Council Highlights – November 18, 2024
Mayor and Council are responsible for setting the tax rate, approving the City’s budget and determining overarching service levels. Below are the highlights from the latest Council meetings, summarizing recent actions and outcomes.
Delegation – British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA)
Danielle Jackman, Branch Manager, and Sue Johnson, Animal Control Officer with the BC SPCA West Kootenay branch, provided Council with an overview of the organization, including updates on services delivered over the past year. Their presentation highlighted 2023 statistics, programs, and services offered in the region.
2025 Celebrate Canada Program
Council approved staff’s recommendation to submit a funding application for up to $15,000 to the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Celebrate Canada Program to support the 2025 Canada Day celebrations. This annual event at Millennium Park & Ponds features food vendors, entertainment, music, family activities, and an outdoor movie.
Alternative Approval Process Results – West Kootenay Regional Airport Apron Rehabilitation & Taxiway Extension Project
The City obtained elector approval through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to fund the West Kootenay Regional Airport Apron Rehabilitation and Taxiway Extension Project. This allows the City to proceed with Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1423, which permits the City to borrow up to $1,380,000 for a maximum term of 30 years to support this critical infrastructure improvement.
The Alternative Approval Process, conducted in accordance with Section 86 of the Community Charter, closed on November 12, 2024.
The certified results were as follows:
- Estimated number of eligible electors: 6320
- Number of Elector Response Forms submitted by the deadline: 3
- Number of Elector Response Forms rejected: 0
- Number of valid Elector Response Forms accepted: 3
Less than 1% of eligible electors submitted valid opposition forms, so the approval threshold of 10% was not met, and elector approval was obtained.
The project enhances the airport’s operational capacity, improves safety standards, supports regional connectivity, and ensures that the West Kootenay Regional Airport continues to serve as a vital transportation hub for the region.
Review of Best Practices for Dog Parks – Millennium Park & Ponds
Council reviewed a report from the City’s Planner, which outlines best practices for managing off-leash areas and proposes potential actions to address concerns raised by neighbouring property owners about the dog parks at Millennium Park & Ponds.
Following the presentation, Council directed staff to develop cost estimates for:
- Implementing a fun and friendly educational program on dog behaviour for park users (potential action from the Best Practices)
- Creating etiquette guidelines through community engagement (potential action from the Best Practices)
- Installing self-locking gates for the fenced dog park and the 5th Avenue entrance
- Dog park signage, and,
- Increased enforcement
These cost estimates will be presented for Council’s consideration during the 2025 budget discussions.
2025 Regular Council Meeting Schedule
Regular Council Meetings are scheduled for the first and third Monday of each month, with the exception of July and August, when only one meeting per month is scheduled. 2025 meetings have been scheduled to avoid statutory holidays, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention May 31 – June 2, 2025.
Council adopted the Regular Council meeting schedule for 2025:
Monday, January 13
Monday, February 3
Tuesday, February 18 – (Feb. 17 BC Family Day)
Monday, March 3
Monday, March 17
Monday, March 31
Monday, April 14
Monday, May 5
Tuesday, May 20 – (May 19 – Victoria Day)
Monday, June 9
Monday, June 23
Monday, July 14
Monday, August 11
Tuesday, September 2 – (Sept. 1 Labour Day)
Monday, September 15
Monday, October 6
Monday, October 20
Monday, November 3
Monday, November 17
Monday, December 1
Monday, December 15
City Hall Office Holiday Closure
Council authorized the closure of City Hall to the public on Monday, December 23, Tuesday, December 24, and Friday, December 27, 2024. As in past years, the City Hall closure will not impact Civic Works operations, including snow clearing or emergency operations.
Bylaw
In response to obtaining elector approval, West Kootenay Regional Airport Apron Rehabilitation & Taxiway Extension Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1423 was adopted.
Want to catch up on Council meetings?
Visit castlegar.ca/council to watch meetings and see all the presentations.
Communications