Cariboo RD Board Highlights - Oct 18th, 2024 mtg

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD):

Invasive Species Council presents its hit list for invasive species

Gail Wallin of the Invasive Species Council of BC presented to the Board about the invasive species management priorities for the Cariboo Chilcotin, along with their own community education and outreach activities in the region. Species of high concern included:

• Black Henbane (Early Detection and Response designated)
• Blueweed
• Burdock
• Spotted Knapweed
• Orange Hawkweed
• Hoary Alyssum
• Yellow Flag Iris

Other species of concern flagged included feral pigs (reported sitings in the Cariboo), and invasive fish species such as goldfish (abandoned as pets into watersheds) and small mouth bass (illegally introduced for recreational fishing) which present hazards to the sustainability of lake and stream ecosystems.

Tatla Lake Community Hall Solar Panels

$28,000 has been committed towards installing solar panels at the Tatla Lake Community Hall. This funding comes from a $150,000 allocation of the CRD’s share of Community Works Funds, targeted at community hall energy efficiency and water conservation projects. Electricity generated by these solar panels will lower the carbon footprint of the building and reduce operating costs, freeing up funds for other projects at the hall.

UBCM CRI Application for Fire Departments

The CRD will be asking for more funding for its 14 volunteer fire departments from the Province of BC’s Volunteer and Composite Fire Departments Equipment and Training grant. The CRD is applying for up to $40,000 for each fire department for firefighting equipment (such as Self-Contained Breathing Appratus, hand tools, or turnout gear) and specialized training. In 2024, the CRD successfully obtained $358,000 for a variety of equipment, which helped reduce the costs of operating the department to the communities they serve.

UBCM CRI application for FireSmart

A funding application will be made to the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program expand the Cariboo Regional District’s FireSmart programs and actions in 2025. In 2024, the Cariboo Regional District launched a FireSmart Education program, focused on meeting with residents and communities to highlight the importance of FireSmart principles and practices, and how to incorporate them into how we manage our properties. This year’s request includes continued funding for a FireSmart Educator position and the development of Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans (CWRPs) for Electoral Areas D, E, F, G, H, and L. This will position the CRD to access future funding for FireSmart initiatives.

Emergency Management Strategic Plan approved

The Board has approved a new Emergency Programs Services Strategic Plan to guide how the CRD governs and manages emergency operations going forward. The Strategic Plan was developed following major legislative changes caused by the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, BC’s new framework for emergency management by local and provincial authorities. Recommended actions that are part of the plan include pursuing regional partnerships to maximize organizational capacity and financial resources, adapting the program to new legislative requirements, and restructuring the staffing of the Emergency Program Services department to better reflect the emergency management needs of the region.

Emergency Notification System usage defined in policy

The CRD has formalized how it will use its emergency notification system under a new policy statement. The CRD will remain committed to using the notification system to spread information about CRD actions to protect life-safety of residents, including evacuation alerts and orders, boil water advisories, and shelter-in-place notifications. However, the CRD will not use the system to broadcast notifications from other authorities, such as air quality advisories, burning prohibitions, or critical service disruptions. Residents in the Cariboo-Chilcotin can sign up to receive emergency notifications online through the CRD’s website: www.cariboord.ca/emergencynotification

Upcoming Meetings:

Nov. 6 @ 9:30 a.m. – Finance-Budget Committee

Nov. 6 @ 3:00 p.m. – Central Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus

Nov. 7 @ 9:30 a.m. – CCRHD/CRD Board

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

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