MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1999 AT 7:30 P.M. Mayor J. Talstra presided. Councillors present were O. Power, V. George, R. McDaniel, L. Hawes, and D. Hull. Member R. Vanderlee was absent due to personal business commitments. Also in attendance were D. Fisher, Acting Clerk-Administrator, and D. Kennedy, Confidential Secretary. "Talkback Line" Mayor Talstra advised that the City's Talkback Line is available for any comments or concerns viewers of this meeting may wish to bring to the attention of Council. PUBLIC INPUT: Mayor Talstra asked whether there were any members of the audience who wished to make a Disposal of Land – Portion presentation with respect to the disposal of a portion of Part of DL 1108, R5, CD of Part of District Lot 1108 (Portion of City Landfill (Portion of City Landfill Property). Property) As there was no one present wishing to make a presentation with respect to this matter, Mayor Talstra advised that this item would be dealt with under the "Special Reports" portion of this meeting's Agenda (see Resolution #019). ADDENDUM: MOVED by Councillors McDaniel/Hull that the Addendum be included. (No. 001) Carried. DELEGATIONS & GUESTS: Mr. Jan Lok of 5328 Mountain Vista Drive approached Council with respect to the noise being created by the Skeena Cellulose Log Skeena Cellulose log chipper. He has heard that Chipper: there is talk of bringing an additional chipper into Terrace and wanted to again make Council aware that Jan Lok, 5328 Mountain the noise level has not been dealt with. He said that Vista Drive the noise is especially loud on cold evenings. He feels that the Noise Bylaw is not being enforced and although he can empathize with those working at the mill, and certainly doesn’t want to see any job loss, he wondered if there isn’t something that can be done to force the mill to comply. Mayor Talstra pointed out that although we do have a Noise Bylaw, this company operates in an industrial zone and the noise levels have been monitored and Regular Council Meeting, January 11 , 1999 Page 2 do not appear to exceed the required levels. The Mayor confirmed that he had heard as well that another chipper is planned, but that the chipper is not the machine creating the noise, rather it is the de- barker that is causing the problem. Councillor Power advised that the company is planning on coating the de-barker to reduce the noise levels, and she doesn’t believe they have had the opportunity yet to do so. She also confirmed that the noise is louder on cold nights, and also that the noise seems to increase around 11:00 p.m. Mr. Jim Laird of 5323 Mountain Vista Drive also approached Council with respect to the noise. He has interviewed several people in the past week in the Jim Laird, 5323 Mountain Mountain Vista area and advised Council that there is Vista Drive no doubt that it is not only posing a health problem for those individuals that are unable to sleep, but is also affecting the real estate market in the area. He pointed out that there are several homeowners attempting to sell property in the Mountain Vista area, but because of the negative publicity this area is getting in relation to the log chipper, these homeowners have no hope of ever selling their homes as long as the noise problem continues. He has also spoken to businesses that are in close proximity to the log chipper and they have advised that their businesses are being affected by noise, particularly during the Summer months, when they are losing clientele. Councillor George confirmed that this is a serious matter and that a number of attempts have been made by the company to deaden the noise, but that all attempts to this point have been unsuccessful. He advised that there are additional attempts to be made and Council is committed to continuing to work with the company as long as they are prepared to look at possibilities of alleviating the noise problem. Ms. Assunta Pijl of 5332 Mountain Vista Drive reminded Council that Skeena Cellulose Inc. had indicated that they would be doing something about the noise problem at the beginning of January, but to Assunta Pijl, 5332 Mountain date nothing has been done, and the noise continues Vista Drive at the same levels as before. Regular Council Meeting, January 11 , 1999 Page 3 She is aware that the specs for this type of equipment indicate that if it is to be located in, or in close proximity to, a residential zone, that it is required to have a buffer. She detailed for Council the amount of sleep she is losing because of the noise, and the effect that this is having on her, both physically and mentally. She is not able to cope with the noise and the stress it is creating for her, and pleaded with Council to take steps to force the company to comply. She pointed out the effect this situation is also having on the tourist