Wednesday, April 29, 2020 – 4:30pm

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE #31 – CITY OF NELSON  

City of Nelson’s Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan:

Community Support Pillar 

The Mayor and Council’s Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability 25 Point Action Plan focuses on three pillars: 1) Financial Plan, Fees & Taxation, 2) Economic Stimulus Program and 3) Community Support. Council released details of the Financial Plan, Fees and Taxation pillar on Monday, April 27^th and will be releasing details of the Economic Stimulus Program on Thursday, April 30^th. 

Today, Council released details of the Community Support pillar. Under this pillar, Council is thoughtfully responding to what has been heard from the Nelson community, including local businesses. Council is using its available financial tools to enhance the provincial and federal government relief packages for businesses and residents.

Council’s Community Support program includes:

• Adoption of the provincial property tax framework.
• Promotion of the provincial residential and business property tax deferral program.
• Waiving certain fees and penalties and extending due dates for Water & Sewer and Nelson Hydro bill payments.
• Creating repayment plan options for those facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
• Waiving all fees and charges relating to commercial outdoor patios, sidewalk rentals and business signage for 2020.
  

To read the full City of Nelson media release, visit: https://www.nelson.ca/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=438

Province Announces 2 Week Extension to State of Emergency in BC

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General extended the Provincial State of Emergency in B.C. through the end of the day on May 12, 2020. Premier Horgan made the official announcement today during a press briefing.  The Province also indicated it would be providing a BC framework for the “new normal” and latest modelling on Monday, May 4th.

To view full media release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EMBC0022-000783

FireSmart Principles / Free Tipping for Yard and Garden Waste at Grohman Transfer Station 

Nelson Fire & Rescue Services would like to remind the community that even though we are in the midst of a pandemic, wildfire season is still fast approaching. It is important to apply FireSmart principles at this time of year by keeping cedars, junipers, bark mulch, firewood and other combustibles at least 1.5 meters away from all structures. Following FireSmart principles can significantly reduce the impacts of wildfire to your home and property. It is important to know that 90% of structures lost in a wildfire are due to embers travelling up to 2kms from the fire. So what you do now, will help to protect your home when fire season arrives. 

There are other important FireSmart actions residents can take to reduce risk to their homes. To learn more:  https://firesmartbc.ca/resource/firesmart-activities-you-can-do-while-youre-at-home/ 

To assist residents in FireSmarting their property, the Grohman Narrows Transfer Station is accepting yard and garden waste free of charge until the end of May.  The RDCK’s website sets out the following guidelines for yard and garden waste drop off:

The free yard & garden tipping programs in the West and Central sub-regions have the following guidelines:

• Residential loads equivalent to one pick-up truck bed (less than 2.5m3) can be deposited at transfer stations.
• Free tipping of commercial loads of Y&G waste and loads larger than one pick-up truck bed is only available at landfills.
• All yard and garden waste must be secured while being transported, must be tipped as loose material, and any bags must be emptied and removed by customers.
• Yard and garden waste means biodegradable, organic materials, substances or objects including, but not limited to: hedge clippings, weeds, shrubs, and shrub and tree branches less than 15 centimeters (6”) in diameter, chipped.

Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey will be 1st Youth Sports to Re-start

The BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) and Sport BC have joined forces to create a new task force that will work with health officials and provincial sport organizations to put forward guidelines that could allow the return of some athletic activities this spring and summer. Only outdoor sports are being considered for this first phase, with the priority being to open up summer sports camps for kids. The most likely sports to launch first are soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. The second phase will see the re-introduction of indoor sports, and the third phase will be the new normal, for which there are no details at the moment. 

To read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/return-to-sport-safely-covid-19-coronavirus-1.5547778

The BC Government has provided the following information today:

COVID-19 Case Statistics: 

• Total cases in BC to date: 2087
• 811 in Vancouver Coastal Health
• 941 in Fraser Health
• 120 in Island Health
• 169 in Interior Health (Increase of 1 in 24hrs)
• 46 in Northern Health
• Total fatalities in BC to date: 109  (Increase of 4 in 24hrs)
• Total new cases in BC: 34
• Total who have fully recovered: 1305
• Total cases in Canada to date: 50,363
• Total fatalities in Canada to date: 2,904