Regular Council Meeting September 29, 2008
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , comments closed1) Development Variance Permits Approved:
After fulfilling the mandatory notice requirements and providing an opportunity for input from the public, Council approved the issuance of the following Development Variance Permits:
➢ Development Variance No. 202 – 641 10th Avenue which legalizes the siting of the existing single detached dwelling, varies the minimum side and front yard setbacks for a proposed addition only and increases the maximum projection for an open porch and sundeck and facilitates the subdivision of Lot 2, and Amended Lot 3 (See 1677201) Block 68, District Lot 4588, Kootenay District Plan 734A.
➢ Development Variance No. 204 for 621 7th Avenue which varies the maximum projection into the required minimum front yard setback to enable the construction of a second storey sundeck covered by a mansard roof element.
2) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan
In the spring of 2007, the City of Fernie joined Partners for Climate Protection – a program facilitated by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to guide municipalities through the development of a Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction plan.
Ms. Megan Walsh on behalf of Wildsight and the City of Fernie was in attendance and provided Council with an overview of a draft document that details the total greenhouse gas emissions created by City of Fernie operations. This draft document will form the basis from which an Implementation Report is compiled which will recommend a series of cost effective Greenhouse Gas reduction initiatives for the City to implement to reach their greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Council approved the inventory and authorized Ms. Walsh to forward the findings to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
3) Central Hotel – Application to Extend Hours of Liquor Service for Existing Food-Primary and Liquor Primary Liquor Licenses
The Central Hotel has applied to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) to extend the hours of liquor service for their Food-Primary Liquor License as well their Liquor-Primary License.
Currently the Food Primary and the Liquor Primary operate from:
Monday – Saturday Noon – 2:00 am
Sunday 11:00 am – midnight
Proposed new Hours for both the Food Primary and Liquor Primary would be:
Monday – Sunday 9:00 am – 2:00 am
Council authorized the process to move forward.
The City will deliver notices to occupants and mail a notice to registered owners within an area surrounding the Hotel determined by Council that provides details of the application. The applicant will post a 2’ x 3’ professionally prepared sign at the main entrance of the premises for at least 30 days advising the public of the application. The City will place an ad in two consecutive editions of the Free Press inviting interested citizens to provide their views to Council prior to a Hearing to be held on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. At the Hearing, Council will consider the views of the residents and the potential for noise and impact on the community and provide a resolution to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch that comments on the application.
4) Bylaws
➢ Bylaw No. 2078 cited as Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 85, 2008 a text amendment to add a permitted use to the list of permitted uses in the CS-1 Service Commercial Zone to allow eight dwelling units located above the first storey of the building at 1561 10th Avenue only received First and Second Reading and will be referred to a Public Hearing to be held on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm to receive input from the public with regards to the proposed zoning amendment.
➢ Bylaw No. 2080, cited as Zoning Bylaw No 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 86, 2008 a text amendment for 17 Ktunaxa Road to add a permitted use to the list of permitted uses in the CS-1 Commercial Zone to allow one dwelling unit at 17 Ktunaxa Road only received First and Second Reading and will be referred to a Public Hearing to be held on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm to receive input from the public with regards to the proposed zoning amendment.
➢ Bylaw No. 2086, cited as Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 89, 2008 to rezone 1241 3rd Avenue from R1 – Single Family Residential to R1B – Single Detached Plus Residential received First and Second Reading and will be referred to a Public Hearing to be held on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm to receive input form the public with regards to the proposed zoning amendment.
5) Letter of Understanding – Between the City of Fernie, Fernie Chamber of Commerce, the Rocky Mountain Grizzly Centre and the Derrick Society
Council signed a Letter of Understanding with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, the Rocky Mountain Grizzly Centre and The Derrick Society to support cooperation between the four parties in their common goal to produce a home, long term or short for the Rocky Mountain Grizzly Center as well as an upgraded Derrick display and a reinvigorated Visitor Information Center at the eastern entrance to the City.
