Post Notes for the Council Meeting of October 1st 2012

Enquiries
Councillor Warner enquired on behalf of a resident as to whether anyone can attend City Committee meetings.  Mayor Stetski responded that any member of the public can attend as an observer.  If they wish to contribute then an application to appear as a delegation must be made.
Councillor Warner also raised the issue of 'loose' garbage.  It appears he was the recipient of a sticker declaring his garbage 'loose.' This topic has been discussed on this blog under the title 'Gift Wrapping the Garbage.'  The common sense appears also to be on the loose somewhere.

Administration Updates
For the full report go to:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2504

Mayor's Brown Bag Lunch - No members of the public attended the lunch

Corporate Services 

The City is streamlining the process of bylaw enforcement and collection of fines. Bylaw Enforcement Officers will start enforcing collection of unpaid parking tickets.
Comment
It is good news to see bylaw enforcement taking effect now that more staff are available to do the job.

Building Bylaw - A major revision to the building bylaw in the last year with the collaboration with the Building Inspector.

Online Viewership Numbers - City Council meetings are available to view online at the City of Cranbrook's Website. Since January the number of views per meeting range from 13 to 88.

Engineering - A drilling contractor was hired to install a groundwater well to provide clean drinking water to cattle grazing on the spray irrigation fields. The driller has reached the depth of 520 feet can cannot recover any water.
Having spent approximately $8000 on this the City must now look at other options.  

A request for City Services in the 18th/19th Streets Area. While many of these homes are within the City of Cranbrook city limits they rely on private septic systems for sewer and water.
The costs of between $400000.00 and $700000.00 for 18th St only makes this prohibitive for the residents to pay.  CAO Staudt gave three options which might be undertaken or initiated by residents.
a. A petition
b. Council Initiative
c. A referendum

Leisure Services - The Northstar Rails to Trail Advisory Committee has established a trail society. Staff have entered into discussions with the newly formed Society to enter into a maintenance agreement.
It was pointed out that the current allowance of $20000.00 is really insufficient for both ongoing maintenance and any upgrades to the trail.  As the trail is considered a valuable asset the budget will be given consideration for 2013.

Tennis Court Upgrades - The tennis courts at Mount Baker are on their way to being rebuilt.

Cranbrook Curling Arena - upgrades have begun on the arena refrigeration plant room to ensure that the facility can operate for the 2012/2013 curling season.

Correspondence

9.1 Persons with Disabilities Benefit Letter send from the Village of Granisle to the province and cc'd to the City of Cranbrook requesting a rate increase to better reflect the cost of living in BC.
Councillor Cross moved that Council send a similar letter concerning this issue.
Councillor Scott considered this item more relevant to the UBCM and Councillor Pallesen agreed.  Only Councillor Scott voted against sending a similar letter - the motion therefore carried.
9.2 RDEK Board Highlights
9.3 Letter from the Cranbrook Library regarding Monday openings for the Library.
9.4 The Royal Canadian Legion requesting permission to do their annual Poppy Campaign
9.5 Proclamation Waste Reduction
9.6 Proclamation Restorative Justice
9.7 Proclamation Louis Riel Day

New Business

12.1 Appointment of ICSP Community Builder of the Year - to consider one person from the public at large to assist the ICSP Committee only in its responsibility for the Community Builder of the Year Award.
It carried that Gerry Sobie would fill that appointment.
12.2 RDEK Bylaw Referral 2403 and 2404
Carried.  This new bylaw will enable better enforcement of camping regulations and hopefully better availability for overnight camping.
12.3 Commercial Development Permit for Hillbilly Hardware - To consider approval of an application for a
Commercial Development Permit to enable construction of additions to the property located at 741-20th Avenue North.
Carried
Additions to the building will match the original style.
12.4 Response Boundary Adjustment - A Resolution to Council to adjust Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services response boundary approving the addition of specified properties within a 13 km travel distance from the fire station.
Carried
12.5 UBCM Fuel Reduction Grant Application - A resolution of Council to approve a funding application for an operation fuel reduction treatment project in the Shadow Mountain/St. Mary's River Park area.
Carried.
There was considerable discussion around the fact that fuel reduction efforts would probably be more appropriate closer to much more densely populated areas.  It was however, pointed out by Fire Chief Price that this grant was only applicable to blow downs of which this area has many.

Bylaws

13.1 3754 Zoning Amendment - Third Reading and adoption of bylaw.
Adopted
13.2 3757 Taxation Exemption - To provide permissive property tax exemption for the 2013 taxation year for not for profit organizations, Churches, and private schools.
There were three new applications for tax exemption this year - Search and Rescue, the Food Bank and Elizabeth Lake Conservation area. A total of approximately $204000.00 of tax exemptions were granted.