Too expensive to harvest timber in NRRD

Jack Stevenson,  Community Development and Planning Director, reported to council on the community forest application. Areas have been identified around the community that could sustain an annual cut of between 20,000 cubic feet and 59,000 cubic feet.  However, the feasibility report updated in May of this year notes that the operation of the community forest near Fort Nelson is not economically viable at this time. The viability of a community forest is negatively impacted by the lack of a local log market, poor regional markets, long distances and resultant high transportation costs;  the operation of a community forest near Fort Nelson would result in a loss of approximately $38.60 per cubic metre harvested and delivered to Fort St. John.

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This roughly equates to delivered log costs that are 190% greater than Canfor’s Fort St. John’s current delivered log cost,” Stevenson said.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality will complete its community forest application package when market conditions improve.
Jaylene Arnold, Economic Development And Tourism Officer reported on an application to be submitted to the Northern Development Initiatives Trust for $25,000 to support the implementation of the airport parking program phase 1 to 3.
The council is proposing to implement dangerous or noxious goods parking policy to update its present traffic by law. New policy has been drafted to address new issues the proposed policy, it is similar to the existing one, but will be clearer for truck drivers who will be able to see which areas are signed and not signed and allow greater flexibility to respond to land-use changes.
If the proposed policy is adopted, signage will be erected in areas that have been identified as having a higher potential of health and safety risks associated with the parking of dangerous goods. tanker truck parking is prohibited in most of the residential areas but is allowed on 50thAvenue North and South several roads intersecting with these where tanker truck parking is regulated, by ticket complaints only. New legislation will prohibit dangerous goods parking on 50th Avenue South and in front of the Fort Hotel.  during the adoption of the official community plan in August 2011council agreed production of the target of six percent per capita in greenhouse gas emissions from 2007 to 2020.
In order to assist in achieving this goal it has applied for $18,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipality Fund to enable it to create a energy management plan at a total cost of $36,000. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of energy conservation in the community;  and to draw attention to the greenhouse gas emissions inventory and how energy is being consumed in the community and to identify long and short-term actions local government policies and community partnerships .  Ross Coupé, deputy corporate manager, has recommended changes to the proposed general bylaw enforcement policy , and ways to improve this by law.The goal of municipal bylaw enforcement is not to penalize the citizens of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality all visitors to our community, but to achieve compliance through education and the provision of information in order to preserve the quality of life which each citizen is entitled, “ the policy states. (This will be good news for the vet whose sled dogs where penalized and fined for illegal pooping while parked on 50th Avenue.)
The municipality is proposing to purchase a bucket truck it is a 2007 Ford F50, fully certified for use in with the purchase price of $53,385 plus tax.  Scott Barry,  Director of Public Works recommended the purchase and offered these answers to questions raised by council. “Speedometer isn’t an issue, it is marked in both MPH and KPH Unit has just been inspected and approved for use in BC, which will fit in perfectly with our other vehicle annuals hereon Cold weather Vehicle is equipped with a block heater Hydraulic oil will be switched out to our lighter w eight/synthetic oil before winter Hydraulic oil heaters not required or desired.”

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