Regular Council Meeting September 11, 2008
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , comments closed1) Development Variance Permit Approved
After fulfilling the mandatory notice requirements and providing an opportunity for input from the public, Council approved the issuance of Development Variance Permit (DVP) #203.
DVP #203 legalizes the siting of the existing principal building to facilitate the construction of a second storey balcony to the existing single detached dwelling located at 302 4th Avenue.
2) Idle Free Fernie One Step Closer
After receiving an informative presentation from Idle Free Ambassador Ms. Natasha Ewing, Council directed that staff work with Ms. Ewing to research the possibility of implementing an idle free policy for the City of Fernie. The Idle Free Ambassador Program is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and is aimed at reducing air pollution generated from idling vehicles.
Ms. Ewing provided Council with information outlining the steps needed to create an “Idle Free Fernie” campaign
and provided some background data to demonstrate the need of such a program. The information was developed in partnership with Wildsight and the “Zero Waste Team” at Fernie Secondary School who have already created Idle Free Zones at the High School, City Hall and the Aquatic Centre.
3) Child Care Needs Assessment Survey Supported
Ms. Trish Luke, the Fernie Early Child Care Development Coordinator gave Council a presentation on the need for the Elk Valley Child Care Needs Assessment study and requested a $4000 grant toward the project. The project will gather data by way of a comprehensive Child Care Needs Assessment Survey which will help community groups better understand the amount and types of child care needed in the Elk Valley.
The paper, mail-in survey which is being managed by the Canadian Research firm Ipsos Reid, will begin circulating in mid-September and will be available at select locations throughout the Elk Valley. A report on Fernie’s Child Care needs is expected by December, 2008. The project is supported by the District of Elkford, District of Sparwood, the Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie Early Childhood Development Teams, Children First, Elk Valley Coal, Columbia Basin Trust and Regional District Electoral Area “A.” City Council approved a contribution of $4000 as requested. For more information please call Trish Luke, Fernie ECD Coordinator at 423-4894 or by email at dtluke@telus.net
4) New Leisure Services Bylaw Proceeding
City Council gave first, second and third reading to a new Leisure Services User Regulation and Fees Bylaw. The new Bylaw will replace the existing Bylaw and was written largely in response to rising wage, utility and insurance costs. The previous user fee adjustment occurred in 2004 and amounted to about 25 cents per person, per facility use.
A survey of recreation and facility user fees of other communities in the East Kootenay was conducted to identify admission rates and was previously provided to Council. It was felt that an average adjustment of 15% would help offset a portion of rising costs, assist with cost recovery and help meet the targeted operating deficit while keeping Fernie’s recreation admission and facility use rates competitive with other communities.
Other highlights of the new Bylaw include the inclusion of swimming lessons in Schedule A fees, the addition of the Curling Club to Schedule A and the addition of the Curling Club to Schedule C, the Facility Use Agreement. The Bylaw is expected to be presented to Council for consideration of adoption at the September 29th 7:00 p.m. Regular Council meeting.
5) Zoning Bylaw 2064 approved
After holding a Public Hearing on September 3rd during a Special Meeting in which the Bylaw received third reading (followed by approval from the Ministry of Transportation), Council adopted Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 80, 2008. The Bylaw applies to a 49 hectare parcel of land annexed into the City of Fernie in 2007 which is located just off Highway No. 3 adjacent to Mount Fernie Park Road.
The Bylaw creates a new Comprehensive Development (CD-4) zone that will allow up to 265 single-family, duplex and multiple family residential units to be constructed. The Bylaw also provides for the dedication of a significant natural open space or “conservation area” based on a comprehensive development plan. Please contact City Hall at 250-423-6817 if you are interested in more information.
6) Mayor Announces Election Intentions
Mayor Randal Macnair announced his intention to run for the position of City Councillor during the November 15, 2008 General Local Election for the City of Fernie. He stated that he looks forward to having the opportunity to continue serving the people of Fernie as a member of City Council.