TOWN OF SMITHERS Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held in Council Chambers, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Council Present: Staff Present: Jim Davidson, Mayor Wallace Mah, Corporate Administrator/CAO Norm Adomeit, Councillor Carlos Felip, DCAO/Director of Planning Cathryn Bucher, Councillor Clair Lee, Corporate Administrative Assistant Cress Farrow, Councillor Leslie Ford, Financial Administrator/Collector Bill Goodacre, Councillor Mark Allen, Director of Development Services Andy Howard, Councillor Darcey Kohuch, Director of Operational Services Marilyn Stewart, Councillor. Keith Stecko, Fire Chief Kelly Zacharias, Airport Manager/Deputy Fire Chief Angela Belsham, Recreation Coordinator Penny Goodacre, Recording Secretary. Media Present: C. Lester, BVLD, and T. Hunt, The Interior News. Public Present: J. LeClair, R. McNaughton, M. Warmerdam, C. Warmerdam, C. Northrup, and T. Barker. CALL TO ORDER 1. Mayor Davidson called the meeting to order (7:32 p.m.). APPROVAL OF AGENDA (including Supplemental Items) 1A. Farrow/Howard 05.0746 THAT Council approves the agenda, and the following supplemental items for AGENDA discussion later in the meeting (under Section 14): APPROVAL 1A-1 News Release dated October 7, 2005, from the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition entitled “OBAC Interim Executive Have First Meeting Since Funding Announced” (0360-20). 1A-2 Email dated October 11, 2005, from M. Hanson, Communications Officer, New Democrat Official Opposition, requesting that Council submit a written request to the BC Utilities Commission for public hearings regarding the sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan (0230-30). CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC HEARING 2-1 “Highway Closure and Dedication Removal (Lane in Block 19, Plan 1076, HEARING Section 2, Township 1A, Range 5, Coast Range 5 Land District) Bylaw No. BYLAW 1503 1503” (between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue off Virginia Street). Mayor Davidson opened the hearing for “Highway Closure and Dedication Removal (Lane in Block 19, Plan 1076, Section 2, Township 1A, Range 5, Coast Range 5 Land District) Bylaw No. 1503” at 7:33 p.m. No further written or verbal submissions were made to Bylaw No. 1503. Mayor Davidson called three times for submissions to Bylaw 1503 and, receiving none, closed the hearing for Bylaw No. 1503 at 7:35 p.m. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held in Council Chambers, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3-1 Adomeit/Howard 05.0747 THAT the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held September 13, 2005, REG SEP 13 be adopted. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-2 Farrow/Adomeit 05.0748 THAT the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held September 20, C.O.W. 2005, be adopted. SEP 20 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 4-1 Farrow/Adomeit 05.0749 THAT Report ADM 05-088 dated September 22, 2005, from W. Mah, Chief ITEMS Administrative Officer, regarding items being made public from the Special (In- MADE Camera) Meeting of Council held August 23, 2005, be received; PUBLIC AND THAT the following items be placed on the public agenda: (0640-01). 8. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS (LEGAL/LAND) – ACTION AS NECESSARY (e) Report ADM 05-078 dated August 17, 2005 (0230-20) Farrow/Howard THAT Report ADM 05-078 dated August 17, 2005, from C. Lee, Corporate Administrative Assistant, regarding the renewal of lease of the Yellowhead building be received; AND THAT Council authorize Administration to negotiate the terms of a lease renewal for the Yellowhead building to Hudson Bay Mountain Adventures Inc. (Ski and Ride Smithers) based on all the same provisions of the existing lease with the following exceptions: • Lease rate of $1,040 per month for the first year plus 2% increase for each year thereafter, and • The lease term be for three years with an option to renew for an additional two years. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 05-180. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held in Council Chambers, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Page 3 PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS 5-1 R. McNaughton of Smithers Community Services Association (SCSA), and ADULT J. LeClair, representing Mental Health, Northern Health Authority (NHA), made MENTAL a presentation regarding their joint proposal for an eight-bed adult mental health HEALTH stabilization unit and emergency shelter in Smithers. UNIT/ SHELTER R. McNaughton reported that the current emergency shelter consists of four beds at the Twin Valley Motor Inn and that people needing a shelter would be better in a group setting that offers support, rather than being alone in a motel room. He explained that the Smithers Action Group (SAG) has identified the following areas that need to be addressed: a) the establishment of a crisis stabilization unit and homeless shelter; b) long-term housing needs for people with disabilities; and c) the creation of a support centre/contact resource. J. LeClair explained that a crisis stabilization unit has been identified by the NHA as a priority in Smithers. Currently mental health patients and individuals with addictions are filling up hospital beds. A crisis response centre would provide 24-hour support, for up to five days, and then the patient would return home with medications and food. Council asked if SCSA and NHA have decided on a location for the stabilization unit and emergency shelter. J. LeClair advised that a location has not been chosen yet, as the project is in the preliminary stages. One of the next steps is to research existing models in other communities. R. McNaughton stated that Council would be updated as the project progresses. 