Image: Supplied by Cultus Lake Park Board / The park board has agreed to an external review of its commissioner remuneration per its bylaw guidelines.
By Mike Vanden Bosch
Park Board

Cultus Lake Park Board to review commissioner remuneration per bylaw guidelines

Sep 24, 2022 | 10:09 AM

CULTUS LAKE — The Cultus Lake Park Board has agreed to undertake a routine review of its commissioner remuneration, according to minutes from its meeting this past Wednesday, September 21.

And compared to municipal and regional agencies in the Chilliwack area, elected officials on the Cultus Lake Park Board are paid less than their counterparts.

The park board’s remuneration bylaw No. 1163, with a 2019 amendment that was approved by the board in 2019, clearly outlines a process and time frame for setting salaries for commissioners, chair and vice-chair.

The bylaw stipulates that a comparative process for establishing its remuneration should be based on comparisons with other similar communities, specifically population, total expenses, and revenue. The analysis, the bylaw states, should be undertaken every four years prior to the election.

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The park board would then utilize an outside contractor to perform an analysis of similar municipalities. Any updates to board salaries are recommended by the outgoing board.

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Cultus Lake will be compared to similar governments such as Harrison Hot Springs, Lillooet, Ucluelet, Tofino, Sun Peaks, Jasper, Keremeos, Banff, Valemount, Rossland, Belcarra, Invermere, Pemberton, Radium Hot Springs, and Sicamous.

A 2019 compensation analysis conducted by consultant Julie M. Case showed the park board chair, at the time, made $14,393, while commissioners earned $10,296.

Commissioner salaries have since increased; the board chair earns about $23,500 now while commissioners earn approximately $14,500 annually.

Commissioners not only attend monthly board meetings, but also must participate in additional activities linked to an environmental and public areas planning committee, commercial leaseholder committee, village plaza development, and community events and engagement committee.

Area elected officials earn more than Cultus Lake Park Board commissioners. Two of the five park board commissioners represent Chilliwack while the remaining three represent Cultus Lake and its approximately 1,660 residents within the park board jurisdiction.

Directors on the Fraser Valley Regional District who aren’t elected by a specific municipality, like Chilliwack or Hope for example, are paid about $36,000 a year. Chilliwack City Council members earn about $43,500 annually. School board trustees earn a minimum of $24,170; its vice-chair and board chair earn more for additional responsibilities.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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