Parksville council met virtually on ZOOM to discuss the 2020 budget and more.
Notes:
COVID mutual aid agreement
Council made the decision to create an agreement with the city’s regional and municipal partners to “provide the continuity of wastewater and drinking water services to our citizens in the event of an emergency.” The city already has a mutual aid agreement of a similar vein. However, this one is specific to the COVID-19 situation and will carry through the pandemic.
Pool Study
Council decided to continue with Parksville’s pool/pultiplex feasibility study through the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than putting it off.
Staff were directed to find alternate ways to engage with the public on the project. Namely, through online surveys and other platforms.
Staff will go forward with the sketch of the plan in a digital format.
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2020 Budget
Council passed a balanced budget for 2020, setting the overall tax increase for 2020 at 3 per cent. Excluded from the 3 per cent increase is Class 5 Light Industry, which was set at 10.8 per cent.
The average increase for municipal taxes is about $45, with the average assessed residential property at $468,500.
Sewer and Water Utility Parcel Tax Rates
Council amended the Sewer Parcel Tax bylaw to allow for a 3 per cent sewage rate increase.
In 2019, the minimum sewage fee was increased to $159.80 – it is now $164.59 per parcel.
Council also approved the 2020 water utility and parcel tax rates, which is the same as the 2019 rate.
A report from staff read: “In December 2019, Council directed staff to freeze the water user rates for 2020 and to decrease the infrastructure fee for the water treatment plant to $20 per year per account.”