[0:00] Go to the special meeting council, down the road, December 8, 2025 at 2 p.m., look for a motion to adopt each under a circulated.

[0:10] We'll move right into water matters proposed, 2026, 2032, budget for general fund.

[0:24] Yes, I'll pass it over to regulations. Thank you. Thank you for your attention.

[0:29] I put a bit of a slide deck together, just a photo, so to show you sort of three projects that I've brought forward in the general budget.

[0:37] So I just thought we would walk through them. If I can get there.

[0:42] So it's a pay-in-vince that a repaid visitor sent to a parking lot, major road projects for our school-of-and-finish galapark.

[0:54] There we go.

[1:00] There we go. So this was one of the events that we had down at the visitor center.

[1:10] I'm talking about absolutely full. They did a pretty good job without having lines.

[1:16] But I'd love to see that we proper drainage in some of the objects that's coming up here that I'll show you.

[1:23] You can kind of see, there's an empty shot in the full shot.

[1:28] There's kind of the trees and some major damage to the asphalt that is down there, and also to the access to the hiking bike trail.

[1:36] It's a bit of a full bike road trail to get from the parking lot on to the hiking bike.

[1:43] And that's sort of a photo from the other side and just kind of the rest of the gravel parking lot.

[1:47] So I have a budget in there to pay, grade, and do strung drainage in the general budget that the CF over and bring forward.

[1:57] The next project is school of last year was kind of brought up what a major road project.

[2:02] This is one of the worst roads in towns or these three blocks that the top portion up by the schools has been done with carbon gutter and new asphalt.

[2:11] None of this section has been done.

[2:13] It's in really rough shape.

[2:16] And this is a classified as a minor collector, where a fellow view is a major collector.

[2:20] But this is to do with the institutional side and the schools and heavily utilized.

[2:24] So it's just kind of basically starting down by town home by Man Street and working our way up to home.

[2:35] There we go.

[2:36] You can kind of see how the tree-rated the asphalt is and what kind of shape it's in.

[2:44] There we go.

[2:45] You've got to do some fancy moves.

[2:54] You can kind of see how bad it gets just as we go up the hill there.

[3:01] This is that sort of sub-opposition of that same block between Main Street.

[3:11] This is the intersection of Cutenin School.

[3:16] You can see that sort of the portion of gravel between the sidewalk on the Cutenin and Cutenin.

[3:24] There's literally there is no carbon gutter.

[3:27] And any of this entire stretch except for between Gala and Cutenog and on the south side.

[3:35] There's Cueb that we could be tying into.

[3:37] None of the letdowns, all the letdowns are asphalt.

[3:41] There's actually a piece of sidewalks actually got asphalt overlay because it was in such bad shape.

[3:47] You can kind of continue to see the shape of the road.

[3:51] This is the stairs portion that basically the edge of the stairs is kind of a trough drain there.

[3:56] On the other side there actually is Bayeria Cueb and there has been a little patch it's been done along that side.

[4:01] That would remain and we would do new asphalt, do new stairs and Cutenin gutter down this side.

[4:08] Again just some more more asphalt condition shots.

[4:13] And then you can kind of see here a couple of things.

[4:17] That's what we would tie into a Gala part.

[4:19] There is a Cutenin gutter and there is on the other side as well.

[4:22] This is just one of the classes that I've seen walk down this and every single week when it comes to the pedestrian side of things.

[4:29] There's classes that are going to the rec center where they're going but but it is a heavily heavily used road.

[4:35] So it's just something that I thought I would bring forward to council and the CFO will be presenting that budget.

[4:42] This is the Gala part redevelopment.

[4:44] So it's just going to go through what Gala part used to look like and to the approved budget from last year where we got to.

[4:50] So this is basically what it used to look like.

[4:59] The bottom portion of stairs we did replace these two shots here.

[5:10] Just the condition of them we thought it was a great enough hazard that we should replace that bottom set of stairs.

[5:20] This is after the redevelopment.

[5:23] So starting again at the far end and working our way through.

[5:27] So I think it's a massive improvement.

[5:41] Actually just added two benches up there today and we still have a garbage can that we're waiting to come in as well.

[5:47] We've stopped at this stairs basically is where we stopped to budget wise to what to where we could get to and what my ask is is actually the budget put forward with the CFO to finish the rest of the park.

[6:01] There's the new bottom set of stairs.

[6:05] This is the new turnaround that council approved with the gate that the that the garbage truck can go through.

[6:12] We let it go the bit of a nicer gate is actually munk off.

[6:16] Don't need it that doing the design work on that it didn't cost any more than any natural gate would that we would put there.

[6:23] But I really wanted it to kind of enhance the park and not just be at a hindrance and a big yellow kind of gate.

[6:29] So they were kind enough to do that for us and do that on their laser table.

[6:34] We also did some great great damage and we're in redoing this park to the lane so again we've done a bunch of patchpaving and replacement of some major sections and along with the turnaround at the end.

[6:47] Also we added curb the entire lane on asphalt curves so that we could put in a shoulder there on the backside of the grass to kind of finish that up as well and fix some of the ones that we're broken from the snow plows and things.

[7:01] And this is this is the area that we still have remaining to do at the far end.

[7:13] There you go.

[7:15] Take any questions you have any questions.

[7:18] Question.

[7:19] Can you refresh.

[7:20] Was there not work to be done underneath school?

[7:23] Water sewer one time.

[7:26] That's correct that was part of a mining project essentially so there is a small portion in the budget that would have to be the water crossing so that we wouldn't go back into the new road.

[7:35] For Oconogging in for Cookey and a small section basically going up the hill on school is there's a sanitary service that comes off a broken organ and it's the second house up so they brought it all the way up.

[7:48] That's a total of clay that we would like to replace as well.

[7:51] So there is a small water and and sewer portion to this but the major cost on the water was about $400,000 for the main feed line that we that we lined a year ago.

[8:03] That's a great.

[8:05] Thank you, Mayor.

[8:06] Far back for the part where you want to finish I'm just wondering what those kind of makeshift blocks of rocks in the mesh if that's going to be replaced.

[8:18] It's just through the mayor to council council.

[8:21] It's very expensive that's that's a gaping wall so it's actually acting as a retaining wall.

