MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD

MONDAY, MAY 9 2005 AT 7:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

           

                       

PRESENT: Mayor McRae, Councillors Chopra, Mealey, Lord, Patterson, Price and Solda.

                                                                                                                                               

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

 

            Mealey/Patterson

That the agenda be adopted as circulated with the addition of late items: E.7 Kiwanis Cycles Kilometers for Diabetes; I.8.1 Summary of Pubic Input at Johnston Corridor Public Meeting; and I.8.2 Port Alberni RCMP Detachment Tender Results.

Carried

 

B.        ADOPTION OF MINUTES

 

                        Mealey/Patterson

That the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held April 25, 2005, be adopted as circulated.

                        Carried

 

C.        DELEGATIONS

 

1.         Recognition of Champions

Sharon Macauley, Coaching coordinator and Track Club President, described the achievements of six members of the Track and Field Club, they each received a pin from the City.

 

2.         Telecommunications Workers Union

George Doubt, representing the Telecommunications Workers Union was unable to attend and has requested to be a delegation at the next regular meeting of Council.

 

3.         Friends of the Log Train Trail Society

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

 

D.        PROCLAMATIONS

 

1.   Falun Dafa Association   

 

Lord/Chopra

That the letter dated April 17, 2005 requesting that May be proclaimed as "Falun Dafa Month" in Port Alberni be received and the request denied.

Carried

 

2.         Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society

 

Solda/Mealey

That the 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 requesting that June 4 to 11, 2005 be declared as “ALS Awareness Week” in Port Alberni, be received and the week proclaimed as requested.

Carried

 

            Solda/Mealey

That the letter dated May 4, 2005 requesting rent relief for Glenwood Centre as a grant for the rental for a benefit dance, be received and Council endorse the grant in the amount of $479.

Carried

 

3.         The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of British Columbia

 

            Solda/Mealey

That the letter dated April 24, 2005 requesting that June be proclaimed as "Spina Bifida Month" in Port Alberni be received and the month proclaimed as requested.

Carried

 

4.         Disability Awareness

 

                        Solda/Patterson

That the letter from Christine Lowe dated May 4, 2005 requesting that the week of May 29 to June 4, 2005 be proclaimed as "Disability Awareness Week" in Port Alberni be received and the week proclaimed as requested.

Carried

 

E.        CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION

 

1.         Natalie van Viegen

 

Price/Chopra

That the 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, be received and Council advise Ms. Van Viegen that it would be impractical to ban industrial traffic on Anderson Avenue, however, the City will continue to work with local industry to reduce the impact.

Carried

 

2.         Port Alberni Association for Community Living

 

Solda/Mealey

That the 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, be received.

Carried

 

3.         Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

 

            Solda/Mealey

That the 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, be received.

Carried

 

4.         Alberni District Historical Society

 

Patterson/Mealey

That the 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, be received and Council advise the Historical Society that their interests will be considered in the planning process.

Carried

 

5.         Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

 

Lord/Patterson

That the 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, and the 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, be received and Council direct staff to meet with Ms. Paquet to determine the costs of a bear hazard assessment.

Carried

 

6.         United Native Nations Local 560 – Alberni Valley

 

Mealey/Patterson

That the 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, be received and Council endorse the request for a letter of support.

Carried

 

7.         Robin Nadig - 2nd Annual Kiwanis Cycles Kms for Diabetes

 

That the email dated Aril 29, 2005 regarding the 2nd Annual Kiwanis Cycles Kms for Diabetes tour arriving in Port Alberni on Friday, June 3 and requesting use of City streets from the McDonalds Restaurant on Johnston Road to Wood School on Wallace Street via Gertrude Street, Roger Street and 10th Avenue, between 12:30 and 1:00 pm, be received and Council endorse the request.

Carried

 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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.

 

11.       BC Transit

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

 

Mealey/Patterson

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

Carried

 

 

G.        UNFINISHED BUSINESS            

 

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

 

                        Mealey/Price

That the 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, be received, the City continue to provide its fitness initiatives and recreational opportunities for all residents, and the report be provided to Delta for information.

Carried

 

H.        BYLAWS                              

 

1.         "Tax Rates 2005, Bylaw No. 4588"

 

Chopra/Mealey

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.

Carried

 

I.          REPORTS

 

1.         Accounts

 

            Chopra/Patterson    

            That the certification of the Director of Finance dated May 9, 2005 be received and the cheques numbered 84854 to 85072 inclusive, in payment of accounts totalling $991,093.81 be approved.

Carried

 

2.         Engineering and Public Works

           

Lord/Solda

That the monthly report from the Engineering and Public Works Department providing information about departmental operations in April 2005, be received.

Carried

 

3.         Planning      

           

Lord/Patterson

That the monthly report from the City Planner providing information about departmental operations in April 2005, be received.

Carried

4.         Fire Department

 

Solda/Mealey

That the monthly report from the Fire Department providing information about departmental operations in April 2005, be received.

Carried

 

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

 

Chopra/Lord

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. 

Carried

 

 6.        Director of Finance - Audit Committee Minutes

 

Chopra/Price

            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.

Carried

 

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

 

Solda/Mealey

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.

Carried

 

8.         Acting City Engineer - China Creek Access Road Repair

 

            Lord/Patterson

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.

Carried

 

8.1       City Clerk - Summary of Comments from May 4, 2005 Johnston Road Corridor Meeting

 

Mealey/Patterson

That the report dated May 6, 2005 providing a summary of the comments received at the May 4, 2005 Johnston Road Corridor Meeting, including all comment sheets and correspondence, be received and filed.

Carried

 

8.2       City Clerk - Approval for Award - RCMP Detachment

 

Solda/Chopra

That Council for the City of Port Alberni receive the May 5, 2005 Tender Review Sheet for the construction of the Port Alberni RCMP Detachment and concur with the recommendation of Peter Kallos, British Columbia Building Corporation, to accept the tender of Beta Construction (1998) Ltd. of Burnaby, BC for the amount of $5,221,474.81 (including GST).

Carried

 

9.         Mayor's Report

 

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

 

Mealey/Lord

That the Mayor's report be received.

Carried

 

 10.      Councillors' Reports

 

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

 

                        Mealey/Patterson

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

 

            Price/Mealey

            That Council for the City of Port Alberni direct that a sign be placed on Johnston Road warning of the City's regulation not to use engine brakes within the municipality.

Carried

 

 

L.         ADJOURNMENT

 

                        Mealey/Patterson

That the meeting adjourn at 8:15 pm.

Carried

 

 

____________________                                       ____________________

Mayor                                                                         Clerk