Post Notes for the Council Meeting of July 18th

The Tower at Sissinghurst where Vita Sackville-West
 famously wrote her poems and gardening pieces.

Councillor Wavrecan gave a brief overview including slides of his visit to Cranbrook Kent UK, Sissinghurst and the County Council Chambers. He presented Mayor Manjak with a replica of the County Arms of Kent.

Background
Councillor Wavrecan visited Sissinghurst Castle now world famous for the gardens created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville-West. According to a Cranbrook UK historian there is now some debate as to whether the Bakers of Cranbrook, Canada are descendants of the Sissinghurst Castle Bakers rather than to the actual village of Cranbrook, UK, Bakers. This geneology remains to be investigated although a Baker Family Tree does exist in the Cranbrook B.C. Archives.



No Delegations


The entire very informative Administration update can be read at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1621
Included in the Administrative updates was the information that the Industrial Park Reserve balance currently holds $539,318, the result of active land sales in 2007 and 2008.  Councillor Wavrecan enquired as to whether the Industrial Park reserve fund could be used for capital projects such as infrastructure. Mr Staudt seemed to think this might be possible.
Mayor Manjak enquired when and if Engineering would be able to proceed with Priority 2 of the Capital Works program for road improvements.  Mr. Hodge stated he would not know for at least one month.

Comment
For a list of scheduled road improvements in Priority 1 please go to the Administrative Updates. 

Correspondence

All can be read starting with:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1622


Business Arising

Councillor Whetham moved that the Boulevard Maintenance Guidelines communicated to Linda Birch of the Tamarack Mall be put into policy. Carried. This now enables all businesses on the strip to have a clear understanding of what will and what will not be maintained by the City.

Comment
Many businesses have partnered with Cranbrook in Bloom to improve their appearance. Maybe now we can look forward to others to either partner or independently take pride in their own boulevard.


Committee Recommendations


1. There were 6 recommendations form the Cranbrook in Motion Committee
- Green Home parking – that Green Home administration encourage staff parking within their own allowance and that signage be installed to indicate private residential areas

- Flashing pedestrian light on Victoria Avenue will remain as is. Pedestrians do have a responsibility to make sure it is safe to cross.

- Bus passes for special needs students – some provisions already in place

- McPhee Road and Theatre Road NO PARKING area will be extended to allow better visibility

- Transit review has recommended changes to include a route which includes Slaterville and the Industrial Park. The new rider guide will be available by September 6th

Comment
Slaterville and Industrial Park Residents have long requested this service (since before the last municipal election)and we can only wonder why after Councillor Wavrecan for so long said it could not be done has now found a way. In any case this service is long overdue and will be of huge benefit to those living and working across the railway.


- 7th Avenue and 2nd St intersection. This intersection experiences many mishaps and the recommendation is to make it a 4way stop with temporary warning lights and a speed camera. It was felt the cost for traffic lights at $145000.00 would be unaffordable.

Comments
This writer frequently drives that route and would be most concerned about back up to the Highway. With many turning into the Esso Station more problems may possibly arise.


How about a Roundabout? Kamloops has them as does Northpole Alaska and of course they are standard in Europe. Make it high enough to be easily seen coming down seventh and the traffic would slow but not stop and traffic turning off the highway onto second would not have to play mouse – edging further into the road stopping and starting to obtain visibility.

All recommendations from Cranbrook in Motion carried.

2. From Corporate Services Regarding Urban Deer. The Province has finally come to the table and will provide equipment and materials and the permit for the deer cull. Recommendation to hire a contractor for action in the fall was carried.

3. From Leisure Services via Rails to Trails Advisory Committee a recommendation to name Rails to Trails ‘NorthStar Rails to Trails’ Carried.

New Business

All recommendations available at: https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=161 were carried
Councillor Palleson did request that the Chamber have separate representation from the DBA(Downtown Business Association) on the Community Sustainability Committee. This was not accepted.

An additional item was that concerning a Steep Slopes Development permit to enable the completion of the North Star Trail linking to McPhee Road. This was carried and it is hoped this part of the trail will be completed this season.

Bylaws

First, second and third reading was given to the establishment of an Athletic Commission in order to discuss and be able to set parameters around such events as Mixed Martial Arts. Carried

Third reading was given to Elections Bylaw 3724.

Comment
It was great to see the considerable respectful debate around the issue of the unlikely event of a tie between sixth and seventh place on council. Councillor Wavrecan was the only councillor to oppose the bylaw, which would see a draw take effect rather than a run off election between remaining candidates should that event occur.

Round Table Comments
Councillor Scott must be commended for expressing her concern and bringing to light two issues, which although not the direct responsibility of Council, do concern the residents of Cranbrook and region. One issue concerned the non-local recognition of the award winning work of Ankors concerning the subject of AIDS. The other issue was that apparently our Regional Hospital does not perform abortions. These items of information are very surprising considering the time in which we live.