The Chilliwack Civic Brief

10/07/2026

Updates from the October 6, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what you need to know!

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR

1. Restorative justice is back in Chilliwack after a year-long gap, with $86,373 approved to fund a new program starting October 7.
2. A major mixed-use development on Yale Road got rezoned, but the developer must complete traffic safety measures before a single building permit is issued.
3. Council unanimously refused the province's request to exclude First Nations housing from Chilliwack's official housing target numbers.

🛑 High-impact decisions

🏛️ Restorative justice returns: After roughly a year without a program, council approved $86,373 for the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association to offer an alternative to the formal court process for eligible youth and adults.
Translation: Chilliwack residents — especially youth and families — will again have access to a resolution process that can wrap up in days rather than waiting months or years for a court date.

🏗️ Yale Road development rezoned with conditions: Council approved rezoning at 45645 Yale Road for a multi-storey mixed-use building, but the developer must first complete a traffic easement agreement with nearby schools and build a right-in/right-out access controlled by a concrete island before construction can begin.
Translation: New housing and commercial space is coming to Yale Road, but neighbours won't see a shovel in the ground until formalised traffic safety measures are locked in.

🏘️ Council pushes back on province over housing counts: In a unanimous vote, council directed staff to keep counting First Nations housing units in Chilliwack's housing target reports and to reject the province's request to revise those numbers — arguing the exclusion makes no sense given how intertwined reserve and non-reserve land is within the city's service area.
Translation: How Chilliwack's housing progress gets measured — and whether the province can intervene — may hinge on the outcome of this standoff.

💰 The money trail

The one financial decision debated on the record was the $86,373 approved for the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association under the city's Community Development Initiatives Policy. Several bylaws covering rates adjustments and tax exemptions were also adopted through the consent agenda, which may modestly affect some property owners' tax bills, though no specific figures were discussed publicly.

🗣️ Quote of the night

Councillor Westeringh, responding to past provincial suggestions that Victoria could step in and take over local housing decisions:

"I always kind of laughed at what the minister said — 'We'll come into your city and we'll take over your...' — like, hell you will. No, you guys just stay in Victoria. We'll look after Chilliwack. We're good here."

🎙️ Public hearing highlights

- Four applications went through a notably quiet public hearing, with only one resident stepping forward across all four items — and that person was curious, not opposed.
- A standout moment came when a variance was approved to allow a larger entrance foyer in a coach house to accommodate a residential elevator for aging-in-place accessibility. Councillor Kloot called it a "great model" for the community, and staff confirmed they are actively reviewing current regulations to better address future accessibility needs.

(Watch the public hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nc5imfMMia0)

Civic action / next steps

The restorative justice programme launched October 7, the day after council's approval. At 45645 Yale Road, the developer must complete easement agreements with both nearby schools and submit civil design plans — including the concrete island access — before any building permit is issued. Staff will also hold a public information meeting about a development variance permit for storage locker landscaping at the same site.

With Mayor Popove and several councillors announcing they will not seek re-election, the upcoming municipal election is taking shape. Advance voting runs October 7, 14, and 17.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hTmecZjNTk4

from City Hall, Chilliwack, BC.

09/23/2026

Updates from the September 22, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what you missed!

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR

1. A proposed 18-unit townhouse on Collins Drive got sent back to the drawing board again after council pushed for more design changes.
2. Main Street is getting a $7.2-million rebuild, and the contract has been awarded.
3. A snap provincial election call has at least one councillor fuming over interference with municipal elections.

