Advance City Council Meeting Notes

The holidays are over and its back to work for our city council.  There is fairly long agenda but here is a synopsis which should give you the hi-lights.

Delegations
The Community Social Planning Society will be appearing before council as a delegation to discuss the "Living Wage Initiative" I am greatly looking forward to this presentation as we often hear about the "minimum wage" but the idea of a "living wage" seems compelling.

Administrative Update
Of particular interest:

· Erosion and Sediment Control Bylaw 3692 Three responses to the proposed bylaw were received as a result of the workshop held prior to Christmas. The response from CABBDA( Cranbrook and Area Business and Development Association) contains several proposed changes including a delay in the implementation of the bylaw, some fee reductions as well as requests for different control methods. Mr Pearce repeatedly stated at the workshop held December 21st that the intent of the bylaw would not be compromised.

· The draft of the Airport Master Plan has been received and it is anticipated the final draft will be available by the end of January

· Memorial Arena and Kinsman Arena updates

· Library Services announces a free seminar on eBook readers. Tuesday January 18th at 4:00pm

Correspondence
-a regular update from the Regional District of East Kootenay
-notice of Local Government Awareness Week May 15 - 21
- notification by UCBM that $394,116.98 will be deposited to the City of Cranbrook in accordance with our Community Works Fund agreement,
-introduction letter from the new Minister of Community, Sport, & Cultural Development, Stephanie Cadieux
-letter from the Ktunaxa Nation regarding a new program assisting people living on the street or at "risk" (This looks like an amazing program and we certainly support its objectives)
-UCBM notification of a successful grant application in the amount of $13,500 for a outdoor cross training facility at Steeples School
-UCBM notification of another successful grant application in the amount of $3590 for an accessible handicap door at Cranbrook Aquatic Centre
-request for new netting at the tennis courts by students of TM Roberts School
-Key City Theatre Society requesting the appointment of a city council member to its board KCTS Volunteer Fundraising Committee
-letter from BC Hydro regarding municipal Xmas lights
- letter from UCBM regarding Bulk Fuel Purchasing Program
-request that the City proclaim March 21 - 25 Co-operative Education Week
-request that the City proclaim Feb 14 - 20 Eastern Star Week

Committee Reports
Cranbrook in Motion Committee recommendation that crosswalks at Gordon Terrace School will be repainted in a more visible "zebra stripe" when weather permits but they do not recommend changing traffic control on 11th Avenue South.

 New Business
The city is continuing to look into an off lease park area for dogs. The suggested location is Moir Park. (I find it unlikely that most people would be willing to drive to Moir Park to walk their dogs considering Cranbrook's many parks and close location to the Cranbrook Community Forest)

Secure financing for the fibre optic broadband network in the amount of $750,000.00

To consider an application of a Industrial Development Permit to enable construction of commercial sports complex located on Industrial Road "F1"

To seek an extension from the Government of Canada from the Building Canada Fund

 Bylaws
-the adoption of the Wood First Bylaw 3716 which encourages the use of wood in all construction of City Funded Buildings
-consider an amendment to the Cranbrook Public Library Establishment Bylaw No. 3418 2001

Just a reminder that municipal government has a real effect on your everyday life. Its your money!

East Kootenay Alpenglow

One of the joys of clear cold evenings is the waiting for and watching that brief moment when the sun, as it dips to the west, paints the mountains with shades of glowing pink and orange.

Fisher Peak

The Steeples

Just a few plastic bag dryers left .....

David Bernier shows off the $3 kit

Mr Paul Knipe at Mt. Baker School informs us that there are just few plastic bag dryers still available at Mt. Baker Scool.  This was a fabulous project and the students had to go into production more than once before Christmas selling over 150 kits. The kits sell for $3 and are available by phoning Mt Baker School 250-426-5241 ext. 657 and asking for Mr. Paul Knipe. For a detailed report of the project go to the post of December 4th 2010.

