During a Special Meeting of Council on March 25, Gibsons council adopted the 2025 Rates, Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw, as well as the housing agreement bylaw for the proposed development at 672 North Road.
Rates, fees and charges
After being endorsed at the March 18 regular meeting, Gibsons council adopted the updated utility rates recommended at a previous committee of the whole.
The town’s garbage and organics collection rates were amended to match the Waste Budget and Rates Schedule, a nine per cent increase in 2025 to cover $68,000 in previously unbudgeted costs, with an additional three per cent annual increase from 2026-2029.
The staff report was also revised to include $6,000 for a communications education activity, aiming to help reduce landfill contaminants from Gibsons. A staff report at the March 4 committee of the whole, said a recent audit found trucks are arriving at the landfill with up to 50 per cent of the tipped materials being recycled or organic materials.
Staff have also been directed to consider a policy requiring the use of transparent bags in garbage bins, and other options that would reduce landfill contaminants.
The water parcel taxes were amended, and the current Fees and Charges Bylaw, increasing parcel taxes and rates by 10 per cent for three consecutive years.
During the March 4 committee of the whole, a staff report said this increase will help fund $60 million in asset replacements over 60 years, including one water main project every five years at a projected average cost of $2.5 million each.
Lastly, sewer parcel taxes were amended to fit the current Fees and Charges Bylaw for sanitary and storm sewer rates.
These amendments increase parcel taxes and user charges by 10 per cent for five consecutive years.
Council adopted the 2025 Rates, Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw with Coun. Stafford Lumley opposed.
North Road
The updated 672 North Road Housing Agreement Bylaw was unanimously passed by council.
During March 18 meeting, council rescinded its third reading on the pending development at 672 North Road to ensure the wording is consistent throughout the proposal.
An amended third reading was given, changing the 20-year term for rental rates of affordable rental dwelling units to 14 years.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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