The following summary highlights several key items scheduled for discussion at the March 17 Regular Open Council meeting. It is intended as a brief overview of the agenda before council. Residents interested in the full details, including staff reports and supporting documents, can review the complete agenda package on the Town of Golden’s website.
Library CEO to Present to Golden Council (postponed)
Possible Time Change on Council’s Radar
Golden residents could see changes to how time is observed in the region, as the town council prepares to discuss whether to explore options for aligning with broader provincial changes.
A notice of motion from Mayor Ron Oszust and Councillor Chris Guyot asks council to direct staff to prepare a report outlining the legislation, options, and potential process for considering a change to time observance in the Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area A.
The discussion comes after the Province of British Columbia announced that most of the province will move to a permanent “Pacific Time” system following the March 8, 2026, time change, eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes. However, the southeastern corner of the province, including the East Kootenay and communities like Golden, was not included in the shift and currently remains on Mountain Time with seasonal clock changes.
Regional governments are now examining their options. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has already debated the issue and recently voted to pursue a transition to year-round Mountain Standard Time beginning in November 2026, a move that would effectively align the region’s clocks with the rest of B.C. if approved by the province.
Provincial officials have indicated that communities in Mountain Time areas can continue observing Mountain Standard and Mountain Daylight Time as they do now, but may also choose to adopt the same year-round time used by the rest of B.C. The exact mechanism for making such a change is still being clarified and could involve public consultation or a local referendum.
Cadets Seek Support for Cenotaph Crosswalk Tribute
Golden Town Council will hear a proposal this week to create a commemorative crosswalk near the community’s cenotaph honouring Canadian veterans.
Capt. Devon McCarthy and Capt. Jay Williams of the 3066 Royal Canadian Army Cadets is scheduled to present the idea to council during the March 17 meeting, requesting support and permission to paint one or two memorial crosswalks between Town Hall and the cenotaph area.
According to the presentation submitted to council, the project’s goal is to honour veterans and those who have served Canada by creating a distinctive crosswalk design that recognizes their contributions and sacrifices.
Materials indicate the cadets and Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122 would lead the project and cover most of the costs. Paint and supplies would be purchased locally, with Golden Installations offering a 20 per cent discount. Organizers estimate the cost at approximately $500 per crossing.
The group is asking the Town of Golden to help prepare the crosswalk surface by pressure washing it prior to painting, and to allow temporary road closures between Park Drive and 9th Avenue South while the paint cures. The cadets have also committed to maintaining the crosswalk with annual repainting if the project moves forward.
Concept images included in the presentation show several possible designs, including crosswalks featuring poppies or silhouettes of soldiers accompanied by the phrase “Lest We Forget.”
OCP Update: Community Priorities Emerging from Public Engagement
Golden Town Council will receive an update this week on early public feedback gathered as part of the ongoing Official Community Plan (OCP) update.
Consultant John Ingram of EcoPlan is scheduled to present a “What We Heard” report summarizing input collected during the first round of community engagement earlier this year. The engagement took place between January and February 2026 and included community meetings, open houses, online participation, and outreach at public events.
According to the report, more than 300 residents participated in engagement events, while an online engagement tool attracted nearly 140 participants who submitted over 160 ideas and almost 3,000 ratings on community priorities.
Several themes consistently emerged from the feedback. Housing affordability was the most frequently identified priority, with residents emphasizing the need for a wider range of rental and ownership options, including staff housing, entry-level homes, and seniors housing.
Other commonly raised issues included downtown revitalization, transportation safety and trail connections, and strengthening community resilience through wildfire preparedness, climate action, and infrastructure planning. Residents also highlighted the importance of supporting a diverse local economy and improving staff housing to support businesses and seasonal tourism demands.
Participants also suggested updates to Golden’s existing OCP vision, which dates back to 2008. While many said the current vision remains generally appropriate, residents indicated it could better reflect issues such as climate resilience, affordable housing, transportation options, and overall community wellbeing.
Additional engagement events included community discussions with local organizations, participation in the EmberFest Community Futures Day event, and a session with Grade 9 students at Golden Secondary School to gather youth perspectives on the town’s future.
The OCP update process will continue throughout 2026 and into 2027, eventually guiding future decisions related to housing, land use, infrastructure, and community development in Golden.