[8:27] I could look at what we can do with some off blocks like we did at the other side as far as budget.

[8:33] I didn't have those in the budget that I prepared that the CFO is going to present.

[8:38] It's definitely something I would like to do but I trying to kind of retain and keep the dollars down as you guys did give us money to redo this part.

[8:46] To redo this part in this year.

[8:48] So but I definitely if we up that budget a bit I could definitely replace that.

[8:54] Yeah.

[8:56] Can you hazard a guess as to how much it would be and would it have to be done all at once or as a possible if you needed to phase it in and do it in a future year to do that.

[9:06] That's one of the mayor to council.

[9:08] My estimate so right now you know the I put any five thousand dollars to finish the park if we had a hundred thousand dollars I could do that.

[9:16] I could do that bottom portion.

[9:18] And it's like a part of the question.

[9:21] Like what it would have to be done all the way to do it all at once.

[9:25] I would love to finish it up in twenty twenty six.

[9:27] So that would just be part of what we do is one of the first things we would do is retain it.

[9:32] Remove and retain that and then work on the slope itself.

[9:34] And is it possible to do that part of it in a future year if they council didn't approve the additional budget.

[9:40] It is.

[9:42] I mean it would definitely possibly compromise what we do on the hillside to kind of redo that and there would definitely be some rework we would have to do.

[9:50] But it did possible for sure.

[9:52] Thank you.

[9:54] Yeah that's part of the sense of just that those gave you and blocks could be replaced down the road was locked blocks.

[10:00] But my question was no wrong. That's quite a steep slope area. What is the plan?

[10:05] I know you've said you want to redevelop it and here's the budget.

[10:08] But what are we going to do with that slope?

[10:10] We are going to through the mayor to council.

[10:14] Sorry, council matters.

[10:16] The shrubs, basically.

[10:19] A good chunk of it would be kind of shrubs that we would place.

[10:22] So we'd get rid of we would strip it and put larger shrubs in the base that out and they would kind of grow together.

[10:28] There is the portion with the picnic table and there's a flat section in there and stuff that I'd like to enhance.

[10:33] We'd put a little flower bed on the backside of it to try and just tie it in with the rest of the park with the walkmarks, park mulch and that type of thing.

[10:41] But it's majority of that steep slope would be more vegetated and shrubs.

[10:46] Yeah.

[10:47] I don't see any other questions.

[10:52] I just have one comment just around the meeting down there by the visitor center.

[10:57] I think that's the project I'm struggling with the most in the capital plan.

[11:01] I think there's some opportunity to do some things down there that we're, you know, council's been kind of working towards.

[11:08] We're going to relocate everything.

[11:10] What are we going to do with the visitor center?

[11:12] There's a lot of questions around there and there's a lot of utilities under there that could be impacted.

[11:22] I think that's, to me, I'd like to see more of a plan.

[11:25] Think about what we're going to do with that visitor center area before we put a asphalt down there and then have to dig into it like anything else.

[11:32] So that would just be my comment on that for now.

[11:36] If there's nothing else, I will leave you pass it over to the sea above.

[11:42] Thank you, Your Worship.

[11:43] It's way for the power point to come up here.

[11:46] But the, just to introduce the report.

[11:49] This is part of the five year financial plan, 2026 to 2030, which will have operating in capital expenditure for water sewer and general funds.

[11:59] So the focus today is on general fund and the expenditures and to get council feedback and revision if necessary to the, to the items.

[12:09] You notice in the package, you probably saw that already, but I organized the detailed information on the capital expenditures and to, to file us over the first hour, really focuses on 2026.

[12:22] What we're asking for for next year and where those items in the PDF called.

[12:34] 2026 capital expenditure details that one, if you click on that, you can follow along with the, with the over with the other heads.

[12:43] Where is the other one, the attachment to is the 10 year is the five year plan, all those items just in numerical order.

[12:51] So just to help you when you're going through that, that makes it.

[12:54] I was trying to make it as easy as possible, so you don't jump around between PDFs and pages.

[12:59] So hopefully I kept everything in order for 2026.

[13:05] Now let's see if I can get this thing to go.

[13:09] So we're going to review 2025.

[13:12] That's completed.

[13:13] That's projected to carry forward.

[13:15] Pay for it.

[13:16] It could change between now and year end.

[13:18] Just revisit the budget principles again and then begin to the, the budget and then the reserve.

[13:24] And then the timeline, the financial plan timeline going forward.

[13:28] So this is the, the projects that are projected to be completed by December 31.

[13:34] So you can see that there's about $3 million that end that doesn't have all the spending yet in 2025 that it be completed.

[13:45] So a lot of projects and these are just the general fund projects.

[13:49] So not the water or the sewer.

[13:55] What's carrying forward, you know, as of a week.

[13:59] So we could go.

[14:00] These are the projects that are carrying into 2026 that are getting completed.

[14:05] And as I said, this could change between now and year end.

[14:09] Because there's some projects that are at this list that you can see haven't had spending yet.

[14:14] But I've been told the money will be spent by December 31.

[14:17] So if that takes place, then then this list would be the final carry forward into the next year.

[14:27] So going into 2026, these are the burden projects that are planned.

[14:32] And I don't know if there's one correction on here the file, which about replacement value gets struck off.

[14:38] Because that project was still in the budget, but it was completed not last year.

[14:43] But the year before fire chief tells me, so we will need to spend working to replace it again.

[14:49] Something hasn't happened to it.

[14:51] It just happened to be that they had it in in another year.

[14:57] But there's a project for.

[15:00] 2020-26 will be the Supreme Court System. In the HVAC, which I said will be taking off so early $80,000 in

[15:09] 2026 capital expenditures. Then you can see the expenditures in the five years going up to 2030. Nothing

[15:17] in 2020-29 and 2030 at this point was budgeted in the financial plan.

[15:22] Going round to the equipment, there's some IT projects for the town and I think two years ago,

[15:34] I think I gave a five-year kind of plan for IT to refresh our system. So this is the 2020-26 portion.

[15:44] All those expenditures separated the fire service from the town, Jose. So you can see the fire's got about $11,000 in replacing PCs that are out of date.

[15:59] This infrastructure, of course, replaces the tablets that all of you use. So there'll be new equipment for the incoming council next fall.

