From the Bear Pit
Regional Council Meeting News
April 25, 2022 Regional Council Meetings
NR Tourism Strategy Priority Actions for Year 1 Budget Approved
A new 5-year Tourism Strategy was approved by Regional Council in January of 2022. This report outlines the prioritization of year 1 actions from the strategy to be completed within the $50,000 Tourism Strategy Implementation budget.

Council approved the action plan in attachment 1, which is organized by status and then by the Tourism Advisory Committee's recommendation for priority.

  • Many of the actions in year 1 can be considered "business as usual" and do not require specific planning or budgeting.

  • Two actions have been completed. The initial marketing plan and destination tourism brand were add-ons to the Tourism Strategy and are available as appendix A of the strategy.

  • Two actions are in process and do not require budgetary support, the Tourism Advisory Committee terms of reference review and downtown revitalization assessment/planning
DVP No. 22-01: 4501 - 55 Street (Wide Sky Disposal) Approved
The Development Variance Permit (DVP) application to vary Section 3.7.2 of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 to allow an Accessory Building to be sited in the front of the Principal Building located at 4501 - 55 Street was initiated March 28, 2022 . Notice to adjacent property owners has been provided to all owners of within a 110m radius of the subject property.

The Development Variance Permit Application No. 22-01 was approved on the condition that the paving deposit will be reassessed prior to the issuance of a Building Permit and that an additional paving deposit may be required. Additionally, an off-street parking plan that meets the minimum requirements of section 4 of the Zoning Bylaw will be required prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Hospice Awareness Month - May 2022
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has proclaimed May 2022 as Hospice Awareness Month in the Northern Rockies.

Hospice Awareness month is focused on raising awareness of community involvement and recognizing that everyone should have access to quality end-of-life care. The Fort Nelson Hospice Society is comprised of many volunteers who provide direct and indirect care services to individuals living within the Northern Rockies. The Society, seeks to ensure that hospice clients and their families are integrated and receive quality care, and believes that this can be achieved through commitment, awareness and partnership.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 202, 2022: 4804 - 50th Avenue N (Dowd)
For several years the former service station property located at 4804 - 50 Avenue N has been vacant while undergoing remediation. The Ministry of Environment issued a remediation Certificate of Compliance on December 3, 2014.

A developer has expressed interest in constructing a 4,833 sq. ft. (449m2 ) national tenant-owned restaurant and drive-through business. The property is currently zoned as Service Station Commercial (C-6). As a restaurant and a drive-through business are not permitted in the C-6 Zone, a zoning amendment application ia being submitted requesting rezoning of the property to Highway Commercial (C-2), which would permit the development of a restaurant and a drive-through business as a principal use. Highway Commercial Zoning (C-2) is consistent with other local restaurant and drive-through businesses.

A pubic hearing and public notification prior to adoption of a Zoning Bylaw is required in accordance with the Local Government Act. A public hearing concerning Zoning Amendment Bylaw 202, 2022 will be held on May 24th, 2022.

Also of note
NRRM Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw
NRRM Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 203, 2022 was given three readings. The Community Charter requires a municipality to annually adopt a financial plan before the annual property tax bylaw is adopted.
NRRM 2022 Tax Rates Bylaw
The 2022 budget was approved in principle at the Regional Council Meeting held March 10, 2022, and the 2022 tax levy amount is determined by this, and used to set the taxation rates for the various property classes.The NRRM 2022 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 204/22 was given three readings. The Community Charter identifies the requirement to impose property tax rates after adoption of the financial plan.
Correspondence
From: Susan Mulkey, BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA)
Re: Pricing Policy for Community Forests
The BC Community Forest Association is seeking municipal support to maintain the exitsing tabular stumplage rate for community forests.Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) members are asked to pass resolutions of support and to move it through the proper channels to UBCM before the deadline. Regional Council resolved to support the request.

From: Moose Hide Campaign
Re: Invitation to Mayor and Council
Council is invited to learn more about the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led, British Columbia-born, reconciliation movement that calls upon all Canadians to stand together to end violence against women and children.

The Moose Hide Campaign is setting out a challenge to municipal leadership to join the rapidly growing number of municipalities across British Columbia that are embracing the Moose Hide Campaign as one way of advancing reconciliation and creating safe communities, by proclaiming May 12, 2022 as Moose Hide Campaign Day. Council resolved to support this request.

From: Mike Bernier, MLA - Peace River South
Re: Public Engagement Notice Boreal Caribou
The public engagement portal on the draft Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan (BCPRP) is now live and will remain open until May 20th. This plan details recovery goals and objectives, outlines management actions to make progress on those goals and objectives, and details an adaptive management framework to inform monitoring, evaluation and future decisions.

From: Lorence Forsberg, Chair - Fort Nelson First Nation/Northern Rockies RM Community Forest General Partner Corporation
Re: Stumpage Policy for Community Forests In B.C.
Community forests community initiatives, increase local employment, innovate in forest management and develop our local, small and rural communities. Municipal support is requested as these goals would be challenged if stumpage rates intended for larger commercial objectives were applied to community forests.

To: Leanne Heppell, Executive VP & Chief Ambulance Officer - BC Emergency Health Services
Re: Ad Hoc Air Ambulance Services for the Northern Rockies
For many years, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) has advocated for and strongly supported having a locally based ad hoc air ambulance service provider. Villers Air Service has entered into a service agreement to provide these services. Unfortunately we've been advised that BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) will not be utilizing the local ad hoc service provider given Fort Nelson paramedics have not been provided the required training to provide patient care on an aircraft. Villers Air has been in touch with BCEHS’ Patient Care Delivery team, receiving a response that neither
assured priority nor likelihood that the training would soon be offered to Fort Nelson paramedics.
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality www.NorthernRockies.ca