Forestry Coalition Seeks Town of Golden Endorsement
Golden Town Council will consider a request this week to formally support a new provincial campaign promoting the importance of British Columbia’s forestry sector.
A coalition of forest industry organizations has asked the Town of Golden to endorse the “Forestry is a Solution” initiative, a campaign launched in January at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George.
In a letter to Mayor Ron Oszust, the coalition says the initiative aims to demonstrate public support for the forestry sector and highlight its role in addressing major challenges facing the province. The campaign argues that forestry contributes to economic stability in many communities while also providing materials for housing, supporting jobs, and helping reduce wildfire risks through active forest management.
The coalition is asking council to pass a motion endorsing the campaign and to encourage residents to sign an online petition and send letters to provincial leaders supporting the industry. The group is aiming to gather at least 5,000 signatures across the province.
The initiative outlines four priorities for government action: speeding up access to economic timber through faster permitting, improving competitiveness by reducing regulatory burdens, reforming BC Timber Sales to ensure a stable supply of logs, and strengthening partnerships with First Nations.
Organizations backing the campaign include the BC Council of Forest Industries, the Truck Loggers Association, the Alliance of Resource Communities, and several other forestry and labour groups.
Council to Consider Renewing GORMA Licence at Reflection Lake
Golden Town Council will review a proposal to renew the Golden Off-Road Motorcycle Association (GORMA) licence of occupation for the motocross skills track located on municipal land near Reflection Lake and the rodeo grounds.
The licence, first issued in 2016, allows GORMA to use the site as a youth-focused motocross practice area. The current agreement expires at the end of March, and council must decide whether to renew it for either one year or three years while a potential relocation is still being considered.
According to a staff report prepared by Director of Corporate Services and Communications Alysha Saville, the short-term renewal is being recommended largely because the group’s application to relocate its operations to a new site near Cabin Lake remains stalled at the provincial level.
“Removing their access to the tenure parcel would leave riders without a sanctioned space,” the report notes, which could lead to increased use of non-motorized trails or backroads and create safety and environmental concerns.
Staff say GORMA has demonstrated efforts to work cooperatively with other stakeholders who share the area, including the Golden Light Horse Club, Wildsight Golden, and the Golden Cycling Club. Those efforts have included coordinating track closures during equestrian events, participating in invasive plant removal projects, and installing signage outlining respectful use guidelines.
While some groups have long-term visions for different uses of the site — including ecological restoration or expanded equestrian facilities — stakeholders generally acknowledge the importance of providing a designated riding area until an alternative location can be secured.
Council will now consider whether to approve a one-year renewal, which would maintain the current approach but require another review next year, or a three-year agreement, which staff say would provide more stability while the province processes GORMA’s relocation application.
Staff note that either decision would have no direct financial impact on the municipality.
Council to Review Water System Asset Management Plan
Golden Town Council will consider adopting the 2026 Water System Asset Management Plan in principle, a new long-term planning document that outlines the condition, capacity, and future replacement needs of the community’s drinking water infrastructure.
Prepared by Urban Systems for the Town’s Public Works department, the plan evaluates key components of Golden’s water system, including wells, reservoirs, booster stations, pressure-reducing stations, and the distribution network of water mains, valves, and hydrants.
The report is intended to guide future infrastructure decisions and capital planning, helping the municipality prioritize upgrades and replacements as assets age or reach capacity limits.
Town staff say the plan also fulfills a requirement from Interior Health, which asked the Town to develop a formal asset management framework for the Golden public water system as part of its operating permit conditions.
Using engineering analysis and operational input from staff, infrastructure components were evaluated based on three factors: condition, capacity, and reliability or resiliency. Assets were then assigned priority scores to determine whether upgrades should occur in the short term, medium term, or longer term.
The plan estimates that replacing or upgrading the Town’s water system infrastructure would cost approximately $55.4 million in total, with an annual renewal investment of about $1.76 million needed to maintain the system sustainably over time.
Among the higher-priority infrastructure items identified are upgrades to the northeast and southeast booster stations, pressure-reducing valve stations, and several water main improvements intended to strengthen fire-flow capacity and overall system reliability.
The plan also notes that Golden currently relies on four groundwater wells for its water supply, with a fifth well expected to come online in the coming years. With that additional capacity, the system is projected to meet community water demand for the next 25-year growth horizon to 2046.