[16:10] The people in the equipment is related to the fire service, GPS, that was on, I think, last year and was deferred, and so it's come back this year again.

[16:24] The tourism parking lot, which is the director of operations spoke to me, you can see it's seen there for $100,000 in the extraction system for the fire hall,

[16:34] which you have the details on that, which is an OHNS issue for the fire service.

[16:45] Land projects, just the Gallup Park, I read a development at 85,000 and if council wishes to increase that budget,

[16:55] they can give me that direction to come back if that's council's well. And then we have the final quarter

[17:03] section, budgeted for 2020, 30 for the cemetery.

[17:14] Land roads are usually a longer list, as you can see in 2026, they've got some work on the bridges in terms of

[17:21] ceiling and the approach work. And as well as some no command is on there in Main Street, those are what

[17:29] central command was the, and you'll visit that in the community, the whole in terms of a grant funded project.

[17:37] So it's shown on here, but you can see it's grant funded, those are the grants that we've applied in two different streams for.

[17:45] So hopefully out of those two will get, hopefully we'll get that 100% funding as opposed to the cost share, but they're in here for now,

[17:53] subject to grant funding. The rest of the projects are funded pretty much out of reserves,

[18:01] including you can see the school and Dr. Rappation showed you these slides on school. So you can see

[18:09] school has got a piece in there out of the B.C. growing communities fund is where I took the funding for that project.

[18:17] And just for council, because we've already passed the water and sewer capital plan. So to avoid

[18:25] having any impact on the water and sewer rates, the water and sewer portions of those projects,

[18:30] I've budgeted those to be funded by the community works fund. So with that, if council decided on this project,

[18:37] those two pieces are funded. So it wouldn't affect the water or sewer rates. It's funded out of reserves.

[18:45] So it wouldn't have an impact other than taking so many out of community works fund. But that's our

[18:52] eligible purpose for those funds.

[18:59] Vehicle capital, and we can see another pickup are being replaced as well as the Kubota,

[19:07] the tractor, the miller. And Dr. Rappations on that item, just for council's consideration,

[19:14] is requesting early approval. I put to avoid you and pricing increases, but it's also a lead time.

[19:20] It takes some six months to build the miller. So he's requesting early approval. So that'll be ready

[19:28] in time to cut the grass. Assuming we'll have lots of grass within three months probably.

[19:37] The bus truck replacement, I've got that as deck financing. And so we'll finance that over five

[19:42] years, probably, our share, depending on what the, what the out of our file protection district

[19:51] determines. And in terms of our, just to anticipate a question that you'll ask,

[19:57] all the capital items that have fire related, the fire chief authority presented these to the fire

[20:03] protection district. Women at our official meeting will represent the tax rate and everything

[20:07] to them, but he's going to have the capital items with them and has their support at this point.

[20:22] I think the last slide on the, the operation side is just all of the fire. I just told you,

[20:27] I think council requested that last year to have all the fire items show up on one slice. You could see it

[20:33] in one page. I know it's sprinkled throughout, you know if it's a building or a equipment,

[20:38] but this way you can see everything showing up on one slide.

[20:51] This shows where the funds are coming from over the five years. And then the on the bottom part of that

[20:58] slide is just showing what sort of accounting bucket they're following to whether it's buildings,

[21:04] equipment, land, roads, or vehicles. So you can see we're going to spend over five years projected to

[21:11] spend $14 million of which 4.6 million is forecast for 2026.

[21:18] So the projected reserves, and that's where I show the relates to the school out of

[21:29] Avenue Water Project, because you can see the community works. I just wanted to highlight that that it

[21:32] has been covered off in our planning. So it's not to impact the water and sewer at this point,

[21:39] but I mean you can see our reserves, you know, continue to go down the border and sewer your

[21:48] well aware of and these are just the general reserves. And you can see that the reserves have been

[21:52] consolidated based on the reserve policy and council deciding to move some of that money into

[21:59] other reserves to consolidate it. So this slide reflects that.

[22:10] So this is the financial plan going for planning on January 12th to give you the full financial plan.

[22:18] And assuming that BC assessment provides the complain of your own, not the revised road, but at least

[22:24] the completed road for the assessments, we'll have the tax rate impacts to for you. So you'll know

[22:30] the average cost to an average household in all of her.

[22:38] Happy to entertain any questions.

[22:41] Captured down to 14 slides.

[22:44] Thank you.

[22:45] Okay. First question. Thank you. What happened with the blind mixer? Why did it go from

[22:55] 80,000 to 130,000? That question. I'll turn over to the Director of Operations.

[23:03] I have to add the question. I have to add the question. That's what I'm sure, council's.

[23:05] To add notice that.

[23:08] Through the mayor to Councillor Grish. Yeah, there was a few missteps in that one as we thought we could

[23:14] bring the water from the building itself. We actually had to come out of sawmill and

[23:19] trench across the road all the way to the back with a new two-inch line.

[23:24] And we also thought that we had enough grinding that was going to be left to have to do the pad for it.

[23:31] We needed a level pad to be able to set it on. We didn't. We utilized those partway through the year.

[23:38] And we had to pave that pad as well. So there was a few unforeseen items with that project,

[23:46] for sure. That put it up to the number that it is.

[23:50] Where did the 50,000 come from? It's basically just a cost overrun. I think it would just

[23:55] would that be coming out of the snow reserves? Well, that through the mayor to Councillor Grish.

[24:01] Yeah, the snow reserves is where we were taking that money. So that is where I was planning to take the

[24:06] overage out of as well would be the the snow reserve.

[24:11] I have a few more if you want to. Another day I am at this case, though, does this move looked into

[24:18] laptops instead of iPads for the incoming council. I just think with the cost of the iPads

[24:24] anyways, I just find it a laptop a lot more functional. Easy to use. I wonder if it's worth looking into.

[24:31] We can certainly look at iPads for next year. We've got laptops all. Yes. Yeah,

[24:40] laptops. We've priced out the iPads. We've priced out the surface pros. And then we've priced out an

[24:46] Android tablet. But if you'd rather have a laptop instead, we can look at those costs. That's just my

[24:51] preference. I mean, it's not, I'm not who knows who's incoming. But I think there are a lot easier.

