1. AGREEMENTS, LICENCES PERMITS & POLICIES
1.1 Imagine Kootenay Memorandum of Understanding Council authorized the Corporate Officer to sign the 2017-2022 MOU with Imagine Kootenay and, that the Fernie Chamber of Commerce be appointed as the first point of contact for Fernie.
2. BYLAWS
2.1 Bylaw No. 2303, Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 184, 2016 for 551-1st Avenue was adopted. This will amend the Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 to permit a distillery at the location of The Royal Canadian Legion on 1st Avenue.

3. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
3.1 2017 Fire Smart Grant Program Council endorsed the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative and gave direction to Chief Ruiter to submit on behalf of the City of Fernie the FireSmart Grant Application.
3.2 Chamber of Commerce Sublease to Tourism Fernie Council consented to the Fernie Chamber of Commerce subletting a portion of the Chamber of Commerce Building located at Highway 3 and Dicken Road to Tourism Fernie for the purpose of office space use and Council authorized the Corporate Officer to provide written confirmation of such consent to the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. 
3.3 City Hall Hours Council accepted the report as information and directed staff to continue with the new City Hall hours of operation from 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday on a permanent basis.
3.4 Boundary Restructuring Process to Expand the Ghostrider Service Commercial Development Northward into the Brenners Road Area Council directed staff to work collaboratively with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) and applicable provincial government staff as well, affected property owners to initiate a boundary restructuring process to expand the Ghostrider Service Commercial Development northward into the Brenners Road area as a means of increasing the supply of light industrial and service commercial land in the near to medium term. 
3.5 Implementation of the Elk Valley Flood Strategy Council received the Elk Valley Flood Strategy, Final Report, dated June 2016 and directed staff to assist in the implementation of the Flood Strategy, when feasible, with in-kind City of Fernie resources such as forwarding applicable reports related to flood management as well, providing City of Fernie owned GIS data subject to a data sharing agreement.  


4. UPCOMING MEETINGS AND OTHER NEWS
4.1 Next scheduled meetings of Council are:
– Tuesday, February 14, 2017 (Family Day – Stat Holiday on 13th) Committee of the Whole @10:00am and the Regular meeting of Council @ 7:00pm in Council Chambers
– Monday, February 27, 2017 Committee of the Whole @10:00am and the Regular meeting of Council @ 7:00pm in Council Chambers
4.2 Public Consultation Outcomes Report for 2017 Budget & Five Year Financial Plan Public Consultation held on November 24, 2016 at Mug Shots Cafe’ is now available. Check out the report to see a summary of discussions and the public survey results.
4.3 Next Scheduled Committee Meetings:
– Beautification Committee Meeting @ 9:00am Wednesday, February 1, 2017
– Green House Gas Emissions Reduction Meeting @ 4:00pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2017
4.4 Fernie Trails Alliance re: Heiko’s Trail The Fernie Trails Alliance’s Board of Directors voted in favour of changing the name of Inter- Mountain Trail to Heiko’s Trail in memorial recognition of Mr. Heiko Socher
Download the detailed Council Report here: 2017-01-23 Council Connection