🛑 High-impact decisions

🏘️ Collins Drive townhouse stalled again: Council referred the 18-unit townhouse proposal at 45925 Collins Drive back to staff, asking the developer to look at reducing building height and the number of suites backing onto the park.
Translation: Sardis Park residents get more time to shape what gets built in their neighbourhood — nothing is changing there just yet.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_ILf85GNGA&t=3495s)

🚧 Main Street rebuild gets the green light: Council awarded a $7,232,700 contract to Regehr Contracting Ltd. to reconstruct Main Street, covering water mains, sewer work, road surface, and a traffic signal upgrade at Spadina.
Translation: If you drive, live, or do business along Main Street, expect disruption — construction is coming.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_ILf85GNGA&t=2534s)

🌾 Chilliwack Mountain Road rezoning moves forward: Council gave first and second reading to bylaws that would rezone agricultural land at 8404 Chilliwack Mountain Road, with a public hearing set for October 6.
Translation: Agricultural land near Chilliwack Mountain Road could be opened up for residential or comprehensive development if the rezoning is ultimately approved.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_ILf85GNGA&t=3660s)

💰 The money trail

$7,232,700 awarded to Regehr Contracting Ltd. for the Main Street reconstruction.

Snow and ice removal for City facilities goes to House 2 Home Landscaping Ltd. at roughly $123,000 per year on average, depending on snowfall.

A new $1,600 flat charge from BC Hydro for removing leased street light fixtures has been formalised in the City's rates bylaw.

🗣️ Quote of the night

Councillor Bud Mercer on the provincial election call overlapping with municipal elections:

"The municipalities have absolutely no choice as to when to have an election. It's in law. It's going to be on that date and that time. There's nothing the City can do about it. The province has 365 days of the year to choose to call an election and they've chosen to interfere with the municipal elections."

(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_ILf85GNGA&t=3865s)

🎙️ Public hearing highlights

- A variance permit allowing reduced setbacks for a deck and pool at 8486 Lily Place passed without a single public speaker coming forward in opposition.
- A new two-storey commercial building proposed at 45873 Wellington Avenue — featuring dark brown brick, wood trim, and brass canopy accents — also drew zero public opposition and was approved unanimously.

(Watch the public hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ev37C4z9ipg)

Civic action / next steps

Three public hearings are scheduled for October 6, 2026, covering the Progress Way CD-10 zone amendment and two Chilliwack Mountain Road applications. If any of these affect your neighbourhood, show up and have your say.

The Collins Drive townhouse proposal will go back to the developer for further revisions before returning to council — no timeline has been set.

Residents along Main Street should watch for City updates on construction scheduling as the contract moves to ex*****on.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_ILf85GNGA

09/02/2026

Updates from the September 1, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting.

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR:

1. BC Housing quietly pulled its 50% share of a mobile security patrol program, leaving Chilliwack taxpayers to cover the full cost.
2. A South Sumas Road property owner lost his appeal to reduce a $53,010.52 bill for hazmat cleanup after RCMP found a large clandestine drug lab on his property.
3. A childcare facility proposed for Young Road was rejected unanimously after neighbours raised serious concerns about vagrancy, parking, and a play area one councillor described as a cage.

🛑 High-impact decisions:

💊 Drug lab cleanup bill upheld: Council voted unanimously to make the property owner at 44843 South Sumas Road pay the city's $53,010.52 share of cleaning up an active clandestine drug lab discovered by RCMP in October 2025. The owner appeared in person asking for a reduction. Council said no.
Translation: Chilliwack taxpayers are not on the hook for remediating a private property drug operation — the bill goes to the owner, and if unpaid, straight onto the property tax roll.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsXiMRfSe8w&t=900s)

🔒 BC Housing drops security funding: Council approved a $2,592,873.86 contract with Griffin Investigation and Security Services to patrol the downtown core and supportive housing sites — but the bigger story is that BC Housing has cancelled its 50% cost-share on mobile patrols. The city is now footing the entire bill.
Translation: Provincial housing infrastructure in Chilliwack is now being secured entirely at municipal expense after the province walked away from a funding commitment.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsXiMRfSe8w&t=1989s)

🚦 Evans Road rail crossing safety upgrade: Council gave staff the green light to apply to Transport Canada for funding to upgrade the Evans Road at-grade rail crossing. Construction is targeted for summer 2027 if the grant comes through.
Translation: If federal funding is approved, drivers on Evans Road get a safer railway crossing built largely at federal expense.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsXiMRfSe8w&t=1800s)

💰 The money trail:

Griffin Investigation and Security Services — $2,592,873.86 for security patrols across the downtown core and supportive housing sites, with up to four one-year renewal options.

