At the recent Peace River Council meeting, several key developments were addressed:
– **Bylaw No. 2174**: Council approved the first reading of this Meeting Procedures Bylaw, aiming to clarify procedural guidelines and integrate updates from the Municipal Government Act.
– **Land Use Bylaw Refresh**: Alisha Mody presented a report summarizing community feedback on proposed changes. While most suggestions received strong support, areas like storage containers, landscaping, and RV parking regulations prompted further review to better align with community needs.
– **Arboretum Revitalization**: The newly formed Arbo Revitalization Society plans to enhance Peace River’s Arboretum with infrastructure upgrades, including power installation and improved signage. A Memorandum of Understanding is being drafted to define roles and responsibilities.
– **Financial Performance Review**: Director Sam Mugford highlighted significant financial improvements from 2021 to 2024, notably reducing net financial debt from $21.4 million to $5 million and increasing net surplus from $4.5 million to $19.3 million.
– **Organizational Changes**: Council approved converting a casual Customer Service Representative role to a full-time position and adding a permanent full-time Community Peace Officer to enhance enforcement capabilities.
– **Manufactured Home Taxation**: Administration was directed to draft a bylaw addressing challenges in collecting property taxes from manufactured home residents, with current arrears totaling approximately $19,000.
– **Peace River Nuclear Project**: Council will submit feedback to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada regarding the proposed nuclear project, focusing on potential impacts on transportation, housing, and recreation.
These initiatives reflect Council’s commitment to community development, financial stewardship, and responsive governance.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
