August 22, 2023

Town of Sidney Council Meeting Highlights: August 21, 2023

Sidney, BC;

Highlights from regular Council meetings provide a brief summary of some items of broad public interest. The summary is not inclusive of all agenda items. Please refer to www.www.sidney.ca for the full agenda, minutes, and webcast.

Town reports on progress-to-date in implementing Climate Action Plan

Following the approval of an updated Climate Action Plan in 2022, the Town has begun implementing actions in the plan. To support transparency, staff report back to Council on Climate Action Plan progress each year, while also sharing accomplishments and next steps in the Town’s Annual Report. Some examples of steps taken to implement the Climate Action Plan over the past 12 months include piloting new electric parks equipment to reduce fuel use, supporting home heating and cooling retrofits, holding environmental stewardship events to both plant trees and remove invasive species in local parks, and piloting a bike valet service for the Sidney Street Market, among other initiatives.

Moving forward, staff will continue to work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and buildings, while also focusing on adaptation to local climate risks such as less predictable precipitation, increasing temperatures, and sea level rise.
Staff Report
Video (1:58:48)

Council authorizes five-year extension to garbage collection contract

Council has authorized staff to finalize a contract with the existing provider, Emterra Environmental, for a five-year extension of its garbage, kitchen organics, and yard waste collection service. Emterra Environmental has provided this service to the community since 2014. When the new contract begins in 2024, Emterra Environmental will likely introduce an updated collection schedule for the community, with garbage and kitchen organics being picked up on a Monday to Thursday schedule, and yard waste collected on Fridays instead of Saturdays. Community members would receive notice of any scheduling changes in advance.

For many years, the Town has enjoyed significantly lower collection rates than other communities in the region. Due to the rising costs of fuel, equipment, and labour, the new contract will reflect these higher costs with an increase for 2024 that will bring the cost of collection closer to the regional average.
Staff Report
Video (1:23:30)

Media Contact:

Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith
Town of Sidney
250-656-1139
mayor@sidney.ca