Council Highlights - September 7
- Ed Grifone of CTQ Consultants presented the 2021 Castlegar Downtown Area Plan which creates a framework for improving the economic vitality and attractiveness of the City’s downtown core, guides growth and development, and establishes a vision to encourage and foster the development of a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and economically resilient downtown core. The Plan, which will be reviewed for final adoption at the September 20 Regular Meeting, includes these key findings:
- Need to attract more residential development and people into the downtown
- Need consistent and modern design guidelines
- A vibrant downtown core benefits everyone, including businesses in other areas of the City
- Council considered providing financial contributions to community groups hosting public Thanksgiving events rather than hosting its own Giving Thanks event. The following contributions will be reviewed for final adoption at the September 20 Regular Meeting:
- $1,100 to the Community Harvest Food Bank, Drop-In Center and Emergency Shelter
- $300 to Kootenay IRIS (Increasing Recreation Involving Seniors)
- $300 to the Way Out Shelter
- $300 to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 170 Castlegar/Robson
- Council approved grant funding to the following:
- $500 to Castlegar Girls on Boards for their 2021 End of Summer Skate Jam
- $500 to Castlegar Skating Club for the 2021 West Kootenay Invitational tournament
- $250 to Kootenay Robusters Dragon Boat Team for their breast cancer awareness calendar campaign
- $250 to Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce for the 2021 Business Awards
- Council agreed to light the Kinnaird overpass green the week of October 6 in recognition of World Cerebral Palsy Day.
- Council considered Development Permit Application DP-2/21 – 1101 2nd Street which is intended to support the construction of a care facility and 8-unit multi-family development on a City-owned lot located at 1101 2nd Street in partnership with Kootenay Society for Community Living, Columbia Basin Trust, and BC Housing. This will be considered for final adoption at the September 20 Regular Council Meeting.
- Council considered Development Variance Permit Application DVP-5-21 - 2808 1st Avenue to vary the rear lot line setback of a single-family dwelling at 2808 1st Avenue from 7.5 metres, as required under the Single Residential (R-1) zone of Zoning Bylaw No. 800, to 4.5 metres to allow a subdivision to proceed. This will be considered for final adoption at the September 20 Regular Council Meeting.
- Council approved a cost-sharing and latecomer agreement with the owner of the land located at 111 11th Avenue for extended services that will benefit the City and other parcels of land.
- Council adopted Memorial Cemetery Amendment Bylaw 1360 which includes revisions to prices, products and services.
- Zoning Amendment Application R-4/21 – General Amendment Emergency Housing was adopted.
- Council agreed to extend the Lucas Road Water System Servicing Agreement with the Regional District of Central Kootenay for an additional five-year period ending November 30, 2026.
- Council approved adjusting the stipends paid to the Castlegar Volunteer Fire Department Members and exempt staff compensation grid by 2% to reflect the Administrative Staff Compensation Policy,