Sep 03, 2020

Ladysmith Council Notebook for September 1, 2020

Ladysmith Council met on September 1, 2020 with the awarding of a contract to create a remediation plan for the waterfront uplands area, and schedule for deliberating the 2021 Budget and 2021-2025 Financial Plan, among the agenda highlights.

The meeting opened with the Mayor congratulating Roxanne Harris as the newly acclaimed Chief of Stz’uminus First Nation, while also thanking outgoing Chief John Elliott for his leadership over the years.  He also extended congratulations to the incoming Council and appreciation for the collaboration and work of the outgoing Council. 

Elliott has served as Chief since 2009 and previously was a Council member for three terms beginning in 2003.   Similarly, Harris has served three terms on Stz’uminus Council.

Next, Mayor Stone and Councillor Virtanen expressed their condolences to the family of a local woman who died in a tragic motor vehicle accident on Saturday.  The loss has been deeply felt throughout the community and over $115,000 has been raised so far through an online GoFundMe campaign.  

Gift cards for the family are still currently being accepted at City Hall between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday.   Please call City Hall next week at 250-245-6400 to confirm if we are still accepting these donations prior to dropping them off.

Mayor Stone proclaimed September 22 as ‘Rotary Club of Ladysmith Day’ and September 20-26 as ‘Rotary Week in Ladysmith.’

The Rotary Club of Ladysmith is celebrating 50 years since it was chartered in 1970 and the Town is appreciative of the local chapter’s role in building local facilities and parks, supporting community organizations, providing scholarships and supporting the youth of our community, supporting the needy, and contributing to the well being and positive development of Ladysmith and communities in need internationally.

Next, Council approved the dates for deliberating the 2021 Budget and 2021-2025 Financial Plan.  The schedule for the workshops is as follows:

  • Tuesday, November 3 – Preliminary operating budget.
  • Tuesday, November 10 – Water & sewer utility rate bylaw introduction.
  • Tuesday, November 17 – Finalize water & sewer rates, introduction of capital budgets.
  • Tuesday, December 1 – Continuation of general operation, introduction of water and sewer rate bylaws, introduction of general capital projects.
  • Thursday, December 17 – adoption of water and sewer rate bylaws, early budget approval of capital projects.

Moving on in the agenda, Council awarded a contract to Golder Associates Ltd.  to complete a detailed site investigation for the uplands area of the waterfront and then use the information to develop a remediation plan.

The Town has extensive experience working with Golder, and since 2012 the firm has completed a number of environmental studies regarding Ladysmith’s waterfront.

A grant application, endorsed by Council, was recently submitted by the Town to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to cover 50 percent of the project costs.

Remediation of the uplands is an important step in the implementation of the Waterfront Area Plan.

Members of Council meet as the Committee of the Whole on September 8 at 6:30 pm. The next meeting of Council is scheduled for September 15 at 7 pm.