Thursday, January 12
Mountain Town Maulers Recruiting Drive
7pm Cranbrook Society for Community Living (Near Baker Park)
Looking for coach's, players, and referees to take part in Roller Derby
Elizabeth Lake Art Challenge
Key City Theatre Gallery until February 8
The Gallery is open from 10am-4pm M-F and
11am-3pm on Saturdays
A variety of artwork all inspired by Elizabeth Lake.
Saturday, January 14
Dance at the Seniors Centre
7pm-11pm
Dance to the music of Country Roundup
Lunch to be served
Call Flo for more information at 250-489-2720
Sunday, January 15
Pancake Breakfast
Fraternal Order of the Eagles are hosting a
Pancake Breakfast from 9am-11am at the Eagles Hall
on Kootenay Street.
Admission is $5
Proceeds to ALS
Family Fishing Derby for Kids with Cancer has been postponed
originally scheduled for this date from 10am-3pm
Horsehoe Lake Ice-Fishing, games, rides, and silent auction
Contact familyfishingderby@gmail.com for more information
Townsman
Warm weather postpones Family Fishing Derby
Thanks to the bizarre warm weather the area has been experiencing lately, the Family Fishing Derby has been postponed until February.
Monday, January 16
Cranbrook Garden Club Meeting
7pm Manual Training Centre
New Members Welcome
Contact Anna at 250-489-2443
Tuesday, January 17
Rocky Mountain Melo-Dears
6:30-8:30 Cranbrook and District Arts Council
104,135-10th Avenue South
You are invited to join the Melo-Dears for an evening of singing
Free to CDAC members or $2 for non-members
Wednesday, January 18
Rocky Mountain Naturalists AGM
7pm, College of the Rockies, Rm 235
For More Information please contact Marianne at 250-489-1601
Thursday, January 19
Robbie Burns Evening
6:30pm Anglican Hall
Traditional Scottish Prime Rib dinner and Haggis
Musical Entertainment
Tickets are $25 and available from Todd
at Hub International Call 250-426-8261
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Council Committee Appointments
Item 12.3 on the Council Agenda last evening was the appointments to committees. They are as follows:
Advisory Planning Commission: David Heidt, Jane Campbell, John Vanden Broek
Atheltic Commission: Chris Nault, Scott MacLeod, Chris Franklin
Board of Variance: Greg Jaster, Fred Graham, Sharon Billey
Cranbrook in Motion (appointments previously made, we acknowledged their appointments): SD #5, Patricia Whalen; Cranbrook Transit, John Darula; ICBC, Dan Ford; Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, Michael Pearson; RCMP, Corporal Pat Prefontaine.
Cranbrook Public Library Board: David Clark, James Shepherd, Tasy Strouzas
Economic Development Committee: Chris Ayling, Gord Felske, Lourdes Roxas-Butalid
Environment & Utilities Committee: Dave Hall, A.J. Brekke, Tom Haverko
Family & Community Services Committee: Salvation Army, Nancy Zier; Cranbrook Community Living Society, Melanie Fiorentino; Ministry of Children & Family Development, Lani Dowling; RCMP, Constable Lisa Schlatter; Public-at-Large, Carly Proudfoot
Urban Deer Management Advisory Committee: Public-at-large, Laurette Hamoline
Wellness & Heritage Committee: Public-at-large, Louise Selby; SD#5, Chris Johns, COTR, Yvonne Nelson; Key City Theatre, Sandy Zeznik; Cranbrook & District Arts Council, Linda Holmes.
Key City Theatre Society Board: Rezin Butalid
Kootenay Regional Advisory Group (Treaty Advisory Committee): Councillor alternate deferred to next meeting.
