Regular Council Meeting - Feb 23rd, 09 February 25, 2009
Posted by admin in : Fernie , add a comment1) Fire and Rescue Services Strategic Plan 2009-2018.
Mr. Rick Taylor, Results Management Services, and Chief Ivany were in attendance to provide an overview of the recently completed Fire and Rescue Services Strategic Plan 2009-2018. The purpose of the plan is to provide a goal oriented framework for the cost effective and efficient provision of fire and rescue services to the City of Fernie and contracted portions of the RDEK.
Council received the report and directed staff to review the recommendations put forward and report back to Council on the operational and financial implications of putting the recommendations into practice.
2) LGMA BC Overseas Manager Exchange Program
Council authorized and approved an application by the Chief Administrative Officer for the 2009 LGMA BC Overseas Manager exchange Program. The program matches local government managers from BC and New Zealand for the purpose of skill development, competency and knowledge enhancement to add value to future job performance.
If chosen for the exchange the Chief Administrative Officer will be expected to host the exchange manager from New Zealand for two weeks early in June.
3) Fernie Destination Marketing
Council authorized the final payment ($50,000) of three year seed funding to the Fernie Destination Marketing Organization (Tourism Fernie). The City of Fernie supported and facilitated the creation of the Fernie DMO and used City Funds to defray associated expenses on the understanding that once formed the DMO would reimburse the City for those expenses.
The Fernie DMO has since re-branded itself as Tourism Fernie and will continue to be an important contributor to the future growth and development of Fernie’s Tourism economy.
4) Regional District of East Kootenay Bylaw No. 2146 a bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 829 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Elk Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 829, 1990.
Bylaw No. 2146 proposes various text amendments to the RDEK Elk Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 829, 1990 by:
➢ Replacing the definitions of “single family dwelling” and secondary suite’ and adding new definitions for ‘garage’ and ‘total floor space’;
➢ Adding a new section to the general regulations citing provisions for the establishment of secondary suites; and
➢ Adding ‘secondary suites’ as accessory uses to each zone.
Zoning Bylaw No. 829 allows secondary suites within a single family dwelling in 11 residential zones; the proposed text amendments would enable land owners to either establish a secondary suite within a single family dwelling or within a detached garage.
Council recommended approval of the proposed bylaw amendments and further gave direction to staff to prepare a zoning amendment bylaw to Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 to update and standardize the regulations as per the proposed RDEK Bylaw No. 2146.
5) Canadian Avalanche Centre
Council received the letter from the Canadian Avalanche Centre requesting the City of Fernie to join the coalition to work towards preventing further tragedies. Council will forward the correspondence to School District # 5 and to Fernie Alpine Resort for their consideration. Staff will consider the request to join the coalition.
6) Elk Valley Property Tax Sharing Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 2066, 2008, Amendment Bylaw No. 1, 2009
In 2008 the City of Fernie adopted Bylaw No. 2066 which authorized entering into a property tax sharing agreement with the Districts of Elkford and Sparwood and the RDEK (representing Electoral Area A) which determines the amount of revenue to be raised for each year of agreement from property value taxes on Elk Valley Mines, determines how the revenue is shared, and how those revenues will be used.
The Agreement contemplates the addition and deletion of coal mining properties and the Districts of Elkford and Sparwood have identified Additional Properties for inclusion in their respective boundaries and the Agreement. The Agreement Amendment introduces a new clause that provisions for “transition properties’ and authorizes the repayment of any revenues remitted by the Surveyor of Taxes for taxes collected on transition properties.
Council granted first three readings to the Bylaw and it will return to the March 9, 2009 meeting for consideration of adoption.
7) Bylaw No. 2090, cited as Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 91, 2009
Bylaw No. 2090 proposes to add Section 4.2.1.A R1SL – Single Family Residential Small Lot Zone to City of Fernie Zoning Bylaw No. 1750.
The intent of the proposed R1SL zone is to legalize existing small lot residential parcels concentrated in Maintown and the Annex that are typically 30 ft. x 120 ft.; 30 ft. x 90 ft.; 60 ft. x 60 ft., or 60 ft. x 45 ft. in dimension and therefore, do not meet the minimum parcel frontage and minimum parcel area requirements in R1 – Single Family Residential Zone.
Having zone regulations tailored to existing small lots will reduce the number of Development Variance application requests when landowners choose to redevelop their small lot in the future, as well existing legal non-conforming lots can be converted into legal conforming lots. It will also provide the opportunity to rezone existing larger residential lots that can be subdivided to create small lots for single family dwelling development.
