• Apr 30, 2025

    Council and Committee Meeting Highlights for April 24 and 26, 2025

    Watch City Council meetings live or view recordings at www.campbellriver.ca/webcasts.

    The City of Campbell River acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations.

    DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
    Campbell River Early Years Council Presented the Janusz Korczak Medal in Children’s Rights Advocacy

    Brenda Wagman, Campbell River Early Years Council, and Anne Boyd, Campbell River Literacy Association, presented to Council on the Janusz Korczak Medal in Children’s Rights Advocacy. The community received the prestigious medal, which is named after an honoured pediatrician who dedicated his life to children’s advocacy, for its work creating the Campbell River Children’s Charter. The creation of the charter was a collaborative project between the Campbell River Early Years Council, the City and School District 72. While the medal is usually awarded to an individual, the community’s work on the charter was recognized as significant and the medal was awarded to a community for the first time in the medal’s history.   

    BC Hydro Presentation Regarding Campbell River Capital Projects and Hydroelectric Operations
    Stephen Watson, Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, BC Hydro, provided an update on the seismic upgrades to the three dams on the Campbell River system. Watson shared that construction is progressing on the John Hart Dam, Ladore Dam site upgrades recently started, and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025 at the Strathcona Dam. All upgrades are planned to be completed by the end of 2029.

    FINANCIAL UPDATES
    Quarterly Financial Report — Q4, 2024

    Council received the City's Quarterly Financial Report — Q4, 2024, for information. The report measures the City’s financial performance against the Financial Plan and outlines any notable differences in revenue and expenses as compared to the budget. Overall financial results for the City’s departmental operating budgets are within expectation for Q4 of 2024.

    Q4 revenues totaled 105 per cent of the budget and Q4 operational expenses totaled 89.7 per cent of the budget. City operations were carried out as scheduled, and work on projects carried forward from 2023 as well as new capital and operating projects continued as budgeted for 2024. 

    Seventy-four operating projects were approved during 2024 Financial Planning; 42 have been completed or are substantially complete, two are in progress, 27 have been delayed, and three have been cancelled. These projects have a budget of $6.03 million, and $2.748 million or 45.6 per cent of the budget had been spent at the time of this report.

    One hundred and twenty-nine capital projects were approved in 2024; 60 are complete or substantially complete, 32 are in progress, 30 have been delayed, and seven have been cancelled. These projects have a budget of $65.53 million, and $25.67 million or 39.2 per cent of the budget had been spent at the time of this report.

    Delayed or incomplete operating and capital projects not completed in 2024 were carried forward in the 2025 - 2034 Financial Plan for consideration. 

    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
    Destination Campbell River — 2024 MRDT Program Annual Performance Report
    Council approved the Destination Campbell River — 2024 MRDT Program Annual Performance Report. Council directed staff to submit the report to Destination BC by May 31, 2025, as required by Destination British Columbia. 

    DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
    Zoning Amendment at 375 2nd Avenue

    Council adopted Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3989, 2025, which provides a site-specific text amendment to permit 'apartment' as a use at 375 2nd Avenue. 

    This amendment permits a development on the hospital grounds of up to two stories that would provide residential accommodation for healthcare professionals and accommodation for families that need lodging while staying with a family member in hospital. The proposed development is located on top of the ridge between the hospital parkade and residential properties on Panorama Crescent.

    Garbage and recycling receptacles for the development would be located away from the existing residential properties as much as is practical.

    Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit Fee Clarification 
    Council adopted Building Bylaw Amendment No. 3990, 2025, which includes minor amendments to Building Bylaw - Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit Fee Clarification.

    The minor housekeeping amendment to the Building Bylaw clarifies that the temporary fee waiver for ADUs applies only to the building permit fee and does not extend to other fees, such as development cost charges. A definition for ADU is also being added to the bylaw to support consistent administration and align with the intent of the original bylaw amendment adopted by Council in September 2024.

    Accessory Dwelling Unit Utility Fee Update
    Council gave User Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 3991, 2025 first, second and third readings, which recommends amendments to the User Fees and Charges Bylaw — Utility Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units.

