Valemount Council: Lheidli T’enneh agreement, electric scooters, 5th Avenue repaving
Valemount Council discussed an agreement with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, electric scooter use and repaving 5th Avenue during the regular August 12th meeting.
Mayor Owen Torgerson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. After adopting the meeting’s agenda and approving minutes from the July 8th regular council meeting and the July 10th special council meeting, councillors moved on to hear administrative reports.
Quarterly Report
Council received the second quarterly report of the year for information. The report includes statistics on grants the Village has received, water and sewer use, and building permits, among other items.
Councillor Hollie Blanchette said the report is laid out well and easy to read. CAO Anne Yanciw said the report was prepared by the Village’s intern, Sazzad Hossain.
Lheidli T’enneh MOU
Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. The memorandum has been in the works since last October, when the Village had a Community to Community forum with the First Nation to discuss shared priorities and opportunities to work together.
The memorandum includes commitments to collaborate on joint action plans and hold regular formal meetings, though it does not specify how often meetings will be held. Representatives of Valemount and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will meet in Prince George on September 4th and 5th for another Community to Community forum, where they will sign the memorandum.
“I’m really looking forward to our relationship moving forward,” said Torgerson.
Marina Association donation
The Valemount Marina Association applied for a $200 grant from the Village to cover costs associated with its annual family fishing derby, to be held August 30th and 31st. The grant will cover purchasing prizes, trophies and barbeque supplies for the event, according to the application.
Torgerson recused himself from discussion as he is on the Association’s board. Councillor Donnie MacLean stepped in as deputy mayor.
Council approved the Association’s request. The 2025 budget included $4,000 for municipal donations, and Council has now granted a total of $1,052.50 to three different organizations, leaving $3,147.50 in the budget.
Tax exemptions
Torgerson returned to the meeting after the Marina Association’s request was approved. Then, Council discussed property tax exemptions for local non-profits.
Staff recommended approving tax exemptions for a five-year term, from 2026-2030, because Council will review an amended version of the Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw at its next meeting. Typically, tax exemptions are approved on one-year terms.
Council approved of using five-year terms for all five organizations that applied for an exemption: the Legion Branch 266, the Valemount Affordable Rental Society, the Valemount Curling Club, the Valemount Learning Society, and the Valemount Lions Club.
Blanchette moved to give a 25 per cent tax exemption to each of the non-profits, which is the same exemption Council approved in 2024. Council approved her motion.
According to the staff report, staff will add Council’s approved exemptions into the tax exemption bylaw before it is reviewed at the September 9th regular meeting.
Electric scooter pilot
Electric kick scooters – which the Province defines as “battery-powered motorized devices with two to four wheels, a platform for standing and handlebars for steering” – are currently prohibited on public roads in B.C., unless in a municipality participating in the Province’s electric kick scooter pilot project.
The pilot project began in 2021 and was slated to end in 2024, but the Province extended the project until 2028. Staff recommended applying for Valemount to join the project, as there are electric scooter users in the community.
According to the staff report, the pilot project regulations say riders must be 16 or older, wear a helmet and drive under 25 kilometres per hour.
Blanchette noted that the Village is responsible for any costs associated with the project, according to an FAQ the Province sent to local governments. She asked if staff know of any costs the project might incur.
“There shouldn’t be any municipal costs,” Yanciw said. “There is some reporting that’s required as part of the program, but that reporting will be RCMP statistics.”
Torgerson said the Village could partner with the RCMP to educate residents on safe scooter use.
Councillor Pete Pearson asked if the Village has discussed the project with the RCMP.
“Right now, I don’t see a whole lot of control on the kick scooters. I’m not a big supporter of the ones in town,” he added.
Yanciw said staff have discussed the project with RCMP officers.
“Unusual is a good word for how the prohibition on kick scooters was rolled out. There was no notification to RCMP at all, so they had no idea that they were illegal,” she said. “Once they became aware, they were very much in favor of doing this, so that there’s at least some means of regulating them.”