BioCentral Green Depot Ltd. — $1,562,137.39 to transport the city's organic waste from October 2026 through May 2029, with up to two additional one-year extensions available.

Total new contracts approved at this meeting: $4,155,011.25.

🗣️ Quotes of the night:

Councillor Bud Mercer, addressing the property owner during the drug lab cost appeal:

"On what planet do you think it would be okay for the citizens of Chilliwack — in their taxpayer money — to pay the costs for the cleanup and the fines on your property? It's a simple business model. People pay taxes and we carry on as a city. I can't think of any place in the world that would want the citizens of their community to pay for something like this that happened on your property — that put Chilliwack on the map in a very negative way."

Councillor Jeff Shields, on BC Housing pulling its share of the security funding:

"I find it a little bit ironic that the province speaks about safer communities and yet simultaneously removes funding for a visible deterrent within our community... if I'm fortunate enough to sit around this table in the future and they come forward with a proposal, I would be viewing it through a different lens, because I'm not 100% confident that what's promised actually continues to materialise."

(Watch this moment: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsXiMRfSe8w&t=2232s)

🎙️ Public hearing highlights:

- A proposed childcare facility at 9094 Young Road was defeated unanimously. A neighbouring business owner who has been on Young Road since 2003 described a rear alley with a documented history of vagrancy, fires, and drug use, and flagged that parking for the area has already shrunk from 14 to 8 spaces after a road widening. Council agreed, with one councillor saying a play area enclosed in a cage-like structure under an overhang simply was not appropriate for children.

- A home-based childcare facility for up to 16 children at 45643 Newbie Drive was approved, signalling that council is far more comfortable with neighbourhood-based daycare options than commercial-area applications. Council also directed staff to audit how many licensed childcare facilities in Chilliwack are currently active versus sitting empty.

(Watch the public hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=O8KqitA-w4M)

Civic action / next steps:

Staff will finalize the organic waste and security contracts ahead of their October 1 start dates. Engineering staff will submit the Transport Canada grant application for the Evans Road rail crossing upgrade, with a construction target of summer 2027.

City administration is continuing formal discussions with BC Housing over reinstating cost-sharing for supportive housing security patrols.

Residents near the Vedder River should be aware that gravel removal work is active along the river as part of a fish habitat project — watch for trucks in the area.

And as school is back in session and corn harvest is underway, drive carefully around farm equipment on Chilliwack roads in the evenings.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsXiMRfSe8w

08/19/2026

Updates from the August 18, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what went down! 🏙️

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR:

1. A 10-unit townhouse proposal on Collins Drive was sent back to staff over concerns about height, parking, and neighbourhood fit.
2. Council approved $15,000 in community grants — $7,000 for the Pride Festival and $8,000 for a Truth and Reconciliation Pow Wow in October.
3. Three industrial properties on Fifth Avenue, Railway Avenue, and Airport Road are heading to public hearings on September 1.

🛑 High-impact decisions:

🏘️ Collins Drive townhouse sent back to the drawing board: A rezoning proposal for a 10-unit townhouse development at 45925 Collins Drive was referred back to staff after councillors raised concerns about building height, parking from secondary suites, reduced setbacks, and whether the design fits the neighbourhood. The debate got a twist when staff revealed the existing zoning could already allow up to 20 units without any rezoning at all.
Translation: Neighbours get more time for a refined proposal — but new housing in that area is delayed further down the road.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c&t=1314s)

🏗️ Three rezoning applications advance: Properties at 46160 Fifth Avenue, 45831 Railway Avenue, and 45835 Airport Road all received first and second reading to shift from industrial to Service Commercial Industrial zoning.
Translation: If you live or run a business near those corridors, you'll have a chance to speak at public hearings before council makes a final call.
(Watch Railway Avenue: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c&t=1918s | Watch Airport Road: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c&t=2040s)

🎉 Community grants approved: The Chilliwack Pride Society receives $7,000 for the 2026 Pride Festival, and Chilliwack School District No. 33's Indigenous Education Department receives $8,000 for a Truth and Reconciliation Day Pow Wow on October 2 and 3.
Translation: Both events are free and open to the public — city funding helps keep it that way.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c&t=1191s)

No capital expenditures or budget amendments were passed at this meeting.

