Feb 07, 2020

Ladysmith Council Notebook for February 4, 2020

Ladysmith Council met on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 with a development permit application for a new Madill the Office Company building on Ludlow Road and the approval of the tentative Grants in Aid budget among the agenda highlights.

Mayor Stone proclaimed February 20, 2020 as "Kinsmen and Kinettes Day" and February 16 to 22 as "Kinsmen and Kinettes Week" in the Town of Ladysmith.  The celebration marks the 100th anniversary of KinCanada, and is in appreciation of Ladysmith's local club's dedication and service to our community over the past 68 years. The Kinsmen flag will also be raised at City Hall during that week.

Council then issued a development permit for the construction of a two-storey warehouse and office at 902 Ludlow Road.

The building will be occupied by Madill the Office Company and according the applicant its design will reflect the character and industrial history of the harbour.  The building will also include features to lower greenhouse gas emissions as well as promote rain water management.

The property is designated as Industrial in the Official Community Plan and is within the Light Industrial Zone in the Zoning Bylaw.

Council approved the tentative Grants in Aid budget of $61,129 referred by the Committee of the Whole.  

Grants in Aid are distributed annually by Council, on behalf of residents, to local groups and organizations to help in offsetting some of the costs of social, cultural, recreational services and special events.

This total budgeted amount includes funds set aside for waiving of fees and late applications, both of which could come up periodically throughout the year.

Funds will be allocated among 20 different local groups and organizations in 2020.

The Town received over 320 mm (12.6 inches) of rainfall in January, but water conservation is still top of mind as we look toward the summer months.

Council approved setting a new single family residential water consumption target for the Town of 25 per cent lower than the BC average for a similar household size.

In 2015, the Town set a water conservation plan target of 260 litres of consumption per person, per day and data shows we have achieved this goal. Last year, when water restrictions were put in place residents used an average of 212 litres per day.

The latest Statistics Canada data shows the average daily residential use in BC is 291 litres per person.

The Town is submitting a grant application before the end of February to help cover the majority of the costs for three water supply projects. An updated water conservation target is one of the requirements of the application.

The three water projects are also the subject of an ongoing Alternative Approval Process and include: raising the Holland Lake east and west dam, building an interconnect from Holland Lake that joins with the distribution pipe drawing water from Stocking Lake, and twinning the water main that connects Stocking Lake and the Arbutus Reservoir.

As part of the AAP, The Town is seeking the approval of its voters to borrow up to $6.2-million to help complete these projects if we are successful in our grant application.

Council approved a request from Ladysmith Family and Friends (LaFF) to plant a memorial tree in the Aggie Hall parking lot roundabout in memory of Jenny VanHorn.

VanHorn was an important part of the LaFF team and volunteered her time to numerous other community committees over the years.

The dedication is possible because of a $200 gift from the Ladysmith Secondary School graduating class of 2019 which includes VanHorn’s daughter Ella, who is also a former Ladysmith Ambassador.

The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2020 at 7 p.m.