By Mayor Mark McKee
We have had an extremely busy year at city hall for 2016 and I would like to take this opportunity to do a brief recap.
The Big Eddy residents voted in favour of the city taking over their water system and paying their portion of a major system upgrade. We were successful in obtaining a $3.8 million grant and the end result will see even better, safer water as well as water pressure increases for new development and increased fire protection.
Thomas Brook residents also voted in favour of joining the city and paying for water and sewer improvements. This will also ensure better, safer water, fire hydrants and city sewer connections.
The affordable housing society saw the completion, opening and tenants moving into the latest Oscar Street project, a 12 unit townhouse development that is providing affordable living that is sorely needed in Revelstoke.
Vacation rentals also saw major changes with the city entering an active enforcement mode. The city has set a cap on the number of vacation bedrooms, as well as safety inspections and operators having to become legal by going through a rezoning process, or turning their units into long-term rental.
The first phase of construction of the roundabout has been competed.
We had some unwanted visitors in 2016 in the form of bears and rats. The city, Bear Aware, and the Conservation Office has stepped up enforcement of attractants and a program of more information and awareness has helped see major improvements in these areas.
Mackenzie Village has gone through the rezoning process, approved and is working towards its first phase of development. The treehouse hotel went through an annexation and rezoning process that was also approved by council. Mountain View Elementary applied for rezoning as well as a Heritage Revitalization bylaw that will see this spectacular heritage building saved and restored.
Asset management has started and will continue to ensure we are looking after the assets of the community in a fiscally responsible manner. We are continuing with our LED street light replacement program.
We have had some staff changes this past year with Graham Inglis retiring from Finance and Dean Strachan from Development Services taking a position in another community. We are actively looking for replacements.
There have been some significant announcements in the community worth mentioning:
— Geoff Battersby receiving well deserved recognition as a member of the Order of Canada.
— A local committee taking on the building of a $465,000 helipad at the hospital
— Revelstoke Adventure Park is in its final approval stages.
— The Pipe Mountain Coaster opened and was an instant success.
— The Ramada Inn had a ground breaking ceremony and started construction.
The message I would like to convey to the community is just how busy 2016 was at city hall. Building permits are up, actually way up, business licenses are up. Every department is seeing major increases in activity. I do not see this trend changing for 2017, in fact if anything I believe we will be even busier.
Which leads into 2017 and what I see will be on the plates of council and staff in the coming months.
The budget process has started and will be getting shifted into high gear early in 2017. We have hired a short term finance person to help us until the Director of Finance position is filled.
We will also be advertising and interviewing for the development services position vacancy created with Dean Strachan leaving. The retirement announcement of Alan Mason as director of economic development opens will also be another very important role that we will need to fill.
Our outgoing staff of Graham, Dean, and Alan have all done a tremendous job for this community and on behalf of the community I would like to thank them for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to making Revelstoke a better place to live.
With demand increasing on our infrastructure we will be starting a Liquid Waste Management Plan. This will tell us the state of our sewage treatment plant — what are the best ways to meet the future needs of the community? How much will it cost and how does it get paid for?
We will have similar processes for both water and roads. This will also trigger a review of the Development Cost Charge bylaw (DCC).
Big Eddy water and Thomas Brook will both see their respective projects starting. The roundabout will see the next phase of its development moving forward with changes to Bend Road as well as traffic management at this intersection.
There will be an increased presence in town from the Conservation Office and Bylaw Enforcement as we step up enforcement of bear (and rat) attractants. We do not want a repeat of last year with the amount of bears that were put down and I know the community has heard the message regarding bear attractants
Vacation rentals have been a big issue in 2016 and will continue to be a big issue in 2017. We will be maintaining active enforcement as well as contacting illegal rentals and working towards making them compliant through inspection and rezoning. Some units are choosing not to be in this business and are returning their units back to long term rentals.
We are revisiting a trails master plan and will be looking forward to this making the rounds for comments and eventual approval.
2017 is looking to be busier and more exciting than 2016 and I look forward to seeing how it unfolds. I would encourage as many people as possible to stay involved, informed, and to let us know your thoughts on the many challenges and opportunities that we will be visiting in 2017.
I would also like to wish everyone a happy, healthy 2017.