The following are briefs from the March 15 regular council meeting.
Water and sewer rates go up April 1
Council adopted 2022 water and sewer rates at its March 15 meeting so that the new rates are applied to the semi-annual utility billings slated to go out within a month. Changes include a five per cent increase over 2021 levels for water and sewer parcel taxes and user fees. The increases are part of the Town’s long-term financial plan to fund sufficient reserves to address short and long-term operational and capital requirements of both utilities.
The average residential property will be billed about $43.31 more for water this year, based on annual water consumption of 320 cubic meters. Sewer service costs will go up by $33.62.
Council chambers and records management upgrades approved
Technology-based projects to enable people to participate online as well as in person at Town-hosted meetings and to digitize Town records were given approval. While the audio-visual improvements in the Town council chambers are set to be completed in 2022, the records management upgrades are slated to continue into future years.
Officers for 2022 local government elections named
Council appointed town corporate officer Rebecca Anderson as chief election officer for the Oct. 15 local government general elections in Gibsons. Staffer Tracey Hincks was appointed as deputy chief election officer. The officers have the power to appoint other election officials as needed to administer and conduct the 2022 general elections, which normally cover both council and school board representatives.
Holland Lands/Cultural Corner planning display previewed
Drafts of display panels for public consultation on the potential for redevelopment of the Town-owned Holland Lands, adjacent to town hall, were presented at the meeting. Coun. Aleria Ladwig, who represented the council on the project steering committee, noted that other groups on the committee are reviewing the drafts with their boards over the coming weeks. Once there is agreement on the display material, it will be made available for public viewing for a full month before an open house is scheduled to give the public an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
Acting mayor Coun. David Croal commented that this was a “very exciting project” and he encouraged youth to get involved with the review as the project will take many years to build out. “This is something future generations will inherit, it is not just for us now but for the community moving forward,” he said.