Advisory Planning Commission: David Heidt, Jane Campbell, John Vanden Broek
Atheltic Commission: Chris Nault, Scott MacLeod, Chris Franklin
Board of Variance: Greg Jaster, Fred Graham, Sharon Billey
Cranbrook in Motion (appointments previously made, we acknowledged their appointments): SD #5, Patricia Whalen; Cranbrook Transit, John Darula; ICBC, Dan Ford; Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, Michael Pearson; RCMP, Corporal Pat Prefontaine.
Cranbrook Public Library Board: David Clark, James Shepherd, Tasy Strouzas
Economic Development Committee: Chris Ayling, Gord Felske, Lourdes Roxas-Butalid
Environment & Utilities Committee: Dave Hall, A.J. Brekke, Tom Haverko
Family & Community Services Committee: Salvation Army, Nancy Zier; Cranbrook Community Living Society, Melanie Fiorentino; Ministry of Children & Family Development, Lani Dowling; RCMP, Constable Lisa Schlatter; Public-at-Large, Carly Proudfoot
Urban Deer Management Advisory Committee: Public-at-large, Laurette Hamoline
Wellness & Heritage Committee: Public-at-large, Louise Selby; SD#5, Chris Johns, COTR, Yvonne Nelson; Key City Theatre, Sandy Zeznik; Cranbrook & District Arts Council, Linda Holmes.
Key City Theatre Society Board: Rezin Butalid
Kootenay Regional Advisory Group (Treaty Advisory Committee): Councillor alternate deferred to next meeting.
Post Notes for the Council Meeting of January 9th Part 2
Continued from the previous post.
Council Enquiries
Councillor Cross passed on an enquiry about Icy Sidewalks from a concerned resident. This issue has been discussed on this blog. Administration took the suggestions and will respond.
Administrative Update
Complete report available at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1872
Correspondence
23 items which can all be read beginning:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1873
Selectively:
9.1 – a request from Cranbrook in motion for a city representative on the committee will be passed on to the Cranbrook in Motion Committee. It was pointed out that it is very difficult for a Council representative to be present every Cranbrook Committee
9.2 $394,000.00 will be transferred from the Gas Tax Agreement Community Works Fund to the City.
9.8 It was suggested by Councillor Cross that a letter be sent in support of a letter sent from a few other municipalities concerning Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Negotiations. If this is brought in it could affect local contactors. The correspondence can be read at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1880
9.10 A resolution was made and passed to support the Cranbrook and District Science Fair with a contribution of $500 from the contingency fund
9.18 A resolution was made to support the reinstatement of Community Living Funding by way of a letter to MLA Bennett
9.20 A request to expand the Economic Development Zone Bylaw designed to stimulate renewal of the downtown came from several businesses and CABBDA. The request would expand the tax benefits to areas of the Industrial Park. As this would have major implications and was not what the bylaw was designed for, the request was referred back to administration.
Comment
This bylaw like many others of its kind in other communities is a targeted tax relief bylaw designed to assist with the revitalisation of the downtown core.
9.22 Operation Street Angel will be invited to appear as a delegation
New Business
12.1 The report recommendation from the Chief Administrative Officer to extend funding for the RCMP position of Court Clerk was passed. This position expedites court matters.
12.2 Authorisation was granted to complete the application to the Department of Canadian Heritage for a grant of $9800 for Canada Day Celebrations.
12.4 The recommendation of making recordings of the most recent council meetings available to the public on the City Website was discussed and passed. However a request was made by Councillor Cross to look into whether it would be possible to make past recordings available on DVD at the Public Library.
12.6 An application for a further tax exemption from the Cranbrook Golf Club was not approved.
12.7 Approval was given to complete the loan process for payment of improvements to the Memorial Arena. Councillor Warner asked what the public had received for this money and Treasurer Staudt explained that a new roof, new slab, electrical upgrades, new entrance were all part of the upgrades.
Bylaws
13.2 First reading was given to the Slaterville Neighbourhood Plan. This will become a secondary plan within the current OCP. A second public hearing will likely occur in early February. Councillor Whetham and Cross both complimented staff and the residents for the completion of the plan.
