This week Council will consider next year's budget, learn how you can burn it smart and have some fun with Santa! Read on!
Budgeting for next year
The road you drive to work on, the park your kids play in, the concert you attend at the Port Theatre. All of these things are around thanks to taxes paid to the City.
The 2020-2024 Provisional Financial Plan will be considered by Council at their meeting on Monday beginning at 7 pm. Some highlights include:
- Investing in Our Community: through funding for new amenities including construction of the Harewood Youth Park, the multi-year replacement project for Fire Station #1 and the Metral Drive Complete Street project.
- Enhancing Public and Community Safety: with the addition of three RCMP officers in 2020 (15 over the next five years) and two Prisoner Guards; an increase to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer schedule from 35 hours to 40 hours per week and an additional $50,000 funding toward victims services.
- Strengthening Nanaimo’s Economy: through the implementation of an external Economic Development function and with the addition of a Manager of Economic Development Services.
- Supporting Good Governance and Effective Service Delivery: with the addition of a General Manager of Corporate Services, Deputy City Clerk, Urban Forestry Technician, Traffic Signal Technician and Director of IT.
Check out the City's Budget Information page for the latest Financial Plan and 2020 department plans.
This winter, burn it smart!
There's nothing cozier than sitting next to a fire and sipping a warm beverage when it's cold and wet outside. Are you burning smart this season? If you have a wood burning fireplace or stove, make sure to burn wood at a high temperature and don't let it smolder. Burning wood at higher temperatures reduces smoke ensuring cleaner air and it prevents creosote build up in your chimney lowering the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn more and view videos on the Burn It Smart, Nanaimo page on the City website.
Holiday Hours
Ho ho ho! Are you up for a skate with the big guy in red? This Wednesday and Friday, skate with Santa for some merry movement and holiday fun!
As we head into the holiday season, please make note of closures and special hours for City offices and recreation centres over the holidays. All City offices and facilities will be closed on December 25 with many remaining closed on December 26. There are a few exceptions to the closures such as Winter Wonderland at Frank Crane Arena which will be taking place on December 24 and December 26-30. Most facilities will also be closed on January 1, 2020. Find a list of all closures and special holiday hours on the City website.
Upcoming Community Events:
- Wednesday, December 18: Skate with Santa, 6:30 to 8 pm in Frank Crane Arena
- Thursday, December 19: Musical Entertainment, 1:30 to 3 pm in the Bowen Park Auditorium. This week features Silver & Gold.
- Friday December 20: Free Skate with Santa courtesy of Coast Capital Savings, 3:45 to 5:15 pm in Nanaimo Ice Centre
- Saturday, December 21: Dunk with Santa, 3 to 5 pm in Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
- Sunday, December 22: Lions Free Skate, 12 to 1:30 pm in Frank Crane Arena
For a look at more City-related events, visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/events.
This week’s Council and Committee Meetings
Council will consider the 2020-2024 Provisional Financial Plan at their meeting on Monday, grant recommendations will be brought to the Finance and Audit Committee on Wednesday and the Board of Variance sits on Thursday.
- Monday, December 16: Regular Council Meeting at 7 pm in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Shaw Auditorium
- Wednesday, December 18: Finance and Audit Committee Meeting at 9 am in the Service and Resource Centre Boardroom, 411 Dunsmuir Street
- Thursday, December 19: Board of Variance at 5:30 pm in the Service and Resource Centre Boardroom, 411 Dunsmuir Street
Visit the Meetings, Documents and Videos page on the City website to view upcoming meetings, agendas and past meeting videos or visit the Council Meeting Summaries page to read a recap of decisions made in previous meetings.
Here's a recap of City news from last week:
And here are a couple of articles from the news, highlighting the City:
