Fees for garbage, sewer, and water services are proposed to increase in Courtenay; the outdoor pool could be free for the 2024 season; and activists are hoping to shoot down a bylaw about sheltering.
That’s what’s up next at Courtenay council on Wednesday (Jan. 24).
More fees
The City of Courtenay is proposing to raise the fees for household water, sewer and solid waste services.
Solid waste fees would increase the most, by 50 per cent compared to last year. The total cost for an average household would rise to an annual $357.50. According to council’s report, the increase is needed to deliver the new automated solid waste collection service.
Sewer fees would also rise — they would climb eight per cent for the average home. The annual cost for the typical household would be $672.22. According to council’s report, the increase is significantly influenced by the Sewer Conveyance Project. The project aims to replace pipes (moving them away from elements like waves, logs and rocks) and upgrade pump stations.
Water fees would also rise — by four and a half per cent. An average house would pay $694.14 each year. The increase comes partly from an up-charge in the supply chain. According to council’s report, Courtenay buys water from the Comox Valley Regional District. The CVRD recently increased the rate that buyers like Courtenay need to pay for every cubed metre of water. This was done to fund water infrastructure upgrades in Comox Valley.
If given three readings on Wednesday, the fee hikes would not be final. Council would vote again at a later date for final adoption of the bylaws. The first three readings, however, are necessary. They show support and move the process towards adoption.
Outdoor pool
Council will decide if the outdoor pool at Lewis Park will be free of charge.
The Courtenay and District Memorial Outdoor Pool is now in its 75th year. To celebrate, city staff recommend that council waive entry fees for everyone this year. The decision would lead to a loss of $31,000 in revenue, according to council’s report.
Councillors will also hear about options for the future.
The outdoor pool will soon need repairs, so the City of Courtenay surveyed the public last summer. Staff asked people: should the pool be moved, closed, replaced or repaired? The most popular answer in 1,800 surveys was that the pool should stay and be repaired.
The cost would be roughly $1 million – the least expensive of all options to keep the pool. The money would be used to ensure the 75-year-old pool is in safe, working order.
Sheltering bylaw
A delegation will protest an upcoming bylaw.
The delegation plans to speak against Bylaw 3121, which would ban sheltering in many places in Courtenay. The delegation will be formed by Angela Fletcher, co-ordinator of Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness and Taija McLuckie, a harm reduction support worker at AVI.
RELATED: Bylaw given first two readings
The two argue that language in the bylaw is ambiguous, making the bylaw open to misuse. According to a letter in their delegation, the reality of homelessness today is not reflected in certain provisions of the bylaw.
The upcoming bylaw received first and second readings at the last council meeting (Jan. 10). It would ban sheltering on beaches, trails and sports fields, as well as a list of other places in Courtenay.
At the time, Evan Jolicouer was the only councillor to oppose the bylaw. He said it would hurt people’s livelihood. Their dignity, wellbeing and human rights would be impacted.
Councillor David Frisch supported the bylaw. He said the bylaw drew a line in the sand — to define where sheltering is acceptable in Courtenay. It would help deal with things that the community can agree are unacceptable.
Councillor Wendy Morin said she believed the bylaw was already balanced. It would allow sheltering, but also protect environmentally sensitive areas.
On Jan. 10, council heard that the budget for the bylaw was already exhausted. Sending the bylaw back for adjustment or further writing would create extra costs for the city.
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