Post Notes for the Council Meeting of June 13th

Special recognition was given to Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce for being named Chamber of the Year.

No Delegations

Council Enquiries

1. Councillor Palleson passed on an enquiry about Street Cleaning. A resident had asked her about the timing of cleaning 27th Avenue. Administrator Pearce responded that cleaning goes on all summer with residential streets being cleaned on a revolving basis.

2. Councillor Scott passed on an enquiry from an hotelier regarding regulations that might be in place if an hotelier were to rent bicycles to guests and possibly other visitors to Cranbrook. Administrators Pearce and Hale responded that this would be an extension of the current business licence and would be treated as an accessory use permitted under the permitted purpose of business. Liability insurance would be the responsibility of the business owner.

3. Councillor Scott also enquired as part of her volunteerism with the Quality of Life Committee (previously known as Living Wage) whether she would through council be able to obtain a copy of the work that New Westminster has done. Administrator Pearce agreed to look into this.

Note:

Making an enquiry to a member of council is sometimes an expedient way to receive an answer about city matters. The above enquiries are good examples of this.

Administration Update

Administration Updates can be read at:

http://cranbrook.ihostez.com/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1577


Correspondence

Most although not all correspondence can be read at

http://cranbrook.ihostez.com/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1350

If there is an item not available on line it can be requested at the front desk of City Hall. Several letters this week had to do with traffic matters and were referred to the appropriate committee.

Item 9.2

Letter from Wayne Stetski in response to a letter sent from Sean Campbell Chamber of Commerce to the City. This letter and its response from Mayor Manjak with approval from Council can be read at:

http://cranbrook.ihostez.com/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1579

Comment:

Mayor and Council seem to have missed the point of this letter from Mr. Stetski, which was to further explain the benefits of having a Local Conservation Fund and to support the approach of letting the people decide on whether or not a tax for conservation is appropriate. Nowhere in his letter do I see a request or motion to bring in a tax. In fact his letter finishes with ”We would welcome the opportunity to help Chamber members learn more about the value of having our own Local Conservation Fund here in the city of Cranbrook. EKCP looks forward to presenting to Council again in future."

In Mr. Manjak’s response letter he makes several references to the fact that the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund was “passed by a narrow margin (54% to 46%) and so “all of the participants within the service area now participate in the Fund, regardless of whether the individual community or Area voted in favour. This is how democracy works – Mr. Manjak was elected in 2008 by 51% of those who voted and is our Mayor regardless of whether the individuals voted in his favour or not. This is not the first time the bias of Mayor and Council has been evident over this matter.

Mayor Manjak raises, as did Mr Campbell, some very valid points of taxation protocol and these points would provide an excellent basis for discussion. Maybe there are alternatives for putting in place some sort of conservation revenue policies for land, which needs in some opinions, some sort of special status and protection. This topic looms large and in many forms, is very topical, will not go away and deserves more ongoing open discussion with input from ALL.

A sampling of further reading around this topic:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/CLTIP/index.html

http://www.landtrustalliance.org/policy/tax-matters/tax-matters

http://www.privatelandownernetwork.org/plnpro/colorados%20conservation%20income%20tax%20credit%20law.asp


New Business

12.1 concerned the rezoning of a property on King Street. Council did not support this rezoning application, as it would contravene the City’s long-standing policy that fragmentation of the rural land base around the city is not in the best interests of the city.

Mayor Manjak made the point however that the City needed to re-examine the City’s Official Community Plan in light of the events of the last two years.

12.2
Airport will increase the airport improvement fee from $10.00 to $11.00 to assist in the improvement costs.

12.3

Unissued debenture was cancelled. Most of this pre-approved loan was for the debt incurred by the Rec Plex. Due to the restructuring of this debt and some unused funds for other projects it was possible to cancel this debenture enabling the City to increase its borrowing capacity once more.

Bylaws

Municipal Election Bylaw

Council is considering changes to the Municipal Election Procedure. Councillor Schatschnieder spoke to waiting for third reading until all councillors have returned. (Wavrecan and Whetham absent). To affect the upcoming November election, the new rules need to be in place by August 8th. Council agreed.

Councillor Schatschneider voiced her concern over the removal of a lottery system should there be a tie between 6th and 7th place for a council seat. Under the new regulation a bye-election would need to be held at a cost. Councillor Schatschneider felt this was a waste of money and Councillor Davis agreed. Councillor Scott spoke in favour of the newly proposed system.