Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On September 9, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.

Councillors Kyle Dalum, Kent Goodwin, Nigel Kitto, Jason McBain and Darryl Oakley were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Councillor Sandra Roberts was absent.

Advisory Committee Appointed for Youth Action Network

Council voted to appoint nine residents to the KYAN Advisory Committee. Their term will end June 30, 2020. The committee is composed of:

Jenn Meens, representing Selkirk Secondary School;

Jaimee Pichette, representing Kimberley Independent School;

Stacey Decosse, representing McKim Middle School;

Thea DePaoli, youth representative;

Ken Bibby, representative from the Community-at-Large;

Ilo Van Gilder, representative from the Community-at-Large;

Steven Royer, representative from the Community-at-Large;

Joanne Smith, representative from the Community-at-Large;

Lisa Singbell, representative from the Community-at-Large.

Coun. Oakley is council’s representative on the Advisory Committee.

Pam Walsh, Manager of Community Development and Communications, said about the appointees, “They are an exceptional group of people and we are lucky to have them!”

The Committee supports KYAN in its efforts “to increase local activities and provide diverse opportunities for Kimberley and RDEK Electoral Area E residents aged 12-18 years.”

Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement

While dog issues continue to be the most often cited animal control infraction, invasive and noxious weeds took the top spot in the number of complaints and issues dealt with the Bylaw Officer during August. It was dogs 11, noxious weeds 22.

All properties cited for noxious and invasive weeds are being monitored to ensure their removal. The Bylaw Officer also noted they will be vigilant in watching for dog owners walking their pet off-leash in any area of town other than those so designated.

Another ongoing concern for the Bylaw Officer is the continued practice of residents setting out garbage cans the night before pick-up day. City regulations state that garbage containers should not be set out before 7 a.m. on the day of pick-up.

Coun. Oakley raised the garbage attractants and bear issue, asking what the city is going to do about people setting cans out “the night before.” He said that people who have raised the issue with him point to the 7 a.m. time as being too early so they set the container out the night before. He asked if the time could be changed to later, “say 9 a.m.”

Chris Mummery, Senior Manager Operations, said the city has tried changing pick-up times in the past. “We really didn’t see any significant improvement in interactions with wildlife.”

Oakley asked if there were different garbage can options, like bear proof cans.

Chief administrative officer Scott Sommerville said the city does have bear resistant garbage containers. Residents can contact city operations to request one.

As part of the report, the Bylaw Officer noted the new hybrid vehicle they use for city business is very economical. They wrote, “The vehicle was filled with gasoline on June 17, 2019. As of September 3, 2019, the vehicle still has approximately 2/3 of a tank of fuel. The cost for electrical power is approximately $17.72 for the last 2.5 months.”

Coun. Goodwin pointed out “that’s kind of impressive. I think we should all start shopping for hybrid or electric vehicles.”

Sommerville said, “We’ll study it for a year or two then make decisions based on what we’re learning.” He prefers the City go electric only. “If we can function with electric vehicles, I think that’s the way to go.”

“On balance, it’s going to be a positive impact,” said Mayor McCormick.

Public hearings set for zoning changes in October

Council approved scheduling three public meetings in October.

The first two will occur October 15 during the regularly scheduled council meeting. The third takes place October 28.

These meetings concern zoning changes to three plots of land within the city.

The first concerns an adjustment to the C-3 Automotive Commercial zone. The change would allow for mixed use on C-3 land that could include an option for a residential dwelling along with the business. The dwelling must be attached to the primary building.

The second zoning change concerns a vacant property on Trickle Ridge Place. The proponent requested the property be re-zoned from R-1 (single family residential) to R-2 (single or two family residential). This would allow for a secondary suite to be built in conjunction with the new single-family dwelling.

Phase Six of the Forest Crowne development (map shown above) will be the focus of the third public hearing.

The zoning change would create a new designation R-8A. Troy Pollock, Manager Planning Services, said R-8A “allow[s] for construction of a secondary dwelling unit that may be attached to the principal building or as a separate detached building.”

Pollock added these three proposed zoning changes dovetail with the city’s OCP and council’s strategic direction to increase the amount of diverse housing in the city.

The Forest Crowne development will see 22 new lots created on 3.29 hectares (just over eight acres) across from the 400 block of Forest Crowne Rise. As part of the development, there will be a pathway extension and a proposed future playground.

Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m., open to the public.

Due to the UBCM Conference in the last week of September, the next regularly scheduled council meeting will be October 15 at City Hall.

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