Landscape

Board Highlights - March 1, 2024

This edition of Board Highlights includes items from our February 9, 2024 meetings.

2024 CRD Financial Plan to become bylaw

The Board has approved the Regional District’s 2024-2028 financial plan after considering final changes and public commentary received. The total budget stands at $69,811,626, with the total tax requisition set at $32,731,823 (increase of $2,898,543 over the 2023 requisition).

The Board reviewed the results of public feedback on the budget, with 377 people participating in the feedback survey. The Board considered comments and feedback submitted for the north, south, and central areas of the Regional District, noting that more than half of all participants identified as being from the South Cariboo (Areas G, H, L, and the District of 100 Mile House). Board members will continue reviewing feedback received.

CCRHD budget adopted with no change to tax rate

At its February 9, 2024 meeting, the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District adopted its financial plan for the period from 2024-2028. This plan authorizes money to be collected and spent on improvements to healthcare facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. Notably, the CCRHD property tax rate will remain fixed at $75 per $100,000 assessed residential value. This level of taxation and use of funding from capital reserves will be able to fund the CCRHD’s current financial commitments, including the Cariboo Memorial Hospital expansion.

NCLGA Resolutions

The Board has turned its eye towards advocacy priorities with provincial policies. Several resolutions were approved by the Board to be referred to the North Central Local Government Association and Union of BC Municipalities for consideration. The resolutions call for changes to federal and provincial policies such as:

Ensuring that federal and provincial funding is provided when drinking water quality standards are revised and require community water systems to issue water quality advisories;
Implementing a fireworks sale ban when an area is impacted by open burning restrictions;
Collaborate with regional districts to develop better emergency management rules that respect and consider their unique jurisdiction and powers.
Changing the name of the Union of BC Municipalities to reflect and include regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, and indigenous governing bodies.
Ending the Agricultural Land Commissions’ notice of intent requirements for secondary residential structures.
Proposing amendments, with the City of Williams Lake, to provincial funeral service laws to permit the Alkaline Hydrolysis process.
Acting on the Office of the Senior Advocate’s recommendations to improve service delivery to seniors in rural communities.

These resolutions will be considered and voted on by the North Central Local Government Association at its next annual general meeting on May 13-16 in Smithers.

$150,000 grant requested to support zoning and land use bylaw updates

The Regional District will be applying for up to $150,000 in funding from UBCM to support the consolidation of its zoning and land use bylaws. The 2024 Planning Services business plan includes undertaking a consolidation project to result in a single zoning bylaw for the regional district. The Cariboo Regional District currently has three Zoning Bylaws and three Rural Land Use Bylaws which govern land use. A major benefit of this project would be the ability to have one common map for the regional district’s zoning bylaw, and replacing an online data base with a digital map available online. This would also significantly increase efficiency and reduce risk for error for both responding to inquiries and processing planning applications.

Proposed telecommunications tower in Chilanko Forks agreed to

A proposed telecommunications tower in Chilanko Forks crossed a regulatory milestone, with the Board concurring with Telus’ proposed location for a tower. The proposed site is located on Crown Land north of Chilanko Forks, and is an alternate site to one initially proposed prior to public consultation. Once completed, the tower will significantly improve cell coverage along Highway 20.

Upcoming Meetings:

Mar. 11 @ 11:00 a.m. – South Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus

Mar. 11 @ 12:00 p.m. – South Cariboo Joint Committee

Mar. 12 @ 3:00 p.m. – North Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus

Mar. 12 @ 5:30 p.m. – North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee

Mar. 21 @ 9:30 a.m. – CRD Committee of the Whole

Mar. 22 @ 9:30 a.m. – CCRHD / CRD Board

See the full CCRHD and CRD agendas and minutes at cariboord.ca/agendasminutes.