Council highlights at a glance for May 19

Council approved a six-month Open Streets Pilot Project which will allow businesses to expand into available open spaces on their own property or city-owned property to support physical distancing and COVID-19 business recovery.

Council approved accepting online credit card payments to provide an additional option that does not require in-person interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. When paying online via credit card, a service fee, which varies depending on type of card used, will be charged.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the City increased the base monthly water consumption for residential users from 30 – 40 cubic meters from March – May. Council discussed extending this until September but voted to stick with regular rates because the extension only provides minimal relief to taxpayers and could reduce the City’s revenue by $34,000 to $40,000.

Council discussed the possible extension of the City’s Urban Hen Pilot Project for single-dwelling, residential properties. The discussion will now be referred to the Advisory Planning Commission and the City is now seeking feedback from the public through the public hearing process.

Council reviewed a report on the lessons learned from the Columbia Avenue Phase 1 project and asked staff to develop a policy focussed on financial controls on major capital projects.

Council reviewed the summer maintenance schedule for parks and recognizes that service levels will be reduced as the result of not hiring summer students due to COVID-19. Council appreciates the hard work of the parks crew and understands the temporary decrease in services will be difficult to see for this crew and the community which take so much pride in beautifying our public spaces.