Valemount Council: municipal award, wildfire fuel management, cemetery fees

By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG

Valemount Council presented an award to former MLA Shirley Bond, discussed wildfire fuel management, and new cemetery fees during its May 27th regular meeting.

Mayor Owen Torgerson called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m., after the evening’s public hearing ended Council adopted the agenda for the night’s meeting, and adopted the minutes of its April 22nd regular meeting as well as the May 8th special meeting.

Freedom of the Municipality award

Former MLA Shirley Bond has been a familiar face in the Robson Valley for over two decades. She served as MLA for the Prince George-Valemount riding from 2001 until August 2024, when she announced she would not be running for re-election after BC United leader Kevin Falcon suspended the party’s election campaign.

Throughout her time in office, Bond advocated for improved rural healthcare, education and infrastructure – which is why Valemount councillors voted to give her the Freedom of the Municipality award, the highest honour a B.C. municipality can give to someone. The award recognizes a person’s public service and leadership in a community, and dozens of residents packed into Council chambers to watch Torgerson present the award.

“Shirley Bond’s illustrious career and her profound connection to the Robson Valley have undoubtedly earned her this distinction,” Torgerson said. “Her impact is particularly noteworthy in her efforts to enhance rural healthcare, infrastructure and economic development, which are fundamental for the well-being of smaller communities like ours. Shirley has been a tireless advocate for us all.”

He added that with the award comes an invitation to every future municipal event, as well as the ability to cast votes in Valemount elections.

A tearful Bond thanked councillors and Valemount residents for the recognition. She said Torgerson and the rest of Team Valemount – a group of government and business leaders who advocate for the community at the provincial and federal level – are an example she holds up when speaking about effective political advocacy.

“I can’t begin to thank you for the lessons that I’ve learned about public service because of the honour I’ve had to represent all of you,” Bond said. “While I appreciate the honour I was given to represent Prince George-Valemount, what means the most to me is that I know people by name… I think that’s what serving is really about. I’m incredibly humbled and deeply honoured, and I’m thrilled that I get to vote in another municipality.”

Cedar Valley layoffs

Local mill Cedar Valley Holdings is set to close in June, which will result in the layoff of 14 people. Employees allege that the mill’s financial hardship is owed to difficulty in getting an adequate supply of cedar from the Valemount Community Forest (VCF), and claim VCF has been sending usable cedar to pulp mills in Prince George. VCF says it is in compliance with its timber and fibre supply agreements with Cedar Valley, but has not provided a comment on the claims made by the mill.

Cedar Valley employee Simon Heiniger began circulating a petition calling for more transparency among the VCF board of directors and a guarantee that local companies are prioritized in timber sales in early May. He presented the petition – which he says has garnered over 300 signatures – to councillors.

Council did not have any questions about the petition for Heiniger.

“I just hope that we can hear something expediently and publicly, a public meeting or something,” Heiniger said at the end of his delegation. “There’s been a lot of support on that petition.”

Torgerson thanked Heiniger for presenting his petition. Council received his petition for information.

Read more about the petition here.

Wood chipper rental

BC Wildfire Service proposed a fuel management plan to the Village in early May which suggests clearing hazardous trees and debris along 13th Avenue. Wildfire Service staff could assist with the project during times of low fire activity, clearing the area of crowded trees and picking up debris, according to the staff report. Village staff recommended using up to $10,000 in existing grant funds from the Municipal Insurance Association of BC to rent a wood chipper for the project.

Councillor Pete Pearson said he is in support of the fuel management project, but added that it may make more financial sense to purchase a wood chipper, rather than renting it – especially since staff estimate it would cost about $1200 a day. He said he has found several Canadian-made wood chippers which are within the $10,000 budget.

“This is not going to be a one-time thing where we go in and have to do this cleanup,” Pearson said. “I think it would be beneficial for staff to look at the purchase of a chipper versus a daily rental.”

Torgerson asked CAO Anne Yanciw if purchasing a woodchipper would delay the start of the fuel management project, given that the project depends on when BC Wildfire Service staff are available to assist.

“It may,” Yanciw said. “Another consideration is that someone needs to operate the woodchipper. Our Public Works staff are very busy this time of year.”

Pearson said the woodchipper will need an operator regardless of whether it is rented or purchased permanently.

“It’s six of one, a half dozen of the other,” he said. “I think there will be more purposes [for the woodchipper] in this community – chipping Christmas trees as a fundraiser and that kind of thing. I think there’s other opportunities, versus throwing rental money out.”

Yanciw added that rental of the chipper comes with an operator, whereas Public Works staff will have to learn to operate the chipper themselves if the Village purchases one.

Council voted to rent the chipper, with Pearson voting in opposition.

Traffic Regulation Bylaw

Council gave third reading to an updated version of the Village’s traffic regulation bylaw. The updates include changing the speed limit on 5th Avenue from 30 kilometres an hour to 40 kilometres an hour, and includes new references to the Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication bylaw, which outlines the fines for violating Village bylaws.

The bylaw has been reviewed by the Public Works Superintendent and Valemount RCMP, and can be considered for adoption at Council’s next meeting on June 10th, according to the staff report.

Official Community Plan updates

B.C. municipal governments are guided by Official Community Plans, which outline land use practices and long-term objectives for the community. The Village is amending its zoning bylaw in accordance with new provincial legislation on short-term vacation rentals, and staff say the Official Community Plan’s section on short-term rentals now has minor inconsistencies with proposed updates to the zoning bylaw.

Staff recommended amendments to the Official Community Plan to resolve these inconsistencies. These amendments include allowing two additional dwelling units per lot – the current plan only allows one per lot – and removing the requirement that the owner of a property needs to occupy the principal residence on the property in order to operate a short-term rental on the same lot. Additionally, the current plan does not permit short-term rentals in a detached additional dwelling unit, although this is permitted in the proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw. Staff recommended updating the plan to allow this.

For more information on the Official Community Plan, read our coverage of the public hearing here.

Zoning bylaw updates

Staff have recommended minor updates to the Village’s zoning bylaw in response to new provincial legislation. The updates include changing the definition of a minor short-term vacation rental to mean an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit or room in the home. A major short-term vacation rental is only permitted in the principal dwelling on the property, rather than in additional dwelling units, under the updated bylaw. Additionally, staff recommend changing the minimum height of fencing around a home from three feet to four feet, and allowing two additional dwelling units per land parcel, whereas the current bylaw only permits one.

Council voted to give third reading to the bylaw. Staff will send the proposed amendments to the Ministry of Transportation for approval.

Cemetery amendment bylaw

Council gave first and second reading to the updated Cemetery Bylaw. The amendments suggest removing an appendix to the bylaw which includes fees and charges pertaining to the cemetery, since these fees are included in the Village’s Fees and Charges Bylaw. New cemetery fees will be in effect this fall when the new columbarium – an area to display cremated remains – is in place, and the Fees and Charges bylaw is being updated to reflect this, according to the staff report.

Fees and Charges bylaw

Council gave first and second reading to amendments to the Fees and Charges Bylaw. The amendments add fees previously included in the Cemetery Bylaw to the Fees and Charges Bylaw, which consolidates the Village’s fees for using municipal services. Additionally, the amendments add a $1,000 fee for residents to purchase a place in the columbarium, and a $1,500 fee for non-residents.

In-camera

Torgerson adjourned the open meeting of Council at 7:56 p.m. Council proceeded to a closed meeting for consideration of three items under Section 90 (1) (c) and (g) of the Community Charter to discuss matters related to:
(c) labour relations or other employee relations, and
(g) two items pertaining to litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality.