Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society provides grassroots leadership and an inclusive process, with a voice for all community members, to ensure that our community grows and develops in a way that incorporates an environmental ethic, offers a range of housing and transportation choices, encourages a vibrant and cultural life and supports sustainable, meaningful employment and business opportunities.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Post Council Notes

5.1 The RCMP made their Quarterly Report to the Mayor. There appears to have been an increase in such areas such as criminal code offenses, drug offenses, property offenses, and impaired charges. The RCMP are pleased with the False Alarm Bylaw which has been successful in reducing the number of call outs. The Bar-Walk initiative has 17 local businesses participating and progress is being made on creating a Bar Walk Association and protocols.

5.2 - Newly elected MP David Wilks spoke about several initiatives he has been dealing with in Ottawa since he was elected this Spring including:
-the designation of the Rail Museum to National Historical Status. This should allow access to funding for the Museum.
- Telus will be providing cell service on the highway to Castle Junction as well as between Cranbrook and Creston.
- The hotel in Radium across from the Hot Springs has been closed and will be destroyed. Parks Canada will attempt to revert this area back to natural habitat
- The mayors of Revelstoke and Golden are asking for a significant amount of funding from the federal government for upgrade to the TransCanada Highway. The highway around these communities was closed over 20 days last year and upgrades must be made to make the area safer and to insure that closure days are limited.
- working on obtaining some funding for the Creston Wetlands area.


5.3 - Bonnie Hays, Board of Directors of the Cranbrook Bike Skills Park Society
Many communities such as Fernie, Kimberley, Whistler all have Bike Parks and the Society is proposing a park near the skate board park. Total cost is estimated at $50,000 and the Society will be relying on some in-kind services. Councillor Schatschneider suggested that another location such as Moir Park would be more appropriate but this was rejected by the Society as many people cannot access Moir Park unless they are driven to the location. This is an ongoing problem with Moir Park. Its location makes it inaccessible to persons unless they drive. The location near the Rec Plex is much more central and more people will be able to access it ensuring its usage and success. Many young people, supporters of the park were present in the Council Chambers to support the presentation.
The City encouraged the Society to start liaising with the neighbourhood directly above the proposed Park as many were strongly opposed to the Skate Park. Winning the support of this neighbourhood would be key to obtaining City approval.

5.4 - Darelyn Hutchinson from ANKORS invited the Citizens of Cranbrook and Council to the Aids Walk being held on September 18 starting at 12:30. Pledge sheets are available at the Ankors office.

Correspondence

9.2 A letter from BC Hydro informing the City of monies which are available for municipal beautification projects - Councillor Denise Pallesen informed council that the Arches Committee would be interested in working with the City in obtaining some funding.

9.3 Cranbrook Food Bank Society is requesting that Development Cost Charges (DCC) rates be waived on a new warehouse that the Society is considering building. Unfortunately the present DCC bylaw does not allow the City to waive DCC fees. This is most disappointing and will hopefully be looked at when the City begins a review of its DCC rates.

Business Arising

10.1 Notice of Motion from Councillor Wavrecan that $800,000 from Accumulated Surplus be reallocated to the Roads Program.

There was a significant amount of discussion around Councillor Wavrecan's request regarding which road projects this money should be spent on. City Engineer Jamie Hodge suggested the monies should be spent on 14th Av. due to the ongoing storm water management problems in this area. However this would only partially cover the total cost. Mayor Manjak expressed surprise at the cost of the project and then suggested  that some of the roadway down from the South Hill development would be appropriate for the use of DCC monies. City Engineer Jamie Hodge will investigate if the use of DCC's are allowed and provide an answer to Council.
The monies were approved for use in the Roads Program as even after using the $800,000 there will still be $3.4 million left in the Surplus fund.

Administration Updates

- Animal Control Bylaw does not provide for the management of wildlife such as skunks. Citizens will have to hire their own private extermination company to resolves these problems.
- Slaterville Neighbourhood Plan, 2 workshops were held on June 16 and June 21. The information provided by local residents will be used in ongoing development in this neighbourhood. The report will be prepared this fall and the City Planner is hoping to have more consultation with the citizens of Slaterville. Bus service to Slaterville also starts in Sept. which will be a welcome City service to this part of the City.
- Economic Development -The downtown ring of fibre optic network is almost complete and work on extending the network to the Public Work Yards will start shortly. The City has issued a Request for Bid to secure a service provider.
- Engineering - 2011 Annual Capital Road Programs are underway. Attempts are being made to complete the work during low traffic usage and to provide good signage.
- Library Services. The Idlewild Music Festival is being held on August 20, starting at 3:30. Tickets are $20 and all monies raised will go to the library.

New Business

12.1 DCC Bylaw. That Council proceed with a Development Cost Charge Update bylaw based on DCC Best Practice Guide, Current Edition. Councillor Whetham expressed his support for the process as our DCC rates need to increased and this was one of the recommendations in the Growth Management Study.


12.2 Council advise the Ministry of Community, Sports, and Culture of its concerns regarding the creation of the Office of the Municipal Auditor General. Councillors expressed strong concern about this requirement and supported the correspondence prepared by City Administration in a response to the Ministry. Councillors felt it was an extra financial burden on municipalities and were unclear why such a position was necessary.

12.3 Recommendation that transit shelters be designated "non-smoking". Approved unanimously

12.4 In response to the developers of Wildstone regarding the renaming of McPhee Road and the serving of alcohol before noon on Sundays. Councillors expressed support of the administration recommendation that the bylaw regarding alcohol service before noon on Sunday not be changed.
Regarding the changing of the name of McPhee Rd. both Councillors Bob Whetham and Jim Wavrecan  strongly supported that the recommendation for consultation with businesses regarding renaming McPhee road be rejected. The name of McPhee Rd.should be maintained due to the strong historical significance of the name.This motion was strongly supported and unanimously passed.

12.5 Recommendation that Council rescind appointment of Gary Mott as the Approving Official and immediately appoint Jamie Hodge. Passed unanimously.


12.6 Recommendation that Council approve $70,000 from Capital Projects Reserve be used for the Fibre Optic Switching Equipment.
 Passed unanimously.

Bylaws

13.1 Consider adoption of a bylaw to establish an Athletic Commission to oversee regulated sports events - Passed
13.2 Official Community Plan Amendment to expand boundary to encompass 2 newly incorporated properties. Passed
13.3 To designate, those same properties, with a Parks and Recreation Land Use designation
Passed
13.4 Proposed Bylaw to amend the zoning to allow a Computer and Electronics service within a zoned C3 neighbourhood community. Passed


1 comment:

  1. Thanks to you for providing update on last night's city council meeting so quickly. You are indeed becoming the "newspaper of record" for Cranbrook. I went to the "daily" newspaper site and not a word appears on the meeting. A job well done by all of you who daily bring us the news of the city and other interesting topics.

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