🗣️ Quote of the night:

Mayor Ken Popove did not hold back when gas prices came up during councillors' reports. With global oil prices up only about three per cent, Popove was baffled by a sudden 40-cent-per-litre overnight jump at the pumps:

"I can't freaking believe in 12 hours gas has gone up 40 cents a litre... I'm not an economics professor, but I know BS when I hear it."

His colleagues laughed — and a lot of drivers in Chilliwack probably nodded along.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c&t=2283s)

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🎙️ Public hearing highlights:

- The afternoon public hearing at 10670 McSween Road was the liveliest of the session. A neighbour whose family has farmed an adjacent property for nearly 58 years raised concerns about a new double-storey poultry barn being built at half the normally required setback distance. The applicant explained the variance is needed to avoid directing exhaust fans toward an existing barn's air inlets — a ventilation and fire safety issue. Council approved the variance.
- A seniors housing rezoning at 8920 Broadway sailed through without any public opposition. The rezoning allows an existing long-term care facility to expand on land already designated institutional in Chilliwack's 2050 Official Community Plan.

(Watch Public Hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=d0kUx0zFog4)

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Civic action / next steps:

September 1, 2026 — Public hearings are scheduled for three rezoning applications. Residents near these addresses can attend and speak before council votes:
- 46160 Fifth Avenue
- 45831 Railway Avenue
- 45835 Airport Road

Collins Drive (45925) — No hearing date set yet. Staff will work with the developer on modifications before the proposal returns to council.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sixYxgN094c

from City Hall, Chilliwack, BC.

08/05/2026

Updates from the August 4, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what you need to know! 🏙️

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⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR

1. Chilliwack hit 127% of its Year 2 provincial housing target — but council is pushing back hard on rules that exclude First Nations housing from the count.
2. Development cost charges were updated, which affects what developers pay to build new homes and infrastructure in the city.
3. The Fraser Valley's animal shelter is one step closer to a new home on Aitken Road after council backed the relocation application.

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🛑 High-impact decisions

🏠 Housing targets exceeded — with a catch: Chilliwack completed 1,781 net new units, clearing Year 2's cumulative target by 27%. But council and First Nations partners are frustrated that homes built on First Nations land don't count toward the city's numbers under the provincial framework. Letters to the province were sent the same day.
Translation: Chilliwack is ahead of schedule on housing supply, but the counting rules may be shortchanging the region's real progress.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FBa5-IOEbPc&t=2254s)

🐾 Animal shelter relocation approved: Council voted to forward an application to the Agricultural Land Commission to move the CARE Centre from its current spot — which is needed for a wastewater treatment plant expansion — to 8010 Aitken Road.
Translation: Chilliwack and Fraser Valley residents who rely on the shelter for lost pets, livestock, and stray animal services should see no disruption if the ALC gives the green light.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FBa5-IOEbPc&t=1890s)

🏗️ Development cost charges updated: Council passed all three readings of the DCC Amendment Bylaw 2026. These are the fees developers pay to fund roads, water, sewer, and parks for new growth.
Translation: Changes to these fees shape the pace and cost of new development — and help ensure existing taxpayers aren't footing the bill for growth.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FBa5-IOEbPc&t=1648s)

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💰 The money trail

Council approved a janitorial services contract with Hallmark Facility Services Inc. at an average hourly rate of $28.22, running one year with four optional renewal terms (Estimated contract value of $587,572). Development cost charge rate changes also passed but specific revised figures weren't read into the record; those are available in the council agenda package as well.

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🗣️ Quote of the night

Mayor Ken Popove on the tension between provincial housing mandates and market realities:

"There's a certain irony in the discussion in that you've got on one hand provincial housing orders and targets that we're obligated to meet, and you've got empty condos being purchased by the very same government in partnership with the federal government — because the market has fallen out for a lot of these developments."

