1) Elk Valley Detachment 2011/2012 Annual Performance Plan (APP)
SSgt. Lorne Craig the Elk Valley RCMP Detachment Commander was in attendance and introduced Corp. Don Erichsen who is new to the Elk Valley Detachment.
SSgt. Craig provided an overview of the APP and the policing priorities outlined in the document. He noted that the Province is paying for a reservist position that will patrol the South Country from June 2 – December 28. For further information on the Performance Plan, visit the City Website at www.fernie.ca
2) Partnering Agreement with the Trans-Rockies Challenge Society
Council authorized notice of its intention to provide assistance to the Trans-Rockies Challenge Society under the terms of a partnering agreement for the provision of municipal services, being the hosting of the 2011 Trans-Rockies Challenge providing for payment by the City to the TransRockies Challenge Society the sum of $6747.44 for services described in the agreement.
Payment for services to the society will be provided from the Resort Municipality Initiative – Cultural and Heritage Tourism and Festivals program area.
3) Amendment to Partnering Agreement with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce
Council authorized notice of its intention to provide assistance to the Fernie Chamber of Commerce under the terms of a partnering agreement for the provision of municipal services, being the provision of sani-dump facilities at 102 Commerce Road, Fernie, BC. Allowing the Chamber to collect a fee not to exceed $2.00 (inclusive of HST or GST) as described in the agreement.
After completion of the required notice, the aforementioned partnering agreements will be presented to Council at the June 13, 2011 Regular Meeting for consideration of a motion to authorize their execution.
4) Leroux Pond Garden Restoration Proposal
The Leroux Pond at the base of the 4th A Avenue and 3rd Street hill has been unattended for a number of years. Originally the pond was developed as informal gardens, with rock lined paths and a small reflection pond.
A number of volunteers have come forward offering their services to clean up the site and potentially develop the area into a formal garden area. Council authorized the work to be done over the summer subject to all activities on the City land being subject to the approval, coordination and supervision of the Director of Leisure Services and if the land clean up activity involves onsite burning of woody debris and brush that volunteers first obtain a Fire Permit from the Fernie Fire Department.
5) Fernie Academy Society – Scholarship
The City of Fernie will provide a $500. Scholarship to a student in the 2011 Graduating class from the Fernie Academy and that same be provisional for in future years of the Financial Plan.
Students must meet the qualifying criteria some of which is to reside within the City of Fernie and have demonstrated outstanding citizenship.
6) Fernie Hotel and Pub – Temporary Change to Liquor License
Council approved use by the Fernie Hotel of the City-owned parking lot for the purposes of hosting a beer garden, pig roast and live entertainment on July 30 from 2:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Council has no objection to the application made by the Fernie Hotel for a temporary change to a liquor licence to temporarily extend the licensed area to include the adjacent City-owned parking lot provided that:
o Outdoor live entertainment concludes at 11:00 p.m.
o A Certificate of Insurance and a copy of the letter from the LCLB confirming approval of a temporary change to the liquor license are received by the City of Fernie by Wednesday, July 6, 2011.
7) Ministry of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care responded to a recent letter from Council who outlined concerns about provincial funding rates for the Child Care Operating Funding Program.
Council will forward a copy of the response from the Ministry to the Fernie Childcare Society suggesting they contact the province with suggestions of possible improvements that the province could make to childcare throughout the province.
8) Council gave direction to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan Task Force Committee to consider fuel modification /wildfire mitigation work in the James White Park and report back to Council with their findings.
9) Council appoint Councillor McIsaac as City representative on the Board of Directors for the Fernie Tourism Association as of June 21, 2011.