Council Highlights – April 2026
Council Highlights offer a summary of key decisions made by Council that help shape Castlegar’s future. They’re designed to keep you informed about important initiatives, policy updates, and the progress of City priorities. This is part of our commitment to transparency and helping residents stay connected to the work of Council.
DELEGATION
Castlegar Queen Committee
The Castlegar Queen Committee introduced Council to the 2026 Miss Castlegar candidates. Each candidate gave a brief presentation to introduce themselves and share more about their interests, goals, and involvement in the program.
📺 Watch the presentation at the 00:00:30 mark
DISCUSSION & DECISIONS
Appointment of the 2026 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel and Scheduling of the Parcel Tax Roll Review Meeting (Report No. 26-28)
Council approved appointment of the Director of Finance & Technology, Manager of Financial Services, and the Chief Administrative Officer or their designates to the 2026 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel, and established the date and time of the 2026 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel meeting to be Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
📺 Watch the original presentation from March 23 at the 00:20:11 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Rescinding Harassment Policy No. 5-5 (Report No. 26-31)
Council approved the rescinding of Harassment Policy No. 5-5 from the City of Castlegar Policy & Procedures Manual.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 7 at the 00:29:21 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Request for Proposal 2026-02 Professional Tree Care Services (Report No. 26-27)
Council approved a recommendation to award Request for Proposal 2026-02 for Professional Tree Care Services to Glacier Valley Tree Care for a five-year term and directed staff to execute the necessary documents.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 7 at the 00:42:34 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
City of Castlegar Setting of 2026 Tax Rate Classes Presentation
Council received a presentation from Chris Barlow, Chief Administrative Officer, and Steffan Klassen, Director of Finance & Technology, on tax classification and mill rates. Council approved a long-term taxation objective to gradually achieve a target mill rate of 3:1 tax between residential (Class 1) and commercial/business (Class 6) tax classes over a period of 7 years, starting in 2027, and that Major Industry (Class 4) tax class contribute no more than 30% of the overall municipal portion of property tax revenue. These targets will be reviewed annually, with staff directed to implement them through future tax rate proposals and bylaws for Council consideration.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 13 at the 00:01:36 mark
Transport Canada Airport Capital Assistance Program Grant – Runway Sweeper (Report No. 26-33)
Council endorsed an application to the 2026 intake of the Transport Canada Airport Assistance Program (ACAP) for up to $700,000 in funding to support the purchase of a new runway sweeper for the West Kootenay Regional Airport.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 20 at the 00:07:06 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Control and Sheltering Agreement Extension (Report No. 26-32)
Council considered a recommendation from the Manager of Legislative Services to authorize a three-year agreement extension with the British Columbia Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals for animal control and licensing services, including an annual cost of living increase equal to the Consumer Price Index. The recommendation will be brought forward for Council’s consideration at the May 4, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 20 at the 00:23:39 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Alternative Municipal Tax Collection Scheme – Three Month Deferral of Property Taxes for Major Industry (Class 4) (Report No. 26-35)
Council considered a recommendation from the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of Finance & Technology to establish an alternative municipal tax collection scheme for 2026, including a revised tax due date of December 30, 2026, representing a six-month deferral from the standard July 2, 2026 due date. The recommendation will be brought forward for Council’s consideration at the May 4, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 20 at the 00:33:00 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
BYLAWS
Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Roll Bylaw No. 1452 (Report No. 26-28)
Council adopted Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Roll Bylaw No. 1452, a bylaw to direct the preparation of a parcel tax roll for the purpose of imposing a parcel tax for storm water management.
📺 Watch the original presentation from March 23 at the 00:20:38 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 1453 (Report No. 26-28)
Council adopted Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 1453, a bylaw to establish and impose an annual Parcel Tax to fund Storm Water Management Service.
📺 Watch the original presentation from March 23 at the 00:20:38 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 1454 (Report No. 26-28)
Council adopted Storm Water Management Parcel Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 1454, a Bylaw to provide an exemption from storm water management parcel taxes.
📺 Watch the original presentation from March 23 at the 00:20:38 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
2026-2030 Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1455 (Report No. 26-30)
Council adopted Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1455, a Bylaw to establish a financial plan for a period of five years.
📺 Watch the original presentation from March 23 at the 00:37:28 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
2026 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1456 (Report No. 26-34)
Council gave First, Second, and Third Readings to 2026 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1456, a Bylaw for the levying of property taxation rates of municipal and external taxing authorities for 2026. The bylaw will be brought forward for Council consideration of adoption at the May 4, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 20 at the 00:29:16 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
Alternative Municipal Tax Collection Scheme Bylaw No. 1457 (Report No. 26-35)
Council gave First, Second, and Third Readings to the Alternative Municipal Tax Collection Scheme Bylaw No. 1457, a Bylaw to establish an alternative municipal tax collection scheme. The bylaw will be brought forward for Council consideration of adoption at the May 4, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.
📺 Watch the presentation from April 20 at the 00:33:01 mark 📄 Read the Staff Report
COMMUNITY
Request to Illuminate the Kinnaird Interchange Overpass – Prostate Foundation Canada
Council approved a request to illuminate the Kinnaird Interchange Overpass lights in blue on September 7, 2026, in recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Request to Illuminate the Kinnaird Interchange Overpass – World Sepsis Day
Council approved a request to illuminate the Kinnaird Interchange Overpass lights in pink on September 13, 2026, in recognition of World Sepsis Day.
Millennium Park Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Information
Council received for information correspondence regarding information for the request for the placement of an AED in the Millennium Park Area Concession.
📺 Watch the discussion from April 20 at the 00:16:00 mark
RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED
At the April 7, 2026, Regular Council Meeting, Council adopted recommendations brought forward from the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 23, including:
- Approval of a 2.1% increase to the exempt staff compensation grid for 2026, in accordance with Policy Directive 4-8. The same 2.1% adjustment was also approved for rates and stipends paid to members of the Castlegar Volunteer Fire Department Members.
To learn more about the background of the adopted recommendations and to watch the related discussions, residents can review the March 23, 2026, Council Highlights.
Want to catch up on Council meetings?
Visit castlegar.ca/council to watch meetings and see all the presentations.
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