Torgerson said the lack of notice to the RCMP is concerning and wondered if there are other issues the Province has not shared with the Valemount detachment. Pearson said police should also consider where scooters should be allowed – for example, using a scooter on 5th Avenue behind cars parked at an angle may be dangerous, but if scooters are not allowed on sidewalks it may be their only option.
Council approved of applying to the pilot program.
5th Avenue paving
Council approved a contract with Terus Construction to mill and repave 5th Avenue between Highway 5 and Centennial Park. According to the staff report, since Terus is currently milling and paving Highway 5, the Village was able to access their services through discussion with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
5th Avenue was last paved in 2010. Milling and repaving it would cost about $421K, according to the staff report. The 2025 budget included $385K from the gas tax, which was not earmarked for a specific project, and the Village will receive another $111K from the tax this year.
Staff considered paving Dogwood Street instead, but that would cost an estimated $1.2-$1.7M, the report adds. However, the Village has discussed milling Dogwood Street to mitigate dust issues, the report says.
Council approved the $421K project with Terus.
Snow removal
Council approved an amended version of the Village’s snow removal policy. The amendments include adding a section saying the Village will not clear snow on properties which it leases to tenants, including the courtyard in front of buildings at 1163-1185 5th Avenue.
Enforcement Bylaw amendment
Council gave first, second and third reading to an amended version of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication Amendment Bylaw, which sets fines for bylaw violations. Staff updated the bylaw to reflect the newly amended traffic bylaw, and set fines for violating the bylaw by averaging traffic violation fines from other communities, including Golden, Hope, Nelson, 100 Mile House, Revelstoke and Smithers. The new fines include $100 for unlawful parking, $200 for impeding traffic, and $150 for littering.
Fees and Charges amendment
Council gave first, second and third reading to an amended version of the fees and charges bylaw. The updates include removing Visitor Information Centre fees, as the centre is now operated by Tourism Valemount, increasing the event tent rental fee to account for assembling and disassembling the tent, and a stipulation that the Village only allow use of the photocopier for internal documents so it does not compete with local businesses.
Pearson asked if there is a rental fee for the Sports Plex concession stands, as the bylaw only lists a damage deposit, janitorial work, propane use and short notice cancellation fee under the Sports Plex section.
Director of Finance Lori McNee said there is no rental fee for the concession stands, and the Village charges for propane use so renters can operate the deep fryer.
Pearson also asked about the recommended $750 fee for the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.
“Would that be considered for a new license? Or if somebody’s making a change for their license, would that fee apply to you?” He asked.
Corporate Officer Carleena Shepherd said the fee would be for new applications.
Council will consider adopting the amended bylaw at its next meeting.
Community Forest meeting
General Manager of the Valemount Community Forest (VCF), Alana Duncan, wrote to Council requesting a meeting between the VCF board and the Village during the week of August 11th. In her letter, Duncan said the meeting would be used to establish clear communication channels between VCF and Council, share some information on VCF operations to improve transparency, and discuss how VCF and the Village can cement their relationship.
Torgerson asked Yanciw if councillors could send their availability for the week to staff by the end of the following day. Yanciw said that would be possible, but suggested waiting a week if Council wanted to include Councillor Hugo Mulyk, who was on vacation at the time.
Pearson asked when the letter was sent, since the Council meeting was already taking place during the week of August 11th. Blanchette agreed the request was short notice.
“It’s nice to have at least a full week’s notice so that if we have to move things around, then we can,” she said.
Council moved to have staff create a scheduling poll and do research on meeting procedures such as how many board members would need to attend to meet quorum, and whether the meeting should be public.
In-camera
Torgerson adjourned the open session of Council at 7:27 p.m. Council entered a closed meeting in accordance with Section 90 (1) of the Community Charter to discuss matters related to:
(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
(d) the security of the property of the municipality; and
(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality.
