A G E N D A

 

REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL

 

MONDAY, MAY 9 2005 AT 7:00 PM

IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

                                     

PRESENT:

                                                                                                                                               

A.      APPROVAL OF AGENDA (including introduction of late items)

 

B.      ADOPTION OF MINUTES

 

1.                  Regular Council Meeting held April 25, 2005.

 

C.      DELEGATIONS

 

1.         Recognition of Champions

 

Recognizing champions in track and field.  (Sharon Macauley, Coaching coordinator and Track Club President to describe the achievements of the six recipients.)

 

2.         Telecommunications Workers Union

 

To provide information on the looming confrontation between TELUS and its unionized employees and effects it may have and to request Council's consideration of adopting a resolution of support (attached).

 

3.         Friends of the Log Train Trail Society

 

Rhonda Johnson, Chair, Friends of the Log Train Trail Society, to discuss the Alberni Valley Walking Festival on May 19 and 20, 2005.

 

D.      PROCLAMATIONS    

 

1.   Falun Dafa Association (HC)        

 

Letter dated April 17, 2005 requesting that May be proclaimed as "Falun Dafa Month" in Port Alberni.

 

That the letter be received and the month proclaimed as requested.

 

2.         Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society (CS)

 

Letter dated April 21, 2005 advising that the “On a Roll for ALS Team”, touring Vancouver Island to raise awareness of ALS, will visit Port Alberni on June 4 and that local resident Bob Phillips is participating in the event and inviting Council to greet Bob and the "On a Roll for ALS Team" as they pass through Port Alberni on Saturday, June 4th, and to the benefit dance Saturday night, and requesting that June 4 to 11, 2005 be declared as “ALS Awareness Week” in Port Alberni.

 

That the letter be received and the week proclaimed as requested.

 

Letter dated May 4, 2005 requesting rent relief for Glenwood Centre as a grant in the amount of approximately $880 for the rental and staffing cost for the benefit dance.

 

3.         The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of British Columbia (CS)

 

Letter dated April 24, 2005 requesting that June be proclaimed as "Spina Bifida Month" in Port Alberni.

 

That the letter be received and the month proclaimed as requested.

 

4.         Disability Awareness (CS)

 

Christine Lowe providing a letter dated May 4, 2005 requesting the May 29 to June 4, 2005 be proclaimed as "Disability Awareness Week" in Port Alberni.

 

That the letter be received and the week proclaimed as requested.

E.      CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION

 

1.         Natalie van Viegen (LP)

 

Letter received April 29, 2005 expressing concerns about the industrial traffic on Anderson Avenue and suggesting that Council consider adopting a bylaw prohibiting industrial traffic use of Anderson Avenue between 8:30 to 9:30 am and 2:30 to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday.

 

2.         Port Alberni Association for Community Living (CS)

 

Letter dated April 13, 2005 advising that Community Living Associations in BC are now required to be accredited and inviting Council to attend an orientation to the accreditation process on May 16 at the Lawn Bowling Club.

 

3.         Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (CS)

 

Letter dated April 26, 2005 providing information on the Natural Hazards Mitigation Fund, a cost sharing assistance program for projects which reduce risks to public safety and damage to public infrastructure.

 

4.         Alberni District Historical Society (IP)

 

Letter dated April 29, 2005 requesting that after the new library expansion, the Society be able to utilize the vacant space in the current library for museum and historical society purposes.

 

5.         Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (AL)

 

Letter dated May 2, 2005 denying the City's grant request for the "Bear Smart Community Program", advising of the government's website that provides information on steps required to become "Bear Smart" and indicating that "Bear Hazard Assessments" are considered the first step in achieving "Bear Smart" Community status.  Also provided is an email dated May 3, 2005 from Maggie Paquet regarding the denial of the grant request and requesting the City's financial support for a "Bear Smart" program.

 

6.         United Native Nations Local 560 – Alberni Valley (CM)

 

Email providing information on a proposal called 'Community Aboriginal Mentorship Program" (CAMP), a program to provide a facility for youth that provides mentorship, tutoring, and tools that encourage a higher success rate for Aboriginal youth in scholastic achievement leading to high school completion and/or career skills development, and requesting a letter of support from Council for this program.

 

F.      INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

 

1.         Union of British Columbia Municipalities

 

Letter dated April 17, 2005 providing an update on the City's resolution at the 2004 UBCM Convention regarding guidelines for standards for levels of care and explanation of the current funding regime and allocation of funding to affiliated care homes, and providing a response from the Province.

 

2.         Friends of Wild Salmon

 

Letter dated April 15, 2005 providing information on its organization and expressing concerns regarding the pending expansion of open-pen fish farming on the North Coast of BC and inviting Council to attend the Save Our Salmon (SOS) Summit on May 7.

 

3.         Human Resources Development Canada/Canadian Rural Partnership

 

Letter dated April 2005 providing  a copy of "The Rural Link" newsletter, a publication for communication between Rural Team BC (RTBC), of the Canadian Rural Partnership (CRP), and people living in rural and remote BC communities.  The Canadian Rural Partnership is a federal government strategy for supporting development in rural and remote communities.  (Note:  Newsletter in Reading File.)

 

4.         Gillian Trumper, MLA, (Alberni-Qualicum)

 

Letter dated April 19, 2005 responding to the City's letter regarding a rationale for standards for the BC home and property inspection industry, and advising that the issue will be directed to the Premier and the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services.  (City's letter attached.)

 

5.         Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

 

Letter dated April 13, 2005 advising that the FCM has completed its participation in the federal/provincial/municipal scope mission in response to the tsunami in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, and providing a summary of the mission report.

