Sewage services bill to increase by 20% in 2025

Burnaby residents can expect an increase in their sewage services bills in 2025 by around 20%. According to the reports discussed during City Council’s Nov. 4 meeting, Burnaby residents who live in houses can expect an increase of about $123.50, while apartment dwellers can expect to pay an extra $66 or so next year. 

The city released a statement saying that the increases are Metro Vancouver’s fault and that the city will use its reserves to mitigate and reduce the effects of increases. According to the council reports, Metro Vancouver will increase the rates by 49.84% in 2025. 

“Despite a planned 2025 reduction in City of Burnaby operational costs (-$400k), Sanitary Sewer Fund expenditures for 2025 are projected at $74.6M, a change of approximately $18.2M from 2024 (32% increase). With zero additional funding to the capital reserve planned for 2025, 100% of the increase in the overall budget is tied to the GVS/DD levy. It is the case, however, that the City of Burnaby reserves allow the City to cushion ratepayers from the full extent of the increase being imposed on the City,” the council report said. 

The proposed rate increase did not receive unanimous approval, with almost half of city council members opposing it. Coun. Sav Dhaliwal proposed an amendment to the motion to cap the increase at around 10%, but while the motion received support from four councillors, it was defeated in the final vote by 5-4.  

New pedestrian safety measures coming to 17 Burnaby intersections

During the meeting council approved proposed measures to improve pedestrian safety in 17 Burnaby intersections. In December 2023, councillors Alison Gu and Maita Santiago introduced a notice of motion to request that staff look into implementing new measures for pedestrian safety. The new proposed measures are in response to that motion. 

According to the staff report submitted to council on Nov. 4, the plan will include short, medium, and long-term safety measures. 

The short-term measures include: 

• Right turn on red restriction 

• Leading pedestrian interval signal timing plan 

• Signage improvements 

• Accessible pedestrian signals 

• Bus stop relocation

• Pedestrian guiding fencing 

• Pavement marking improvements

Medium-term measures include:

• Protected turn signal phasing 

• New left-turn lanes 

• Curb extensions 

• Upgraded crosswalks 

• Accessible curb ramps 

• Right-turn channelization/islands 

• Intersection lighting improvements 

• Additional traffic signal heads

Long-term safety measures include: 

• Corridor improvements 

• Sidewalk upgrades

The intersections receiving upgrades include four intersections on Hastings Street, four on Kingsway, two on Imperial Street, and two on Lougheed Highway, among others. 

Council approves joint application with SFU to test emergent technologies

The joint application with SFU will be submitted to to Natural Resources Canada Renewable Energy Innovation Program ‘Renewable Energy Demonstration Projects’ funding stream and will involve participating in a new “‘SustainaSphere” project. The application deadline is Nov. 12, 2024.

According to a report submitted to council, the new project will “provide proof of concept for emergent technologies related to the green energy transition and reducing grid-dependence, while also showcasing more established technologies in a public setting.” 

The report outlines three options, the first option involves what is described as “passive house design and modular construction” with an “integrated microgrid” and “smart energy management system.” 

“Proposed additional components include a heat pump, solar panels, and a rain garden, water collection, and filtration system for low-grade heat storage (thermal battery),” the staff report said. “An AI-enabled control system will optimize energy distribution based on real-time supply and demand, with the ability to switch between energy sources as needed.” 

The second option outlined in the report will include all the components of Option 1, plus self-driving vehicles, which are described as “autonomous people movers” in the report. Since autonomous vehicles are not allowed on BC roads, the new “autonomous people movers” will be used on a pedestrian pathway for demonstration purposes. 

“The proposed demonstration is anticipated to take place on an existing pedestrian pathway running from the south end of the Kensington Urban Trail pedestrian bridge (south of Sperling Skytrain Station) to the Bill Copeland Sports Centre north parking lot,” said the staff report. “Should this demonstration prove successful, opportunities for expansion to operate both regularly and directly from Sperling Skytrain Station could be explored.”

The report states that the city will need to provide $120,000 in staff support over the five years of the project. 

During the Financial Management Committee and the council meeting on Nov. 4, Coun. Allison Gu opposed the idea of the second option, which included self-driving vehicles. 

“I don’t think we should be putting municipal resources, even if human resources, in an industry that we want to move away from, and something that the industry is individually motivated to be piloting research on anyways because they know that’s their new sell for the next generation of cars, it’s going to be autonomous, electric vehicles, it’s going to be their new pitch,” Gu said during the Oct. 15 Financial Management Committee meeting. 

However, the motion passed during the council meeting, and the joint funding application will go forward.

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

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