Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On August 11, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.

Councilors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Coun. Sandra Roberts attended by video link.

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

RCMP Report

Kimberley RCMP Detachment acting commander Cpl. Dean Kletzel, filling in for the departing S/Sgt. Steve Woodcox, was not present to deliver a report of RCMP activities for April to June 2025 (Q1).

His written report states that calls for service were up 30% compared to January to March. Traffic and vehicle incidents accounted for 105 calls followed by 102 calls where RCMP assisted other detachments or the public. The third highest call volume (70) dealt with fraud/firearms / mischief/property concerns.

During the quarter, RCMP issued 129 police information checks. Three-hundred vehicles were stopped for roadside checks. Seven ‘immediate roadside prohibitions’ were issued and 136 tickets were handed out.

Kletzel’s report noted that on June 28 “multiple fights” broke out at Lazy Lake where one male was “seriously hurt and taken to hospital.” Another male was “arrested.” No details were provided on what charges were laid, if any.

Finally, a new detachment commander is scheduled to arrive in September.

Road Speed Reduction

Mr. Leonard Jacques presented to council a request to reduce road speed limits to 40 km/h.

Jacques has been part of the Speed Watch Program for the past few years. In his presentation, he noted a “majority” of vehicles are traveling at the speed limit, but there are enough vehicles traveling over the speed limit that he feels a reduction is in the public interest. The sign boards around town showing a vehicles speed are “great, but only for a select few,” he said.

He provided a number of statistics that show pedestrian – vehicle collisions at lower speed limits, the greater probability the pedestrian will survive.

He told council that Fernie and Sparwood already have lowered speed limits to 40 km/h. Several other places in B.C. have already made this change including Vancouver, Saanich and Nanaimo.

Coun. Cairns said, “I’d be in strong support in seeing a 30 km/h zone in the residential areas and downtown core.” She noted that speed reduction is part of a “broader safety strategy.”

Age-friendly Accessibility Plan

Council received a report from Kate Milne, principal consultant with Cardea Health that undertook extensive community engagement regarding accessibility around Kimberley.

Milne told council that the Accessibility Advisory Committee provided input along with a community wide survey, one-to-one interviews and focus groups with stakeholders and service providers.

Eight areas around town were identified as being important for accessibility. The most important was accessible outdoor spaces and public buildings. This included such things as snow removal, sidewalk maintenance, shade and seating and public washrooms.

Other areas of concern were affordable and accessible transportation options, housing to allow seniors to age in place, opportunities for social well-being and participation, access to community support and health services, respect, social inclusion and cultural safety, civic engagement and employment opportunities, and clear communication and information sharing.

Answering Coun. Dunnabecke’s question about age and who the plan targets, Milne said, “If you design a city for people who are 80, it’s also going to be accessible for people who are eight and eight months.” She finished saying the Kimberley plan looks at both age accessibility for seniors as well as young cohorts.

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

The next regular council meeting: September 8.

Lead image: A recent photo of City of Kimberley council. From back L to R: Coun. Kevin Dunnebacke, Coun Sue Cairns, Coun. Woody Maguire, Coun Diana Fox. Front, L to R: Coun. Sandra Roberts, Mayor Don McCormick and Coun. Jason McBain. City of Kimberley photo

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