(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FBa5-IOEbPc&t=2498s)

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🎙️ Public hearing highlights

A specialist chronic pain and rehabilitation clinic is seeking to expand into a unit at 43995 Progress Way. Four speakers showed up — all in support. One patient shared that before accessing the clinic locally, she had travelled over 4,300 kilometres to reach comparable care in Burnaby. Council was unanimously supportive and the bylaw amendment received third reading.

An agri-tourism application for three treehouse-style cabins on a working farm at Ryder Lake (48200 Bright Side Road) drew no opposition and plenty of enthusiasm from council. The temporary use permit was approved after a lengthy process that included an earlier ALC rejection.

(Watch Public Hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eeWPVZ584-Y)

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Civic action / next steps

August 18, 2026: Public hearing on the proposed rezone of a portion of 1-8920 Broadway from residential to institutional (P2). If you live nearby or have thoughts on the land-use change, this is your chance to speak before council votes on final adoption. The city will publish the time and location in advance.

The Year 2 housing progress report will be submitted to the provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, posted on the city's website, and accompanied by a press release.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FBa5-IOEbPc

07/22/2026

Updates from the July 21, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what you need to know! 🏙️

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR

1. Project SAFE has now made 113 arrests across two phases and continues into 2027 at zero cost to Chilliwack taxpayers.
2. Council approved over $2.6 million in contracts covering flood protection, paving, sewer work, and landfill upgrades.
3. A proposed child care facility on Fairview Drive divided council and drew public pushback before passing on a majority vote.

🛑 High-impact decisions

🏫 School infrastructure funding gap: Council accepted the school district's plan for future school sites, but Councillor Lum raised the alarm — land costs alone are approaching $54 million, with one southside parcel running roughly $3 million per acre. Construction costs aren't even included in that figure yet.
Translation: If the province doesn't step up with serious funding soon, the schools Chilliwack's growing neighbourhoods need may not get built — and the price tag will only climb.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dyytxf1MGM&t=2395s)

🌊 Vedder River flood protection gets a green light: A contract worth an estimated $518,499 was awarded to Nova Pacific Environmental Ltd. for environmental consulting on the 2026 Vedder River Sediment Removal Program. Provincial disaster funding is expected to cover the cost.
Translation: Flood risk along the Vedder corridor gets another layer of professional oversight, and it likely won't cost the city a cent.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dyytxf1MGM&t=2035s)

🏥 Medical clinic one step closer to Progress Way: Council gave first and second reading to a zoning amendment that would allow a medical clinic at 205–43995 Progress Way. A public hearing is set for August 4, 2026.
Translation: Residents near the Progress Way commercial area could gain a conveniently located medical clinic — but the public hearing is your chance to weigh in before it's decided.
(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dyytxf1MGM&t=2260s)

💰 The money trail

Four contracts were approved totalling $2,619,205.51.

Sunset Drive storm and sanitary sewer replacement — Universal Construction — $1,444,672.79 — City capital budget.

Vedder River sediment removal environmental consulting — Nova Pacific Environmental Ltd. — $518,499.00 (estimated) — Provincial Disaster Financial Assistance funding.

Bailey Landfill Gas Collection System Expansion — VEI Contracting Inc. — $334,956.00 — City capital budget.

2026 Operations Paving Program — Parallel Paving Ltd. — $321,077.72 — City operations budget.

🗣️ Quote of the night

Councillor Lum on school infrastructure and the cost of growth:

"Ultimately the challenge is if we don't get the investment from the province, these are not going to get built and they're not going to get any cheaper to build."

(Watch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dyytxf1MGM&t=2490s)

🎙️ Public hearing highlights

A proposed temporary use permit for a child care facility at 45015 Fairview Drive drew three speakers and three written submissions in opposition. Concerns ranged from the accuracy of decade-old demand data used to justify the application, to questions about staff-to-child ratios and how provincial grant funding for these facilities is being tracked. The existing adjacent daycare confirmed it is at full capacity with a waiting list.

Council was split. Councillor Read argued a newer city policy requiring operators to start with a home-based model exists for good reasons, and the applicant could have followed that path. The majority, including Mayor Popove, supported the permit on the basis that the application predated that policy. It passed on a majority vote.

