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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.
Mayor and Council Update
The Rail Yard Market Receives Award of Merit
The City’s The Rail Yard Market received an Award of Merit in the retail category at the Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards. This recent addition brings four businesses to the heart of Downtown Campbell River. Inspired in part by the Station market in Langford, B.C., and driven forward by Council, The Rail Yard Market supports emerging entrepreneurs by providing affordable, downtown retail space for up to 36 months to allow businesses to scale up and prepare for permanent locations.
Mayor Dahl thanked Council and City staff for their contributions and recognized The Rail Yard Market’s first cohort of vendors — The Mossy Coast, Maggie’s Treats, Tin Can Pottery Shop and Sinfully Delicious — for their dedication. The Mayor also congratulated the We Wai Kai First Nation for taking home the Best Retail award for the Starbucks at Quinsam Crossing. Congratulations also went out to Naturally Pacific Resort for their win in the Hospitality and Tourism category; Akers Property Solutions for receiving the Developer of the Year award; and to the team behind Evergreen Heights Townhouse, which received an Award of Merit in the Multi-Family Townhome category.
Making AEDs Accessible at City Parks and Fields
Council and City staff are exploring options to make Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) more accessible at various City parks and facilities following a recent medical incident at the Rotary Community Field House. Fortunately, medical professionals were on-site during the recent incident, and access to the AED inside the Fieldhouse was available. The City thanks all those involved in the response and is actively exploring ways to make the AEDs in City facilities more accessible for outdoor recreation and outside of regular working hours when City facilities are closed.
Delegations and Presentations Campbell River Situation Table Council received a presentation from Stefanie Hendrickson, Campbell River Situation Table Coordinator and Chair, that provided an overview of 2024 Campbell River Situation Table data. The presentation highlighted the benefits of the Situation Table model in bringing together service providers and the RCMP to connect individuals experiencing higher levels of risk with the services and supports they need. Council affirmed its commitment to resources to support mental health in British Columbia and thanked the Campbell River Situation Table for all that they do to support community well-being.
Request to Reconsider the Remedial Notice for 184 Erickson Road
Council confirmed the remedial action decision made at the March 27, 2025, Council meeting concerning 184 Erickson Road. This action requires the property owners to comply with a remedial notice and provide the City with an arborist’s assessment and a qualified environmental professional’s memo, under Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014. This followed an update from the property owners and subsequent questions from Council.
Legislative Services Updates
Downtown Campbell River Business Improvement Area Bylaw
Council adopted Downtown Campbell River Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3985, 2025, which renews operation of the Downtown BIA’s business improvement area for another five-year term and expands the business improvement area’s boundaries. A local service tax will be levied against the properties located within the area identified on Schedule A of the bylaw.
The Downtown Campbell River Business Improvement Association (Downtown BIA) wished to amend and expand their business improvement area to include properties located on 11th Avenue, from Cedar Street to Dogwood
Street. They requested that the bylaw renewal and boundary expansion move forward using the Council Initiative method. Through this process, letters of opposition from property owners were accepted until May 6, 2025. The City received twelve letters opposing the amendment, which does not meet the required threshold of at least 50 per cent of the owners of all properties in the area signing a petition against the proposal.
Financial Updates
2025 Tax Rates Bylaw
Now that the Financial Plan Bylaw has been adopted, the City is required under Section 197 of the Community Charter to adopt a Tax Rates Bylaw before May 15, 2025. Council adopted Tax Rates Bylaw No. 3993, 2025. The Tax Rates Bylaw enacts the 2.89 per cent tax increase that was approved to support the City’s 2025-2034 Financial Plan. The 2025 tax increase supports the base operating budget and critical investments in capital infrastructure.
Non-market change was higher than what was originally included in the 2025 – 2034 Financial plan, and Council approved amending the 2025-2034 Financial Plan to reflect a one-time increase of $72,342 to taxation revenue as a result of higher than anticipated non market change. The $72,342 will be allocated to strategic initiatives at the City Manager’s direction in 2025 and referred to 2026-2035 financial planning to reduce any necessary tax increase for 2026 or applied to other corporate priorities.
2024 Audited Financial Statements
Council approved the City’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. The audit was completed by the City’s auditors, MNP, and received an unqualified audit opinion, meaning that the statements are free from material misstatement and conform to public sector accounting standards. This highlights the City’s commitment to the protection of public funds and strong financial management.
Some key takeaways include:
· Key performance indicators highlight that the City is in a strong financial position, living within its means, and that the City consistently invests annually in its critical infrastructure.
· Financial assets have increased by approximately $7.6 million (to a total of $142.4 million) in the current year. This includes a $20 million increase related to the growth of investments, which generated $5.6 million in revenue for the City in 2025. This revenue helps fund ongoing operations, helps keep taxation low and supports infrastructure enhancement and renewal.
· Financial liabilities have increased by about $7.8 million compared to 2024.
· The City has undertaken significant capital projects costing nearly $24 million in 2025.
· The City’s annual surplus is $16.5 million for 2024 (in 2023, it was $18.9 million). The majority of the surplus is due to funding received from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund and capital asset transactions. A portion of the surplus, $2.6 million, is attributable to general operations and will flow through the Financial Stabilization Reserve to fund emerging risks or other liabilities the City may incur in the future. This is in line with the City’s Financial Stability and Resiliency Policy.
Development Services Update
Accessory Dwelling Unit Utility Fee Update Council adopted User Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 3991, 2025, which recommends amendments to the utility fees for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
The amendment applies a 20 per cent reduction in water and sewer utility rates for legal ADUs for 2025 for three years (until December 2027). The temporary rate reduction will apply to newly constructed ADUs or to ADUs that are legalized during the period of the program, and not to ADUs that were already constructed and legally permitted. Aligning with Council direction and with the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program, the change will be funded by HAF revenue and is intended to encourage ADU legalization and development by reducing operating costs for property owners.