Round Table Comments
Councillor Cross acknowledged and thanked staff for their work with grant applications for the funding of the Waste Water Management upgrades. She also acknowledged and thanked those Fort Steele and Cranbrook residents, Jim Roberts, Arlene Ridge and David Humphrey for their diligence, research, concern and persistence in ensuring serious issues were and are being dealt with.
Meeting adjourned.
Council Enquiries
Councillor Cross passed on an enquiry about Icy Sidewalks from a concerned resident. This issue has been discussed on this blog. Administration took the suggestions and will respond.
Administrative Update
Complete report available at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1872
Correspondence
23 items which can all be read beginning:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1873
Selectively:
9.1 – a request from Cranbrook in motion for a city representative on the committee will be passed on to the Cranbrook in Motion Committee. It was pointed out that it is very difficult for a Council representative to be present every Cranbrook Committee
9.2 $394,000.00 will be transferred from the Gas Tax Agreement Community Works Fund to the City.
9.8 It was suggested by Councillor Cross that a letter be sent in support of a letter sent from a few other municipalities concerning Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Negotiations. If this is brought in it could affect local contactors. The correspondence can be read at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1880
9.10 A resolution was made and passed to support the Cranbrook and District Science Fair with a contribution of $500 from the contingency fund
9.18 A resolution was made to support the reinstatement of Community Living Funding by way of a letter to MLA Bennett
9.20 A request to expand the Economic Development Zone Bylaw designed to stimulate renewal of the downtown came from several businesses and CABBDA. The request would expand the tax benefits to areas of the Industrial Park. As this would have major implications and was not what the bylaw was designed for, the request was referred back to administration.
Comment
This bylaw like many others of its kind in other communities is a targeted tax relief bylaw designed to assist with the revitalisation of the downtown core.
9.22 Operation Street Angel will be invited to appear as a delegation
New Business
12.1 The report recommendation from the Chief Administrative Officer to extend funding for the RCMP position of Court Clerk was passed. This position expedites court matters.
12.2 Authorisation was granted to complete the application to the Department of Canadian Heritage for a grant of $9800 for Canada Day Celebrations.
12.4 The recommendation of making recordings of the most recent council meetings available to the public on the City Website was discussed and passed. However a request was made by Councillor Cross to look into whether it would be possible to make past recordings available on DVD at the Public Library.
12.6 An application for a further tax exemption from the Cranbrook Golf Club was not approved.
12.7 Approval was given to complete the loan process for payment of improvements to the Memorial Arena. Councillor Warner asked what the public had received for this money and Treasurer Staudt explained that a new roof, new slab, electrical upgrades, new entrance were all part of the upgrades.
Bylaws
13.2 First reading was given to the Slaterville Neighbourhood Plan. This will become a secondary plan within the current OCP. A second public hearing will likely occur in early February. Councillor Whetham and Cross both complimented staff and the residents for the completion of the plan.
Round Table Comments
Councillor Cross acknowledged and thanked staff for their work with grant applications for the funding of the Waste Water Management upgrades. She also acknowledged and thanked those Fort Steele and Cranbrook residents, Jim Roberts, Arlene Ridge and David Humphrey for their diligence, research, concern and persistence in ensuring serious issues were and are being dealt with.
Meeting adjourned.
Post Notes for the Council Meeting of November 9th 2012 Part 1
This meeting was very full after the Christmas break. For that reason post notes will be broken into two posts.
Delegations
· MLA Bennett addressed an earlier request from Council for more information regarding the Resource Roads Act. This is still in the process of being created and although the deadline of Dec. 19th for official input has passed Mr. Bennett assured residents that if they have concerns or points to make they can contact his office and make their concerns known through him. The new act is being designed to address maintenance of more than 450,000.00 kilometres of roads, (which are not part of the public highways systems), who the designated maintainers might be and what roads might be put out of service. The act is designed to focus primarily on industrial use but has obvious implications for those who use trails for recreational purposes. The new act is designed to be ready for introduction to parliament for the fall of 2012.
