January 10, 2026

Here are the highlights from the first City Council meeting of 2026, on Tuesday, January 6.

Council heard a presentation from the Nelson Leafs Eco Depot recycling centre, which included information about the programs offered, the successes and challenges that the centre is facing, and a discussion about ways in which the organization can continue to provide recycling services to residents of the City and area.

Council has adopted the Fees and Charges Amendment (2026 Water, Wastewater and Resource Recovery Fees) Bylaw No. 3650, which sets utility rates for 2026. The overall increase is $100 per year after the early-bird discount, with funds supporting annual operating costs and building capital reserves for current and future infrastructure needs. Utility invoices will be mailed to residents in January, and those who pay by March 15, 2026 will receive a 10 per cent early-bird discount.

Council adopted Cottonwood Street Road Closure Bylaw No. 3644, 2026, completing the Trevor Street land exchange agreement. A nine-metre-wide portion of the street will remain open to preserve public access, and a trail has been constructed connecting the street to the Rails to Trails trail system.

The Airport Establishment Bylaw Amendment Bylaw (Housekeeping) 3561, 2026 passed the first three readings. The proposed amendments are intended to ensure the bylaw is legally accurate, current, and clear to both staff and the public.

Planning and Development Services staff presented Council with the Housing Dashboard, which provides a centralized, accessible, and reliable source of information about the city’s housing market. This dashboard presents data consolidated from a number of different resources, including BC Housing and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and covers a 5-year period from 2020-2025. The Dashboard will soon be available on the City’s website and will be updated quarterly, as information becomes available.

The results of a pedestrian scramble crosswalk viability, which was requested by Council at the July 8, 2025 meeting, were presented by the Planning and Development Services staff. Research shows that although scramble crosswalks are successful for traffic calming in similar sized cities, the cost to convert key intersections in the downtown core is prohibitive. Staff recommended to council that converting the intersections at Baker and Josephine, and Baker and Ward streets be further studied and considered as part of the future Baker Streetscape upgrades.

Council passed a resolution supporting staff to move forward with an application for funding up to $200,000 from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Community Resiliency Investment Grant. If successful, the funding would support the City’s FireSmart initiatives, including outreach and education initiatives and administration of the FireSmart Rebate program.

Council received for information minutes from the Cultural Development Committee, the Greater Nelson Economic Development Advisory Committee, and the Nelson Public Library.

Council concluded the public portion of the meeting at 8:40 pm, and adjourned the meeting at 9:15pm.

More detailed information about many of these topics will be included in the January newsletter. To receive the monthly City newsletter directly to your inbox, sign up here. Residents are welcome to review the Council agenda or watch a recording of the meeting  on the City of Nelson's YouTube channel.