City of Castlegar Council Highlights - June 13, 2022
By City of Castlegar
Community Events
Council received an update from Deb McIntosh of the Castlegar & District Heritage Society, regarding the 2022 Canada Day event, sponsored by the City. The event will take place Friday, July 1 downtown Castlegar and includes a market, BBQ and cake, live music, and games for kids, young and old. Stay tuned for more details on the City’s Facebook page.
Grant Applications
Council approved applying to the Strategic Priorities Fund, delivered through the Canada Community-Building Fund in British Columbia, for:
- up to $6 million to support proposed developments to West Kootenay Regional Airport terminal building and airport access improvements; and
- up to $360,000 to support liquid waste management planning.
Art Gallery & Housing Project Memorandum of Understanding
Council received a draft Memorandum of Understanding for the Art Gallery and Housing project located at 310 Columbia Avenue and 1225 3rd Street (old Eremenko Building) outlining initial roles and responsibilities for the parties involved. This will be considered for adoption at the June 27, 2022 Regular Council Meeting. This is an important step in a project which puts the City’s planning into action by supporting its Downtown Area Plan and Housing Strategy.
Annual Report
The City of Castlegar’s 2021 Annual Report is available at castlegar.ca or at City Hall. Council will consider the 2021 Annual Report at its June 27, 2022 Annual Meeting at 7 p.m. at City Council Chambers. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting or share feedback or questions before June 27 to ooladele@castlegar.ca or 250 365 7227.
Property Maintenance Bylaw Enforcement
Council approved completing remediation work at 2309 11th Avenue, a property deemed unsightly, before June 30, 2022 because the City has not been able to secure voluntary compliance with Property Maintenance Bylaw 1120.
Equipment Purchase
Council authorized the purchase of a Trackless MT7ACPV Off-Road Vehicle from Kendrick Equipment for a total value of $149,999 plus taxes. This equipment is vital to City operations with its versatility performing a wide range of tasks for our Civic Works department, including sidewalk sweeping and snow blowing.
Municipal Boundary Expansion For Selkirk College
Council received a report seeking approval to proceed with the restructuring of municipal boundaries to incorporate lands owned by Selkirk College. When planning for an expansion of student housing at the Castlegar campus, Selkirk College commissioned an engineering report that deemed the on-site water supply insufficient and unreliable, and in need of costly upgrades to serve any expansion or growth of the College infrastructure. At that time, the province encouraged the College to seek alternatives for water supply. Following an investigation of options for alternative servicing, the province advised the College to request to connect to nearby City services. Connecting to the City’s services requires a municipal boundary extension. This report will be considered for adoption at the June 27, 2022, Regular Council Meeting.
Council Remuneration Committee Recommendations
Council received a report from the Council Remuneration Committee which reviewed and made recommendations regarding the Mayor and Council stipends, expense allowances and other benefits. In preparing the recommendations, the Committee reviewed expense and indemnity bylaws from other municipalities within our region. Council supported amending Council Indemnity Bylaw 835 to increase the Mayor’s annual remuneration from $32,000 to $36,000, and Councillors’ annual remuneration from $16,000 to $18,000, effective November 7, 2022. These amounts are below the average of comparable municipalities. This will be considered for adoption at the June 27, 2022 Regular Council Meeting.
Compensation Adjustment
Council received a report regarding a two per cent compensation adjustment to the exempt staff compensation grid, as specified in Administrative Staff Compensation Policy 4-8, and the Castlegar Volunteer Fire Department stipend. This Policy 4-8 stipulates that the annual cost of living adjustment be applied and that the adjustments be based on the average annual change from comparable municipalities. This report will be considered for adoption at the June 27, 2022 Regular Council Meeting.
Development Variance Permit
Council considered Development Variance Permit 1/22 (3213 5th Avenue) to permit a 15.3 metre (50.2 ft.) frontage and lot width, rather than the 18.0 metre (59.1 ft.) minimum specified in Zoning Bylaw 800 to allow subdivision to create one additional lot. The subdivision would result in each of the lots having a width and frontage that is less than required in the Single Residential Zone (R-1) of Zoning Bylaw 800. The former single-family dwelling was destroyed by a house fire and has since been demolished. This report will be considered for adoption at the June 27, 2022 Regular Council Meeting.
Development Incentives Program
Council gave First, Second, and Third Reading to Development Cost Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1380 – Repeal Bylaw No. 1389 due to an error with the Bylaw Schedule. A new amending Development Cost Charges Bylaw will be brought forward for readings at the June 27, 2022 Regular Council Meeting.
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