Valemount Council discussed their 2023 audit, reviewed an updated design for the entrance sign on 5th Avenue, and repealed a bylaw allowing RVs to be used as residences on lots in the village during their May 14th meeting.
Mayor Owen Torgerson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Village Audit
Council received two delegations. The first was from Corey Naphtali, a Lead Engagement and Audit Partner for accounting organization KPMG. Each year, local governments must have their financial statements audited by an independent auditor, who then presents their audit opinion to the government’s council or board. Then, the government provides a copy of the statements to the Inspector of Municipalities by May 15th.
Naphtali said the Village’s financial statements are clean and in adherence to Canadian public sector accounting standards. He gave an overview of how the Village’s 2023 financial statements compare to the 2022 statements.
The total financial assets for the Village have decreased, from $25.7M in 2022 to $25.2M in 2023. However, the Village’s financial liabilities have also decreased, so the Village’s net financial assets came out to roughly $22M in 2022 and 2023. He also gave a breakdown of the revenues and expenses the Village accrued in both years.
Torgerson asked how the public transportation service costs – which were about $606,000 in 2023 – were calculated, as Valemount does not have public transit. Naphtali said the wages and other costs associated with the Public Works department, including road maintenance, building maintenance, and airport maintenance are covered under the public transportation section.
Torgerson thanked Naphtali for his presentation, and Council moved to receive the delegation.
Recycling Interruptions
Naphtali’s delegation was followed by a presentation from Laura Zapotichny, General Manager of Environmental Services for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Zapotichny gave updates to the District’s plans for its recycling services, as recycling for non-cardboard items will be unavailable from May 31st until early fall.
Read more about Zapotichny’s presentation in this week’s issue.
Once Council moved to receive Zapotichny’s delegation, they moved on to administrative reports.
Quarterly Report
Council reviewed their second-ever quarterly report after staff introduced the format in February. It provides an overview of data on the Village’s operations, including bylaw contraventions, water use, and permits issued, among other things.
Asset Management Plan Grant
The Village is currently following an Asset Management Plan developed in 2020. Staff are seeking to apply for a grant which would help fund the creation of an updated capital plan, which would include more up-to-date infrastructure costs and identify capital projects for the next five to ten years.
The Union of BC Municipalities offers an Asset Management Planning program which can fund the development of asset management plans. Village staff sought approval to apply for a $25,000 grant from the program, which would cover half the estimated cost of developing an updated plan.
Council unanimously approved the request.
Entrance Sign contract
The current entrance sign at the corner of 5th Avenue and Highway 5 is rotting and may obstruct drivers’ field of vision, so Council contracted Image Signs to create new potential designs. Council chose a design at their February 13th meeting, but staff had concerns about whether the sign’s height could accommodate commercial vehicles. Staff sent the design to the Ministry of Transportation for review and incorporated the Ministry’s suggestions into the new design.
Council approved staff to enter an agreement with Image Signs to build an entrance sign based on the new design, estimated to cost a little under $233,000. The current sign will be replaced in late summer or early fall of this year, according to the staff report.
Water Service extension
Ray Smith and Jessica Hammerstrom operate a bed and breakfast in their home just outside of village limits. Their current water source is a shallow well on their property, but it is difficult and expensive to maintain, according to the letter they sent to Council. Smith and Hammerstrom asked if it would be possible to tap into the Village’s water line instead, which runs in front of their property.
Staff recommended that Council deny Smith and Hammerstrom’s request. Fulfilling the request would require lots of time and resources, according to the staff report: for example, inspectors would have to determine the risk of contamination from the nearby well, and a meter would have to be installed to track the property’s water use and charge fees accordingly. The Village has denied similar requests for the same reasons, the staff report says.
Council unanimously decided to deny the request.
Parking Recommendations
In January, Valemount Council approved for the Traffic and Transportation Committee to investigate establishing an Active Transportation Route on Karas Drive, which would allow pedestrians and cyclists to use the drive. The Committee asked consulting firm Urban Systems for feedback on the proposed Active Transportation Route and reviewed its recommendations during an April 10th meeting.
The Village will likely not continue pursuing an Active Transportation Route as Urban Systems said the road would be difficult to adapt safely for pedestrians and cyclists. However, Urban Systems recommended installing signage to discourage parking on Karas Drive.
In keeping with this recommendation, the Committee asked Council to investigate placing “No Parking” posts on the curb in front of Petro Canada, and to approve painting “No Parking” on the retaining wall in front of the Valemount Vacation Inn.
Council unanimously approved both requests.
Five-Year Financial Plan
Each year, the Village submits a financial plan for the current fiscal year and the following four fiscal years to the Province in accordance with the Local Government Act. Council gave first and second readings to the plan on March 26th, and third reading on April 23rd.
Council unanimously approved adoption of the plan.
Tax Rate Bylaw
In accordance with the Community Charter, before May 15th of each year, Council must pass a bylaw establishing the tax rates upon which property taxes are based. Because Valemount collects taxes for the Regional District and Fraser-Fort George Hospital as well as general municipal taxes, the bylaw includes rates for all three taxing authorities.
Council gave the bylaw first, second and third reading at their April 23rd meeting. Council unanimously adopted the bylaw at their May 14th meeting.
Public Notice Bylaw
As previously covered in The Goat, the Village is preparing to adopt a Public Notice Bylaw that would establish methods of notice for public hearings and meetings. To comply with provincial legislation, local governments must have two methods of notice listed in their Public Notice Bylaw.
The Bylaw names the Village website, Facebook page, and the digital and print editions of The Goat as its methods of public notice. Having methods other than The Goat will improve the Village’s flexibility in proceeding with matters requiring notice, as the Village will be able to give notice even when newspaper advertising is not available, according to the staff report.
Council unanimously approved third reading of the bylaw.
Temporary Structures Bylaw Repeal
During construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, Valemount saw an influx in recreational vehicles (RVs) on lots as workers struggled to find housing. Council adopted a Temporary Residential Structures Bylaw to govern where RVs could be established.
Because more housing is available within the village since completion of the pipeline, and because RVs do not meet the BC Building Code requirements for a permanent residence, staff recommended the repeal of the Bylaw.
Council unanimously approved repealing the Bylaw. RVs can no longer be used as permanent residences in the village, and Bylaw Enforcement will begin working to ensure RV users have appropriate permits.
Upper Columbia Reservoir Updates
Torgerson said BC Hydro has been keeping water levels in the Kinbasket reservoir steady over the past five weeks, according to the company’s weekly Upper Columbia reservoir updates.
Invasive Mussel Defence
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship sent Torgerson a letter announcing new funding for the Invasive Mussel Defence Program. BC Hydro has committed $900,000 each year for the next five years to the Program, and the BC Wildlife Federation, Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation collectively contributed $150,000. Torgerson said the Program is receiving support from many organizations.
Valemountain Sports Days
The Valemount Community Sport Days Association is holding this year’s annual Valemountain Days festival from June 7th to 9th. President Laura Keil wrote a letter requesting approval of road closures and use of the sportsgrounds to hold the festival.
Torgerson said Council delegated the authority to approve road closures to Public Works about six months ago.
Public Comment
Resident Junior Osadchuk asked how much funding the Village has received from water, sewer, and garbage fees, as he was unable to read those numbers on the slideshow for the KPMG audit presentation. Torgerson said the reserve funds from water use were $2.4M, and around $4.1M for sewer funds.
In-Camera
Torgerson adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. Pursuant to section 90 (1)(d) & (e) of the Community Charter, Council moved to an in-camera session to discuss matters related to the security of the municipality’s property, and the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land.
