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Water rate bylaw passes first three readings

PEMBY Council briefs: Sturdy appointed to climate leadership team, Lil'wat election appealed
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The Village of Pemberton is looking to hike water and sewer rates by over $100 compared to 2014 rates. image submitted

Pembertonians' water rates could soon be going up.

At the May 19 Village of Pemberton regular council meeting, council gave first, second and third readings to its 2015 water and sewer rate bylaws.

If the bylaw passes fourth reading, the flat fee for single-family water users in 2015 will be $493.11 — an increase of $109.25 over the 2014 rate.

The rate will decline slightly in 2016 before consecutive increases of $29.01 through 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The flat rate for a single-family dwelling is expected to be $568.78 in 2019.

Sewer rates will remain unchanged from 2014 rates.

In January 2013, Kerr Wood Leidal Associates (KWL) was retained to review the village's water rate structure.

The review found the new rates necessary to meet the increased operational costs of the system.

Also at the May 19 regular meeting, council gave fourth and final reading to SLRD Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 782.

The bylaw amends the minimum parcel size of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District's zoning bylaw, allowing for the subdivision of lands gifted to the Village of Pemberton.

An open house regarding the bylaw saw zero attendees.

Councillor Jennie Helmer voted in opposition of the bylaw.

"I think my preference would be that we not go down this road, and that we exercise the option to extend our lease," Helmer said.

STURDY APPOINTED TO CLIMATE LEADERSHIP TEAM

On May 12, B.C. Premier Christy Clark introduced the province's new Climate Leadership Team.

West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy was named deputy chair.

"We're taking the next step in climate leadership by engaging with British Columbians on new climate actions to support a growing economy," Clark said in a press release.

"The Climate Leadership Team brings together leaders from the business, academic and environmental communities, as well as First Nations and local governments, to consider the best actions to keep us on track toward meeting our greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets."

The team's mandate, to be fulfilled by Nov. 30, 2015, is to provide advice and recommendations on a number of points, including how to maintain B.C.'s climate leadership, upgrades to the current Climate Action Plan, actions to achieve GHG reductions and how to further the province's collaboration with local governments and First Nations.

The team consists of those representing government, academics, community interests, business interests, environmental interests and First Nations.

LIL'WAT ELECTION OVERTURNED

In March, Lil'wat Nation announced it had elected a new chief and council.

On May 14, an appeal board overturned the results of the election.

The person who appealed the election argued that a last minute change of location for the polling station — due to a death in the community — resulted in voting irregularities.

"The appellant submits that as a result of multiple irregularities, the election process was flawed," stated a release on the Lil'wat Nation website.

The appeal board ordered that the March 14 election be put aside, and that the previous chief and council be reinstated on an interim basis until a new election can take place.

Representatives from Lil'wat Nation were not immediately available for comment.

The full release can be found at www.lilwat.ca.

Check back with Pique next week for more.

IRONMAN returns July 26

With IRONMAN getting set to once again swim, cycle and run its way up and down the corridor on July 26, race director Evan Taylor has been making the rounds meeting with various municipal governments in the area.

On May 19 he met with Village of Pemberton council.

Taylor noted that there are no major changes to the course or timeline this year and added that the Pemberton stretch of the event is considered by many to be a highlight.

"We get huge response... they know Pemberton, they love it," Taylor said. "We see that there's quite a lot of awareness for Pemberton and we're quite excited to see that."

Mayor Mike Richman said he appreciates the event for its positivity and the exposure it brings, but added that not everyone in the community was happy with it.

"I know there are a fair few voices in the community that feel there is more disruption than net value to the community," Richman said.

"(I'm) not trying to paint a negative picture, there's a lot of positives there, but there is a sense out there of, 'does Pemberton benefit enough?'"

Richman suggested the possibility of looking into some sort of legacy for Pemberton in return for accommodating the event.