Council approved first three readings followed by referral to a Public Hearing.
Water Smart Fernie – an educational campaign to reduce water consumption in Fernie.
Council endorsed the principle of a five year “Water Smart” campaign as a pilot in support of the City’s commitment to reduction of water consumption and referred the report submitted to the budget process to commit funds to initiate a “Water Smart” program through the City’s water fund.
Regular Council Meeting Feb. 9th, 09 February 13, 2009
Posted by admin in : Fernie , add a comment1) Early Childhood Development – Child Care Society
Trish Luke, Early Childhood Development Coordinator for Fernie, was in attendance and provided results of the recent “Kids Care” survey recently undertaken in the Elk Valley. The survey indicated that Fernie was in need of adequate childcare services.
Ronan MacCon, Chair of the Fernie Childcare Society, was in attendance and updated Council on their efforts to establish a licensed childcare facility in Fernie.
Mr. MacCon advised Council that the Childcare Society cannot afford to pay the lease rate proposed for space in the City’s Max Turyk School.
2) Partnering Agreement with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce for a Downtown Visitor Information Centre
Council authorized notice of its intention to provide assistance under the terms of a Partnering Agreement with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce for the provision of downtown visitor information services in the amount of $30,250 for the time period of March 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2009.
The Partnership Agreement with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce will be brought forward to a future Council Meeting for approval.
3) Resort Municipality Tax Transfer Program – Five Year Resort Development Strategy
The City of Fernie will advise the Provincial Government that it wishes to participate in the British Columbia Resort Municipality Initiative and further, request the government to designate the City of Fernie and the portion of the East Kootenay Regional District Electoral Area A outlined in Schedule A to Regional District of East Kootenay – Additional Hotel Room Tax Bylaw No. 1909, 2006 a resort region under Section 6.8 of the Local Government Act
The Fernie and Area Resort Municipality Tax Transfer Program – Five Year Resort Development Strategy, dated February 4, 2009 was approved and the Chief Administrative Officer was authorized to enter into and sign a Results-Based Hotel Room Tax (Resorts) Transfer Agreement on behalf of the City of Fernie with the Provincial Government.
The Resort Development Strategy will provide funding of $2,000,000 over five years to finance new or improved resort infrastructure, amenities and services. The Strategy identifies the following projects for funding:
• Recreational trails;
• Cultural tourism and festivals;
• Downtown museum and visitor info centre;
• Tourism signage;
• Tourism incentives fund;
• Shuttle service;
• Elk River access improvements;
• Fernie Golf Course improvements; and
• The Fernie Gateway Project.
More information on the Resort Development Strategy can be obtained from Allan Chabot, CAO.
4) Bylaws
Bylaw No. 2089, cited as 2009 Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw was adopted. The Bylaw authorizes any required borrowing for municipal operations in advance of the receipt of annual property taxes.
Bylaw No. 2084, cited as the Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1923, Amendment Bylaw No. 15, 2008 was amended. Council rescinded second reading of the bylaw and approved second reading as amended. A Public Hearing for this Bylaw will be held on Monday, March 2, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The Bylaw relates to the proposed Coal Creek Golf Resort Community.
5) Bear Aware Program – Operating Grant
Council approved an operating grant of $7950 for 2009 for the Fernie Bear Aware Program and further, to include this amount in years 2010 -2013 of the City’s Financial Plan.
6) Martin Ridge Wind Energy Project
Council will be extending an invitation to representatives of Premier Energy to attend an upcoming Committee of the Whole Meeting to discuss the Martin Ridge Energy Project proposed near Fernie.
7) At the Committee of the Whole Meeting held earlier in the day the Committee authorized staff to prepare a bylaw for the proposed R1SL – Single Family Residential Small Lot Zone.
The intent of the proposed R1SL zone is to legalize existing small lot residential parcels concentrated in Maintown and the Annex that are typically 30 ft. x 120 ft.; 30 ft. x 90 ft.; 60 ft. x 60 ft., or 60 ft. x 45 ft. in dimension and therefore, do not meet the minimum parcel frontage and minimum parcel area requirements in R1 – Single Family Residential Zone.
Having zone regulations tailored to existing small lots will reduce the number of Development Variance application requests when landowners choose to redevelop their small lot in the future, as well existing legal non-conforming lots can be converted into legal conforming lots. It will also provide the opportunity to rezone existing larger residential lots that can be subdivided to create small lots for single family dwelling development.