    The amendment would apply a 20 per cent reduction in water and sewer utility rates for legal accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for 2025. This aligns with Council direction and supports the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program. The temporary rate reduction will apply to newly constructed ADUs or ADUs that are legalized during the period of the program, and not to ADUs that were already constructed and legally permitted. The change will be funded by HAF revenue and is intended to encourage ADU legalization and development by reducing operating costs for property owners.

    COMMUNITY UPDATES
    Curbside Collection RFP Awarded to Emterra Environmental 
    Council received a report regarding Curbside Collection of Garbage, Recyclables and Organics and approved the awarding of RFP 23-32 for $2,679,500, for the first year of a ten-year contract, to Emterra Environmental. 

    Emterra Environmental has provided curbside collection services to approximately 10,800 households in the Campbell River area since 2006. The continued partnership will span the next 10 years and see the City transition from manual to automated curbside collection services. Automated collection uses garbage trucks with mechanical arms to lift and dump standardized bins that are placed at the curbside. This method of collection aligns with best practices in the solid waste industry and follows similar recent transitions made in neighbouring communities on Vancouver Island. 

    Curbside collection will continue as currently scheduled for the remainder of 2025. In the spring of 2026, collection will transition to an automated, four-day, bi-weekly collection service for garbage and recycling. Organics collection will transition to an automated four-day service but will remain on a weekly schedule. Residents will receive three new bins sized at 360 litres for organics and recycling, and 180 litres for garbage. Households will be provided with an opportunity to exchange their bins for smaller containers or to purchase additional bins if needed.

    Automated collection, alongside the updated schedule and bin sizes, is considered best practice to balance efficient waste pick-up with cost of service, and to promote waste diversion. It also enhances health and safety processes as bins are more maneuverable, does not require carrying or lifting, and helps control rodent and wildlife interactions. 
    Information on the transition to an automated curbside collection service will be shared with all residents in the summer and fall of 2025 and into 2026. For the latest updates, sign up to receive alerts via the City’s CR Recycles app, or visit www.campbellriver.ca/curbside-collection.
Featured

Council and Committee Meeting Highlights for April 24 and 26, 2025

by Rebecca Szulhan | Apr 30, 2025

Watch City Council meetings live or view recordings at www.campbellriver.ca/webcasts.

The City of Campbell River acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations.

DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
Campbell River Early Years Council Presented the Janusz Korczak Medal in Children’s Rights Advocacy

Brenda Wagman, Campbell River Early Years Council, and Anne Boyd, Campbell River Literacy Association, presented to Council on the Janusz Korczak Medal in Children’s Rights Advocacy. The community received the prestigious medal, which is named after an honoured pediatrician who dedicated his life to children’s advocacy, for its work creating the Campbell River Children’s Charter. The creation of the charter was a collaborative project between the Campbell River Early Years Council, the City and School District 72. While the medal is usually awarded to an individual, the community’s work on the charter was recognized as significant and the medal was awarded to a community for the first time in the medal’s history.   

BC Hydro Presentation Regarding Campbell River Capital Projects and Hydroelectric Operations
Stephen Watson, Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, BC Hydro, provided an update on the seismic upgrades to the three dams on the Campbell River system. Watson shared that construction is progressing on the John Hart Dam, Ladore Dam site upgrades recently started, and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025 at the Strathcona Dam. All upgrades are planned to be completed by the end of 2029.

FINANCIAL UPDATES
Quarterly Financial Report — Q4, 2024

Council received the City's Quarterly Financial Report — Q4, 2024, for information. The report measures the City’s financial performance against the Financial Plan and outlines any notable differences in revenue and expenses as compared to the budget. Overall financial results for the City’s departmental operating budgets are within expectation for Q4 of 2024.

Q4 revenues totaled 105 per cent of the budget and Q4 operational expenses totaled 89.7 per cent of the budget. City operations were carried out as scheduled, and work on projects carried forward from 2023 as well as new capital and operating projects continued as budgeted for 2024. 

Seventy-four operating projects were approved during 2024 Financial Planning; 42 have been completed or are substantially complete, two are in progress, 27 have been delayed, and three have been cancelled. These projects have a budget of $6.03 million, and $2.748 million or 45.6 per cent of the budget had been spent at the time of this report.

