By Andru McCracken
Valemount Council held its regular meeting on December 8 and the meeting began with a presentation from Penni Adams of the Northwest Invasive Plant Council.
Mayor Owen Torgerson said council would discuss funding the Northwest Invasive Plant Council’s work during its budget deliberations in January.
Supporting seniors
Council decided to write a letter of support to the Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society in support of their application to BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund. Councillor Pete Pearson excused himself for the discussion because of a conflict of interest. Pearson is a member of the society.
Condoms and menstrual products
Councillor Sheri Gee noted a request in the reading file from AccessBC.
“I just wanted to mention the UBCM resolution support about providing access to menstrual products in the washrooms of municipal facilities and condoms in municipal facilities, I’m wondering if we can look into that as how can we be supportive of that going forward,” said Gee.
Gee moved to have staff look into it, Pearson seconded it. The motion passed.
COVID Banners
Council had asked staff to consider purchasing COVID-19 Banners for streetlight standards and placement around town, staff advised against it as being expensive and potentially irrelevant.
“Staff has the ability to perform a robust communications campaign that will be as effective as signs and banners at the gateway to the community and along 5th Ave,” said CAO Wayne Robinson in his report.
Council received the building inspectors report.
Daycare lease
Council chose to renew their lease with the Valemount Children’s Activity Society for a term of five years, and also send them a letter.
Lift station grant or no grant
Council approved funding the entire cost of replacing the Dogwood Lift Station from the Northern Capital Planning Grant. They have applied for a major infrastructure grant worth more than $1.3 million, but even if that isn’t successful, they plan to forge ahead.
“This replacement is essential and planned to begin next spring. In the event the Green Infrastructure – Environmental Quality Sub Stream funding is denied, staff are requesting that council approve the use of the Northern Capital Planning Grant for the remaining cost of the project,” read the staff report.
The entire project is worth $1,876,940
Council appointed Eugene Jamin, Meg Aspey, Valerie Kerr and Graham Winsor to a two year term on the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiative Program Adjudication Committee.
Seniors on Ash Street
Council gave the final reading to changes to the Official Community Plan and the Zoning bylaw to allow for a seniors residence on Ash.
Fees and Charges
Council gave final reading to an amendment that will increase water, sewer and garbage rates by 3 percent.
Development Procedures
Council gave first and second reading to an amendment to their Development Procedures Bylaw.
The most notable amendments include:
Advertising public hearings on the village website and notification boards at least 10 days prior to a public hearing. Delivering notifications via mail to all parcels within 100m of the subject property. Having a specific location for notifications and radius of adjacent properties included ensures all notifications of Public Hearings are completed in the same manner.
In-Camera
Council went In-Camera to discuss the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.