If adopted in principle, the document will serve as a policy and planning guide for future infrastructure investment decisions, including capital budgets and long-term financial planning for the Town’s water system.
Council to Consider Progress on Major Water and Sewer Infrastructure Projects
Golden Town Council will review updates on several major infrastructure projects tied to the community’s water and sewer systems, including upgrades to the 12th Street lift station, replacement work along 5th Avenue South, and construction of the long-planned Well 7 water supply project.
The projects form part of the Town’s 2026–2030 capital financial plan and are intended to support future growth while improving reliability across the municipal utility system.
One of the first steps under consideration is detailed design work for the 12th Street Lift Station Pumps and Pipes project, which would increase pumping capacity at the existing station and upgrade related infrastructure. The project also includes replacing a section of sewer main crossing beneath the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail line and upsizing roughly 70 metres of sewer pipe upstream of the station.
The lift station project is currently estimated at $2.57 million, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2028 if the design phase proceeds as planned. Funding is expected to come from sewer capital reserves and long-term borrowing through the Municipal Finance Authority.
Council will also receive an update on the 5th Avenue South sewer main replacement project, which had originally been proposed as a larger upgrade. Updated modelling and field verification work have since reduced the scope of the project, meaning full replacement work is now expected to be deferred until after 2031, with planning currently targeted to begin around 2028.
Meanwhile, construction planning continues for Well 7, a new groundwater supply well intended to strengthen Golden’s drinking water system. The project was previously approved with a revised budget of $3.18 million, although some components, such as a backup generator and one UV reactor, have been deferred for possible future budget consideration.
Town staff are recommending that funding for the well project be adjusted to use money from the provincial Growing Communities Fund grant, which must be spent by March 2028. Redirecting the grant funding would ensure the money is used within the required timeline.
Together, the projects are part of the Town’s broader effort to maintain and expand critical infrastructure needed to accommodate population growth and future development.
Proposed Bylaw Would Increase Recreation Facility Fees
Golden Town Council will consider adopting a new bylaw that would update fees for municipal recreation facilities, including the arena, swimming pool, Mount 7 Rec-Plex and sports fields at Keith King Memorial Park.
The proposed Town of Golden Recreation Facility Fees Bylaw No. 1512 would replace the current 2024 fee schedule, which expires in April. If approved, the new rates would take effect May 1 and remain in place through 2029, with scheduled adjustments over the three-year period.
Town staff say the proposed increases are intended to help maintain the financial sustainability of recreation services while keeping facilities accessible to a broad range of residents. The review compared Golden’s fees with those in more than ten other municipalities and similar facilities.
Among the proposed changes are a 12 per cent increase for most drop-in programs, lessons and events, along with a larger adjustment for some social programs, where the typical $2 drop-in fee would increase to $3. Aquatic leadership courses would increase by about 20 per cent.
Facility rental fees would also rise. Rental rates at the arena, pool and Rec-Plex would generally increase between five and eight per cent, with additional adjustments in certain areas such as lane rentals at the pool and special events requiring floor covering at the Rec-Plex.
At Keith King Memorial Park, concession rentals would increase by eight per cent, while ball diamond and soccer field rentals would see larger adjustments as part of the updated fee schedule.
Future increases are also built into the bylaw, with an additional five per cent increase planned for each of the following two years to keep pace with rising operating costs.
Town staff note that recreation fees are designed to recover about 25 per cent of the operating costs of the facilities, with the remaining funding coming from municipal taxes and other revenue sources.
Council will now decide whether to give the bylaw first, second and third readings.
Council to Consider final steps re: Sevens Short-Term Rental Proposal
Golden Town Council will consider adopting bylaws that would allow short-term rentals at the Sevens development at 1551 Bowle Evans Drive.
The proposal would amend the Town’s Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to permit short-term rentals in the project without requiring the property owner to live on site. If approved, the property would be rezoned to a new R4-Short Term Rental (R4-STR) subzone, allowing dwelling units to be used as visitor accommodation.
Golden’s current policies generally prohibit full-unit short-term rentals in residential areas unless they operate under a home-based model. The amendment would add the Sevens site as a specific exception alongside Canyon Ridge.
Council previously reviewed a similar proposal in 2023, which was denied. The revised application went through a public hearing in December 2025 and now returns to council for final consideration.
If adopted, the amendments would clear the way for the Sevens development to proceed with units that can be used for short-term visitor accommodation.