Clean Air



Volunteer Orientation at the Ministry of the Environment

 College of the Rockies, East Kootenay Citizens for Clean Air, and the Ministry of the Environment are all taking part in a Winter Air Quality Monitoring Program with a $20,000 grant obtained by Wildsight from the New Horizons for Seniors Program as part of a Federal Government Grant. Starting Jan 18, volunteers will be driving a 95 km route between Cranbrook and Kimberley every evening for 3 weeks. A Toyota Prius will be outfitted with a portable nephelometer which will take air quality readings for particulate matter.  While Cranbrook does have a stationary air quality reader, this type of mobile sampling offers a great advantage and will give us greater in site into our winter air quality which tends to be much poorer than the air quality we have in the summer. Volunteers will take turns driving the route every evening and a report will be presented possibly sometime this summer, although this is dependent on the type of data that is collected. Air quality has a real effect on the health of our local citizens and this is a great project involving many local volunteers and various government and non-profit organizations.

What’s Happening?

Thursday January 6th
Rotary Film Series
Tamara Drewe
Tickets at Lotus Books or at the door


Friday January 7th
Key City Theatre
Meet the Artists
5 - 7 pm
Photographic Exhibition
Inspiration Expressed
Exhibition continues until Jan 31st
Gallery open weekdays 11am – 3:00pm

Friday January 7th
Jon Bisset and Friends
Ali Baba’s Lounge
Finnegans Wake Pub
6:30pm

Saturday January 8th
Boy Scout Christmas Tree Collection
Place tree at edge of curb for pick-up
trees will be chipped
Leave donation by mailbox or have one ready


Saturday January 8th
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Key City Theatre
Tickets $20 Key City Theatre
7:30pm

Saturday January 8th
Locals Coffee House
Entertainment by Local Talent
Tickets at Swing Street, Lotus Books or at the door
7:30pm
Studio Stage Door
11-11th Av S.
250-489-0856


Sunday January 9th
Rocky Mountain Naturalists
Snowshoe Outing
1:00pm Wilks and Kahn
2 – 3 hour outing
Phone 250-489-1601

Sunday January 9th
Horseshoe Fishing Derby
Contact familyfd@telus.net  for tickets

Sunday January 9th
Winter activities
Skating etc
Fort Steele

Membership has its Rewards

On Saturday January 8th, members of the Cranbrook Community Forest Society (CCFS) will have an information table at the Tamarack Mall. The purpose of the table is a membership drive and to provide general information to the people of Cranbrook about this amazing asset to our community. Many people are unaware of the incredible work that the CCFS does to maintain the health of the Forest. The Cranbrook Community Forest is an established recreation site and provides many opportunities to hike, mountain bike, cross country ski, horseback ride, walk etc.  The CCFS has a management agreement with the Ministry of Forests and is responsible for care and maintenance of the trails, restoration of grassland and riparian areas, and ongoing ecosystem restoration projects. Why not become a member of the CCFS to support its ongoing work. Membership is only $10 a year for an individual and $15 a year for a family.
 For further information about the CCF go to their new website at http://www.cranbrookcommunityforest.com/.

Cranbrook's Fibre Optic Network Installation on Hold

It seems there are still some citizens wondering what the downtown activity was all about during November.  There was a great deal of digging, determination and unfortunate damage when the installation of the new fibre optic network began.  After a broken gas pipe and severed telephone cable, the installation was put on hold.  Hopefully the company will have more success when the work begins again after the process is reviewed. Installation of a fibre optic network was the second goal of the Economic Development Strategy undertaken by the city.

Objective:

􀁺 Lit fibre‐optic cable available for businesses and
institutions to connect to starting in 2010, with
the central business area completely wired by
2015.

Part of the installation used a horizontal drilling machine which would avoid the need to excavate whole trenches.  The conduit through which the cables run was pulled through after the drill had done its work.  The massive amounts of machinery and buzz were very visible and audible during the process.  No doubt it will be the same when work resumes.

