By Andrea Arnold
McBride’s Village Council meeting held on June 19th, 2024 resulted in motions made regarding Canada Day celebrations, request for an orange crosswalk, a proposed Village of McBride domestic water upgrade and exemption, and a building facade grant.
McBride Mayor Gene Runtz called the Council meeting to order at 6:00pm. He began the meeting by going over the introduction of late items that included a letter of support request from Craig Pryor on behalf of the McBride Community Forest Corp and a call for meeting requests and topics at the upcoming UBCM. He also added one more subheading to the in-camera portion of the meeting.
Additional in-camera item added to the agenda was (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed revisions of a municipal service that are in their preliminary stages, that in the view of the Council could reasonably be expected to harm the interest of the municipality if they were held in public.
Struck from the agenda were two items pertaining to a request for assistance from Tabatha Reis for the Little Munchkins Daycare Society. No reason was given for the removal.
Also removed was in-camera subtopic (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality.
Summer art project
Dannielle Alan presented to Council on behalf of the Whistle Stop Gallery. She requested Council consider granting permission to the summer students to paint the unpainted fire hydrants around town. They will stick to a friendly animal theme and the projects will be worked on when time permits. Without putting it to a vote, Council responded favourably but that it will have to be added to the agenda for an upcoming meeting.
Canada Day Celebration
Council approved all requests from Linda Fry on behalf of the McBride and District Chamber of Commerce. First, Council confirmed the attendance of Mayor Runtz and Council at the 2024 Canada Day Celebrations. They also approved a $250 grant-in-aid to help support the celebrations. Lastly, Council agreed to the Chamber’s request to use the Steve Kolida Park pavilion power during the event.
UBCM Planning
Council received for information and discussion, Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs 2024 UBCM Convention meeting requests.
Council received for information and discussion, Honourable David Eby, Premier’s request for a meeting with himself, the Provincial Cabinet Ministers and the Minister of Municipal Affairs at the 2024 UBCM Convention.
Council received an invitation to schedule appointments in the Provincial appointment Book and Meeting requests with Provincial Ministries, Agencies, Commissions and Corporation staff at the 2024 UBCM Convention.
Orange crosswalk request
Following a short discussion, the motion regarding a request from Jodie Lukow, McBride Centennial Elementary and McBride Secondary School Indigenous Education Worker, was amended. She had requested an orange crosswalk be painted neary the Elementary School in recognition of September 30th National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Councillor Joe Kolida said that the Transportation Association of Canada has rules about only painting white crosswalks for safety. He made the motion, and Council passed it, to look into other ways to acknowledge the day.
Breakfast invitation
Council passed the motion to accept the invitation to the 11th Annual Resource Breakfast Series September 17-19.
Water system upgrade proposal
Council directed staff to provide a letter of support of McBride community Forest Corp to Shawn Rice, District Manager, regarding a proposed Village of McBride domestic water upgrade and exemption.
The letter that accompanied the proposal states that the Village of McBride has requested the McBride Community Forest harvest an area directly adjacent to Dominion Creek for the purpose of constructing a water reservoir to increase holding capacity.
Statement of Financial Information
Council approved the 2023 Statement of Financial Information report as presented. This report is an annual requirement by the Province of British Columbia to be completed by each municipality by the end of June.
Building facade grant
Council awarded a grant from the Village of McBride Business Facade Improvement Program to Tanya and Joseph Rich for 50 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $5,000 for facade improvements at 1098 Frontage Road.
In Camera
Council voted to move to an in-camera meeting for consideration of matters of the Community Charter related to Section 90 (1) (c) labour relations or other employee relations, (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality, (i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose and (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed revisions of a municipal service that are in their preliminary stages, that in the view of the Council could reasonably be expected to harm the interest of the municipality if they were held in public.
