Gordon Terrace SnowShoe Club

Getting Outside in BC

Thanks to these parents, teachers and Stewart Wilson of Gordon Terrace School

Notes from the City Budget Meeting of January 14th

The first public budget meeting for 2015 - 2019 plan was held Wednesday January 14^th and lasted over three hours.  This first session was for Council to review, clarify and carry forward projects and work already started in 2014.  For most of these projects, the work is partly complete, purchase orders issued and all that remains is for work to be completed and bills paid.  One example is the Clocktower Square rebuild which could not be completed in the fall due to a discovery of deep infrastructure requiring replacement.  Trees have been ordered and final landscaping will be completed in the spring.

Charlotte Osborne, Director of Finance articulated what the long list of Carry Forward projects consisted of and Council could ask for clarification or more information.  Department heads were also present to clarify if necessary.  Council members had received the information package prior to the public meeting.

Councillor Graham questioned the need to replace street light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs because of the short term cost.  It was pointed out by CAO Staudt that this is a partnership project with BC Hydro (including grants)and that there will be long term savings.  Councillor Cardozo questioned the Asia twinning project and indicated she would rather see the funds spent locally.  CAO Staudt pointed out that this was a provincially funded and directed project.  Councillor Graham questioned the need for a contracted Parks and Recreation Master Plan cost but it was pointed out that the Plan is complete.  Mayor Pratt questioned the need to move forward with the remaining plan for the Slaterville intersection upgrade.  Mayor Pratt also stated, “We do not want to plant trees if they have not been purchased.”

A resolution was requested to accept these Carry Forward projects with a proviso to find more information for a few of the projects mentioned above.  However, Mayor Pratt indicated he wanted to review a much larger number of projects. 

Recognising that Council was not ready to move forward it was agreed to move the resolution to the Feb 4^th.  CAO Staudt explained that there will always be a link to the previous Council with projects that have been approved, taxed for and grants received.  He also stated that most of these projects are committed to.

Councillor Graham stated, “Bottom line, if there is something Council doesn’t want to fund we don’t fund it.”

After the Carry Forward Project part of the meeting two options were put forward for the 2015 Roads Program.  Council voted to move forward with the’ mill and fill of 3 and 1/2 kilometers of road rather than complete the first phase of deep infrastructure replacement on 2^nd St S.  This road has been shown to have deep infrastructure problems, which could fail and the road needs a complete rebuild.  The 2^nd St. South project was the topic of an open house and petition in 2014.  Mill and fill refers to the process where the top surface of the road is broken up and reused for resurfacing.

During the meeting Councillor Popoff questioned the existing 1% road tax and suggested removing it in order to lower taxes. He asked if the money could be found elsewhere in the budget.  Director of Finance Charlotte Osborne explained that that amount of money could not be found elsewhere as roads are not eligible for grants and it must come out of taxes.  The tax was brought in under the Council of Mayor Manjak and has been used several years now.  The initial amount of just over $200,000.00 has now compounded to a significant budget for roads and accrues to millions in the next few years.  Other Councillors agreed they were in favour of the 1% road tax.

Also discussed was the application to the Build Canada Fund for pump and electrical system component replacement at the City Farm, Spray Irrigation System. A loan application bylaw has already been approved for this project but at the last Council meeting, it was suggested by Councillor Blissett, that an application to the Build Canada Fund might be a good option.  Either one of these options will ensure there will be financing for the necessary project.   It had been indicated the pump replacement was urgent for the system to function this season.  It is now felt by engineering that the system could limp through one more year, which will allow the design phase of the project to be completed in good time.

The meeting was recessed until the next Budget Meeting.

Next proposed Budget Meeting dates:

February 4th  Water, Sewer, Solid Waste and Airport Funds will be discussed

February 17th General Fund, Capital, Grants to organisations, Borrowing and Tax Rates.

March 4th

April 8th

What's Happening...

Saturday January 17th

Locals Coffee house
SOLD OUT

Sunday January 18th

In Search of Beethoven
Columbia Theatre
10:00am

In Search of Beethoven offers a comprehensive and dynamic account of the life and works of the great composer.  The film features 65 performances by the world’s finest musicians. In addition 100 interviews were conducted in the making of this beautifully crafted film. 
The film delves beneath the mythical image of the tortured, cantankerous genius to search for the real Ludwig van Beethoven. In Search of Beethoven addresses the romantic myth that Beethoven was a heroic, tormented figure battling to overcome his tragic fate, struck down by deafness, who searched for his ‘immortal beloved’ but remained unmarried. The results reveal someone quite different and far more interesting.