 

6.         Fair Air Association of Canada

 

Fax dated April 21, 2005 providing a report on the negative economic impact of smoking bans in bars and pubs in Ottawa, London, Kingston and Kitchener, Ontario. 

 

7.         Federal Minister of Finance and Minister of State (Infrastructure and     Communities)

 

Letter received April 29, 2005 providing an update on the 2005 Federal Budget and the governments efforts to improve Canadians' quality of life through the New Deal for Cities and Communities.

 

8.         United Native Nations Local 560 - Alberni Valley

 

Fax dated April 6, 2005 advising of the May 12th community information session (7:00 pm at the Friendship Centre, 3555 – 4th Avenue) on "BladeRunners", an employment program assisting multi-barrier and disadvantaged youth in gaining on the job construction training and apprenticeships.

 

9.         Pelmorex Communications Inc.

 

Letter dated April 28, 2005 advising that further to the CRTC receiving Pelmorex's proposal for "All Channel Alert", an emergency warning system TV broadcast message alerting viewers of impending local emergencies threatening life or property, the CRTC has decided to call for competing applications with a deadline of July 22, 2005.

 

10.       Port Alberni Women's Resources Society

 

Letter dated April 11,2005 providing minutes and notes from the community conference on Commercial Child Sexual Exploitation, and advising that the Society has received funding to develop a "Street Youth Resiliency Program" and funding to raise awareness of the Commercial Child Sexual Exploitation issue.

(Note: Minutes and notes in Reading File.)

 

11.       BC Transit

 

Letter dated April 27, 2005 providing documents prepared by the Canadian Urban Transit Association to assist communities with transit advocacy. 

(Note: Documentation in Reading File.)

 

That Informational Correspondence items numbered 1 through 11, be received and filed.

 

G.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS              

 

1.         Director of Parks and Recreation - Municipal Fitness Challenge - Delta (CM)

 

Report dated May 3, 2005 regarding the March 1, 2005 letter from Delta advising of its fitness initiative of providing free access to its recreation facilities for all grade 5 students and challenging other BC communities to implement similar initiatives, and responding that the City already has numerous financial assistance programs in place that encourage residents of all ages to participate in recreational activities.

 

That Council for the City of Port Alberni concur with the recommendation of the Director of Parks and Recreation that the City continue to provide its fitness initiatives and recreational opportunities for all residents and that these programs be communicated to the Municipality of Delta.

 

 

H.      BYLAWS                     

 

1.         "Tax Rates 2005, Bylaw No. 4588" (HC)

 

That "Tax Rates 2005, Bylaw No. 4588" be now finally adopted, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the Corporate seal and numbered 4588.

 

I.        REPORTS

 

1.         Accounts (HC)

 

            That the certification of the Director of Finance dated May 9, 2005 be received and the cheques numbered             to           inclusive, in payment of accounts totalling             be approved.

 

2.         Engineering and Public Works (LP)

           

Monthly report from the Engineering and Public Works Department providing information about departmental operations in April 2005.

 

3.         Planning (AL)           

           

Monthly report from the City Planner providing information about departmental operations in April 2005.

 

4.         Fire Department (CS)

 

Monthly report from the Fire Department providing information about departmental operations in April 2005.

 

5.         City Clerk -  Assignment of Lease Weyerhaeuser to Cascadia Forest Products (HC)

 

Memorandum dated April 28, 2005 regarding a request from Weyerhaeuser for the City to authorize an assignment of lease of a closed up portion of First Avenue from Weyerhaeuser to Cascadia Forest Products Ltd.

 

That Council for the City of Port Alberni authorize the assignment of lease of a closed up portion of First Avenue from Weyerhaeuser to Cascadia Forest Products Ltd. (file # 825) effective May 31, 2005, and the Mayor and City Clerk be directed to sign the consent form as provided. 

 

 6.        Director of Finance - Audit Committee Minutes (HC)

 

            That the minutes of the April 11, 2005 Audit Committee Meeting, March 2005 financial statements and the memo dated April 20, 2005 from the Director of Finance responding to questions arising from the April 11, 2005 Audit Committee Meeting, be received.

 

7.         City Clerk - CAPES Recommendations for Special Occasion Licences 2005   (CS)

 

Memorandum dated April 27, 2005 providing the report from the April 27, 2005 Committee for the Approval of Public Events (CAPES) meeting to consider applications for Special Events for 2005.

 

That Port Alberni City Council endorse the recommendation of the Committee for the Approval of Public Events with respect to the seven applications for Special Occasion Licences for 2005 as outlined in the report of their meeting April 27, 2005.

 

8.         Acting City Engineer - China Creek Access Road Repair (AL)

 

Memorandum dated May 4, 2005 advising that a 15 metre segment of the access road to the China Creek Intake has failed and one half of the road has slipped away after the supporting log cribbage gave way, that the road was assessed by a Weyerhaeuser Engineer and Timberwest Contractor who indicated that repair would consist of clearing an area of timber above the road and cutting the road into the slope, the estimated cost to the City would be $45,000, and recommending that the road repair be funded from the Water Revenue Fund.

 

That Council for the City of Port Alberni approve a $45,000 expenditure from the Water Revenue Fund to repair the China Creek access road, as outlined in the Acting City Engineer's May 4, 2005 report.

 

9.         Mayor's Report

 

 10.      Councillors' Reports

 

J.      QUESTION PERIOD

 

 

 

 

 

          An opportunity for the public and the press to ask questions of the Mayor and Council.

 

K.      OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS

 

(Including Motions and Notice of Motions)

 

L.      ADJOURNMENT

 

That the meeting adjourn at      pm.