1) Development Variance Permits
A Hearing was held to consider submissions from persons who deem their interest in property could be affected by the proposed Development Variance Permit No. 240.
After the Hearing, Council approved the issuance of DVP No. 240 for 1201 6th Avenue to vary the off-street parking requirement for a 25 seat bakery/café from 9 parking spaces to 8 parking spaces and to vary the paved surface requirement from asphalt to gravel surface for the parking spaces.
2) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan
Ms. Megan Walsh, on behalf of Wildsight for the City of Fernie, presented Council the final version of the City of Fernie Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan. The Plan was endorsed by Council in the summer of 2009, and since approved by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
A Public Open House is scheduled for November 27, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Arts Station with special guest speaker Robert Stanford to present the plan.
3) Employee Recognition Policy
The City of Fernie revised its Employee Service Recognition policy to recognize and reward casual, temporary and part-time un-benefited positions who have provided continued service to the City of Fernie. These employees are a valued part of the workplace and should be recognized as such.
4) Implementation of a Harmonized Sales Tax and Implications for local tourism funding.
On July 1, 2010, the Ministry of Finance will implement the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST); upon implementation the Hotel Room Tax Act (HRT) will be repealed. At the present time, the (HRT) which imposes 8% provincial tax on the price of all tourist accommodation consumed in the province is the funding vehicle for the Resort Development Strategies which is in place in 13 designated resort municipalities, Fernie included. The Province currently provides a portion of the 8% provincial tax for local tourism infrastructure, programs and services.
Council will be contacting the Tax Policy Branch, the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Finance, Minster of Community and Rural Development and the Premier imploring them to continue the Resort Municipality Tax Transfer Program and Additional Hotel Room Tax program as currently designed after implementation of a Harmonized Sales Tax.
5) Crown Land – West Fernie – Burma Road
The Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) contacted the City of Fernie regarding a project they have been working on that will formalize the dedication of Burma Road through West Fernie.
This project involved acquisition of private lands which Burma Road crossed and consolidation of crown parcels. This consolidation created a lot ILMB wants to market to the public. To facilitate the sale, ILMB requested the City of Fernie connect the lot to the community water system.
The City will advise the (ILMB) that no new water connections to the West Fernie water system are currently permitted. This follows a decision made at the Regular meeting of April 9, 1996 where Council unanimously endorsed a Resolution that no additional service connections be approved in the West Fernie Waterworks
District until such time as an authorized service agreement is finalized, if in fact, an agreement is desirable in the City’s view.
6) Fernie and Area Five Year Resort Development Strategy – Interim Expenditure Plan Years 1 and 2
Council approved the Fernie and Area Five Year Resort Development Strategy – Interim Expenditure Plan, Years 1 and 2. The funding agreement for the tourism infrastructure, programs and services identified in that Strategy is for a period of 34 months (April 1, 2009 to January 31, 2012).
Year one of the Fernie and Area Five Year Resort Development Strategy includes budgeted revenues and expenditures of approximately $372,500, year two includes budgeted revenues and expenditures of approximately $379,000.
7) Mineral Exploration Roundup 2010, to be held January 18-21, 2010. The Roundup is the world’s premier technical mineral exploration conference, and promotes interest and investment in BC mineral exploration and mining to a global audience.
Council authorized the Mayor or her designate to attend the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2010, to be held on January 18-21, 2010 in Vancouver, BC.
8) Ministry of Transportation – Pedestrian Safety
Council informed Administration of positive feedback from residents regarding efforts made to work with the Ministry of Transportation to take measures to increase pedestrian safety between the North Fernie Bridge and Dicken Road. Staff were encouraged to continue working towards a positive outcome.
9) Letter of thanks to Bill Bennett re: Ambulance Paramedics
Council will be contacting Mr. Bill Bennett, Minster of Community and Rural Development to to thank him for his efforts to resolve the problems faced by the Ambulance Paramedics in BC.
