Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On December 8, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting. The last for 2025.

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

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

OCP Alignment with House Needs Study – Public Hearing

Council held a public hearing into changes to the OCP and zoning bylaws that would see them aligned with the city’s housing needs study and the provincial governments housing requirements.

Council heard from three presenters via video link and one in-person participant.

The three online presenters all focused on the “group home” component of the Zoning Bylaw change. All three were in favour of the proposed changes that would allow group homes in various areas around the city.

Leanne Vaughn, an occupational therapist, said she was “not aware of any negative impact on communities where they (group homes) are located.” She added there was a “shortage of beds locally,” which meant that many people who require a group home placement were sent away from their families.

Similar comments were made by the other two online presenters who noted that group homes should offer a “safe, nurturing and therapeutic environment.”

The in-person presenter focused on their perception there was a lack of public consultation and information on the process regarding OCP changes.

In terms of public engagement, the city dedicated a project web page, held two public open houses along with a public survey as part of the first phase of consultation. The second phase of consultation consisted of another online survey and town hall meeting. All the feedback was factored into the proposed bylaw changes.

Council discussion focused mostly on the group home issue.

Mayor McCormick, Coun. McBain and Roberts were concerned about council being removed from the decision-making process as to where these types of home would or should be located.

With three different votes, one on OCP change, one on Alpine Resort zoning changes and one on the general city zoning, the first two passed unanimously. The third passed, but Mayor McCormick, Coun. McBain and Roberts voted against the general zoning changes to allow group homes throughout the city.

Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Update

Nik Morissette, Senior Manager Operations, reported to council on the latest development on the WWTP project.

He noted that work on-site in October and November consisted of road safety improvements, asphalt and structure removal, excavation for building foundations and the clearing of grass and topsoil in preparation for pipe laying.

Morissette told council the city is working with the provincial government to get construction approval early in 2026 with an “early April planned construction start date.”

Detailed design is also underway that will lead to the “final project cost,” which currently sits at $90.57 million.

Responding the Mayor McCormick’s question about the operational start date, Morissette reported the target date would be “summer 2028.”

Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m.

The next regular council meeting: January 12, 2026.

e-KNOW file photos

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