1)    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.