More information is available at:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/nrra/
There are also a number of sites, which comment on the implications of this proposed act – just Google Resource Roads in BC.
· Kevin Patterson Environmental Services Manager, Regional District of the East Kootenay addressed Council regarding the Invasive Plant Management Program. The last Council voted to not renew their existing bylaw which involved an almost $8000.00 contribution to the program. Mr Patterson detailed the involvement of the program over the past few years with the city and asked Council to reconsider.
Councillor Pallesen agued against renewed involvement as she felt taxpayers of Cranbrook were paying “the lion’s share of the program”. Council agreed to send this issue back to administration for review especially due the fact that the figures presented at this meeting were slightly different than those originally presented.
Comment
It must be remembered that Cranbrook has the ‘lion’s share’ of residents in the area and it is that large population which is also in large part responsible for the spread of invasive weeds through backcountry use with trucks and ATVs as well as other uses.
· Clint Habart from Minute Muffler made a request to Council for a Reader Board outside his business. He was supported by a number of other businesses. This request had previously been denied, as it does not fall within the Cranbrook’s Sign Bylaw regulations. Mr Habart made the point that his current ‘special offer’ sign had only brought in two extra customers (to his knowledge) in the time it had been up.
The request was referred back to administration for a period of six weeks while bylaw changes from Creston and other information is reviewed.
Comment
Council has a very difficult and precedent setting decision to make with regard to this type of sign. It would be interesting to know whether this type of sign would bring in any more business than any other type of sign such as the sign about which Mr Habert commented. It might if it was the only one but once there are many, what difference would it make? Do residents wish to see the same type of advertising as is seen in many US and larger Canadian cities? Does Cranbrook wish to look like every other city in this way?
Maybe it is time for an in-depth and careful review of advertising signage, its effectiveness for business and overall impression of the city both positive and negative.
Readers may like to read yesterday’s post to stimulate some thought.
Delegations
· MLA Bennett addressed an earlier request from Council for more information regarding the Resource Roads Act. This is still in the process of being created and although the deadline of Dec. 19th for official input has passed Mr. Bennett assured residents that if they have concerns or points to make they can contact his office and make their concerns known through him. The new act is being designed to address maintenance of more than 450,000.00 kilometres of roads, (which are not part of the public highways systems), who the designated maintainers might be and what roads might be put out of service. The act is designed to focus primarily on industrial use but has obvious implications for those who use trails for recreational purposes. The new act is designed to be ready for introduction to parliament for the fall of 2012.
More information is available at:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/nrra/
There are also a number of sites, which comment on the implications of this proposed act – just Google Resource Roads in BC.
· Kevin Patterson Environmental Services Manager, Regional District of the East Kootenay addressed Council regarding the Invasive Plant Management Program. The last Council voted to not renew their existing bylaw which involved an almost $8000.00 contribution to the program. Mr Patterson detailed the involvement of the program over the past few years with the city and asked Council to reconsider.
Councillor Pallesen agued against renewed involvement as she felt taxpayers of Cranbrook were paying “the lion’s share of the program”. Council agreed to send this issue back to administration for review especially due the fact that the figures presented at this meeting were slightly different than those originally presented.
Comment
It must be remembered that Cranbrook has the ‘lion’s share’ of residents in the area and it is that large population which is also in large part responsible for the spread of invasive weeds through backcountry use with trucks and ATVs as well as other uses.
· Clint Habart from Minute Muffler made a request to Council for a Reader Board outside his business. He was supported by a number of other businesses. This request had previously been denied, as it does not fall within the Cranbrook’s Sign Bylaw regulations. Mr Habart made the point that his current ‘special offer’ sign had only brought in two extra customers (to his knowledge) in the time it had been up.
