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Short-term Rental Bylaw passes unanimously
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On May 24, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Kyle Dalum, Kent Goodwin, Jason McBain and Darryl Oakley were present. Coun. Nigel Kitto sat in as acting Mayor. Mayor Don McCormick and Coun. Sandra Roberts were absent.
Due to pandemic restrictions, the public and media are not allowed to attend Council Chambers. Meetings live stream on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch the archive here.
Alpine Resort Bylaw Update
Council reviewed a request from staff to “remove [the] maximum bedroom requirements from the Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw.”
Troy Pollock, Senior Planner, told council the rationale behind the bylaw change was two-fold. First, the existing Bylaw limiting the number of bedrooms was ineffective in regulating occupancy.
Second, “The maximum occupancy requirements of the Short-term Rental Bylaw (STR) serve as a much more enforceable mechanism to manage density within alpine resort area units,” said Pollock.
Pollock told council that the STR Bylaw provides clarity on the number of occupants allowed in a rental dwelling and mechanisms for enforcement. He added that during the STR application process, city staff are able “to consider guest arrangements according to safety requirements and guidelines according to the BC Building Code and Fire Code.”
A public meeting held just prior to council’s final review and vote received zero submissions.
In an unanimous vote, council adopted the bylaw.
Electrify the Mountains
On behalf of the Kimberley Trail Society, the Sustainable Kimberley Society, and Kootenay Adaptive Sports, the City of Kimberley received a grant for $851,420 to upgrade existing trails and build new trails along with providing accessible washrooms and solar base stations for e-charging.
After review by stakeholders and the city, it was determined that fixed washrooms were not an option and the extensive forest canopy reduced the effectiveness of solar charging stations.
With stakeholder and B.C. government approval, the city looked at other options including mobile washrooms.
Council decided to award the Electrify the Mountains – Accessible Trailer Restrooms Project to AMS Global Inc. for an amount not to exceed $272,836.
The remaining $31,135 of the budgeted $303,971 will be used for city logos, wrapping and painting of the trailers.
According to Project Manager Shane Castle, “The mobility of these trailers will allow the city to support a variety of events and have the flexibility to accommodate different venues and varying locations.”
Each trailer contains two washrooms, one of which is accessible. The trailers are equipped with “a suspension lowering system and a folding ramp to aid with accessibility.”
As well, each trailer will have “a 30 kw/h battery pack capable of 60 full e-bike charges.”
Acting Mayor Kitto said these trailers will be “a really good thing.”
The city expects the trailers to be available for the 2022 season.
Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next scheduled regular council meeting: June 13.
e-KNOW file photos
e-KNOW
