By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
Valemount Council discussed new fire safety requirements, adopted a bylaw establishing Councillors’ salaries for the next year, and discussed potential new fees for short-term rental owners during their October 22nd regular meeting.
Mayor Owen Torgerson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council moved to make two amendments to the agenda: the staff report on Fire Safety Act requirements was replaced with an updated version that names a nominee for the role of Fire Inspector and Fire Investigator, and a letter from the Village of McBride was added. Council then adopted the minutes of the October 8th regular meeting.
Fire Safety Act requirements
The Provincial Fire Safety Act, which introduces new fire safety regulations for local governments, took effect on August 1st. The act required local governments to appoint a fire inspector and fire investigator by October 28th. Fire inspectors regularly ensure buildings have appropriate fire safety mechanisms, such as clear emergency exits, while fire investigators work on an as-needed basis to investigate the cause of fires, according to CAO Anne Yanciw.
Staff recommended appointing Dean Schneider, who has been the Village’s building inspector for over a decade, and a building inspector for the Regional District since 2016.
Council moved to follow staff’s recommendation. The financial implications of appointing Schneider are still unclear, Yanciw said, as it is not certain how many weeks he will work per year. For more information on the fire inspector position, read our story in this week’s issue.
Tax Exemption Bylaw
Council adopted the 2024 Tax Exemption Bylaw, which establishes property tax exemptions for local nonprofits. The bylaw includes a 25 per cent exemption for the Legion Branch 266, Valemount Curling Club, Valemount Learning Society, Valemount Lions Club, and the Valemount Affordable Rentals Society. It also includes a 100 percent exemption for the Valemount Senior Citizens’ Housing Society building on Ash Street, and the Robson Valley Community Services building on 5th Avenue.
Council Compensation
Council adopted the 2024 Council Remuneration Bylaw, which establishes the compensation the Mayor and Councillors will receive in 2025. According to Yanciw, Council considers increasing remuneration each year, with a recommendation to align increases with the Consumer Price Index, a Statistics Canada tool that calculates inflation.
The Mayor’s compensation will be about $23,161 next year, a $674 difference from the current amount of about $22,487. Councillors will receive about $11,899 in compensation, a $347 difference from the current $11,552 amount.
Short-term Rental Fees
Staff recommended increasing fees associated with short-term rentals to pay for the resources needed to ensure compliance with new provincial regulations on short-term rentals.
Staff recommended increasing the home-based business license from $25 to $50 and the short-term vacation rental license from $100 to $150.
Additionally, bed and breakfasts were reclassified as minor rentals – rentals where only one room or a small portion of a residence is rented, rather than a whole building – under Valemount’s zoning bylaws. As such, bed and breakfast operators will have to pay the same $100 licensing fee as minor rentals. Because bed and breakfasts now fall under the umbrella of minor rentals, staff recommended deleting the bed and breakfasts fee section of the fees and charges bylaw.
The Village allows residents to rent a 20×20 foot tent for outdoor activities at $100 a day, which staff recommend increasing to $200 a day to pay for a new, larger tent.
Additionally, staff recommended adding a clause to provide Village facilities and equipment for free during emergencies, such as when the Community Hall was used as a reception centre for Jasper evacuees.
Council moved to give first and second readings to the bylaw.
Forest Industries Convention
The BC Council of Forest Industries, an organization representing lumber, pulp and paper, and manufactured wood producers throughout B.C., emailed the Village to announce that its annual general meeting will be held in Prince George from April 2nd to April 4th, 2025. This year’s meeting will focus on competitiveness and sustainability in the forestry industry, according to the email.
Councillor Donnie MacLean, who represents Council on the Valemount Community Forest board of directors, asked for financial support to attend the meeting. According to Yanciw, councillors must ask for financial support before travelling, and draw from pooled funds to pay for the trip. Council approved MacLean’s request.
Youth Parliament subsidies
Council received a letter from the Youth Parliament of British Columbia Alumni Society informing them that the BC Youth Parliament will hold its annual meeting in Victoria from December 27th to the 31st. The meeting acts as a mock parliamentary session, allowing members to pass bills which legislate community service projects which participants undertake over the next year.
The deadline for youths to apply is November 1st, and accepted applicants are required to pay a $455 registration fee, according to the letter.
Councillor Pete Pearson asked if Council could subsidize the registration costs if a Valemount student is accepted into the organization.
Torgerson asked Director of Finance Lori McNee how registration costs were subsidized last year. McNee said she believes the Village subsidized costs up to $250.
Pearson moved to subsidize the $455 fee for one student. Council approved his motion.
“It’s an outstanding program,” Torgerson said. “Should we learn of any interested student, there is also the Northern BC Youth Parliament, which is also very cool.”
Tax increase for Rec Centre
In August, the Regional District board of directors gave third reading to a bylaw which would allow a 25 per cent increase in how much Valemount residents can be taxed to fund the Canoe Valley Recreation Centre. 25 per cent is the maximum requisition increase that the Regional District can adopt at one time. Because the increase would impact Valemount residents, consent from the Village is required before the Regional District can officially adopt the bylaw.
Currently, the maximum average Recreation Centre tax on the average Valemount home value is $109.53. If passed, the bylaw will raise this maximum to $136.91.
“Unfortunately, the way the process works is that it’s done every five years,” said Pearson. “But it’s definitely a necessary facility in our community that we need to support people.”
Torgerson said doing incremental increases over several years, rather than adopting large increases every five years, could be discussed with the Regional District at a later date.
Council unanimously approved a motion to consent to the requisition increase. Stay tuned to The Goat for further updates on the requisition increase.
Letter of support for McBride
McBride CAO Jeanette McDougall wrote the Village of Valemount to request a letter of support for a grant application. The Village of McBride is applying to the Local Government Development Approvals Program, a grant administered by the Union of BC Municipalities that provides funding for municipalities to review their building permitting processes. McBride hopes to use the grant to streamline the Village’s development approvals process.
According to McDougall’s letter, the Village’s grant application has been approved in principle, and requires a letter of support to complete the application process.
Council moved to provide the letter of support.
In-camera
Torgerson adjourned the regular meeting at 7:20 p.m. In accordance with Section (1)(d) of the Community Charter, Council moved to a closed meeting to discuss matters related to the security of the property of the municipality.