One hundred and twenty-nine capital projects were approved in 2024; 60 are complete or substantially complete, 32 are in progress, 30 have been delayed, and seven have been cancelled. These projects have a budget of $65.53 million, and $25.67 million or 39.2 per cent of the budget had been spent at the time of this report.

Delayed or incomplete operating and capital projects not completed in 2024 were carried forward in the 2025 - 2034 Financial Plan for consideration. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Destination Campbell River — 2024 MRDT Program Annual Performance Report
Council approved the Destination Campbell River — 2024 MRDT Program Annual Performance Report. Council directed staff to submit the report to Destination BC by May 31, 2025, as required by Destination British Columbia. 

DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Zoning Amendment at 375 2nd Avenue

Council adopted Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3989, 2025, which provides a site-specific text amendment to permit 'apartment' as a use at 375 2nd Avenue. 

This amendment permits a development on the hospital grounds of up to two stories that would provide residential accommodation for healthcare professionals and accommodation for families that need lodging while staying with a family member in hospital. The proposed development is located on top of the ridge between the hospital parkade and residential properties on Panorama Crescent.

Garbage and recycling receptacles for the development would be located away from the existing residential properties as much as is practical.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit Fee Clarification 
Council adopted Building Bylaw Amendment No. 3990, 2025, which includes minor amendments to Building Bylaw - Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit Fee Clarification.

The minor housekeeping amendment to the Building Bylaw clarifies that the temporary fee waiver for ADUs applies only to the building permit fee and does not extend to other fees, such as development cost charges. A definition for ADU is also being added to the bylaw to support consistent administration and align with the intent of the original bylaw amendment adopted by Council in September 2024.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Utility Fee Update
Council gave User Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 3991, 2025 first, second and third readings, which recommends amendments to the User Fees and Charges Bylaw — Utility Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units.

The amendment would apply a 20 per cent reduction in water and sewer utility rates for legal accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for 2025. This aligns with Council direction and supports the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program. The temporary rate reduction will apply to newly constructed ADUs or ADUs that are legalized during the period of the program, and not to ADUs that were already constructed and legally permitted. The change will be funded by HAF revenue and is intended to encourage ADU legalization and development by reducing operating costs for property owners.

COMMUNITY UPDATES
Curbside Collection RFP Awarded to Emterra Environmental 
Council received a report regarding Curbside Collection of Garbage, Recyclables and Organics and approved the awarding of RFP 23-32 for $2,679,500, for the first year of a ten-year contract, to Emterra Environmental. 

Emterra Environmental has provided curbside collection services to approximately 10,800 households in the Campbell River area since 2006. The continued partnership will span the next 10 years and see the City transition from manual to automated curbside collection services. Automated collection uses garbage trucks with mechanical arms to lift and dump standardized bins that are placed at the curbside. This method of collection aligns with best practices in the solid waste industry and follows similar recent transitions made in neighbouring communities on Vancouver Island. 

Curbside collection will continue as currently scheduled for the remainder of 2025. In the spring of 2026, collection will transition to an automated, four-day, bi-weekly collection service for garbage and recycling. Organics collection will transition to an automated four-day service but will remain on a weekly schedule. Residents will receive three new bins sized at 360 litres for organics and recycling, and 180 litres for garbage. Households will be provided with an opportunity to exchange their bins for smaller containers or to purchase additional bins if needed.

Automated collection, alongside the updated schedule and bin sizes, is considered best practice to balance efficient waste pick-up with cost of service, and to promote waste diversion. It also enhances health and safety processes as bins are more maneuverable, does not require carrying or lifting, and helps control rodent and wildlife interactions. 
Information on the transition to an automated curbside collection service will be shared with all residents in the summer and fall of 2025 and into 2026. For the latest updates, sign up to receive alerts via the City’s CR Recycles app, or visit www.campbellriver.ca/curbside-collection.
Upcoming Events
May 03, 2025 Colourful Run
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Jun 14, 2025 Kite Flying Day
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Jun 30 - Jul 01, 2025 Campbell River Canada Day Market
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