There’s rain in the forecast but snow on the agenda as the City of North Vancouver tries to determine just how much precipitation has to pile up before push comes to shovel.
City of North Vancouver
Council is considering a bylaw obligating residents to clear their sidewalks if there’s more than 10 centimetres of snow or if it’s been longer than 24 hours since the flakes stopped falling. The city’s current bylaw on snow clearing is “silent as to frequency,” a staff report notes.
It’s a night to follow the money, as council considers an array of spending options including: $1.525 million for improving the sidewalks, cycling and associated infrastructure through the Marine Drive-Main Street corridor in preparation for the new B-Line bus, $1.2 million for maintaining and operating the waterfront’s public realm, $750,000 for “pedestrian scale lighting” along the Green Necklace through Grand Boulevard Park, $700,000 to connect the Sprit Trail to the Green Necklace via St. Davids Avenue and $525,000 for the new West Esplanade museum.
Following consecutive years of sharply rising commercial assessments, council may ask the province to change the way those assessments are evaluated. Determining value based on “highest and best use” has left many small businesses seeking tax relief, according to a city staff report, which noted offices, retail outfits and warehouses saw assessments rise by 27 per cent this year.
District of North Vancouver
Council is meeting at 6 p.m. to talk about the budget as well as the prospect of an advisory planning commission that would make recommendations to council about land use and community planning. This follows concerns over the “character of development” including landscaping and exterior design.
West Vancouver
Council’s next meeting is set for April 15.
