Board Meeting - November 2021 Highlights

Aimee Watson and Walter Popoff return as Chair and Vice-Chair of RDCK Board of Directors

The RDCK Board acclaimed Area D Director Aimee Watson as the Chair of the Board of Directors for 2022. Watson has served as the RDCK Area D Director since 2014 and enters her fourth term as Chair.

As well, the RDCK Board re-elected Area H Director Walter Popoff as Vice-Chair for 2022. Popoff has served as the RDCK Area H Director since 2008 and enters his third term as Vice-Chair.

The Board Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve a one-year term.

RDCK adopts vaccination policy

The RDCK Board adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy is an enhanced safety measure with the objective of mitigating the potential for spread of COVID-19. All employees and fire service volunteers must provide proof they are fully vaccinated by December 3, 2021 or they will be required to meet enhanced safety measures to be able to work inside at any RDCK worksite (facilities, offices, fire departments).

The policy balances the diverse needs of RDCK employees and the community, but ensures nobody will lose their job based on their decisions or personal situations related to vaccination.

Regional FireSmart Program

The RDCK Board endorses the application made to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Resiliency Investment Program in order to operate a Regional FireSmart Program in 2022. The total amount of the grant request is $603,225. The funds will go towards providing a strong and robust FireSmart program, hire a wildfire mitigation specialist to deliver the FireSmart and Neighbourhood Recognition programs, coordinate and participate in community FireSmart resiliency committees, and provide wildland firefighter training to RDCK regional fire services.

The Board also approved the commitment of $20,000 to the Regional FireSmart Program from Rural Administration.

Respectful Behaviour Bylaw

The RDCK Board direct staff to prepare a bylaw for Respectful Behaviour for all RDCK worksites, including engagement with RDCK workers performing their duties on private property and at public meetings.

Over the last 20 months there has been an increase in the number of incidents involving members of the public behaving inappropriately. Incidents range from vandalism to violence to harassment; incidents that jeopardize the safety and well being of residents, visitors and RDCK staff.

The goal of this bylaw is to ensure better service and a safe, healthy, respectful environment for residents that used RDCK facilities. It will also allow the RDCK to fulfill its obligation to provide a workplace that is free of violence, bullying and harassment.

Recreation Commission No.10 Funding

The RDCK Board direct staff to repeal and replace Portion of Electoral Area E (Recreation Commission No.10) Recreational Program Bylaw to increase the annual requisition limit for the service area. Currently taxation generates only $1,000 for recreation in Procter, Harrop, Balfour and Queens Bay. The annual requisition limit for the service area will increase to $0.0757 per $1,000 assessed value, which will fund expanded recreation programming in the service area. Approval for the taxation increase will be sought by the alternative approval process as outlined in the Local Government Act. This process will allow the residents affected by the taxation increase to provide their input to the RDCK.

Click here for a print-friendly PDF version.

The content on this page was last updated November 24 2021 at 6:16 AM