The District of Sechelt voted to increase the amount of money available for economic development projects at their March 16 council meeting.
A motion coming out of the committee of the whole meeting asked that $100,000 be set aside in the 2011 budget for economic development, but some councillors argued they wanted community benefit reserve funds used for economic development requests. That fund sits at $221,000 and any requests to use it must come to council to be decided upon.
"The intent of the motion was actually that it not increase the possible limit, but that council be given the opportunity to review any funding requests that might come through us for community economic development funds," said Coun. Keith Thirkell.
Other councillors felt the new motion was not as concrete as the one coming from committee that said $100,000 would be used for economic development in 2011.
"When you compare the original one which really definitely says this council would like to put $100,000 into economic development, that's nice and solid and then you change it and you don't put any number, you don't make any commitment. I don't like this replacement," added Coun. Ann Kershaw.
Although under the new recommendation a specific amount was not earmarked, it is evident that more money could potentially be used for economic development in 2011 by tapping into the community benefit reserve fund.
"I think in a way it has potentially opened up a larger opportunity, but clearly delineates the fund from which those requests would be made to," said Coun. Warren Allan. "So I think there's a greater opportunity here, but the fact it identifies where those funds would be coming from I think fulfills the purpose."
When the vote was called councillors Kershaw and Alice Lutes were against the new motion, as was Mayor Darren Inkster. However, their votes were not enough to stop the recommendation from passing resulting in $221,000 being made potentially available for economic development projects in Sechelt this year.
Local governments on the Sunshine Coast are getting together Apr. 18 to consider economic development options, including the idea of expanding Best Coast Initiatives, the joint government/private sector economic development group working in the Gibsons area.
