The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the August 15 District of Sparwood council meeting.

BYLAWS

Officers and Officials Bylaw

The Officers and Officials Bylaw No. 1310, 2023 was adopted by council. Changes add more clarity to provisions to ensure payroll compliance, to formalize current work practices and to support staff retention and recruitment.

BUSINESS

Development Variance Permit 405 White Birch Crescent

Council authorized staff to issue notice to affected properties of the Development Variance Permit application at 405 White Birch Crescent. The applicant is requesting to build a garage that would require an encroachment into the required 1.52m side yard setback of 0.6m and would require alternative construction. This permit will be brought to an informal public hearing and then at the regular meeting of council immediately following for consideration.

Policy Review – Phase One

The Corporate Services Department undertook a review of current policy documents for the District of Sparwood. Phase One was to determine the policies that were either redundant or no longer relevant.

Council rescinded the following policies:

• Adopt a Planter Program;
• Budget Process;
• Capital Projects – Research by Staff;
• Contribution to RRSP/Bonds;
• District Logo/Mascot: Elkwinkle;
• Emergency Personnel;
• Financial Disclosures;
• Financial Information Act;
• Fire Department Summer Standby;
• Interim Financial Reporting;
• Joint District Social Club;
• Monitoring Telephone Calls;
• Non Grievable Complaints;
• Procedure (Council through CAO); and
• Staff Members – Community Group/Executive Involvement.

Housing Action Plan

A Housing Action Plan was developed to enable the District of Sparwood to apply for the Housing Accelerator Fund Grant. The grant is a program that was introduced in the 2022 Federal Budget with allocations of $4 billion until 2026-2027 with the intent to speed up housing supply in Canada and improve housing supply moving forward. Council approved the plan and grant application.

Teck Ground Water Monitoring

Council authorized staff to issue a land use permit to Teck Resources Ltd. to expand their current ground water monitoring program within the district. The current land use permit between Teck and the District of Sparwood allows for the drilling and monitoring of one well on Red Cedar Drive. The expansion involves five district sites and two private sites, each with two wells, across various locations within the municipality. The program is projected to last two to three years with an opportunity to extend dependent on results. The permit will have a fee of $1000 per annum per well, along with shared data, consistent with the terms of the existing permit.

Elk River Bank Stabilization

Council approved an additional $200,000 to be allocated from the Growing Communities Fund to complete the Elk River Bank Stabilization project. The project is needed to stabilize the bank by the pedestrian bridge which hosts critical infrastructure. The total estimated cost of the project is $903,000 with $703,000 being covered by a UBCM grant.

COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE

Council Remuneration

The Council Remuneration Bylaw was discussed by the Committee-of-the-Whole regarding benefits and ways to attract a wider variety of candidates. The bylaw will be reviewed in full in 2025.

UPCOMING DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETINGS

Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 5 in Council Chambers (136 Spruce Avenue) at 6 p.m. Socio-Community and Economic Effects Advisory Committee Wednesday, September 6 at 6 p.m.

Youth Advisory Commission Meeting Tuesday, September 12 at Sparwood Secondary School (101 Pine Spur Dr) at 11:30 a.m.

Lead image: The Elk River Bank Stabilization Project location – south embankment of the pedestrian bridge on Lower Matevic Road. District of Sparwood image

District of Sparwood

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