Golden council will tackle a mix of community-focused and operational items when it meets on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m.
A key presentation will come from Local Food Matters Executive Director Chrystel Vultier, who is scheduled to share findings from the organization’s 2025 Local Food Production Assessment. This continues ongoing conversations around strengthening local food resilience, an issue that has gained importance as supply chains and costs remain uncertain.
Council will also consider a request from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for $40,000 from the Economic Opportunity Fund to support a LiDAR survey aimed at improving mosquito control efforts in Golden and Electoral Area A. The survey would use aerial mapping technology to better identify standing water and mosquito breeding areas.
Planning matters include a proposal related to 1122 10th Avenue South, where council will review a floodplain exemption tied to potential development. If approved, the exemption would allow a building permit to move forward, subject to engineering safeguards and registration of a floodplain covenant on title.
On the bylaw front, council is expected to consider adoption of the new Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control Bylaw.
Financial discussions will continue as Council reviews recreation-related operating budget recommendations for inclusion in the Draft 2026–2030 Five-Year Financial Plan.
The meeting will be held in council chambers at Town Hall and is open to the public, with virtual participation available via Zoom.
Golden Co-op Radio Moves Closer to FM Licence
Golden Co-op Radio says its application for an FM broadcast licence is now being processed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), with approval expected before the end of the year.
The volunteer-run station shared the update in recent correspondence to the Town of Golden, noting that the licensing process is underway and expressing optimism about bringing local FM broadcasting to the community.
Currently operating online and out of a studio in the basement of the Golden and District Public Library, the organization has been working toward securing an FM licence as part of its long-term vision to expand local access to community-driven programming.
The group also confirmed it will host its Annual General Meeting on March 6 at the station, marking its fourth anniversary.
Golden Co-op Radio continues to operate through a volunteer board and is seeking new members as it prepares for the next phase of growth.
Why It’s Important
An FM licence would give Golden its own locally based radio voice on the dial.
That means more room for community storytelling, local music, emergency messaging, and coverage of events that rarely make it onto regional or commercial stations. In a small mountain town where reliable communication can matter during wildfire seasons, highway closures, or extreme weather, having a local broadcaster is more than entertainment. It adds resilience.
It also creates space for local artists, nonprofits and community groups to be heard without competing for attention in larger urban media markets.
In simple terms, this is about keeping Golden’s stories told in Golden.
Council Asked to Support Mosquito Mapping Project
Golden council is being asked to support a $40,000 funding request for a new mosquito control initiative that would use advanced mapping technology to better target problem areas.
In a staff report presented on March 3, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is seeking Economic Opportunity Fund support to complete a LiDAR survey of wetlands in and around Golden and Electoral Area A.
LiDAR, which uses laser-based aerial scanning, can map ground features hidden beneath vegetation and identify shallow basins and depressions where mosquitoes are most likely to breed.
According to the report, the survey would allow mosquito control contractors to improve the timing and accuracy of both ground and aerial larviciding efforts by identifying larval development areas and predicting where flooding may occur at different river levels.
The work is proposed for spring 2026, when conditions would provide the most useful data for seasonal planning.
If approved, the funding would come from the Economic Opportunity Fund and would not directly impact the Town of Golden’s operating budget.
The report notes the data could also support broader uses, including conservation planning and flood risk analysis.
Council has the option to support the request, defer for more information, or decline.
Resident Raises Procedural and Tone Concerns Over Sevens Process
Golden council has received an unusual letter from a local resident raising concerns about both procedure and language used during discussions related to the Sevens rezoning process.
In the correspondence, the resident questions whether the council followed its own procedure bylaw when scheduling the public hearing for the Sevens rezoning and Official Community Plan amendment. The bylaw states that public hearings, when required, are to be held during regular council meetings unless council resolves otherwise.
The writer says they were unable to find a public resolution authorizing the hearing to be moved to a different date and time, and is requesting council defer adoption of the related bylaws until the matter is clarified.
The letter also takes issue with the use of terms such as “sharpening of pitchforks” and “pitchforks and torches” during council discussions, describing the language as dismissive of community members who participated in the public process.
According to the letter, such language risks undermining trust and discouraging public engagement in civic decision-making.
The resident is asking the council to formally acknowledge the concern and reaffirm its commitment to respectful dialogue with the public.
Local Food Matters Highlights Barriers and Opportunities for Growing Local Food
Golden council heard an update from Local Food Matters outlining both the challenges and potential of expanding local food production in the region.
The presentation, based on the 2025 Local Food Production Assessment for Golden and Area, emphasized that investing in producer capacity is key to improving long-term food security.
The report points to several structural barriers facing local agriculture, including mountainous terrain, a short growing season, and limited access to suitable farmland. Economic realities also play a role, with 61 percent of surveyed producers relying on off-farm income and labour shortages emerging as the top challenge.
Infrastructure gaps were also identified, including limited winter storage, processing facilities and commercial kitchen space, all of which constrain year-round production and the growth of local food businesses.
Despite these challenges, the outlook is positive. Eighty-three percent of surveyed producers indicated interest in expanding their operations if the right supports are in place.
Key recommendations include investing in winter storage and climate-controlled growing systems, improving distribution through a potential “local food agent,” and addressing labour constraints through shared services and seasonal housing supports.
The report also encourages the council to consider embedding food security goals into the Official Community Plan, including policies that support year-round production and coordinated partnerships.
Council Responds to Resident Letters on Policing Fund and Tennis Court Project
Golden council has issued responses to two recent letters from residents, addressing concerns related to policing costs and the future of local tennis courts.
In response to correspondence regarding the possible establishment of a Policing Transition Reserve Fund, Mayor Ron Oszust advised that the matter will be discussed as part of upcoming budget deliberations.
Council is expected to consider reserve fund contributions during the March 3 Standing Committee on Finance meeting as part of the Town’s 2026 budget and five-year financial planning process.
Council also responded to a separate letter about the Mount 7 Rec Plex tennis courts. While the correspondence was received and included on the February 17 council agenda, no further action was taken.
The Town noted that direction on the project had already been provided in December 2025, when the council approved proceeding with a reconfiguration of the site.
The approved concept includes converting the old tennis court area into a multi-use public space featuring seating areas, native plantings, gravel paths, and a year-round washroom/gazebo structure designed to complement nearby recreation amenities.