The request was referred back to administration for a period of six weeks while bylaw changes from Creston and other information is reviewed.
Comment
Council has a very difficult and precedent setting decision to make with regard to this type of sign. It would be interesting to know whether this type of sign would bring in any more business than any other type of sign such as the sign about which Mr Habert commented. It might if it was the only one but once there are many, what difference would it make? Do residents wish to see the same type of advertising as is seen in many US and larger Canadian cities? Does Cranbrook wish to look like every other city in this way?
Maybe it is time for an in-depth and careful review of advertising signage, its effectiveness for business and overall impression of the city both positive and negative.
Readers may like to read yesterday’s post to stimulate some thought.
Monday, January 9, 2012
City Without Advertising
Council is being asked to consider an advertising request at this evening's meeting. Congratulations to the party involved for coming to council with the request. There are many signs, which ignore sign regulation bylaws already in place. Many signs are haphazardly stapled to poles and sitting on boulevards. We must ask what they add to the aesthetics and memories of those who drive, walk, or cycle the strip, whether visiting for the first time or whether a resident or returning visitor. If not controlled, signs could get bigger, bolder, higher,wider and more prolific all in an attempt to be noticed. What limits should there be?
Is it time for the city to review and implement its sign bylaws?
In 2006 Mayor Gilberto Kassab of Sao Paulo Brazil had a quest to eliminate visual clutter from the city. This resulted in a ‘Clean City Law’.
“The Clean City Law’ came from a necessity to combat pollution . . . pollution of water, sound, air, and the visual. We decided that we should start combating pollution with the most conspicuous sector – visual pollution,” said Kassab.
From the Editors of Big Think in 2012
What's the Latest Development?
Five years after São Paulo, Brazil, began fighting visual pollution by banning billboard, poster and bus advertisements, people report being happier with their city and business leaders have become more forward thinking. The ban was the result of the 'Clean City Law' of 2006 which required the removal of tens of thousands of unregulated advertisements. "Anna Freitag, the marketing manager for Hewlett-Packard Brazil, said her company had never considered how inefficient billboards and the like were until they were illegal."
What's the Big Idea?
Some Americans now looks at more than 4,000 advertisements per day. Since the ban in São Paulo, which with 12 million residents is the largest metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, people can again see the city's architecture and businesses have been forced to reevaluate their marketing strategies in ways that connect more directly with consumers. Marketing experts say the industry has grown complacent with public advertising even though it executes a 'call to action' less effectively than social media advertising.
From http://weburbanist.com/2010/03/06/clean-city-sao-paulo-scrubbed-of-outdoor-ads/
While advertisers weren’t too happy about the law – $8 million in fines were levied against those who dawdled in taking ads down, and Clear Channel launched an unsuccessful campaign to raise support for putting them back up – the citizens clearly approve. Surveys found that at least 70% are happy with the change.
Is it time for the city to review and implement its sign bylaws?
In 2006 Mayor Gilberto Kassab of Sao Paulo Brazil had a quest to eliminate visual clutter from the city. This resulted in a ‘Clean City Law’.
“The Clean City Law’ came from a necessity to combat pollution . . . pollution of water, sound, air, and the visual. We decided that we should start combating pollution with the most conspicuous sector – visual pollution,” said Kassab.
From the Editors of Big Think in 2012
What's the Latest Development?
Five years after São Paulo, Brazil, began fighting visual pollution by banning billboard, poster and bus advertisements, people report being happier with their city and business leaders have become more forward thinking. The ban was the result of the 'Clean City Law' of 2006 which required the removal of tens of thousands of unregulated advertisements. "Anna Freitag, the marketing manager for Hewlett-Packard Brazil, said her company had never considered how inefficient billboards and the like were until they were illegal."
What's the Big Idea?
