Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On December 9, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting. The only meeting this month and the last one for 2024.

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

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

Housing Needs Study Presentation

Jada Basi, CitySpaces Consulting, presented council with a report outlining the findings from the Interim Housing Needs Study (IHNS).

Basi outlined the provincial government’s role: “The government came up with a prescribed housing needs methodology that every local government had to apply to their community.”

The time frame for housing needs estimates is pegged at five and 20 years.

Basi told council that based on calculations made from the provincial methodology, “the estimate for Kimberley is 544 housing units in five-years.” That averages out to “109 units per year” from 2022 to 2026.

When the time horizon is pushed out to 20-years, the IHNS suggests Kimberley will need an additional 1,706 housing units from 2022 to 2041.

According to Basi, these estimates are “targets only.” The city is “not required” to actually build that many housing units.

The city is required to amend the OCP to make sure there is enough “designated land to accommodate these types of estimates,” Basi said.

Mayor McCormick asked, “What is the biggest factor affecting the city’s ability to meet these targets?”

Noting the OCP amendments should take into consideration the IHNS findings, Basi said, “What is the appropriate scale, character and context for Kimberley to achieve those units?”

She added the city should take into consideration what local builders are capable of achieving.

Concluding the discussion, Mayor McCormick said, “This is the beginning of what will be an awesome process.”

Mark Creek Watershed Update

Council approved the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BC Timber Sales (BCTS) as it pertains to logging operations in the Mark Creek watershed.

The MOU is designed to protect drinking water originating there.

Nick Morissette, Senior Manager Operations, pointed out three changes in the new MOU.

First, those persons participating on the Integrated Management Committee (IMC) has been updated to included new personnel.

Second, the funds provided by BCTS will increase from $10,000 to $15,000 per year to help defray the city’s cost of water monitoring in Mark Creek.

Third, all BCTS contractors working in Mark Creek will now be required to have $10 million in liability insurance. An increase from the current $5 million.

Responding to Mayor McCormick’s question on what the total cost of water monitoring is, Morrissette said it was between “$35,000 to $40,000 per year.”

Coun. Roberts asked about the status of the Mathew Creek watershed MOU.

Morissette said, “The city is working toward establishing an integrated watershed management plan (IWMP) for Mathew Creek.”

The IWMP from Mark Creek (pictured above) is being used as the basis for the MOU for Mathew Creek.

RDEK Retrofit Assist Program

The city received a package of information from the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) regarding a new energy retrofit program that is now available to all East Kootenay residents.

The Retrofit Assist program is operated by the B.C.-based charitable non-profit organization, Community Energy Association. SwitchPACE helps administer the program.

Retrofit Assist covers energy efficient upgrades such as solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, windows and doors, insulation and air sealing, and hybrid hot water heaters. Check the website to see if your project fits with Retrofit Assist.

A key feature of this program, according to the information package, is “FREE start to finish guidance for their home retrofit projects, as well as access to financing.”

It is important to note that the guidance is “free”, but the homeowner is responsible for all costs associated with the retrofit.

Guidance includes help with making a retrofit plan, connecting with energy advisors and contractors, help with understanding financing and applying for rebates and incentives.

The Retrofit Assist program works with Switch Retrofit Solutions to provide “financing” for retrofit and energy upgrades, to make them “more accessible.” This type of financing helps “eliminate the upfront costs that often prevent homeowners from making energy efficient upgrades.”

Coun. Cairns commented, “Nice to see this is available for Kimberley residents to get assistance with accessing grants and contractors to do home energy retrofits.”

To obtain more information or make an application, go to retrofitassist.ca.

Kimberley City Council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: January 13, 2025.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – NJB.

e-KNOW file photos

e-KNOW

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