North Coast Regional District members met in mid January for their first session for 2024 and from that gathering some concerns on communication services for the North Coast and Haida Gwaii became topics of note for the Directors.
The fist items of note to that theme, was the ongoing challenges for CityWest and their Fibre connection link with Haida Gwaii, service had been interrupted since before the Christmas holidays following damage to their fibre line between the North Coast and the Islands. The issue is one that the Board Members will be taking up with Lisa Beare the BC Minister of Citizen's Services.
The Board resolved to write a letter to the Minister of Citizens' Services, copying the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry and CityWest to outline concerns from Haida Gwaii residents regarding disruption of their internet services as a result of damage to CityWest's subsea fibre-optic line due to the crab fishery.The CityWest fibre issues have made for some controversy in the region following a recent CityWest update that attributed the damage to what CityWest called unsanctioned fishing activity.
January 25 -- CityWest points to unsanctioned crab fishery as cause of recent fibre breaks affecting service to Haida Gwaii
December 28 -- CityWest awaits break in adverse weather to explore Haifa Gwaii sub sea fibre issue and make repairs
Also of concern for Regional District are some Service interruptions for Marine Communications and Traffic Services from the Coast Guard, an issue that they will take up with two Federal Cabinet Ministers.
The Board has also notes that it has updated its Travel and Other Expenses policy.
Also of interest is the ongoing work on Reimbursement for officials some committee work that has been led by Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
No details towards those initatives were outlined in their information release of January.
The Regional District talking points from their January session can be reviewed here.
The Regional Directors also noted that they have begun their work on their 2024 Budget planning, the first session having taken place in mid January.
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| The future home for North Coast Regional District on Second Avenue West |
Among the items of note from the financial planning is the work required on their new offices on Second Avenue West in Prince Rupert, a report for the Board providing a look at how they may want to address the cost towards the $434,605 for repairs for the building.
The Regional District Board announced their plans to move to the new Second Avenue West location in the fall of 2023.
The report also observes that Regional District has engaged the services of Boni Madison Architects towards plans for renovations on what they note will be the tenant side of the building, with a cost estimate for that work still to come.
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| click on above to enlarge |
How they plan to finance those renovations will be determined as part of this month's Budget planning session.
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| click on above to enlarge |
Towards their Financial planning for this year, Regional District members will host their next round of Budget discussions on February 10th, a third round of meetings is scheduled for March 6th, the Budget process should be concluded by March 15th
You can follow Regional District's work on their Budget planning from this link to their website, which lists the agenda items up for review.
The next Regular Board meeting for Regional District takes place on Friday February 9th one day before their Second round of Budget meeting.
More notes from North Coast Regional District can be reviewed from our archive page.
730 2nd Ave was purchased for $740 000 (well over assessed value) and now you have to go to the MFA to pour another $750 000 into repairs?
ReplyDeletePer diem increases, why not.
This is the transparent government work we all like to see.
That's a lot cheaper than McCarthy's .
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