Regular Council Meeting April 16, 2010
Posted by admin in : Fernie Council Meeting , comments closed1. RCMP First Quarter Mayor’s Report was reviewed by Cpl. Andy Veltmeyer of the Elk Valley RCMP detachment. The report summarized City of Fernie crime statistics and provided comparisons between the first quarters of 2010 with statistics from the first quarter of 2009. Cpl. Veltmeyer informed Council that the 2010 Annual Performance Plan for the local detachment has been finalized and among initiatives being implemented is a coordinated effort to curb late night rowdiness, mischief and noise in the downtown area. Cpl. Veltmeyer also expressed a desire to work collaboratively with the City and join the recently proposed Downtown Task Force.
2. The Royal Canadian Legion will be hosting a Leadership and Development Seminar in conjunction with the East Kootenay Zone Meeting. Council authorized the Legion to hold a parade to the Cenotaph and use the Courthouse grounds on Saturday, May 15th, 2010.
3. Blackstone Fernie TransRockies Race Start is returning to Fernie. For the last three years, Fernie has hosted the Finish and five previous years we have hosted the Start.
Fernie is the only community to have hosted all nine events and this year Fernie will host two stages:
a. Stage 1 on Sunday, August 8th at 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will be a Time Trail on local trails starting and finishing in downtown Fernie.
b. Stage 1 on Monday, August 9th will be the traditional mass start in downtown Fernie on Victoria Avenue.
4. A letter from Interior Health and Elk Valley Hospital Medical Staff which requested support for the establishment of a Physician Recruitment Committee was reviewed by Council. The Medical Staff indicated the current manpower situation and upcoming anticipated retirements have lead to a need to recruit more physicians.
The recruitment process is essential to maintaining the viability of the maternity program, considered a cornerstone of acute care services. Council authorized its support and nominated Mayor Corrigan to serve as Council’s representative on the Committee.
5. Downtown Task Force
Staff was directed by Council to prepare a Terms of Reference for a Downtown Task Force to consist of representatives from the RCMP, City Council, City Staff, downtown residents, downtown business owners and a representative from the Chamber of Commerce to deal with a growing concern of disturbances, mischief and liquor act offences in the downtown area of Fernie.
6. North/Central/South Regional Mine Rescue Competition will be held in Fernie on June 3rd, 2010 in conjunction with the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition on June 5th, 2010. Council agreed, as co-hosts for these events to make available certain city facilities and provide assistance in the form of staff time towards the events.
7. 2010 – 2014 Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2129, the Financial Plan for the City of Fernie for the Five Year Period from January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2014, and the
2010 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 2130, a bylaw for the levying of rates for Municipal, Hospital and Regional District purposes for the year 2010 both received three readings from Council.
The public is encouraged to attend a Special Meeting of Council planned for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 19th, 2010 to learn more about and provide comment on the 2010 – 2014 Financial Plan.
Special Council Meeting April 7, 2010
Posted by admin in : Fernie Council Meeting , comments closed1) City Hall Roofing Project – Agreement Amendment
Council approved an amendment to the previous agreement between the City and M& P Roofing Ltd. that changed the price from $106,660.00 (inclusive of any Social Services Tax, but exclusive of GST) to $131,710.00 (inclusive of any Social Services Tax, but exclusive of GST).
In 2007 Council approved a budget of $175,000 to replace the roof at City Hall. In April of 2009, the City of Fernie awarded M&P Roofing Ltd. the contract for replacing the roof. Due to a delay on finalizing a contract for the window replacement project and shortcomings with the roofing RFP the City was unable to begin the roofing project in the timeline originally anticipated. This delay, combined with an increase in the work required to complete the project, resulted in increases to material and equipment costs for the project.
2) Fernie Aquatic Centre Energy Retrofit Project – Contract Award
Council awarded the above noted contract to Coral Engineering at a price not to exceed $600,000 exclusive of GST.
The project has a total cost of approximately $600,000.00 and will be 100% funded through grants provided by the Federal Government.
Cost savings resulting from the project will be used to fund a new energy reserve fund in which to fund projects similar in nature. The project predicts upwards of $76,000.00 in annual cost savings and a 293 Tonne (69%) reduction in Green House Gas emissions.
The project retrofits the current Aquatic Centre Heat, Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system with a dehumidification reclamation system that extracts heat from the pool area air stream, dehumidifies the air and then uses the extracted heat to heat the pools. A new exhaust air reclamation system will use air to be exhausted from the facility to pre-heat the outdoor air that is introduced to the pool area as ventilation air. Lastly, the project includes installation of solar panels to heat domestic hot water in the change rooms, meeting area and lobby washrooms.
Work is scheduled to begin during the annual shutdown period for the Aquatic Centre May 25 – July 1, 2010.
3) Summer Parks Shifts (10 Hour)
Council agreed to change the shift schedule for the Summer Parks crew to a 10 hour shift on a trial basis. This new shift will begin around May 1 and run through until the 1st week of August with shift hours being from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm. This new shift will provide more coverage for special events as well, provide enhanced weekend cleanup.
A Memorandum of Understanding with CUPE 2093 will have to be reached before implementation of the new shift schedule can begin.
4) Earth Hour – Saturday, March 27, 2010
(8:30 – 9:30 pm)
The City of Fernie’s plans to celebrate Earth Hour include:
• A free acoustic concert will be held on the lawn at City Hall (8:15 pm start time);
• Decorative lighting and streetlights will be turned off downtown; (RCMP patrols will be increased)
• City facilities will be closed and darkened;
• Monitoring of estimated energy savings will take place.
5) Northwest Water Reservoir – Crown Land Tenure Offer and License of Occupation
In October, 2009 the City made application to the Integrated Land Management Bureau for a Licence of Occupation over crown land where the City proposes to construct the NW Water Reservoir.
On March 9, 2010 the City received the Tenure Offer and an agreement for the Licence of Occupation for the proposed lands for execution.
Council authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign the Tenure Offer and Licence of Occupation Agreement.
6) Pesticide Bylaw Education Budget
Education for citizens and vendors regarding safe alternatives to the use of pesticides is a key element in promoting compliance with the Pesticide Use Control Bylaw.
Council approved the following budget allocations to be included in the draft Financial Plan for a Pesticide Bylaw Education budget:
2010 – $5000 2011 – $5000
2012 – $4000 2013 – $2000