industry for those businesses in the immediate area, and although she too does not wish to see job loss, she feels it is now time for Council to act for the citizens of the community and take definite steps to see Skeena Cellulose Inc. come to a resolution of this ongoing problem. Councillor McDaniel confirmed that he too is aware of the noise and, together with Councillor Power, has heard first-hand the disruption caused by this piece of machinery. Councillor Hawes also agreed that this is a serious issue and that there isn’t a single member of Council that isn’t concerned. She pointed out that the two companies that operate the chipper/de-barker find themselves under severe financial constraints and have been trying to work with Council to find a solution to this problem. Mayor Talstra also confirmed that Council has attempted to work with these two companies with respect to this problem. The companies in question have tried to alleviate the problem, have hired consultants to investigate solutions, and have come up with proposals to correct the situation. He agreed that the proposals tried thus far have not worked and assured those in attendance that Council would investigate why the latest recommendations have not yet been implemented. He pointed out that all of Council is losing patience with the length of time it is taking to correct the noise problem and that if this latest solution does not work, they will sit down with the principals of the company. They do not intend to allow this situation to continue for an indefinite period of time. PETITIONS AND There were none. Regular Council Meeting, January 11 , 1999 Page 4 QUESTIONS: MINUTES: MOVED by Councillors Power/McDaniel that the Regular Council Minutes of December 14, 1998, be Regular Council Meeting, adopted as circulated. December 14, 1998 Carried. (No. 002) Regular Council Meeting, MOVED by Councillors Hawes/Hull that the Regular December 16, 1998 Council Minutes of December 16, 1998, be adopted as circulated. (No. 003) Carried. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MOVED by Councillor Hull that the item with respect THE MINUTES (OLD to formulating and releasing an official position and/or BUSINESS): statement with regard to the Nisga’a Final Agreement be lifted from the table. (Tabled Motion No. 837- 1998) - Official Position on Motion lost due to lack of seconder. the Nisga’a Final Agreement CORRESPONDENCE: Terrace Minor Hockey MOVED by Councillors Hawes/McDaniel that January Association - “Royal Bank 16-23, 1999 be declared "Royal Bank Canadian Canadian Hockey Week” Hockey Week" in the City of Terrace. Proclamation Carried. (No. 004) Affiliation of Multicultural MOVED by Councillors McDaniel/Power that February Societies & Service 14-20, 1999 be declared "Multiculturalism Week" in Agencies of BC - the City of Terrace. “Multiculturalism Week in BC” Proclamation Carried. (No. 005) Art Erasmus – Resignation MOVED by Councillors Hull/McDaniel that Council from Parks & Recreation accept, with regret, the resignation of Mr. Art Erasmus Commission from the Parks & Recreation Commission. (No. 006) Carried. Mayor Talstra thanked Mr. Erasmus for his time in serving on the commission and looked forward to the possibility of having him again serve the City in some capacity. Regular Council Meeting, January 11 , 1999 Page 5 Rod Hayward (Boundary MOVED by Councillors Hull/Hawes that the Extension) correspondence from Mr. Rod Hayward regarding his objection to the proposed boundary extension be (No. 007) received. Carried. CORRESPONDENCE (FOR There was none. INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY): COMMITTEE REPORTS: MOVED by Councillors McDaniel/Hawes that the December 14, 1998, In-Camera Committee of the I-C Committee of the Whole, Whole Report be adopted, and that the entire Report December 14, 1998 remain In-Camera, as follows: (No. 008) 1. PERSONNEL ITEM This item remained In-Camera. Carried. Committee of the Whole, Division was requested on Item No. 1. (A. Finance, Personnel & Administration Component), MOVED by Councillors George/Power that Item No. 1 December 16, 1998 of the December 16, 1998, Finance, Personnel & Administration Component of the Committee of the (No. 009) Whole Report be adopted with the following recommendations, and that this item be referred back to Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with additional budget information to be provided to the Committee by the Social Planning Commission: 1. 1999 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET It was recommended that the Social Planning Commission’s request for $30,000.00 not be included in the 1999 Operating Budget however, the suggestion be made to the Commission that they seek alternate funding sources, or attempt to pool previous assessments and information that exists within the community.