May 2, 2024

Parksville’s 2024-2028 Financial Plan  

On April 29, Council gave three readings to the amended 2024-2028 financial plan, the 2024 property tax rates bylaw, and water and sewer rates bylaws. Guided by Council priorities, the City’s annual budget is part of the five-year financial plan which sets the priority services, programs and initiatives for the next five years and how the City will pay for them. It is the City’s goal to balance the pressures of a growing community with ongoing maintenance, expected service levels and infrastructure improvements and where possible, reduce the burden on residents. Tax notices will be mailed towards the end of May and Let’s Talk Parksville provides up-to-date information.

Asset Management Updates

Let’s Talk Parksville explains asset management in detail and each month provides some info about an infrastructure renewal project. The April update which highlighted the Moss Avenue capital project currently wrapping up, included:

• Renewal of ~500m of roadway 
• 11 new streetlights
• Replacement of ~650m of drainage main
• Replacement of ~550m of water main
• Replacement of ~350m of sewer main

Much of the old infrastructure was installed in 1974-1975 and was nearing or exceeding its estimated useful life. Renewal allows retirement of outdated asbestos concrete piping in favour of newer thermoplastic piping materials and helps to safeguard against failure due to aging infrastructure. This ensures the citizens on Moss Avenue can enjoy the same service levels in the future as they have in past.

Part of the asset management process is to review the condition of our aging infrastructure and prioritize renewal projects based on available funding and capacity. Moss Avenue is a great example of asset management at work!

CITY OF PARKSVILLE EVENTS

Emergency Preparedness Week

Emergency Preparedness Week is an annual event which takes place during the first full week of May – this year, May 5 to May 11. Technology plays a part in all our lives, which is why this year's theme for Emergency Preparedness Week is "Using technology before, during and after emergencies." Check out PreparedBC’s Emergency Preparedness Week webpage for some preparedness "tech tips."

Emergency Management Oceanside will be out and about in the community offering emergency preparedness advice, handing out home emergency planning resources and of course there will be EMO giveaways! Follow EMO social media for all our exciting posts during EP Week.

Parksville’s Canada Day Celebrations                   

We are planning a great family-friendly event which we hope will bring together our region’s residents and visitors to celebrate Canada’s 157th on July 1 and that you will connect with families, neighbours, and friends at our Canada Day festivities in Parksville. Here’s what we have planned for Canada Day in Parksville.

Things we’d like you to know about Canada Day in Parksville

• Free family-friendly fun in the sun kicks off with the Parksville Canada Day parade followed by afternoon activities in the Parksville Community Park.
• The Parksville Outdoor Theatre will feature Bobs & Lolo for the young and young at heart, and the band, The Apollos, will provide afternoon dance music.
• Buskers will entertain in the new gathering plaza from 1 pm to early evening.
• There will be a variety of food trucks in the parking lot by the sport fields from 11 am through early evening.
• There will be no vendors in the park and planned activities will finish around 7 pm.
• Sandcastle Drive to Arbutus Point will close to vehicles for the day with accessible vehicle parking available in the park and general parking in the parking lot behind the curling rink. 

Dance with Me at Memorial  

Following successful events in 2023, the City of Parksville, in partnership with the Parksville Downtown Business Association, will once again host Dance with Me at Memorial events at the Memorial Plaza, Alberni Highway and Memorial Avenue. It’s your chance to learn some new dance moves with free dance instruction by Sara Raymond Dance Academy and music by our favourite DJ, Dave Graham. Dust off your dancing (runners) shoes and join in the fun again this year.

We’re excited to host these community events at Memorial Plaza and closer to the dates, details will be posted on City and PDBA websites. Dance with Me at Memorial is a fun, active and social community event for all ages. Bring your family, friends, or come meet others while you learn new dance moves, spectators welcome and no dance experience required. 

REMINDERS AND THINGS TO KNOW…

Water Restriction Stage 2 is now in effect from May 1 through September 30 (unless otherwise notified) and allows for every other day lawn watering between 7 and 10 am OR 7 and 10 pm for a maximum of two hours. Please note vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from watering restrictions.

During summer months, our water use can double mainly due to outdoor uses such as watering lawns and gardens and washing cars and outdoor surfaces. Region-wide water use restrictions are an effective way to reduce summer demand and ensure supply for essential services. We encourage all residents to conserve where possible; taking conservation measures early, before our water supplies come under stress, is essential to ensure we can maintain an adequate water supply throughout the hot dry summers we have come to expect. Please direct questions to bylaw@parksville.ca                          

Special watering permits to support newly planted or turfed lawns and/or landscaping are available on our website and may also be obtained from our operations department, 1116 Herring Gull Way, 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

Permissive Tax Exemptions - under the provisions of the Community Charter, Council may exempt land and/or improvements from municipal property taxes for the next calendar year, subject to certain requirements which in general, restrict exemption to non-profit organizations using the lands for specific non-profit purposes. Application deadline is 4 pm, June 28. Details, form and policy may be obtained from City Hall or from the website.

Recycle BC pop-up depot in Parksville will continue this year, accepting free of charge, flexible plastic packaging, white and coloured foam packaging, glass packaging and paper packaging and cardboard. Materials may be dropped off from 10 am to 3 pm at 1080 Industrial Way, Parksville. For dates and more info visit Recycle BC website. 

Here are links to two news releases posted to our website this week:

• City of Parksville Response to BC Humanist Society           
• Summer in the City        

Next Council Meeting - Monday, May 6

Our next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 6 at 1 pm. Here’s some general information for you:

• Meeting agendas are posted to the website on the Thursday before a Monday meeting. 
• Meetings may be viewed from webstreaming on our website, both live and archived. 
• We post meeting highlights to the website the day after the Council meeting, a great way to catch up on decisions made by Council at the meeting. 
• The public is welcome to attend meetings in person. Meetings are held in the Forum, 100 Jensen Avenue East.
• Comments may be emailed to council@parksville.ca. Residents wishing comments to be considered by Council prior to the meetings, should be received by 4 pm on the working day before the meeting.

CITY DATES

For more information:

Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications

250 954-3073; communications@parksville.ca

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