麻豆精选鈥檚 mayor told a crowd of city business professionals that he has thoroughly enjoyed is first year in office.
Junior Chamber International (JCI) 麻豆精选 hosted a mayor鈥檚 luncheon on Oct. 26.
Dyas鈥� first council meeting as mayor was Nov. 7, 2022.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been lots of initiatives and lots of good people to work with and I鈥檝e been extremely welcomed by all of city staff.鈥�
He also took questions from the audience which included short-term rentals, tourism and hospitality, a lack of parking near 麻豆精选 General Hospital (KGH), and replacing the Parkinson Recreation Centre.
Dyas was asked how the city will work with homeowners who are losing the ability to operate short-term rentals under new provincial legislation.
鈥淲e are going to have to come to a decision on it, and that鈥檚 why we looked at going to a public hearing,鈥� he said.
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鈥淭here鈥檚 some people who are going to be happy and there鈥檚 some people who aren鈥檛 going to be happy. Regrettably, that鈥檚 just the way it鈥檚 going to go.鈥�
The mayor was then asked what was being done to help 麻豆精选鈥檚 tourism and hospitality sector after the wildfires in Aug.
Dyas said it was an issue he brought up with ministers at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Sept.
鈥淎s it鈥檚 been explained to me, one day in the last three weeks of Aug. in regards to sales could be the equivalent of a week in Nov. We asked them if there is the opportunity of looking at advancing some funding to assist with the losses those businesses had.鈥�
Dyas added he has yet to hear back on the request.
Regarding the lack of parking around KGH, that is an issue that sits with Interior Health, as it owns a lot across the street from the hospital.
鈥淭he vision is for it to become a parkade,鈥� said Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who attended the luncheon, and is also the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District board chair.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e starting with at-grade parking to begin with. The main initiative was to get parking online as soon as possible.鈥�
Dyas also answered a question about why the city is spending more than $241 million on redeveloping the Parkinson Recreation Centre site.
鈥淭he debt servicing ratio with respect to the city is very minimal,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 $150 million, $170 million, or $241 million at this point I can guarantee you in 10 years time it won鈥檛 be any cheaper.鈥�
The mayor added the budgeting process undertaken by the city will keep the debt ratio sustainably below what鈥檚 allowed by the province and the city鈥檚 own rules.
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