MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2005 AT 7:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

 

PRESENT:   Mayor McRae, Councillors Lord, Mealey, Patterson and Solda

 

ABSENT:      Councillors Chopra and Price

 

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

 

            Patterson/Mealey                    

That the agenda be adopted as amended to include Item F.11 from the Ministry of Water, Land and Air.

Carried

 

 

B.        ADOPTION OF MINUTES

 

                        Mealey/Solda                    

That the minutes of the June 13, 2005 Regular Council Meeting and the Special Meeting held June 20, 2005 be adopted as circulated.

Carried

 

 

C.        DELEGATIONS

 

1.         Ron Miguez, 30 Years of Service - Fire Department

            The Fire Chief introduced Ron Miguez for the Mayor to present a medal for 30

            years of service to the Fire Department.

 

 

D.        PROCLAMATIONS                         Nil       

 

 

E.        CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION

 

1.         Community Energy Association/UBCM/Province of British Columbia 

 

                        Lord/Mealey                    

            That the fax dated June 10, 2005 inviting BC local governments to apply for the 2005 Energy Aware Award be received and referred to staff for review.

Carried

 

 

2.         Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)  

 

            Solda/Lord   

That the fax dated May 31, 2005 requesting completion of a survey on Local Government Participation in Community and Employee Health Promotion, designed to assist in initial planning for the Community Health Promotion Fund and in establishing a network and providing resources to support and improve the health of local government employees, be received and referred to staff for completion as requested.

Carried

 

3.         Bonnie Morgan and Kaye Cyr 

 

                        Lord/Mealey

That the letter dated June 21, 2005 expressing concern regarding the condition of the concrete median between the Alberni Mall and the new Power Centre, the standing water at the corner of Johnston and Cherry Creek Roads, be received, and the request to install an advance left-turn at the traffic lights at the corner of Johnston and Cherry Creek Roads be referred to the Advisory Traffic Committee.

Carried

 

4.         Barbara Cooper 

           

            Lord/Patterson       

            That the e-mail dated June 16, 2005 from Ms. Cooper requesting an amendment to the Procedures Bylaw and the report dated June 22, 2005 from the Administrative Assistant be received and Council concur with the recommendation to leave the Bylaw unchanged.

Carried

 

 

F.         INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

 

1.         Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services

Letter dated June 8, 2005 on behalf of the Premier, thanking the Mayor and Council for their support for mandatory standards for home inspectors and advising that a review of these issues is taking place with the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI-BC) and other stakeholders. 

 

2.         Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI-BC)

Letter dated June 14, 2005 thanking Council for their support in urging the BC Government to establish standards for the BC home and property industry.

 

3.         Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)

Fax dated June 7, 2005 advising of a meeting held June 3, 2005 to discuss the application and purpose of the West Nile Virus Regulation and other liability issues and noting that it is envisioned that local governments will assist in protecting the public through the Health Act and the Emergency Program Act.

 

4.         Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)

Fax dated June 15, 2005 advising that June 30th is the deadline for submission of resolutions for the UBCM Annual Convention to be held in September in Vancouver.

 

5.         BC Progress Board

Letter dated June 8, 2005 enclosing a copy of its 2005 Interim Benchmarking Report, including a supplemental special focus report on "BC Trade and Emerging Asian Opportunities". 

 

6.         Ministry of Forests

Letter dated June 8, 2005 advising that BC Timber Sales moved to full implementation on April 1, 2003, as part of government's plan to revitalize BC's forest economy, and providing a schedule of Open Houses to be held in various communities.  (Note:  Open House in Port Alberni location was June 22/05).

 

7.         Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and

            Emergency Preparedness Canada

Letter dated June 7, 2005 responding to the Mayor's letter concerning the January 6, 2005 decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in the matter of the Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Her Majesty the Queen and advising that an application to appeal this case has been filed by the Attorney General of Canada to the Supreme Court of Canada. 

 

8.         Provincial Emergency Program

Letter dated June 15, 2005 enclosing an "Earthquake and Tsunami Smart Manual" which provides guidelines for managing the risk of these hazards and provides good information about things people can do now to protect themselves and their families and advising copies of the manual can be ordered through the Emergency Program regional office.

 

9.         Dr. James Lunney, MP (Nanaimo-Alberni)

            Letter dated June 21, 2005 replying to the Mayor's letter regarding the City of Port Alberni's resolution urging support for the federal budget and advising he will continue to support legislation and policies that benefit our shared communities and constituents. 

 

10.       Mayor McRae

Copy of a letter from Mayor McRae to the newly appointed Minister of Economic Development reminding him of the commitment made by the province at this year’s AVICC Conference to pass legislation establishing the North Island-Coast development initiative.

 

11.       Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Information Bulletin dated June 27, 2005 advising that BC Parks, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation, will remove 15 trees along Cathedral Grove park's trail system and within the highway right-of-way, on June 28th due to the trees being a danger to park visitors, park facilities and those traveling the highway.

 

Mealey/Patterson       

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

Carried

 

With respect to Item F.8, at Council's request, staff will order "Earthquake and Tsunami Smart" manuals from the Provincial Emergency Program regional office and will also refer the information to School District #70.

