forwarded to the forests and lands ministry, which oversees developments.
The moorage would be located on the south side of Plumpers Cover and service two private upland strata lots in the New Westminster District, which have two dwellings, with two more dwellings planned.
The lots are primarily accessed by water and the moorage would be used year round.
During the discussion, West Howe Sound director Mark Hiltz asked whether the moorage would contain polystyrene. Staff said the detail was not included in the referral package and that because the area isn’t within SCRD’s planning area, the district does not include conditions referencing “best management practices” in its referral comments.
Land use planning is managed by the Islands Trust, while the SCRD’s interests in the area are limited to services, such as parks and building inspections.
SCRHD chair elected
Halfmoon Bay director Lori Pratt is the new chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional Hospital District (SCRHD) Board. She was elected by acclamation at the Jan. 10 SCRHD board meeting – the first one held since the civic elections last October. Elphinstone director Donna McMahon was elected vice chair, also by acclamation. Pratt gave two short “whoops” following the election of chair and vice chair.
Child care grant
Directors voted to support the District of Sechelt’s application to a child care program to address child care needs across the Coast. The program provides up to $25,000 for each participating local government to create a child care plan that would establish how many spaces are needed in the region and an inventory of current spaces and facilities.
During the meeting, chair Lori Pratt asked whether School District No. 46 has been involved because of prior planning conducted by the district. Sechelt Mayor Darnelda Siegers confirmed that was the case.
Conflict of interest
Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize recused himself from a vote by SCRD directors to avoid a conflict of interest. The vote would decide whether to hire Summerhill Fine Homes to conduct preventive maintenance on SCRD’s nine ports.
“I am currently working with Summerhill Fine Homes, the applicant, and have a fiduciary conflict of interest regarding that,” he said when asked by Coast Reporter about the nature of the conflict.
The contract would see the company conduct inspections, slip guard repair/replacement, nail setting, power washing, signage replacement and painting. Some major and emergency repairs may also be approved by the district if needed.
The three-year contract is worth up to approximately $223,000 with a renewal option for two additional years. To pay for the contract, the SCRD would have to increase its ports budget by $30,000 paid for by taxation.
Summerhill was the only business to place a bid. Directors voted unanimously to award the contract the business.
