Home »
To ban or not to ban drive throughs re-dux
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On March 24, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
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.
MLA Scott McInnis addresses council
Columbia River–Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis made a presentation to council.
The first thing McInnes spoke about was that local healthcare workers in Cranbrook and Kimberley “do not receive the PRRI – Provincial Rural Retention Incentive funding.” He said that funding is “$8,000 per year.”
The incentive is designed to “attract and retain healthcare workers in rural and remote communities.”
Fernie, Invermere and Trail healthcare workers do receive the PRRI funding.
“I’ve brought this up in question period and had some backroom conversations with the Minister, and can’t really get an answer as to what the rubric is around why Kimberley are not getting this.”
McInnis brought up the short-term rental registry and that the province is charging fees on top of municipal costs. He noted this is problematic for Kimberley as it relies on tourism dollars. “I see this as a double dip on the part of the province and there is absolutely no return for short-term operators.”
“Why resort municipalities are not exempt from the Provincial Registry?” is a question McInnis will be seeking to answer upon his return to Victoria.
The local MLA is also looking to the government to explain and clarify Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding compared to revenues generated. He asked, “How much money are the RM getting out of the deal?”
At a recent meeting with the Tourism Minister, McInnis said, “With all due respect he seemed disorganized. He couldn’t tell me how much money was coming in from the 14 Resort Municipalities. I feel the government uses RMs a little bit like an ATM machine. I don’t think the return to resort municipalities is fair. I will be seeking some clarity around what that structure looks like.”
The last item McInnis touched on was the government’s recent response to US tariffs – Bill-7 – Economic Stabilization Tariff Response Act 2025.
McInnis said the bill, “Grants the government the authority to make executive decisions without legislative over-sight. No debate. No votes on passage of new legislation and regulations. No due process.” The Bill would have a sunset clause for spring 2027.
Pointing out that the Bill is not supported by some NDP caucus members, McInnis felt it was an “over-reach” and said “no other province has such legislation.”
Responding to McInnis’ earlier comment regarding the RMI, Mayor McCormick said the14 resort municipalities (in B.C.) receive a total of $15 million from the program, and that money is “paid back to provincial coffers before the 15th of January. That’s how small that money is in comparison to what the 14 RM bring in.”
Kimberley is one of the 14 RMI municipalities along with Fernie, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, Golden, Rossland, Revelstoke, Valemount, Osoyoos, Whistler, Tofino, Ucluelet, Harrison Hot Springs and Sun Peaks.
McInnis ended his presentation saying he would continue to work on issues important to the City.
City contracts awarded
Council awarded the annual road rehabilitation contract to Terus Construction. The total cost is $267,767. Council had originally budgeted $400,000 for the project. The remaining $132,232 will be allocated to small patching, surface treatments and unexpected costs.
The Morrison sub-division sanitary sewer lining project contract was awarded to Insituform Technologies Ltd. The contract value is $294,705.
Council had originally budgeted $482,500 for the project. The remaining $187,795 will be allocated to pre-lining pipe repairs, project scope expansions and unexpected costs.
To Ban or Not to Ban – Re-dux
Council was presented with Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2780 – Future Drive-Throughs and Gas Stations, with amendments from the previous bylaw, which was passed at a previous council meeting, that would restrict new drive-through restaurants and gas stations.
Before debate began Coun. Fox and Dunnebacke recused themselves as they have a possible conflict of interest due to their commercial holdings.
Councillors Maguire and Cairns spoke, as per their past comments, about the type of community Kimberley residents say they want: walkable, healthy and not dominated by large corporate chains.
Mayor McCormick passionately spoke about the message that banning sends to potential investors.
Coun. McBain, while supporting Maguire and Cairns point of view about what the community wants, could not support an outright ban.
At the vote, McCormick, Roberts and McBain voted against the motion to provide first reading of the zoning amendment bylaw. Cairns and Maguire voted in favour.
After extensive council debate, community input and many city staff resources dealing with the proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment, council is back where it started almost two years ago.
Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m.
The next regular council meeting: April 14.
e-KNOW file photos
