MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005 AT 7:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor McRae, Councillors Lord, Mealey,
Patterson, Price and Solda
EXCUSED: Councillor Chopra
A.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(including introduction of late items)
Mealey/Lord
That the agenda be approved as circulated
with the addition of item C.1 - Application to Purchase Crown Land.
Carried
B. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
1. Acting
City Manager - Tax Rates Forum held February 21, 2005
(From March 29, 2005 Regular Council Meeting)
Continued discussion regarding the
report from the City Manager dated March 23, 2005 providing a response to the
public input and issues raised at the February 21, 2005 Tax Rates Forum.
Chopra/Lord
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni provide in the Five Year Financial Plan
2005-2009 a $138,000 reduction in the property taxes to be paid by major
industry in the year 2005, and a $50,000 reduction in each subsequent year for
a total reduction of $338,000 over the 5 years of the Plan.
Carried
Chopra/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni direct staff to investigate in detail the
concept of a fee for service to fund the City's sewage system costs with a
report being provided in time for possible implementation in 2006.
Carried
Price/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni continue with the 0.2% annual tax share
shift from Business to Residential over the term of the 5 Year Financial Plan.
Carried
Lord/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni seek ways to improve the level of
recycling service in the Alberni Valley in collaboration with the Regional
District of Alberni-Clayoquot, with the costs of providing an improved Alberni
Valley recycling program funded from the Regional District Landfill Tipping
Fees.
Carried
Patterson/Lord
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni direct the McLean Mill/Alberni Pacific
Railway annual subsidy in the 5 Year Financial Plan be reduced each year by one
half of the amount of new external funding secured for operational expenses by
the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society, or the City.
Carried
Patterson/Lord
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni advise the Western Vancouver Island
Industrial Heritage Society that the City would support development of an
Industrial Heritage attraction including a platform for the Tourist Railway,
but that this would have to be a Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage
Society initiated and funded projected.
Carried
Lord/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni direct staff to explore the establishment
of a formal Alberni Valley Economic Development Service through partnerships
with other stakeholder agencies in the community, and provide a report with
recommendations for funding such services.
Carried
Mealey/Patterson
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni direct staff to investigate and report
back regarding the alternative of using Community Bond Issues to raise funding
for Capital projects that require borrowing.
Carried
Lord/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni direct that future public processes for
the 5 Year Financial Plan incorporate the Tax Rates Forum utilized in 2005 with
enhanced public input and sharing of information regarding the 5 Year Financial
Plan.
Carried
Lord/Mealey
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni participate as a partner with a broad
representation of community organizations in the Outlook 20/20 community-wide
visioning process.
Carried
Council
reviewed and concurred with the recommendations of the Acting City Manager's
report pertaining to maintaining the status quo with respect to City services
which are not otherwise addressed in the above resolutions.
C. OTHER
COMPETENT BUSINESS
1. City
of Port Alberni Application to Purchase Crown Land - Former Plywood Site
Price/Lord
That
Council for the City of Port Alberni apply for the purchase of the fill
fronting City owned property described as Lots A and C, Plan VIP73079, District
Lot 1, Alberni Land District, to amalgamate the subject land with the City's
own property, subject to completion of an environmental assessment for the
property.
Carried
D. ADJOURNMENT
Mealey/Patterson
That
the meeting adjourn at 8:25 pm.
Carried
_____________________________ _________________________
Mayor Clerk