[24:58] Like I find, when I'm going outside meetings, I just take my laptop with me. Yeah.

[25:03] We were going with the iPads because they had the cellular capability. So you could access

[25:10] every, like your data anywhere. Okay. I got needing to be on home at home on Wi-Fi.

[25:16] But we can certainly, we can send you out an email and see whatever I would like. Yeah, I mean, it's almost Wi-Fi.

[25:21] I ever wear no anyways. Let's see. Thank you. I would say you're probably better. I spend that

[25:29] email out after the election.

[25:36] About two more. I don't know for. Yeah. Just my opinion on Gallo Park is I think it makes sense just to

[25:43] complete the project now because it sounds like if we remove those, I can't remember what you call them,

[25:47] but there might be some kind of undermining of the work that you've done when we go to a

[25:51] place in the box. So in my opinion, we would approve the extra 15.

[25:56] I also just wanted to express some concerns about the state of the general reserve at the end of

[26:04] 2026. If there is more room in my opinion to take money at the BC growing communities found,

[26:13] I'd rather do that than to plead our capital or our general reserve. I think what did I see at

[26:20] that the closing was 153,000, like there's just hardly anything left in there.

[26:28] But again, just my opinion, that's my points for now. Thank you.

[26:34] A couple of questions in the computer hardware software, I believe,

[26:39] to 11,970 dollars. It's not broken down on this particular report, but in the other report.

[26:48] In 2027, we're spending new dust cops, 2900, and the network firewall of 2800,

[26:55] and the contingency fund is 6,200 and 700. Why is there such a large contingency?

[27:04] The contingency is as large as the budget?

[27:08] That's with a merit account for matters. That was the budget I worked with with another

[27:16] computer. I think they're just planning for what could, because 730 was just timing in terms of

[27:25] when some of the replacements were done. I think the one year I'm trying to think, I don't know,

[27:31] that PDF opened in front of me, but the 2027 was fairly low, wasn't it?

[27:38] Yeah, it's under attack from two. I saw the time to find out where it was,

[27:45] but I'm just, why such a high contingency? Why is the contingency as high as the budget?

[27:53] Yeah, and that can be adjusted, certainly, in those out years, for sure.

[27:57] Normally our contingencies are in the 10%, and 15%.

[28:03] In regards to the four-story truck, I see that it's going to put us in debt to the two and a half million dollars,

[28:10] and I'm personally a little bit debt-of-verse. Is there, have we looked at any other options for the existing truck?

[28:17] I believe it hasn't been that long that we just got a four-story truck,

[28:21] because the first one was two dollars, and they needed four dollars, so we bought a four-door truck.

[28:26] And now we're coming back and being told, well, the four-door truck isn't good enough either.

[28:33] And to the two and a half million dollars, have we looked at airbags and larger tires, have we looked at

[28:39] all of the equipment that's on the truck and taking some of the equipment off?

[28:42] If it's too heavy, what have we done in the back on half million dollars, a little lot of money, and I don't like that?

[28:51] Now, I've tuned that question through the mayor to councilmanus over to a fairer chief,

[28:55] because that was an outstanding item from last year's budget, because remember it came up,

[28:59] the bus truck there were questions at that point, so,

[29:03] Josh, as well, prepared. Yeah, thank you, through the mayor to councilmanus.

[29:09] So, we have looked at the options for Tim Rins, which are airless bags, just to take away some of the

[29:18] concerns with the reliability of an air system. We've looked into airbags.

[29:25] We are working on a cross vehicle weight with the larger water tank that is on there now, to meet type 5 type 6

[29:33] while then spec, with the SCBA apparatus that we're using for certain medical calls, as well as certain

[29:41] interface fire calls, as well as the additional pump that has been installed to go in line with BCWall

[29:48] fire spec as well. We are pushing and can be over gross vehicle weight, depending on how many people are in the vehicle,

[29:57] and beyond that.

[30:00] In the fire service, we have kind of the 20-year rule for our first do-up apparatus going out to front door, and that's set to set forth by the UL.

[30:10] When it comes to medium and light, do you have applications, we don't have anything in stone that states it has to be 5, 10, 20, or it can be whatever.

[30:21] So we went back and we looked at the best practices that other municipalities are using, and the recommendation that was coming forth was a 10-year life cycle, when it comes to medium and light, do you have?

[30:35] Now, that better aligns us with some of our future planning. So we know what the life cycle is, what I would hate to see is,

[30:46] us getting into a similar position that we're in today, where we're going to be coming back before council, with multiple apps, with multiple apps from multiple vehicles moving forward as these life cycles expire, being a lighter medium, do you vehicle, and 80,000 kilometer vehicle on a gasoline engine from cold to fairly aggressive throttle use is shortening that life span as well.

[31:14] I believe that's a 20, 20, or sorry, a 20, 14, pushing it well beyond the recommended 10-year life cycle.

[31:24] So to better align ourselves with industry standards, keeping us GOT compliant, keeping us busy wildfire compliant, as well as replacement, mindful with the rest of our fleet.

[31:37] That is the reason for the asked for 20, 26.

[31:44] Is it councilmember?

[31:52] Well, I can't even speak to my own experience with timid rooms both and airbags, and they both were just fine.

[31:59] There are not reliability issues with airbags.

[32:07] Yeah, I have them on my truck now, Nick.

[32:12] Just to me, it's a big span.

[32:15] What is the mileage on the existing vehicle?

[32:18] After your mayor, can you Councilor Mattis?

[32:21] I have to look back and get that exact figure, but I believe it's somewhere in the 65 to 70,000 kilometer.

[32:31] Yeah, I guess my comments would just be that our reserves are definitely down.

[32:37] I really think we need to bring the care for what we move forward with on capital projects.

[32:43] I'm not in favor of the painting.

[32:46] The 100,000 euros for the visitor center parking lot.

[32:49] I don't think that's a safety concern.

[32:52] I'm certainly not so at this time.

[32:54] And I'd like to request general, the school, the school having a run.

[32:59] I think we should really be, we shouldn't really be dealing with road.

[33:06] We're surfacing or reconditioning unless there's linear assets that need to be dealt with, that are more important than I know.

[33:15] Main Street is one we're playing for a grant there, but really, you know, I would add a little off on that project

[33:21] and see if we get grant funding because there's some serious linear assets in Main Street that need to be dealt with.

