Administration Update:
- The Aquatic Centre at the Rec Plex will be closed for maintenance from June 12 to 26.
- There seems to be some mix-up with Season Ticket holders with play off tickets arriving late to the Arena and discovering that somebody is in their seats with legitimate tickets. This will be followed-up on by staff.
Committee Recommendations:
11.1 Report Recommendation from the CAO re: Cranbrook-Kimberley R2T
A report from the CAO endorsed recommendations from the R2T Joint Management Committee but recommended against a request for a meeting with both Mayors to seek direction on the naming of the trail. The reason given was that it was not considered to be a time sensitive issue. Councillor Whetham disagreed and expressed concern about the disconnect between the advisory and management committee recommendations. He then put forward an amendment to the motion to arrange a joint meeting between the Councils of Cranbrook and Kimberley to discuss issues concerning the naming of the trail, corporate sponsorship, and expectations for the formation of a society. He further requested that an April 21 Advisory Committee Update report and related materials be provided in advance of the meeting. The motion was carried with the amendment.
New Business:
12.2 Recommendation from the Mayor re City Float – The Mayor recommended that $5,000 from the City’s surplus funds be given to the Chamber of Commerce (Sweetheart Committee) to support the float. This amount is in addition to the $12,000 already budgeted. Kelowna was reported to be spending $75,000 for a professional organization to build their float. After some discussion and concern from Councillor Whetham about non-budgeted items, that do not meet Council’s recently adopted guidelines, the motion carried unanimously.
12.5 RDEK Referral – Proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2300 – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw.
The proposed amendment will allow development of the Gold Creek Ranch, to include 32 strata lots with 37 parcels overall. Councillor Whetham noted that despite the increased number of lots, the proposal offers better protection for the City’s watershed than is currently provided and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of all parties in resolving these issues. Councillor Pallesen agreed.
Councillor Wavrecan commented that work done by staff to protect the City’s interests through negotiations with the proponents, has taken us some ways to getting us where we would like to be. The property is actually 13 km. out, and the City’s say into what is occurring is restricted to 10 kms. He stated that “we have a form of rural sprawl outside our 10 km. window.” There still seem to be some problems and hopefully they can be addressed. He was concerned that dust resulting from an increase in traffic along the road might find itself in the reservoir and require the City to provide further screening of its water supply. He suggested not to look at this with rose coloured glasses as those issues will have to be addressed in the future.
Thank you Cranbrook Guardian for the reporting and insight into some of the business of our City at Council meetings. Your coverage is quite "enlightening" comparing to what we read in the Townsman or Advertiser. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the CLC blog and Councillor Whetham /Council’s discussion May 9.
ReplyDelete"- the Mayor is requesting an additional $5000 be given to the Chamber of Commerce to assist in updating the Cranbrook Float. This is in addition to the $12,000 we already provide on an annual basis"
As someone that has, and continues to, put in hundreds of hours voluntarily working on Cranbrook's City Float, I take offense to this comment on the CLC blog as it comes across as a negative for the taxpayer. These monies are not just for updating the physical presentation of the float as the blog states. The monies are given to the Chamber who, after covering their affiliated expenses, gives to the Sweetheart Society who delegates the funds. Just to site a few of our float expenses that you cannot see are: vehicle and trailer, insurance, work area, storage, tools, basic travel expenses for volunteer driver and volunteer Sweethearts and volunteer chaperones, Sweetheart's theme attire, parade fees, gas, repairs and on and on. We, a small team of volunteers, have to scrimp and beg each year just to pull off a float that can even be permitted into the parades and their expectation/criteria to present a new (or renovated version of) the float so that we can be judged. We have done Cranbrook proud. Cranbrook's float has won many prizes and some of our competitors are given budgets over five times what we have. Those budgets are able to hire professionals to design and construct - yet we have managed to have our Cranbrook float discussed and mentioned over national TV, Radio, Newspapers, shown on websites and highlighted (in a very positive way) on blogs and other social media, utube and on and on. We, thankfully, will receive the $5,000 requested and, believe me; it will be carefully spent over the upcoming years.
The City of Cranbrook is fortunate to have a small group of dedicated, hardworking volunteers that have put many, many hours of satisfying work into the float. This is just another way Cranbrook citizens contribute and show pride in our community and Cranbrook receives an incredible Return on Investment in Goodwill, Public Relations and free Advertising.
Linda Birch