Council Highlights: Dec. 1, 2025

Catch the Governance and Priorities meeting Monday, Dec. 1?
 
Here are some highlights:
 
➡ Tanya Bell, Director of Community Services, requested direction from Council regarding water costs at the Seniors Drop-in Centre. Because the Town has historically covered the centre’s water costs (about $7,000 annually), which deviates from the standard $1/year lease terms, Council was asked whether to continue covering this expense in the new agreement. Council suggested its support to maintain the discount for the seniors' centre and directed Administration to return the policy for a formal decision at Council.
 
➡ Pat Fisher, Director of Infrastructure and Development, provided an update on the Bulk Water Truck Fill Station. The Town planned upgrades to the Bulk Water/Truck Fill station in 2025, but the previously selected system from 2022 lacks essential functions. A new system with full functionality is now planned for installation in 2026 for a total cost of roughly $35,000. In the meantime, the Town is providing bulk water through portable meter setup.
 
➡ Fisher also provided an update on the Town's Reservoir 365 contract. In November 2024, Council approved a $41,000 buyout of the Town’s power supply contract at Reservoir 365, which had locked the Town into higher-than-needed delivery charges. Since switching to the new rate structure, the Town has saved about $1,175 per month (roughly $14,100 per year), which is slightly below the original $15,000 estimate. Even so, the change remains financially beneficial with a payback period of under three years.
 
➡ Barb Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, informed Council that the final Community Destination Assessment report by Roger Brooks is now complete and publicly available. The assessment highlights Peace River’s strengths and outlines key recommendations in tourism marketing, wayfinding, downtown revitalization, visitor experience, and business engagement, following a workshop attended by local stakeholders this past summer. You can read it here: https://www.peaceriver.ca/media/file/2025-07-roger-brooks-peace-river-d…
 
 
Our next Council meeting is 5pm Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.