[33:28] I'm seeing some, not seeing safety concerns, some statics, maybe a few bumps here and there, but nothing that's going to be a problem if it's left for a year or two.

[33:42] Type of things, there's more things we talk about parking lots, we look at the parking lot, but we, I remember.

[33:49] In the community center where that's a high priority to get done, but really the money went to keep the remaining open.

[33:55] It was really important that we were in the boat parking lot.

[33:58] I would now see those projects held off and deal with linear asset projects.

[34:05] The only house in which we need to go around, and if we can continue to spend money on things that the large amounts and even the truck.

[34:14] I mean, you know, that's not very many calendars on it.

[34:18] Knowing we actually have to have one, or is it a way we can move forward without it, especially that.

[34:24] When we're looking at that as a way to deal with the lack of reserves, we're setting to know ourselves as well.

[34:32] When we start taking a little bit of a gap, and I think we really need to be confident and sure that we need to spend that money on more than money.

[34:40] Those are, those are my comments, thanks.

[34:47] Thanks a lot.

[34:48] Thank you, Mayor.

[34:49] I know from a visitor center park, I don't think mostly because we haven't figured out what the vision for that area is.

[34:55] Yeah, it's probably not coming from this iteration of council.

[34:59] I do want to go, if it's possible, just looking at potential, tripping hazards is just to, like here, like fix the path, just be on the ballad, because I mean, I, I do see how that, that could be an issue, maybe a liability of somebody were to.

[35:16] We're going to trip along there.

[35:18] And then do the rest of the parking lot once we figure out what we're doing there.

[35:26] Yeah, for sure. I mean, that should be part of regular meetings that's done on sidewalks.

[35:31] There are always inspected and looking for real answers to whatever policies are regarding sidewalks and parking lots and streets and sidewalks.

[35:41] And, you know, letting those on the roads and different things like that, that's part of regular meetings.

[35:47] When you have only so many dollars to go around spending a few thousand dollars on that, as opposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[35:56] We don't have money to do everything.

[35:59] That's really a bad line at the end of the day.

[36:03] I know that we're looking at a significant tax increase that we'll be discussed in January.

[36:10] But these are the kind of things that we're going to have to start.

[36:15] This council run future councils are really going to have to start looking at seriously, because the available capital is limited.

[36:22] And the ability to raise funds through taxation is limited as well with our smart tax base.

[36:37] Just in answer to a couple of things that were, was that to were asked by council.

[36:44] In terms of the IT budget, that contingency item those dollars will be removed.

[36:52] That was a vestige from the earlier iteration of the budget.

[36:57] Because I went back to the original documents to see.

[37:00] And it's really just the two items that are budgeted to be replaced in 2027 and so I think that contingency was in there from last year's version.

[37:09] So that I should have struck that out. So that's $7,000 coming out of 2027 doesn't have 2026.

[37:15] And in terms of the growing communities fund.

[37:19] We're forecast the end of the year at 631,000.

[37:24] Those ones, whereas in those have to be spent by 2028.

[37:28] So there's really, we do have to spend that money within the next couple of this year and next year.

[37:34] We have to have projects to use that money up for the grant conditions.

[37:42] So that's one of my questions was what is the time frame one not around the basis that I fully support council grace.

[37:48] I know it's one pocket versus another pocket.

[37:51] One reserve versus another basically, but it makes more sense to take it out of an out of an account that has a time frame attached.

[38:02] So in terms of direction for me, taking this to the next step.

[38:08] The one question I have is do I move the guy or budget up 15,000 from 85 to 100 was my one question.

[38:17] I will move if the consensus is to remove the patent parking lot for the visitor center.

[38:25] I can do that and then the third one was what to do with school avenue.

[38:30] That's a fairly significant one.

[38:34] Thank you very much.

[38:36] And the bush talk, sorry.

[38:39] Yeah, thank you.

[38:41] So personally, I feel that we should see what it looks like bumping up the Gallus Street budget to 100,000.

[38:48] I'm pretty sure we've been working on Gallus Street Park.

[38:52] I know in different versions and then waiting time and whatever, but pretty much as long as I've been on council.

[38:58] So it'd be nice to just get it done and not have to talk about it anymore.

[39:02] Personally, I find it, I think we've talked about this every year and it's just the way that budgeting works.

[39:10] I find it hard to be picking and choosing and pulling projects that have been proposed without knowing what that looks like as far as an increase or percentage increase.

[39:21] And so personally, I would like to see the proposed projects remain in the budget until we see what that looks like in the new year.

[39:28] That's just my opinion.

[39:30] I think that, I think that we are presented with plans that are quite conservative every year.

[39:40] School avenue, we've also been talking about for, like I can't even remember how long.

[39:48] It feels like we used to maybe get three to five large projects presented to us a year and we'd punt one or two.

[39:58] Now we're having just, you know, two or three larger projects presented to us they're not even as big as they used to be and we're still trying to punt half of them.

[40:06] And I know everything costs money but the longer you put stuff off, the more and more that you have to do and the more that it costs.

[40:13] I mean, we all know that.

[40:15] So I feel comfortable or I would feel comfortable leaving what's been presented in there until we see what that looks like as a percentage increase.

[40:23] And then, and then have a more detailed conversation about what we need to remove and why.

[40:29] That's just my opinion.

[40:31] I just want to question sorry because, of course, the challenges are being funded out of reserve.

[40:37] So we're not talking about a tax increase. Well, they stay in where they go out.

[40:41] The tax increase is only going to be talking about how much money goes into reserve at the end of the day.

[40:45] And how much gets your place. So we're in a conversation right now. How much do you want to take your reserves down?

[40:51] Knowing what a tax increase.

[40:53] Around 15% is not going to increase your reserves by a heck of a lot.

[40:57] A few hundred thousand dollars at the end of the day.

[40:59] And what I'm saying is, let's not take our reserves down just so that we can do some projects.

[41:05] Let's be smart about how we spend their money.

[41:09] Councillor Grace.

[41:11] Yeah, thank you, Worship.

[41:13] Just hearing that Councillor Ventain Melissa's.

[41:15] But now what you've said to kind of change my thinking a little bit.

[41:19] I would still like to see the visitor center pull just based on the fact that I don't think we know what we're doing with that area.

[41:25] It doesn't make sense to haven't and then potentially dig it up to build a park or a plaza or whatever.

[41:31] So for school, having you, are we not doing any infrastructure under the road?

[41:39] It's just, it's just paving. Are we doing, are we replacing infrastructure under the road?

[41:43] Through the middle of Councillor Grace.

[41:45] It's the water crossing school essentially for Oconog and Coutney.

[41:49] So we're just doing those portions to the extent of get this out of school so that we can carry on in the future, basically.

[41:57] And then there's one sanitary service that's the second house up the hill by the stairs.

[42:01] There's the service runs up the road.

[42:03] So it's Victoria Clay. We've replaced that and we're replacing all of the water services as well.

[42:09] There's 17 water services that are all copper very, very old connected to the line that we, the line that we line that made major line.

[42:17] So there's basically 220,000 in water and 20,000 in sanitary is the linear infrastructure we're doing.

[42:25] So anything running along school?

[42:29] The only thing is that a new reservoir fee that we lined last year.

[42:33] So that's already been done. Correct.

[42:35] Yeah.

[42:37] It's too bad we didn't do this then I guess.

[42:39] I guess we didn't dig up the whole thing.

[42:41] Okay.

[42:43] Yeah, I mean if there's not an immediate or something within the next decade sort of need to dig it up again.

[42:51] I mean I think it is one of those projects that we have been pushing down the road and does need to get done.

[42:55] So I would be fine to see that going forward.

[42:59] But I think we're going to maybe need to look at some options for what it's going to look like to replenish the reserves.

[43:07] Let's be going forward.

[43:09] Thank you.

[43:13] Just going to go backwards.

[43:15] But I hear that the snow removal of 50,000 was going to cover the overrun on the Brian mixer.

[43:25] The Brian one over by 50,000 I believe.

[43:29] You already said.

[43:31] Give the Mayor to Councillor Mattis.

[43:34] Yes, you're correct and I can see we're projecting the reserve to be at 30.

[43:38] So we're still going to be short 20.

[43:40] So 20 will be coming.

[43:41] I was guessing that might be a question.

[43:44] Well, the question is more on we're taking 80 out of the reserve.

[43:49] And 50 of it was going towards that.

[43:51] Where's the other 30 going?

[43:54] I think that 80 is the Brian mixer.

[43:59] Yeah, I think 80 was the first tool.

[44:01] Yeah, 80 was the second tool.

[44:02] 80 was the second tool.

[44:03] 80 was the second tool.

[44:04] 80 was in the budget.

[44:05] 80 was in the budget.

[44:06] 80 was in the budget.

[44:07] Oh, 20, 25.

[44:08] Oh, that's 80.

[44:09] Oh, sorry.

[44:10] I miss whether you're right.

[44:11] My apologies.

[44:22] Oh, yeah, we're taking that out this year in order to fund.

[44:27] So 30,000 of that, where it doesn't change anything.

[44:30] I know it says 20, 25, but that's.

[44:32] Well, I think that's the original 80 and then, but it's actually 130.

[44:37] And there's only 110 in that reserve.

[44:39] It's only 30 left.

[44:40] Yes, we're short 20.

[44:41] Yes, we're short 20.

[44:42] Yes, we're short 20.

[44:43] What?

[44:44] Well, I'm.

[44:46] The 2025 transfer out is the original 80 that the Brian mixer costs.

[44:52] But now it's actually 130, but that reserve is 110.

[44:55] Yes, we're short.

[44:56] I miss understood.

[44:57] This is all.

[44:58] It was all being paid for from that reserve.

[45:00] Got you? I didn't catch that part. That's right, yeah. Just to follow up, I would sort of support deleting the parking lot. I'm not sure that when we need reconstructive surgery that we should be buying lipstick.

[45:16] And that's how I look at a parking lot is lipstick and maybe that's what school avenue is as well. I know that school avenue got onto this list way back when we needed to replace that line under the ground.

[45:29] But by relining that, we basically took it off the list. We never did the upper part of that project because of the relining and maybe it's time we take the whole thing off the list until it comes back on because it does actually need repaving.

[45:44] I would not rather see that money spent repaving if we're putting down lipstick on sawmill road, which is in horrendous condition, be on the public works yard.

[45:55] But that's a whole other discussion. And if we don't pull that school approach there, then it would not make sense that, as you say, leaving on the box, but maybe spend the money, like the mayor says, on a project like similar community has linear assets underneath it.

[46:13] If we do not get grant funding, or to spend on Main Street, if we do not get grant funding, so that we can still move a major project for which we must do.

[46:24] We have to have one over here, there's no daughter, but whether we get grant funding or not, we have to do it. I know it's hard on reserves, but we can't afford not to.

[46:34] You have to, you know, I see a lot of money being asked for equipment. The last couple, you last year, I don't think we did a couple of projects because everything we need to equipment.

[46:44] And, you know, maybe we need to say, hey, it's it's time.

[46:49] So I still stand with, we need to find a better solution for a forestry truck. I don't support going into that for that. I would like to see staff look at other solutions for that truck.

[47:01] We have a lot of equipment that could carry the SCBAs or something. I don't know what the answers are, but I think there are other answers out there with aerobags.

[47:12] I support taking that off.

[47:18] Thank you, Mayor. You have the best truck I'm not totally sold on for this year either.

[47:23] School, I know, I'm still a little more in favor of, I think, just because we did talk about other infrastructure connections that are along the way that need to be replaced.

[47:34] So maybe a little bit more information, I guess, about the urgency of those other, the underground, sorry.

[47:46] Anyway, has a lot of sense of the connections, et cetera, that you spoke to that need to be replaced along the way and sort of how much of a disruption to the road that that would be.

[47:57] Anyway, isn't if it makes more, I mean, probably, thank you, it makes more sense just to do the whole thing, I think, but what it would look like if we were to just replace what needs to be replaced and not do the surface.

[48:07] Thank you.

[48:10] Thank you.

[48:14] I've just got a question on the bus truck.

[48:17] If it shows $500,000 of debt, it does not pay for protection and district pay half.

[48:34] But through the mayor to council shaper.

