Here are some highlights from the September 23, 2026, City Council meeting. For more information, including the full agenda listing, read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Civic Core business case
Council received an update on the Civic Core business case with the report seeking council endorsement to continue finalization of both financial analysis and funding options.
Administration was recommending that Council advance Options B and D for more detailed financial and socio-economic analysis. This would allow the project team to complete the business case and would not constitute approval of a specific project.
Council made the decision to defer the item to the November 30 meeting.
The update was presented alongside the Civic Facilities Master Plan to inform decisions about capital planning, funding, service continuity, and the sequencing of investments in civic facilities.
Wildfire mitigation
Council received an update on the City’s wildfire mitigation work, including FireSmart initiatives and fuel management. The City recently completed a new Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan following public consultation and prepared a Fuel Management Prescription for Shane Lake.
The Shane Lake fuel management project is planned for winter 2026–2027, with fieldwork beginning in 2027. Portions of Forests for the World will close for several months while the work is underway.
Aquatic centre project update
Council received an update on the progress of the Aquatic Centre renovation that has been underway since January.
The report to council provides a summary of completed construction work and work in progress. This comprehensive and complex project is well underway and will be completed on time and on budget.
Permissive tax exemptions
Council approved the first three readings of Bylaw No. 9424, 2024 in relation to the 2027 Permissive Tax Exemptions.
The total estimated value for the tax exemptions in the report’s recommendations is $2.21 million or 1.40% of the tax levy (based on 2026 tax rates and assessment values). Permissive tax exemption is a means for Council to support organizations within the community which further Council’s objectives of enhancing quality of life (economic, social, and cultural) and delivering services economically.
Provincial legislation provides statutory tax exemptions for places of worship. Permissive Tax Exemptions are generally granted by local councils for non-profit organizations.
Six new properties were approved for tax exemptions by the finance and audit committee this year, two used by non-profit group AiMHi and one for Carrier Sekani Family Services, Aboriginal Housing Management Association, Phoenix Transition shelter and BC Society for the Preventions of Cruelty to Animals.
August building permit summary
Council received a building permit and development permit summary for August 2026. The report includes all residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional permits, and the estimated total construction value of each development. The August total is made up of five commercial/industrial permits and 51residential permits, worth a combined total of $36.5 million. The year-to-date figure for 2026 is 305 permits valued at $194.2 million. This is down on the year-to-date for January to August in 2025, where the total at that time was 280 permits with a value of $231 million.
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