(Watch Public Hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=S_4ES5a305M)

Civic action / next steps

Public hearing on the Progress Way medical clinic rezoning: August 4, 2026. Attend and speak to council if you have thoughts on that proposal.

RCMP Musical Ride at Heritage Park: August 28, 2026.

RCMP Open House with Cops for Cancer: September 12, 2026.

Project SAFE Phase 3 enforcement continues through February 2027.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dyytxf1MGM

07/09/2026

Updates from the July 7, 2026 City of Chilliwack council meeting — here's what you need to know!

⏱️ The 30-second TL;DR
1. Council approved a nearly $1.4 million contract to pull sediment from the Vedder River before flood season hits.
2. A $14.6 million wastewater digester got the green light to keep up with Chilliwack's growing population.
3. A regional EV and e-bike strategy was endorsed — but councillors pumped the brakes on big public spending commitments.

🛑 High-impact decisions

🌊 Vedder River sediment removal: Council awarded a contract worth up to $1,393,872.55 to Regehr Contracting Ltd. to remove up to 185,780 cubic metres of sediment from the Vedder River and Canal, with work set to begin July 15 pending environmental approvals.
Translation: Some d**e sections currently lack adequate flood protection — this work is a meaningful step, but staff acknowledged one season won't erase years of backlog.

🚽 Digester No. 4 approved: A $14,625,000 design-build contract was awarded to Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. and AECOM Canada ULC for a new fourth digester at the city's wastewater treatment plant.
Translation: This expands sewage treatment capacity to handle 10 to 20 years of population growth — and boosts biogas production in the short term.

⚡ Zero emissions mobility strategy endorsed with caution: Council voted to endorse a regional EV and e-micromobility strategy developed with Abbotsford, the FVRD, BC Hydro, and the Province — but several councillors raised sharp concerns about cost projections and e-bike safety.
Translation: Public EV charging infrastructure will gradually expand, but council signalled it won't rush major spending decisions.

💰 The money trail
Vedder River sediment removal (Regehr Contracting Ltd.): up to $1,393,872.55 — funded primarily through provincial Disaster Financial Assistance, with cost shares from Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and the Province.

Digester No. 4 design-build (Maple Reinders / AECOM): $14,625,000 — drawn from the city's capital budget.

Community watch party at Exhibition Field: up to $15,000 — free and open to the public.

Zero emissions mobility strategy — long-term regional capital cost estimate referenced in discussion: $80 million to $160 million across all partners. No funding commitment was made at this meeting.

🗣️ Quote of the night
On who should be footing the bill for EV charging infrastructure, Councillor Shields put it plainly: "The last time I checked, 30 years ago, the City of Chilliwack didn't put up gas stations. We've got to get the private sector involved in this. It can't be — I think there's just a repeated subsidy on everything... the business model consists of the three levels of government basically subsidising you enough so that you'll get an EV."

🎙️ Public hearing highlights
- Three development variance permit applications were heard, and all three passed unanimously with no public opposition. One standout: a Boulder Drive application for elevated exterior walkways serving secondary suites on seven properties generated some laughs when Councillor Mercer summed up the builder's multigenerational design pitch with: "All I heard was no mother-in-law in the basement."

- A height increase for a building at 45559 Hodgins Avenue was approved to accommodate a rooftop amenity space for a child care facility on the top floor — the extra height covers only an elevator shaft, stairwell, and guard railing, and was described by staff as minor in terms of visual impact.

(Watch the public hearing: https://youtube.com/watch?v=90EmNxsfv-I)

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Civic action / next steps

Environmental approvals for the Vedder River project are expected around July 15 — the same date work is set to begin. Residents near Lickman Road should expect construction and stockpile activity in that area through November.

Staff will begin the process of applying to the provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs for a BC Building Code variation related to single-exit stair residential buildings.

The RFP for uniformed security guard services will be issued to three shortlisted firms; a final contract award will return to council at a future meeting.

Any proposed zoning bylaw changes stemming from the zero emissions mobility strategy will go through advisory committees before returning to council.

Watch the full council meeting here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=RWGtB1aJTj4