[48:37] Yes, so the fire protection district would be a contributing factor.

[48:42] So it wouldn't be $500,000.

[48:44] Again, it would be less the real fire protections share.

[48:50] It wouldn't be before the full value for debt.

[48:55] Thank you. So that does have an impact on what the followers would be here.

[49:02] Thank you.

[49:03] Through the mayor to council shaper.

[49:05] Yeah, the fire protection is in there because we don't know the will of the fire protection district because typically they could come back and say,

[49:13] Yeah, we don't want, we don't want to borrow money because that'll cost them.

[49:19] You know, then they'll be tied to the interest in principal payments, which if you recall with the last purchase, that's where they came up with capital and said,

[49:26] Well, we'll front our half and you can borrow for your half.

[49:29] So they may do that this time, but I know their reserves are getting low as well.

[49:34] So that's why I always try to budget the worst.

[49:37] Try to budget the more conservative case, which is they're going to say you're going to have to borrow for it.

[49:42] But you're right. It could be less, but it might not be.

[49:45] So this is kind of presenting.

[49:47] We would borrow for it if the if the direction was we need to buy the bus truck.

[49:52] But they could come back and say, well, we do have enough in our reserves, but I know the reserves are getting low.

[49:58] So they may not be in a position to say, we'll give you 250,000 cash and you borrow the 250.

[50:04] But that could drop the, you know, if they did that, that could drop the borrowing by maybe half.

[50:10] Thank you.

[50:12] The shaper?

[50:13] Sorry.

[50:14] Not so matters.

[50:15] Through to the fire chief.

[50:17] Does the duty officer respond to every call?

[50:22] Through the mayor to councilor Mattis.

[50:24] The duty officer responds to calls in evenings and weekends and when available during the week.

[50:32] So the call goes in and then we automatically take the duty officer doesn't necessarily go to the call.

[50:39] No, so if they're at work during any given Monday through Friday or potentially weekend is some of our officers are set to a week.

[50:49] Workers.

[50:50] The duty officer vehicle isn't always responding.

[50:53] So the command vehicle, which is the report of four to explore, that does respond as well as whatever apparatus for the response is required.

[51:04] We'll be leaving the bay.

[51:06] But the duty truck isn't going to 100% of the calls.

[51:10] It is being staffed by our pay on call.

[51:15] Lieutenant C.

[51:16] Captains.

[51:19] Why we would have a situation where we have a truck with a duty officer not responding.

[51:25] It just seems kind of strange that we would have that situation.

[51:29] And the reason I ask is because it seems to me that that's a solution to where to carry some of the equipment off of the forestry truck is your duty truck.

[51:38] Because it's supposed to respond to every call.

[51:42] And you could put some of that weight on to that truck.

[51:45] Because they are both the duty truck is supposed to be the first one on scene basically along with the command truck to determine what resources are brought out.

[51:54] And if the equipment is there, then when the forestry truck arrives the equipment would be on the side.

[51:59] I'm just throwing it out as another potential solution.

[52:03] A little alarm to hear that the duty officer doesn't respond to.

[52:08] Makes me wonder why we have.

[52:13] Through the mayor back to Councilor Mattis.

[52:18] I can't speak 100% to when the duty officer truck was brought into play.

[52:24] But having to manage that today.

[52:29] We do rely on paid on call volunteers to respond to these events.

[52:34] And these members aren't always able to leave their work or their family.

[52:38] So they do go on a weekly rotation.

[52:42] But many that they have to leave their place of employment during business hours is a pretty tall ask.

[52:50] So sharing the workload.

[52:52] Obviously I will be responding to every available call during business hours.

[52:56] And I think my attendance on after hours is still up in the night by percentile.

[53:02] But having to rely upon the duty vehicle to respond during business hours.

[53:09] And like I mentioned, those could be Monday to Friday.

[53:12] That could be evenings.

[53:13] It could be weekends.

[53:16] A few of our officers do work in the wine industry.

[53:22] So during harvest season, they are shutting it down at 3.30 in the afternoon.

[53:27] They're working well well into the evening.

[53:30] As much as that may not be available.

[53:34] The officer truck is responding to a large portion of our day day and even calls.

[53:40] But to see it's coming to a hundred percent would not be correct.

[53:48] Thank you, Mayor.

[53:50] Just going back to the bus truck.

[53:52] So you said that you're going to be making a budget presentation to the fire protection district shortly.

[53:57] Is that correct?

[53:59] And through the motor council.

[54:01] In 2026 and early 26 is when we sit down with them and go through the capital family of the capital and the operating piece.

[54:09] And the bus truck would be included in that?

[54:12] Yes.

[54:13] So based on our timeline, I'm able to see what the responses there and then revisit this at that point.

[54:18] Right.

[54:19] Because as we go through this budget, you can always add and delete items as we're going through.

[54:25] So when we know for certain what they're.

[54:28] I mean, they do very supportive of the bus truck.

[54:30] That's my understanding from the fire chief, but.

[54:33] Supportive and how they're going to pay for it are two different issues.

[54:36] So yeah, that will be actually come and say, this is what our plan is.

[54:40] Then we'll see what they say.

[54:42] Yeah.

[54:43] I mean, I mean, I mean, I think 500,000 and 250,000 dollars are different questions.

[54:48] So it would be worth having that information and I think that revisited at that point if we can.

[54:55] Thank you.

[55:00] Okay.

[55:01] Looking for some direction.

[55:03] So.

[55:04] I think I've captured it in my mind.

[55:06] Was it?

[55:07] Yeah.

[55:08] The question that's gotten related.

[55:09] Sure.

[55:10] School of Avenue.

[55:11] We just kind of mentioned here.

[55:12] It might be able to be delayed for 10 years.

[55:14] Come out water portion, which was 200 and something.

[55:17] And dollars would be done at that time or those services all failing.

[55:21] Or what doesn't make sense to me to go and do those water services now.

[55:25] And then pay it later.

[55:26] Do it all at once.

[55:27] It makes a lot more sense.

[55:29] So I mean, if if they're they're not catastrophically failing, then I think that should be delayed.

[55:34] And pay that.

[55:35] And then you do all that work one time.

[55:37] Just make total sense to me.

[55:39] So that's a question.

[55:41] Yeah.

