Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On November 27, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.

Councillors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain, Sandra Roberts and Steven Royer were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.

An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.

WildSafeBC Kimberley-Cranbrook

Danica Lisk, WildSafeBC Community Coordinator, presented council with a report on the organizations activities over the past year.

She told council that WildSafeBC is the “leading organization working to prevent wildlife-human contact.” This work is designed to help make Kimberley a “bear smart” community.

A wide range of activities were undertaken this past year. They include the Wildlife Ranger Program, community group presentations, door hanger/brochure delivery, and display booths. In total, these education programs reached 1,791 residents.

WildSafeBC also conducted 11 garage bin tagging outings that covered 61 bins that were not set out on the curb at the proper time, which is the morning of collection. Lisk reported that “91% of the residences whose bins were tagged during the initial survey were not found on the curb again during the second survey.”

Summarizing the campaign, she said, “There wasn’t as many repeat offenders, so education is getting out there.” She noted that it was mainly “newer people to town who were not aware of the bylaw on when to set out garbage.”

In terms of bear sightings, Lisk said, “We did not have as many bear reports this last year.” Only “85 sightings” were reported this year.

Lisk updated council on the bear hazard assessment which focuses on identifying and mapping all the “attractants in the community.”

High risk neighbourhoods include Upper and Lower Blarchmont, Chapman Camp, Creekside Trailer Park and north Marysville. She wants residents to keep in mind that Wildsight volunteers will remove fruit from trees on their property free of charge.

Finally, Lisk noted that empty bear spray canisters can be disposed of at the Kimberley Home Hardware store. Canisters will then be take them to the Cranbrook transfer station for proper disposal.

Sewer, Waterworks and Solid Waste Rates Rise

Chief financial officer and deputy chief administrative officer Jim Hendricks requested council approve a five per cent increase in the sewer rates for 2024. The increase covers two per cent inflation with the remaining three per cent being allocated to help increase reserve funds for future use.

In terms of sewer costs, “The financial impact to a single-family dwelling [would be a] $5.46 increase per quarter,” he said. This results in the quarterly fee increasing from $109.74 to $115.20, adding $108,000 to sewer revenue.

As for waterworks rates, Hendricks said, “Similar to sewer rates we are proposing a five per cent increase in water rates this year (2024).” The quarterly fee will rise by $6.21 from $124.11 to $130.32, which leads to a revenue increase of $122,520 starting next year.

He also said that the bulk water rates would “increase 15%.” He noted that Teck and RCR are the biggest bulk water users. RCR uses water for winter snow making and summer watering at Trickle Creek Golf Course.

Hendricks also presented council with a request to adjust fees associated with solid waste, which includes refuse collection along with recycling and composting.

Since composting was only introduced in August 2023, Hendricks suggested that fee, which is $50 per year, remain the same until a full year of data is collected “allowing for an analysis of the actual cost of providing the service.”

The yearly refuse collection fee will increase by $1.44 from $43.84 to $45.28. The recycling fee will decrease $1.08 from $11.04 to $9.96.

Hendricks told council the decrease in the recycling fee is “primarily the result of an anticipated increase to the Recycle BC incentive which funds approximately 81% of the overall cost of the service.”

Growing Communities Fund Reserve

Krista Waite, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, presented council with a request to establish the Growing Communities Fund (GCF).

Waite told council the GCF is part of a provincial government initiative to “increase the local housing supply with investments in community infrastructure and amenities.”

Kimberley’s share of these provincial funds came to “just over $3.4 million,” said Waite.

She told council the funds need to be “set aside in a specified reserve fund.” All interest from the fund must be “tracked and allocated back to the reserve.”

The bylaw stipulates how the money “can be used.”

Mayor McCormick asked what “time frame” the funds have.

Waite answered, “The province expects the funds to be used within a five year period.”

Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: December 11. It will be the last meeting for the year.

e-KNOW file photos

e-KNOW

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