           

 

G.        UNFINISHED BUSINESS            

 

1.         Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)

            (From June 13/05 Regular Meeting)

 

                        Solda/Mealey       

            That the report dated June 22, 2005 from the Director of Parks and Recreation advising that an application will be made to the Fuel Load Reduction project for funding to create one demonstration block in the City, be received.

Carried

 

H.        BYLAWS      

 

1.         City Clerk - Verbal Report from the Public Hearing held at 6:00 pm 

 

                        Lord/Mealey       

            That the verbal report of the Public Hearing held June 27, 2005 at 6:00 pm

            be received.

Carried

 

2.         "Zoning Amendment No. 31 (4994 Ian Avenue - Lacouvee), Bylaw No. 4590" 

 

                        Lord/Mealey               

That "Zoning Amendment No. 31 (4994 Ian Avenue - Lacouvee), Bylaw No. 4590" be now read a third time.

Carried

 

Lord/Mealey                

That "Zoning Amendment No. 31 (4994 Ian Avenue - Lacouvee), Bylaw No. 4590" be now finally adopted, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the Corporate Seal and numbered 4590.

Carried

 

3.         "Zoning Amendment No. 32 (5556 Grandview Road - Cahan), Bylaw No.

            4591" 

 

                        Lord/Mealey       

That "Zoning Amendment No. 32 (5556 Grandview Road - Cahan), Bylaw No. 4591" be now read a third time.

Carried

 

4.         "Zoning Amendment No. 33 (2301 8th Avenue - Engstrom), Bylaw No. 4592" 

 

                        Lord/Mealey                

That "Zoning Amendment No. 33 (2301 8th Avenue - Engstrom), Bylaw No. 4592" be now read a third time.

Carried

 

                        Lord/Patterson                

That the restrictive covenant on the property at 2301 8th Avenue, be removed.

Carried

 

 

I.          REPORTS

 

1.         Accounts

 

                        Lord/Mealey      

            That the certification of the Director of Finance dated June 27, 2005 be received and the cheques numbered 85501 to 85700 inclusive, in payment of accounts totalling $1,017,658.40, be approved.

Carried

 

2.         RCMP

 

            Solda/Lord       

That the monthly report from the OIC, Port Alberni Detachment providing information about current departmental operations be received.

Carried

 

3.         Parks and Recreation

 

            Mealey/Solda       

That the monthly report from the Director of Parks and Recreation providing information about current departmental operations be received.

Carried

 

4.         Museum       

           

            Patterson/Lord       

That the monthly report from the Museum Director providing information about current departmental operations be received.

Carried

 

5.         Alberni Valley Museum and Heritage Commission Minutes          

           

            Patterson/Lord

            That the minutes of the Alberni Valley Museum & Heritage Commission meeting of June 8, 2005 be received.

Carried

 

6.         Director of Finance - Audit Committee Minutes

 

                        Lord/Patterson         

            That the minutes of the June 13, 2005 Audit Committee Meeting, May, 2005 financial statements and the memo dated June 21, 2005 from the Director of Finance responding to questions arising from the June 13,  2005 Audit Committee Meeting, be received.

Carried

 

 7.        Fire Chief/Manager of Information Services - Telephone System Upgrade, Fire Department   

 

                        Lord/Mealey        

            That the report dated June 21, 2005 from the Fire Chief and the Manager of Information Services be received and Council concur with staff's recommendation to upgrade the telephone system at the Fire Hall and align to the same operating platform as the rest of the City of Port Alberni and further, that the City enter in to a "lease to own" arrangement with the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) at a cost of approximately $674 per month for sixty months.

Carried

 

8.         Fire Chief - Tsunami Alert - June 14, 2005

 

Solda/Lord       

That the report dated June 20, 2005 from the Fire Chief outlining the sequence of events following the tsunami alert received last Tuesday, June 14th, be received.

Carried

 

9.         City Manager - Strategic Plan  

 

Lord/Solda      

That the report dated June 22, 2005 from the City Manager attaching a draft update of the City's Strategic Plan, be received and a meeting arranged for Council to review the Draft Strategic Plan in detail.

Carried

 

10.       Director of Finance, "Places of Public Worship Exemption Bylaw, No. 4568" 

 

Lord/Patterson      

That the report dated June 21, 2005 from the Director of Finance be received and Council for the City of Port Alberni approve a grant-in-aid to the Sri Sanatam Dharam Society at 4332 Scott Street for exemption of 2005 property taxes in the amount of $1,519.57.

Carried

 

11.       City Engineer - Margaret Street Sewage Forcemain  

 

Lord/Mealey     

That the report from the City Engineer dated June 22, 2005 be received and Council concur with the recommendation to award the North Port Sewer Abatement Project, Margaret Street Forcemain Contract to Hub Excavating Limited for $290,758.00 plus GST.

Carried

 

12.       Mayor's Report

 

The Mayor reported on recent activities and matters of current interest.

 

            Mealey/Patterson              

That the Mayor's report be received.

Carried

 

13.       Councillors' Reports

 

            The Councillors reported on recent activities related to their various portfolios.

                       

                        Mealey/Solda              

That the Councillors' reports be received.

Carried

 

J.         QUESTION PERIOD

 

 

 

 

 

            The public and the press were provided the opportunity to ask questions of the Mayor and Council.  There were none.

 

K.        OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS

 

There was none.

 

L.         ADJOURNMENT

 

Mealey/Solda         

That the meeting adjourn at 8:24 pm.

Carried