[55:42] I was last already.

[55:44] Yeah.

[55:45] I think that was one of the.

[55:46] One of the questions that we were asking for is how critical.

[55:50] Is it to go do what little bit of infrastructure there still is there.

[55:54] The classings are only being done because you're paving.

[55:58] And then the water services.

[56:00] You know, like.

[56:01] Yeah.

[56:02] Through the through the mayor.

[56:03] It comes from a show.

[56:04] Both open.

[56:05] And and could be full.

[56:07] Entire sections are in the 10 year capital as well.

[56:10] To be redone.

[56:11] The only reason we'd be doing that is because we'd be doing.

[56:14] We don't want to go back into that road.

[56:17] Right.

[56:18] So this is literally a roads project.

[56:20] It's our worst road pretty much in town.

[56:22] I agree.

[56:23] Somel is very bad.

[56:24] But if you take a look at this first block out here.

[56:26] There's definitely not a road is bad.

[56:28] Not even spill way to be honest.

[56:30] So that's the reason I brought that forward.

[56:32] Is that it's a minor factor road.

[56:33] We're talking hundreds and hundreds of families.

[56:36] That take their kids up that road to school.

[56:38] So that's why I brought that forward.

[56:41] The infrastructure.

[56:42] We replace it just because I don't want to go back into that road for 25 30 40 50 years.

[56:48] We got 50 years on the water relining.

[56:50] So we shouldn't have to.

[56:51] But with the kutni and the open organ.

[56:54] In the 10 year capital of that stuff does come forward.

[56:57] That is anticipated that that is those AC lines will last until that point.

[57:00] Yeah.

[57:07] The information already.

[57:10] No.

[57:11] Sure.

[57:12] Sure.

[57:13] Okay.

[57:14] Well on that note.

[57:16] That doesn't change my mind.

[57:18] I still would like to see that project stay in the budget for now.

[57:23] And we can revisit it in the new year.

[57:25] But with everything that's just been said.

[57:27] It is one of our main roads.

[57:29] In and out used heavily daily.

[57:35] We saved ourselves thanks to the ingenuity that was brought forward last year.

[57:41] I think it was the year before when we relined the pipe.

[57:44] That saved us tremendously.

[57:45] And we didn't add that time to rip up the road.

[57:48] But we didn't add that time to say we're never going to repave the road.

[57:51] If we have now 50 years or whatever it was just said on the relining.

[57:56] And just now we broke the project into a couple of years instead of doing it in just one and finish it.

[58:02] And that's done.

[58:03] And we don't have to revisit that one as said for 20, 30 years, whatever it is.

[58:08] And then we can move on to the next one.

[58:10] But it doesn't make sense to me to leave pieces half finished all over.

[58:14] And I know our reserves are very low and that also concerns me.

[58:17] But we're also not broke.

[58:18] And we can't afford to fix things as we go.

[58:21] And if we don't then we're just going to have a big heaping mess a decade from now.

[58:26] So I all of that to say I would like to see it stay in for now.

[58:31] And I think we should probably go around some of these and then we can provide the clarity on that.

[58:35] So the first one is adding the 15,000 to the gala park.

[58:39] If you show a hand some sort of support of that.

[58:43] So three.

[58:45] That post.

[58:47] Sorry.

[58:48] Are you in favor of it?

[58:49] Councilor Shaver or a post?

[58:51] If you didn't post or is it in favor of it?

[58:54] No, but I just put my hand up to late.

[58:57] So we have three you work for.

[59:00] So I want to state that increase that budget.

[59:04] The bus truck.

[59:05] I think we're going to wait and see somewhere information on that.

[59:09] The parking route.

[59:11] The visitor center.

[59:12] Who would like to see that stand?

[59:14] One.

[59:17] Oh, that question.

[59:19] Yeah.

[59:20] I may ask why that was added and maybe it was talked about before.

[59:24] But before I wrapped aside from the fact that it's hideous.

[59:28] That was the main reason.

[59:30] Yeah.

[59:31] It's just it's just something that's kind of unfinished.

[59:34] And we've promoted Centennial Park with the market with everything that we're doing there.

[59:39] And it's just that sort of unfinished product, dirt, gravel, parking lot.

[59:44] Even there's just sort of mass confusion with the electric charges.

[59:48] Like there's no real parking spots for them.

[59:50] And then just the small portion of asphalt that is there is completely toast.

[59:54] The routes.

[59:55] It's a very, very big hazard.

[59:57] Which is the nearest right.

[59:58] We can deal with that through operational dollars.

[1:00:00] But looked at it as a whole of just kind of cleaning up that middle portion between Centennial Alliance, now that they're being utilized so much and being utilized for events, it was just basically enhanced that. That's why I brought it forward.

[1:00:13] So, who would like to see it to stay in?

[1:00:16] For now.

[1:00:18] One person.

[1:00:19] Okay, so that one gets pulled.

[1:00:21] And the school avenue knowing that it is a real project, no need for linear assets to work at this time,

[1:00:28] who would like to see that one stay in.

[1:00:32] Come on.

[1:00:33] Okay, so that one gets pulled as well.

[1:00:35] I think that's all you need.

[1:00:37] We also had a motion just about the early approval for the Kubota law and tractor, or a lot more.

[1:00:45] Okay.

[1:00:46] Yeah.

[1:00:47] In favor.

[1:00:48] Council, so we got that one's been moved.

[1:00:50] Our moved.

[1:00:51] Seconded.

[1:00:52] And that motion is a council provider.

[1:00:54] Really approval for project 195, more replacement and a cost of 105,000 funded by General Service Reserve.

[1:01:01] All in favor.

[1:01:03] Council, Madison.

[1:01:04] I'm sorry you got competitive quotes because we also saw one quote.

[1:01:09] Through the major councilor matters.

[1:01:12] Yes, absolutely did.

[1:01:13] Yep.

[1:01:14] Thank you.

[1:01:16] Okay. All in favor.

[1:01:18] A post motion is carried.

[1:01:20] And the last motion is a council accept the 2026-2030 capital plan for General Expensions.

[1:01:25] It's presented and requested to incorporate into the 2026-2030 financial plan.

[1:01:32] I guess General Expensions as amended.

[1:01:35] Yeah.

Special Open Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript