MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006 AT 7:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor McRae, Councillors Chopra, McLeman, Mealey, Patterson and Whiteman.
EXCUSED: Councillor Solda.
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (including introduction of late items)
McLeman/Mealey
That the agenda be adopted as circulated with the addition of C.2 Friends of the Log Train Trail, D.4 memo regarding Hockeyville and I.6(a) 2006 Equipment Purchases.
Carried
B. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Mealey/Patterson
That the minutes of the April 24th, 2006 Regular Council Meeting be adopted as circulated.
Carried
C. DELEGATIONS
Provincial Emergency Program Representatives - Tsunami Signage
Bob Harper as well as Jim Price, Vancouver Island Regional Manager and Kelli McReynolds, Manager, Integrated Preparedness, both of the Provincial Emergency Program discussed tsunami signage on Hwy 4 and throughout the City. They announced a public information meeting will be held June 14, 2006 at 7:00 pm at Echo Centre.
2. Friends of the Log Train Trail - Walking Festival
Rhonda Johnson described the activities planned for the Festival scheduled for May 27-28, 2006.
D. PROCLAMATIONS
1. Falun Dafa
Chopra/Mealey
That the letter dated April 15, 2006 be received and the month of May, 2006 be proclaimed as "Falun Dafa Month" in the City of Port Alberni as requested.
Carried
2. The Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of BC
Patterson/McLeman
That the letter dated April 16, 2006 be received and June 15, 2006 be proclaimed as "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in the City of Port Alberni as requested.
Carried
3. ALS Society of BC
Chopra/McLeman
That the letter dated April 26, 2006 be received and the month of June be
proclaimed as "ALS Awareness Month" in the City of Port Alberni as
requested.
Carried
4. The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of British Columbia
Patterson/Mealey
That the letter dated April 26, 2006 be received and the month of June be
proclaimed as "Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in the
City of Port Alberni as requested.
Carried
5. City Clerk - Hockeyville
Whiteman/Patterson
That May 9th – June 12th be proclaimed Hockeyville month in Port Alberni and that the Mayor solicit support for Port Alberni’s Hockeyville application from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as requested.
Carried
Whiteman/Mealey
That Council for the City of Port Alberni endorse the recommendation of the City Clerk to send representatives to Hamilton to participate in the 2006 Hockeyville competition to promote the City and provide a contribution of $1,000 for promotional expenses for a estimated cost of $6,674.
Carried
E. CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION
1. Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon
McLeman/Mealey
That the letter dated April 19, 2006 requesting permission to use City streets for the “Big Bike Ride for Stroke” event on May 30, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and advising that the route begins and ends at Roger Creek Park, be received and the request endorsed by Council.
Carried
2. David McCormick
Patterson/Mealey
That the letter dated April 25, 2006 requesting that the proposed "Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 4593", remain tabled until such time as the SPCA has more time to consider and provide feedback of the bylaw, and raising some concerns and requesting clarification of some of the wording in the bylaw, be received and that Council bring forward the bylaw at the next regular meeting with comment from the BCSPCA.
Carried
3. Cowichan Citizens Coalition - "Duncan Initiative"
Chopra/Mealey
That the letter dated April 27, 2006 advising that Stephen Zarlenga, Director of the American Monetary Institute, is on a speaking tour of the Western US and has agreed to come to Victoria on Sunday, May 28, 2006 on behalf of their "Duncan Initiative" to discuss the Bank of Canada and public municipal funding, as well as Ben & Susan Gisin, publishers of "Touch the Soil" magazine, and requesting that the Mayor and/or Councillors attend and receive information on how funding from the Bank of Canada can benefit our community, be received and Councillor Chopra attend on behalf of the City.
Carried
4. Richard Berg – Designation of Park
Whiteman/Patterson
That the letter dated May 3, 2006 requesting that Council designate the trees and parking area off Argyle and Kingsway streets as McKnight Heritage Park, in honour of the late George McKnight, be considered with item I.6 on the agenda.
Carried
F. INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE
1. United Steelworkers Local 1-85
Letter dated April 21, 2006 providing a leaflet entitled "Stop the Killing" regarding fatalities and serious accidents in the forest industry and advising of a town hall meeting regarding this issue on May 8 2006 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at United Steelworkers Local 1-85 Hall on Montrose Street.
2. Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Memo dated April 21, 2006 advising of the postponement of UBCM Seniors Housing and Support Conference scheduled for May 25 and 26 (rescheduled for September) to accommodate a meeting regarding industrial taxation and the report/recommendations of the Competition Council on May 25, and discussion with Solicitor General John Les on police costs in small communities, on May 26.
3. Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
Letter dated April 18, 2006 advising of a Stakeholder Information Session hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance in Nanaimo on May 30.
4. Gaining Ground
Letter dated April 19, 2006 advising that the Gaining Ground Sustainable Urban Development Leadership Summit will be held in Victoria, June 15 to 17, 2006.
5. Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Letter dated April 11, 2006 noting that review of a new model for Police Dog Services has been completed.
6. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Letter dated April 18, 2006 advising that June 21, 2006 is "National Aboriginal Day", which is part of the "Celebrate Canada!" Program, which also includes "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" (June 24), "Canada Multiculturalism Day" (June 27) and "Canada Day" (July 1) and that posters and other products are available to promote the event free of charge.
7. Cowichan Valley Regional District
Letter dated April 26, 2006 regarding the process required to change the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities' bylaws, specifically the process used to change the organization's name from the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities (AVIM) to Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the time frame it took to implement the name change, and advising the Board has passed a resolution to discuss the matter further with the AVICC President and the Electoral Area representative.
8. Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Letter dated May 1, 2006 advising that the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) has a new funding opportunity to offer municipal governments for the remediation of brownfield sites.
9. Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Fax dated April 28, 2006 advising of a Notice of Member Consultation regarding Municipal Industrial Property Taxation on Thursday, May 25, 2006 in Vancouver. (Note: The Mayor is registered to attend).
10. Union of British Columbia Municipalities Emergency Planning Program
Fax dated May 4th, 2006 advising of an extension of the deadline to submit applications for funding to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for Emergency Planning Programs.
Chopra/Mealey
That Council for the City of Port Alberni direct staff to investigate the use of the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for remediation of City brownfield sites.
Carried
Mealey/Patterson
That Informational Correspondence items numbered 1 through 10, be received and filed.
Carried
G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NIL
H. BYLAWS
1. "Tax Rates 2006, Bylaw No. 4630"
Chopra/Mealey
That the report from the Director of Finance dated May 3, 2006 providing information regarding 2006 tax rates be received.
Carried
Chopra/Whiteman
That "Tax Rates 2006, Bylaw No. 4630" be now finally adopted, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the corporate seal and numbered 4630.
Carried
2. City Planner - Advisory Planning Commission
Mealey/Patterson
That the report of the Advisory Planning Commission Meeting held on April 20, 2006 be received.
Carried
Councillor Chopra declared that he had an indirect conflict of interest with the rezoning application for 3690 Roger Street as the owner is a family member. He left the meeting at 8:40 pm.
Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment
3690 Roger Street
Mealey/Patterson
That Council concur with the Advisory Planning Commission's decision to defer the application regarding a development application to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw (J. McManus dba McManus Development Planning) to allow for a commercial motel and a 40-50 seat restaurant facility at 3690 Roger Street (Lot 1, District Lot 92, Alberni District, Plan VIP61392 to amend the Official Community Plan from Residential to Commercial, until their regularly scheduled meeting in June, 2006.
Carried
Councillor Chopra returned to the meeting at 8:42 pm.
Zoning Amendment Application - W. Fraser and M. Shannon
3911 - 11th Avenue
Mealey/Chopra
That Council proceed with an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw Map to rezone Lot 1, District Lot 1, Alberni District, Plan 5637 (3911 - 11th Avenue) from R1 - Single Family Residential District to R3 Small Lot Single Family Residential District.
Carried
"Zoning Amendment No. 48 (3911 - 11th Avenue - Fraser & Shannon), Bylaw No. 4631"
Mealey/McLeman
That "Zoning Amendment No. 48 (3911 - 11th Avenue - Fraser & Shannon), Bylaw No. 4631" be now introduced and read a first time.
