Post Notes for the Council Meeting of Monday September 12th

Delegations

Pat Adams, Cranbrook in Bloom

Pat spoke of this last year's projects including the ongoing planting of trees, the completion of the Fink Fountain Restoration and planned activities for next year including the landscaping of Centennial 3 Garden - the area opposite Centennial 2 Garden, behind the mini mall.  Pat emphasised the CIB committee would like to see the formalisation of the Urban Forestry Plan

Patrick Leblanc

Patrick previewed the Key City Theatre’s upcoming 20th Anniversary Year Events. The full listing can be viewed at the theatre’s website.
http://www.keycitytheatre.com/index.php?page=events

Administration Update


Can be read in full at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1697
See pre-Council notes.

Correspondence

9.3  In response to the Community Connections request for waiver of rent, Councillor Wavrecan suggested a $20,000.00 bridging loan for the group until such time in 2012 when funding from Bingo proceeds would become available. There was some discussion about the issue of organisations needing to become self-sustaining but council carried the subsequent motion to go ahead with this.

9.6   Correspondence from Gary Slonowski concerning upgrades to Confederation Park was referred to the 2012 budget process beginning this fall.

Business Arising
10.1 Hours of Liquor Service at Wildstone Golf Course. There was a fair bit of discussion around the necessity and request for a 9:00am opening for liquor service. The recommendation carried because it was felt unfair that the Cranbrook Golf Course already had this ability and treatment needed to be equal. Councillor Davis opposed.

Committee Recommendations

11.1 The 4-way stop installation on 7th Avenue and 2nd Street will not go ahead. Instead speed signs will be installed with extra monitoring using speed cameras and RCMP presence. It is recommended that slower speed zones also be signed on Victoria Avenue within the extension to the Cit boundary. There seemed to be considerable opposition from Councillor Wavrecan to use of speed bumps or traffic calmers.

12.2. The topic of referendum for Water Meters created quite a discussion. The cost will be over 7 million dollars for installation into all homes and businesses and it was felt by some councillors that the referendum will be turned down on that basis alone. Other Councillors felt the question needed to be asked to open the debate.
The question would be:
Are you in favour of Council adopting Water Meter Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3732 to borrow on the credit of the municipality a sum not exceeding 7,778,500.00 dollars to be repaid over a period not exceeding 15 years for the purpose of funding the acquisition and installation of water meters to properties in the City of Cranbrook?

YES       NO

Editorial Comment
Certainly an open debate is needed but it would seem unfair to have an important decision such as this squashed for lack of examination of alternative methods for implementation.  The question for the recommendation is more about borrowing 7 million dollars than whether residents are in favour of water meters. Councillor Davis is correct in saying there are other priorities for many people and indeed the Growth Management Study certainly points out many other very expensive deficits in our infrastructure.  There must be other creative ways of beginning a program such as this and maybe we all need to be looking into alternatives that would compliment the necessary infrastructure overhaul.   Asking this question may have the positive effect of grappling with the issue of water,its value and delivery but we could have that discussion without such a threatening question.

Bylaws
All were either adopted or given third reading.