The City of Trail has recently established two select committees: the Trail Regional Airport Advisory Committee and the Official Community Plan (OCP) Advisory Committee, and they need community members join them.
Both committees are new with different purposes.
The Trail Regional Airport Advisory Committee was formed to provide insight, make recommendations, and foster new partnerships to improve services, facilities, and advancements at the airport.
Claire Samulak, Communications and Events Manager with the City of Trail, explained that the committee will investigate economic growth opportunities for the airport and recommend short- and long-term development objectives to the city.
This will be done through engagement with stakeholders and through the fostering and development of relationships with the commercial carrier, Pacific Coastal Airlines, as well as other potential users of the airport.
Currently, the committee is made up of representatives from Pacific Coastal Airlines, Trail Regional Airport, Community Futures South Kootenay, Teck, along with Councillors Thea Hanson and Paul Butler.
Samulak said they’re looking for up to three residents from the greater Trail area to represent the community at large.
“Council is looking to get more advice, insights, and recommendations to foster new partnerships to improve the services, facilities, and advancements. This is looking into a growth phase for the regional airport, which is why we’re seeking some more opinions and voices at the table to provide input to council.”
Committee members meet once every quarter, but other meetings may be called at the discretion of the chair.
For the Official Community Plan (OCP) Advisory Committee, committee members will be required to commit more of their time.
Over the next 12 months, the City will be undertaking a significant project with the renewal of the OCP. The development process represents an opportunity to have a positive social, economic, and environmental impact on how the community grows and changes over time.
The City said the OCP renewal process will involve a professional external consultant to guide it, but the need for ongoing community input is fundamental to the success of a new OCP, expected to be adopted in late 2024.
The City hasn’t updated its OCP since 2001. It had started the process in 2020, but it was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samulak said the renewal process will continue past 2024 and that they’re looking for people to stand on the committee who have the ability to commit the time and energy required for the entire OCP review process.
The committee will guide the review process and ensure it is innovative, inclusive, and tailored to the needs of the community.
The ideal committee will be made up of individuals who represent, or have experience in, the following areas:
- Environmental stewardship
- Business
- Economic development
- Tourism
- Health and social services
- Arts and culture
- Youth and seniors
- Recreation and trails
- Climate and energy
- Housing
- Education
- Infrastructure
“We are looking for people who represent and have experience in a broad variety of areas. People may have experience in several of these different key focus areas, and we would love to hear from them,” said Samulak.
“Whether you’re a childcare guru, a social services superhero, an arts enthusiast, or a heritage guardian, we want to hear from you. Your unique perspective can make a difference.”
The OCP Committee is expected to meet 2-4 times before the fall when a public consultation process begins. Then, the commitment may increase to 2-3 meetings a month.
The new OCP will be adopted by Dec. 31, 2024, and the committee would end shortly after that.
The City would like to have both committees filled and meeting in June.
Interested community members are directed to the City’s website to read the terms of reference for each committee before submitting a letter of introduction and expression of interest to the corporate administrator.
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