Carried
Mealey/Chopra
That "Zoning Amendment No. 48 (3911 - 11th Avenue - Fraser & Shannon), Bylaw No. 4631" be read a second time.
Carried
Setting a Public Hearing for Bylaw No. 4631
Mealey/Patterson
That "Zoning Amendment No. 48 (3911 - 11th Avenue - Fraser & Shannon), Bylaw No. 4631" be advanced to a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Carried
Development Variance Permit
Pacific Rim Shopping Centre - Landmark Signs Ltd.
Mealey/McLeman
That Council deny the applicant's request (Pacific Rim Shopping Centre - Landmark Signs Ltd.) to vary Section 6.5.4 (b)(2) of Sign Bylaw #4287 to permit a maximum sign background area that exceeds 12m2 (129 ft2) on Lot 1, District Lot 14, Alberni District, Plan VIP76152 located at 3555 Johnston Road.
Defeated
Chopra/Patterson
That Council proceed with the necessary Development Variance Permit to vary the Sign Bylaw as follows:
1. Vary Section 6.5.4(b).2 of Sign Bylaw 4287 to increase the maximum background area of a freestanding sign from 12 m2 (129 ft2) to 14.86 m2 (160 ft2) for one sign on 3555 Johnston Road.
2. That Council give notice of intent to consider the issuance of a Development Variance Permit for 3555 Johnston Road.
For the Motion: Mayor McRae, Councillors Chopra, McLeman, Patterson, Solda and Whiteman
Against the Motion: Councillor Mealey
I. REPORTS
1. Accounts
Chopra/Whiteman
That the certification of the Director of Finance dated May 8, 2006 be received and the cheques numbered 90097 to 90343 inclusive, in payment of accounts totalling $1,181,766.36 be approved.
Carried
2. Building Department
Whiteman/Mealey
That the monthly report from the Building Inspector providing information about departmental operations in April 2006, be received.
Carried
3. Planning
Mealey/Patterson
That the monthly report from the City Planner providing information about departmental operations in April 2006, be received.
Carried
4. AV Museum & Heritage Commission - Minutes
Patterson/Mealey
That the minutes from the Alberni Valley Museum and Heritage Commission meeting of May 1, 2006, be received.
Carried
5. City Clerk - Sources of Revenue from Trucking Companies
Chopra/McLeman
That the report dated May 1, 2006 responding to Council's request that staff investigate sources of revenue from trucking companies that utilize City streets without contributing to the local municipal tax base, advising that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities has been working on this issue and recommending that the City continue to work with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for the provincial and federal governments to provide adequate funding for road infrastructure, be received.
Carried
6. City Planner – Naming of new City Streets
Whiteman/McLeman
That the report from the City Planner be received, the lists of names for new streets be approved as presented with the addition of George McKnight and that names be assigned to new streets as required by the subdivision approving officer subject to staff ensuring that the names are not duplicated within the Alberni Valley as per the current 911 listing.
Carried
6. a City Engineer - Engineering Department 2006 Equipment Purchases
McLeman/Whiteman
That the report from the City Engineer dated May 5, 2006 be referred to the next regular meeting of Council.
Carried
7. Mayor's Report
The Mayor reported on recent activities and matters of current interest.
Mealey/Patterson
That the Mayor's report be received.
Carried
8. 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.
Gillian Shearwater of Angus Street asked about Council's consideration of Richard Berg's request to have a property at Argyle and Kingsway as George McKnight Park. The City Clerk confirmed that it was Council's decision to consider Mr. McKnight for the naming of a road.
K. OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
1. Crystal Meth Police Task Force
Whiteman/Chopra
That the City investigate with the RCMP the feasibility of a Police Task Force to be established with the objective of helping to enforce drug laws.
Carried
2. Save Our Valley Alliance Meeting
McLeman/Chopra
That the Mayor write the Minister of Forests to attend a meeting in Port Alberni to discuss the Forest Act as it relates to private forest lands.
CarriedMcLeman/Mealey
That Council direct the Mayor to write a letter of thanks to the industry representatives that recently attended the SOVA meeting.
Carried
L. ADJOURNMENT
Mealey/Patterson
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Carried