City staff will review how much Delta spends to host the Boundary Bay Airshow and report to council on any savings they identify.

Last month, council approved a motion from Dylan Kruger directing staff to initiate a thorough review of all costs associated with the annual event, including non-cash costs such as fire, police, parks and recreation, and engineering department staff time.

In his motion, Kruger notes that the best practice is to regularly review the costs associated with large community events to ensure financial accountability and transparency, adding that the city has never conducted a comprehensive review of air show costs before.

“The Boundary Bay Airshow is a significant annual event that requires various resources and in-kind contributions from the City, including fire, police, parks and technical staff time,” Kruger’s application states.

A report to the city council earlier this year said the air show, which normally takes place in mid-July, has grown larger each year and is now the city’s largest special spectator event each summer.

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The air show is being held as part of a cost-sharing partnership between the city of Delta and Alpha Aviation, with both parties “making significant financial contributions (…) to ensure it remains a free and accessible family event,” the report said.

According to the air show’s traffic management and parking plan, Alpha Aviation is responsible for managing on-site parking at Boundary Bay Airport, while the City of Delta is responsible for overall traffic management, including coordinating bus shuttle services from the off-site parking lots.

Traffic control, shuttle buses and on-site bike parking for the 2024 air show, which took place on Saturday, July 13, cost the city approximately $50,000.

Delta’s cash contribution for this year’s air show was to be 50 percent of the net cost, which is the actual out-of-pocket costs minus all sponsorship money, up to a maximum of $100,000. This figure does not include in-kind contributions such as labor costs, police and fire costs and materials provided by the city.

Kruger’s motion directs staff to submit any suggestions for improvements based on the results of their review “to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocation” and to summarize their findings and recommendations in a report to be submitted to council for review and “public transparency.”

After having August off, the council will resume its regular work schedule next month, with meetings on Sept. 9 at the North Delta Centre for the Arts and Sept. 23 at Delta City Hall.

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