Councillors in Gibsons got to work on their 2017 budget this week with a look at water and sewer rates.
On the water side, a staff report is recommending an end to the special levy that was added to parcel taxes to help cover the costs of dealing with the E. coli contamination that forced a boil water advisory in 2014. The levy had been set at $75 in 2016 and brought in $168,075.
The proposed increase in the regular parcel tax for water is two per cent, which would bring it to $202. No change is planned in the “bulk water facility charge” of $21.50, which pays for a water supply contract with the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
Possible user fee increases include five per cent for the residential fixed portion and four per cent for the variable portion.
Town staff are also suggesting council consider dropping a charge to fill water bottles at Well No. 1.
The recommendation to council on sewer fees is to continue following the advice of a 2014 study on sewer rates and increase both the parcel tax and user fee by six per cent.
The next budget meeting is set for March 14.
Bicycle lanes
At its regular meeting Feb. 21 council voted to try to work with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) on improving the cycling route along Gibsons Way between North and Payne roads, which is the stretch that’s part of Highway 101.
Coun. Jeremy Valeriote’s motion asked for Town staff to work with MOTI “on opportunities and constraints for marked bicycle lanes in both directions, and improved maintenance of lanes and markings.”
Valeriote said his motion came out of what he heard during the debate over bike lanes on Shaw Road. “It was mentioned several times that to make the Shaw Road infrastructure succeed it has to connect to a network. The obvious place for that is where it meets Gibsons Way.”
Coun. Silas White said Gibsons Way should be a “huge priority” for the Town and the Ministry of Transportation.