Some Americans now looks at more than 4,000 advertisements per day. Since the ban in São Paulo, which with 12 million residents is the largest metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, people can again see the city's architecture and businesses have been forced to reevaluate their marketing strategies in ways that connect more directly with consumers. Marketing experts say the industry has grown complacent with public advertising even though it executes a 'call to action' less effectively than social media advertising.
From http://weburbanist.com/2010/03/06/clean-city-sao-paulo-scrubbed-of-outdoor-ads/
While advertisers weren’t too happy about the law – $8 million in fines were levied against those who dawdled in taking ads down, and Clear Channel launched an unsuccessful campaign to raise support for putting them back up – the citizens clearly approve. Surveys found that at least 70% are happy with the change.
Advance Notes for the Council Meeting of January 9th 1012
Council Meeting is at 6:00pm Council Chambers
Three Delegations
1. Bill Bennett, MLA, Kootenay East re: Natural Resource Road Act
This should be of interest to those who use the back country for trail access.
2. Kevin Patterson, Environmental Services Manager of East Kootenay: Invasive Plant Management Program
3. Clint Habert, Minute Muffler re: Request for Allowance to install readerboard signage
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1871
Administration Update
The full update concerning RCMP Contract negotiations, Secondary Suites, Deer Cull Report, Rotary Way Extensions and Repairs, Library Services and Water Loss Management Seminars can be read at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1872
Correspondence
There are numerous, (due to the longer gap between Council meetings over Christmas) pieces of correspondence in the Council package. They can be read beginning at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1873
Of note:
9.12 RCMP - Crime Prevention through Environmental Design magazine and DVD Video available through the Municipal Clerk
9.22.1 Operation Street Angel with Debbie Whitehead invited to appear as a delegation at a future Council meeting
New Business
12.1 – 12.7
Can be read beginning at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1896
12.3 concerns appointments to committees
12.4 concerns the recording of council meetings and their availability to the public. Due to the unreliability and delayed broadcasting of service from Shaw, administration is recommending recordings be made available on the city website but that archives of past meetings NOT be kept.
12.6 concerns a request from the Cranbrook Golf Club that their taxes be waived.
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1901
Administration recommends that no further tax exemption be granted to the Cranbrook Golf Club as a significant exemption ($18,982.00 in 2011) is already provided.
An interesting table of area Golf Club taxes is provided at the link above.
Three Delegations
1. Bill Bennett, MLA, Kootenay East re: Natural Resource Road Act
This should be of interest to those who use the back country for trail access.
2. Kevin Patterson, Environmental Services Manager of East Kootenay: Invasive Plant Management Program
3. Clint Habert, Minute Muffler re: Request for Allowance to install readerboard signage
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1871
Administration Update
The full update concerning RCMP Contract negotiations, Secondary Suites, Deer Cull Report, Rotary Way Extensions and Repairs, Library Services and Water Loss Management Seminars can be read at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1872
Correspondence
There are numerous, (due to the longer gap between Council meetings over Christmas) pieces of correspondence in the Council package. They can be read beginning at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1873
Of note:
9.12 RCMP - Crime Prevention through Environmental Design magazine and DVD Video available through the Municipal Clerk
9.22.1 Operation Street Angel with Debbie Whitehead invited to appear as a delegation at a future Council meeting
New Business
12.1 – 12.7
Can be read beginning at:
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1896
12.3 concerns appointments to committees
12.4 concerns the recording of council meetings and their availability to the public. Due to the unreliability and delayed broadcasting of service from Shaw, administration is recommending recordings be made available on the city website but that archives of past meetings NOT be kept.
12.6 concerns a request from the Cranbrook Golf Club that their taxes be waived.
https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1901
Administration recommends that no further tax exemption be granted to the Cranbrook Golf Club as a significant exemption ($18,982.00 in 2011) is already provided.
An interesting table of area Golf Club taxes is provided at the link above.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
More Like March
 |
| fresh spring-like leaves |
 |
| brown fields looking north west |
 |
| brown city looking south west |
 |
| open creek |
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