Development Cost Charges - Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook

Cranbrook's Development Cost Charges have been a topic of discusssion amongst citizens since the last municipal election.  We wonder if 2011 will actually see a change to Cranbrook's DCC rate.  In August we posted this article:
http://livablecranbrook.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-your-money-dcc-rates.html

Now this from Golden:

Potential Changes to the DCC Bylaw in Golden
By Kirk Verner - Golden Star

Published: December 22, 2010 8:00 AM

With the New Year approaching faster than a black bear to an unclean barbeque, the Town of Golden, its staff, and Town Council is busy working as most are preparing for the holiday season. With the first draft of the Zoning Bylaw currently being scrutinized by the public and with the passing to rewrite the Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw, Town Hall is bustling.

There have been a lot of wagging tongues in town of late, the goings-on at Town Hall the target of much of the discussion; primarily, the revision of the nearly 10-year-old DCC Bylaw.

The purpose of the current DCC Bylaw, and likely the potentially revised version, is for the sole purpose of providing funds for the municipality to pay for the capital cost of providing, altering, or expanding sewage, water, drainage and highway facilities and for acquiring park land or any of them in order to serve, directly or indirectly, the development in respect of which the charges are imposed.

“DCC are not in place as a form of penalty or punishment. They are in place so that the costs of bringing services to new developments are covered by the developers themselves, and not by all taxpayers,” Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Golden, David Allen said.

The current DCC for a single-family dwelling in Golden is $1965; this cost seems diminutive when compared to the overall cost of constructing a residence. When compared to other communities in the Kootenays, Golden’s DCC are a bargain. Currently in Fernie, for the same type of residence, the DCC are $12,017. Even closer to home, in Invermere, the cost is $9480. All of a sudden, a couple thousand dollars doesn’t seem so steep.

“As the provincial information states, Golden is well below average with regards to DCC in British Columbia,” Allen declares.

The cost of reviewing and updating the DCC Bylaw does not come at a low price. In fact, the price tag hanging from the paperwork is just below $60,000. But, the town is making efforts to lower such a cost by utilizing all resources possible.

“We are actively applying for grants from the province of British Columbia in order to assist with some of the costs as pertained to the DCC Bylaw revision,” Allen added.

At the end of the day, the new DCC Bylaw will, in a sense, persuade developers to “go green”, or “go as green” as possible. For instance, if a developer follows LEED and LEED-ND design guidelines, there is the potential for DCC to be considerably lowered, or waved altogether. The possibilities to have such fees lowered or even waved are directly related to the passing of Bill 27 in 2008.

Bill 27, the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act (2008), provides local governments with some additional powers to make changes in their communities, yet gives them the flexibility they require to adapt operations in ways that meet their unique needs and circumstances.

One of the key amendments focuses on local governments setting targets to reduce Green House Gas emissions within their communities, as well as developing policies and actions to achieve those targets in their Official Community Plans (OCP).

If townsfolk have an issue with the revising of the DCC Bylaw, or the Zoning Bylaw for that matter, they have to realize it is all taking place as an effort to reflect the town’s OCP; a plan that will carry Golden into the future as an innovative, progressive community.

As the process of revising a bylaw is not a 24-hour development, there is time for anyone interested or concerned to cast his or her voice into the Town Hall fishing pond before anything actually comes into fruition.

“Before the new Bylaw is adopted, there is a lengthy process involved. Residents and Council will be able to view the first draft of the bylaw and express their questions and concerns before any further steps are taken. If anyone in Golden would like to discuss this issue, or any other for that matter, the door at Town Hall is always open. Our knowledgeable staff is always available,” Allen concluded.

Penguin Wannabes

Just off Rotary Way on Victoria Avenue the overwintering Mallard Ducks hang out.  Watching them slide down the snow and into the creek one would think they really enjoy the snow and ice.  The high density population in this vicinity may have something to do with alternative food sources but in any case watching them provides enjoyment to all who pass by.

Hope, Celebration of Life and Happy New Year

Evergreens and more latterly 'Christmas Trees' have long been used to demonstrate respect for life, hope and celebration.  Maybe the elves decorated this delightful little tribute to our community forest.  Whoever it was, thank you and Happy New Year to you too.

On Guard