Fort Steele
Sleigh Rides noon - 2:00pm
Skating (everyday)

Monday January 19th

City Council Meeting
6:00pm, Council Chambers

Wednesday January 21st

All About Triathlon
Studio Stage Door
Learn about the club and the sport
7:00pm - 8:30pm

January 21st - 24th

Waiting for Godot
directed by Paul Kershaw
Key City Theatre
7:30pm
Tickets $20

January 22nd

Sunrise Rotary Film
Love is Strange
Columbia Theatre
7:00pm
(Also Sunshine on the Leith Feb 5th)
Tickets Lotus Books

Between the Layers

photos Jenny Humphrey and Stewart Wilson

City Budget Meeting

Budget Meeting

January 14, 2015 - January 14, 2015

4:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Special meeting of Council is scheduled for budget discussions, as it pertains to the City of Cranbrook 2015 – 2019 Five Year Financial Plan.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14th, beginning at 4:30 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.
The public is welcome to attend

Supporting Healthy Eco Systems

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Jump out of the box and join Jeff Goebel at Clear Sky Centre February 26-28, 2015. Click  here to register and find out more. 

Blast from the Past - Best Block

Cranbrook Courier Sept 17 1953

Falling Oil Prices Could Rock Canada's Politics; The Tyee

From the Tyee

http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/12/18/Terry-Lynn-Karl-Interview/

Falling Oil Prices Could Rock Canada's Politics: ExpertA Tyee interview with Terry Lynn Karl, who wrote the book on petro states.By Andrew Nikiforuk, 18 Dec 2014, TheTyee.ca 


[Editor's note: 'Oil Keeps Crashing': Just the latest headline marking a steady plunge that has the price of Brent Crude, the international benchmark, now scraping $52 a barrel. What are the political ramifications here in Canada and around the world? Andrew Nikiforuk’s interview with expert Terry Lynn Karl went viral when we published it on December 18 and remains one of the Tyee’s most read pieces today. In case you missed it…]

What do the plummeting oil prices tell us not only about our near term economic future in Canada, but the political fragility of the world's petro states?

Asked in a wide ranging interview what Canadians might expect if oil prices stay low for a few years, she predicted "a rapidly declining Canadian dollar, greater problems over pipelines, the reduction of future investments, and a very bumpy oil ride, especially for Alberta.
"Oil prices and stock markets used to go in different directions. When prices went up dramatically, market hysteria pushed stocks down, and recession would ensue. Because the price is now down, this should be a boon to consumers, help the economies of consuming nations, and represent a massive transfer of wealth from oil producers to oil consumers. But the stock market doesn't reflect this. In the last few years, the markets and oil prices are moving in tandem, and this is new.
"I suspect there are several reasons for this. First, advanced industrialized economies, and most especially the United States, have reached historic highs in inequality. This means that there is no wage growth, there is little consumer spending and the main concern is deflation, not inflation. While low prices help consumers, they simply will not have the same effect given acute poverty levels and the squeezing of the middle class.
"Second, the global economy may be de-accelerating, meaning this is not just a supply glut but also a reflection of lower demand from China, Europe and elsewhere.
"Finally, the stock market is reflecting the dangerous intertwining between oil futures and junk bonds, which was not the case decades ago."
Both oil companies and global economies are now carrying great debt loads as hydrocarbons become more extreme and difficult to extract. The world's largest 127 oil and gas firms generated $568 billion in cash from their operations during 2013-2014, while their expenses totalled $677 billion? How is debt affecting this whole picture?

To read the whole article, go to the link above.

Gordon Terrace raises $4000 for Gordon Terrace, Nepal

David and Patricia Stock visited Gordon Terrace School, Cranbrook on Friday, January9th to show their DVD presentation which demonstrates the culmination of their coordination and the fund raising efforts of students at Gordon Terrace to build a school outside of Katmandu, Nepal. 

Over four years the students here have raised over $20,000 and this sum of money has enabled the building of a Gordon Terrace namesake school in a tiny village many kilometres and cultures away.  This project has provided all the students involved with many unique learning experiences.  Dilly Bar sales, handmade bracelet sales, craft sales, the collection of Canadian tire money, penny drives have all taught many skills only learned in the real world of business. 

The students' reward has been much more than dollars however and the success of the project has motivated the students to continue supporting the little Hot Pink School on the other side of the world.  $4,000 was presented to the Stocks on this visit - the proceeds from the Christmas craft sale.

Principal Michelle Sartorel, Patricia and David Stock thank students.

What's Happening....

Thursday January 8th

Sunrise Rotary Film Series
Whiplash
7:00pm
a very limited number of tickets available at the door if you get there early

Friday January 9th

Good Ol' Goats play at the Byng
10:00pm

Saturday January 10th

The Globe on Screen
The Tempest
10:00am Columbia Theatre

Sunday January 11th

Fort Steele
Sleigh Rides
12 noon to 2:00pm

Everyday Fort Steele

Skating
outdoor rink 
10:00am - 4:00pm daily

Plan now for upcoming events

Travelogue Luxury Barging in S. France  Jan 14th
COR Lecture Theatre

Locals Coffee House Jan. 17th

Sunrise Rotary Movies
Love is Strange Jan 22nd

Key City Theatre
Waiting for Godot Jan 21st - 24th