Town of Smithers
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TOWN OF SMITHERS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1027 ALDOUS STREET, SMITHERS, B.C. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012, AT 7:30 P.M. Council Present: Staff Present: Taylor Bachrach, Mayor Deborah Sargent, Chief Administrative Officer Norm Adomeit, Councillor Susan Bassett, Director of Corporate Services Mark Bandstra, Councillor Leslie Ford, Director of Finance Phil Brienesse, Councillor (8:02 p.m.) Mark Allen, Director of Development Services Bill Goodacre, Councillor Andrew Hillaby, Director of Recreation, Parks and Culture Charlie Northrup, Councillor Keith Stecko, Fire Chief Frank Wray, Councillor. Rob Blackburn, Airport Manager Wilf Taekema, Director of Works and Operations Janice McKay, Recording Secretary. Media Present: M. Dekkema, The Peak; S. Komadina, CFTK-TV; and A. Hudson, The Interior News. 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Bachrach called the meeting to order (7:35 p.m.). 1.1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (including Supplemental Items) APPROVAL OF AGENDA 12.0387 Adomeit/Wray THAT Council approves the agenda and the following supplemental items: 14.1 Letter dated May 24, 2012, from B. Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Mayor Bachrach's successful "Velo-city Global 2012" registration application for the cycling planning conference being held June 26 to 29, 2012, in Vancouver (0400-20). 14.2 News story dated June 24, 2012, regarding CN's "EcoConnexions From the Ground Up" tree-planting program to beautify urban areas, especially around rail lines (0400-40). 14.3 Report DEV 12-66 dated June 22, 2012, from M. Allen, Director of Development Services, advising that the 1089 Main Street Remediation Contract will be awarded to Barb's Trucking at the bid price of $24,428.00, excluding HST (5330-20/2012-08). CARRIED. 2. PUBLIC HEARING None. Page 1 of 15 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 REGULAR - JUN 12 12.0388 Adomeit/Bandstra THAT the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held June 12, 2012, be adopted. CARRIED. 4. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 4.1 ITEMS MADE PUBLIC Report ADM 12-040 dated June 19, 2012, from D. Sargent, Chief Administrative Officer, recommending no items be made public from the Special (In-Camera) meeting held May 22, 2012, was presented (0640-01). 4.2 SMITHERS SALTOS 12.0389 Northrup/Adomeit THAT Staff report back to Council regarding the amount of land and the number of additional parking spaces required for the proposed expansion of the gymnastics' facility located at L.B. Warner Centre. CARRIED. 5. PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS 5.1 STAFF SGT WHITE Mayor Bachrach presented a gift to RCMP Staff Sgt. S. White to thank her for contributions to the community during her eight years at the Smithers RCMP Detachment and wished her well at her new posting in Merritt. 5.2 NSDP PARKING COVENANTS Mayor Bachrach declared a conflict of interest, as his spouse is a Northern Society for Domestic Peace Board member, and left the Chambers (7:44 p.m.). Councillor Wray assumed the Chair. B. Barker and S. Smith, members of the Northern Society for Domestic Peace (NSDP) Board, requested that Council allow them to buy out five covenanted parking spaces, located on Lots 30 to 32, Block 54, at the reduced cost of $4,000 per space, rather than the current rate of $5,500, which will be increasing to over $9,000 in January 2013. The covenants reserve parking for the owners of Schimmels Fine Pastries Ltd., but are not being used by Schimmels. Page 2 of 15 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The Board wishes to sell off the parking lot to finance building renovations, program growth and program development, including "Herway House" supporting housing for low income pregnant and parenting young women between 15 and 21 and their dependent children. The only thing preventing NSDP from selling the lot are the five covenanted parking spaces. Northern Society for Domestic Peace feels that the reduced price is warranted, as they are a non- profit group, contributing $21,161 in property taxes per year and noted that the covenants were originally created in association with a business property. NSDP does not require the covenants for their own use, as they have sufficient parking on their side of the road. Councillors advised NSDP that: a) the cost to buy out covenanted parking spaces has already been reduced; b) it may be more appropriate to present the request at the Town's grant-in-aid night; c) the cost of developing a parking space is approximately $10,500; and d) under the revised bylaw, anyone covenanting parking spaces is required to develop them. Councillor Wray advised that Council's practice is to revisit the request at its next Regular Meeting being held July 10, 2012. Mayor Bachrach returned to Chambers and resumed the Chair (8:00 p.m.) 6. COUNCIL REPORTS 6.1. COUNCILLOR ADOMEIT 6.1.1 BV POOL - APRIL The Bulkley Valley Regional Pool and Recreation Centre's April Financials and Manager's Reports and Minutes for May, were presented (0230-20). 