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Invermere Council Report
By Carol Gordon
The regular meeting of District of Invermere council was held on May 11 at 3 p.m. in the Municipal Office.
In attendance were: Mayor Gerry Taft and Councillors Greg Anderson, Paul Denchuk, Al Miller.
Staff present were: Chris Prosser, Chief Administrative Officer; Rory Hromadnik, Director of Development Services; Kindry Luyendyk, Corporate Officer.
BYLAWS & PUBLIC HEARING REPORTS
The following bylaws were adopted unanimously by council:
– Community Facility Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1523, 2017;
– Water Improvements 2008 Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1524, 2017;
– Water Supply Upgrade Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1525, 2017.
– 2017 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1526, 2017.
– Parks and Facilities Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 1527, 2017 – first three readings only.
REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION
Invermere Housing Corporation
CAO Chris Prosser was appointed to act as director of the Invermere Housing Corporation and to hold office until its next annual general meeting.
Development Variance Permit Application DVP 17.03 – A G Foods
The application which varies Section XI – Specific Zone Regulations C-1, Free Standing Sign which would allow for an illuminated, animated message board sign to the current freestanding sign.
The Invermere Rotary Club is raising funds for an electronic community message board that it would like to incorporate into the current AG Foods free-standing sign on the corner of 7th Avenue and 9th Street.
“The Rotarians approached council with the concept at the August 23, 2016 Committee of the Whole meeting to present the concept and with support the Rotarians have sourced a message center and are working with Helmer Construction, who own the A G Foods property, to have the sign modified to accommodate the message center and retain the current AG advertising space,” a district staff report explained.
“The proposed revised sign design is larger than the current version and requires a small roof to protect the electronic sign below. DVP 17.03 addresses the size and sitting non-conformance issues with the proposed sign relative to the current regulations in Sign Bylaw 1044, 2001.
“Approval to waive the DVP application and notification fees along with direction to proceed with notification of all property owners’ within 50m of the subject parcel occurred at the April 24 council meeting. The notification letters were sent out on April 25. One enquiry has occurred at the time of this report preparation, which questioned if a second sign was being constructed. The plans to modify the existing signs were provided and sitting questions answered.
Council unanimously agreed to table the DVP application. A resolution was also passed asking staff to talk with Rotary about hosting an open house with direction from the District of Invermere.
Special Events
The following Special Event was unanimously authorized by council:
Branch Out Neurological Foundation – Branch Out Bike Tour 2017 (June 17).
2017 Fleet Purchases
The public works department is in need of additional vehicles and equipment to deal with the growing staff complement. The proposed purchases will provide two new vehicles and two new pieces of equipment that will assist the department in completing its duties. The new multi-purpose pieces of equipment will be extensively used in parks maintenance, gardening, pathway and snow removal operations. The vehicles will be utilized for all seasons. In addition, the vehicles have been “right-sized” for the intended uses to assist in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Council unanimously authorized the purchase of the multi-purpose pieces of equipment and directed staff to do more research on the pick-up trucks before approving the purchase.
CORRESPONDENCE REQUIRING ACTION
Lake Windermere Ambassadors – Green Shores Program Funding Request
Council unanimously approved providing financial support of $2,000 towards the Lake Windermere Ambassadors Green Shores Program.
Castlerock Estates Community Association
In response to a letter from the Castlerock Estates Community Association and its request for a member of council to attend their first FireSmart Day on July 15, Coun. Al Miller volunteered.
Tim Horton’s Camp Day on May 31
A letter from Tim Hortons Invermere Camp Day Coordinator explained that Wednesday, May 31 is Tim Hortons Camp Day and that “every penny from coffee sales during the 24-hour period will be donated to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.”
In response to a request for support from the District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft offered to participate in the event and Al Miller indicated that he was already participating on behalf of Home Hardware.
The District of Invermere Council meets regularly throughout the year on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (second Tuesdays only during July, August and September) at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the Municipal Office (914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere).
The next District of Invermere council meeting is Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.