5-2 M. Warmerdam, property owner of land adjacent to the Smithers Regional 05.0750 Airport, appeared before Council to ask that Council endorse his pursuit, with WARMERDAM Federal and Provincial governments, to obtain access to his property, PROPERTY preferably from the north side. He emphasized that he is entitled to access and ACCESS that the Town would have no responsibility for the infrastructure (i.e. roads). Mr. Warmerdam stated that he would like to reach a solution agreeable to all parties. Mayor Davidson indicated that Council has always maintained that this is not the Town’s problem and that it is a government problem. He indicated his willingness to help find a solution outside of the court system. Mr. Warmerdam added that he believed his neighbour, T. Huisman, would also be willing to work towards a solution. Howard/Adomeit THAT K. Zacharias, Airport Manager/Deputy Fire Chief, meet with T. Huisman to find a solution regarding property access. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held in Council Chambers, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Page 4 COUNCIL REPORTS: COUNCILLOR ADOMEIT 6-1-1 Adomeit/Farrow 05.0751 THAT the minutes of the Advisory Recreation, Parks and Culture Commission REC COMM meeting held October 5, 2005, be received (0370-20). OCT 5 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 05.0752 Farrow/Bucher THAT Council approves October 24, 2005, for a Public Meeting regarding recreational facilities and programs. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILLOR BUCHER 6-2-1 Bucher/Stewart 05.0753 THAT Report ADM 05-087 dated September 20, 2005, from Councillor Bucher SD #54 presenting a summary of the School District Community Consultation meeting COMMUNITY held September 19, 2005, be received and amended to correct the name MTG “Cheryl Ann Stahel” (0470-40). CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-2-2 Bucher/Howard 05.0754 THAT the Visitor Information Statistics from the Smithers District Chamber of VISITOR Commerce for the period ending September 30, 2005, be received (0230-20). INFO STATS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILLOR FARROW 6-3-1 Farrow/Howard 05.0755 THAT the minutes of Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Meeting No. 16 and RDBN Planning Committee meeting held August 25, 2005, be received. AUG 25 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-3-2 Farrow/Howard 6-3-3 THAT following Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako items be received: 6-3-4 05.0756 6-3-2 Minutes of Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Meeting No. 17 and the RDBN Environmental Services Committee meeting held September 8, 2005; 6-3-3 Minutes of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako / Alcan meeting held July 14, 2005; and 6-3-4 Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Rural Directors Committee (Northern Development Initiative: a) minutes of the meeting held July 28, 2005; b) minutes of the meeting held June 23, 2005; and c) draft “funding program criteria” dated September 14, 2005. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held in Council Chambers, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Page 5 6-3-6 Councillor Farrow reported that he will attend the North West Corridor NWCDC Development Corporation conference in Jasper, Alberta, as Mayor Davidson is unable to attend. COUNCILLOR GOODACRE 6-4-1 Goodacre/Adomeit 05.0757 THAT the minutes of the Smithers Public Library General Meeting held June 22, LIBRARY 2005, be received (7960-02). JUN 22 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-4-2 Goodacre/Adomeit 05.0758 THAT the minutes of the Smithers Recycling Committee meeting held RECYCLING September 21, 2005, be received (0540-20). SEP 21 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILLOR HOWARD 6-5 None. COUNCILLOR STEWART 6-6 None. MAYOR DAVIDSON 6-7-1 Bucher/Adomeit 05.0759 THAT L. McArthur be appointed to the Advisory Recreation, Parks and Culture REC Commission, as recommended in Report P&R 05-17 dated October 6, 2005, COMM from A. Belsham, Recreation Coordinator (0370-00). APPT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-7-2 Farrow/Howard 05.0760 THAT Report ADM 05-091 dated October 6, 2005, from Mayor Davidson UBCM CONF presenting notes from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference NOTES held September 26 to 30, 2005, be received (0230-30).