6.2. COUNCILLOR BANDSTRA 6.2.1 BANDSTRA REPORT Councillor Bandstra advised that he attended the Hudson Bay Mountain Estates blasting celebration. 6.3. COUNCILLOR BRIENESSE 6.3.1 BRIENESSE REPORT Councillor Brienesse arrived at this point in the meeting (8:02 p.m.) and reported that he attended the opening ceremony for the Wetzin’kwa day shelter. Page 3 of 15 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. 6.4. COUNCILLOR GOODACRE 6.4.1 2013 CORE - JUN 6 The minutes of the Smithers Centennial 2013 Core Team meeting held June 6, 2012, were presented (0360-20). 6.4.2 MUTN - JUN 6 The minutes of the Measuring Up the North Committee meeting held June 6, 2012, were presented (0360-20). 6.4.3 HEALTH COMMITTEE - MAY 15 The minutes of the Smithers Health Committee meeting held May 15, 2012, were presented (0400-80). 6.5. COUNCILLOR NORTHRUP 6.5.1 VISITOR STATS The Visitor Information Statistics from the Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce for the period ending May 31, 2012, were presented (0230-20). 6.5.2 NORTHRUP REPORT Councillor Northrup advised that he attended the following: a) a briefing meeting with Pacific Inland Resources regarding timber supply; b) the presentations made before the Timber Supply Committee; c) the celebrity golf tournament; d) the Library's "Back Yard" presentation by the Bulkley Valley Backpackers; e) a joint meeting with the Moricetown Band and Smithers Council; f) a tour of Prince Rupert port facilities which was a North Central Local Government Association conference draw prize; g) the Library's barbecue for its volunteers; and h) the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako public hearing regarding the ski hill subdivision. 6.6. COUNCILLOR WRAY 6.6.1 WRAY REPORT Councillor Wray reported that the joint meeting between Smithers Council and the Moricetown Band was the first meeting ever held between Moricetown Band and the Town of Smithers of its kind since he has been on Council and that transit between Moricetown and Smithers was recognized as an important issue. Page 4 of 15 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. 6.7. REPORT OF MAYOR BACHRACH 6.7.1 HWY OF TEARS RESOLUTION 12.0390 Bachrach/Goodacre THAT the following resolution be submitted for consideration at the 2012 Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference: WHEREAS a number of young women, mostly aboriginal, have been murdered or have gone missing along a stretch of Highway 16 in northern British Columbia, now referred to as the "Highway of Tears"; AND WHEREAS many of these missing women are believed to have been hitch hiking between communities where there is a lack of public transit; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the British Columbia government to implement the Highway of Tears Symposium's recommendation by establishing and funding a shuttle bus service between northern communities where none currently exists. 12.0391 Northrup/Goodacre THAT Motion 12.0390 be amended by deleting the words "where none currently exists" at the end of the resolution. CARRIED. The main motion, as amended, was voted on with the final wording being as follows: THAT the following resolution be submitted for consideration at the 2012 Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference: WHEREAS a number of young women, mostly aboriginal, have been murdered or have gone missing along a stretch of Highway 16 in northern British Columbia now referred to as the "Highway of Tears"; AND WHEREAS many of these missing women are believed to have been hitch hiking between communities where there is a lack of public transit; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the British Columbia government to implement the Highway of Tears Symposium's recommendation by establishing and funding a shuttle bus service between northern communities. CARRIED. Page 5 of 15 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. 14.1 VELO-CITY GLOBAL 2012 12.0392 Goodacre/Brienesse THAT Council approves reimbursement of accommodation expenses, incurred by Mayor Bachrach, while attending the "Velo-city Global 2012" cycling planning conference being held June 26 to 29, 2012, in Vancouver (0400-20). CARRIED. 6.7.3 MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Bachrach reported on the Strategic Priorities Workshop facilitated by G. McIntosh and explained the Strategic Priorities Chart dated June 2012, handed out to members of the gallery and the media.