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District considering future of Memorial Hall
What Happened at Invermere Council This Week?
By Anne Jardine
The regular meeting of the District of Invermere council was held on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Office.
In attendance were: Mayor Gerry Taft and Councillors Al Miller and Justin Atterbury.
Staff present were: Chief Administrative Officer Chris Prosser, Corporate Officer Kindry Luyendyk, and Director of Development Services Rory Hromadnik.
Gallery: four people
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT No. 1534, 2018 –
Jeffries 1522 Lower Lake View Lane
Council received a report from the public hearing conducted on February 20 by Acting Mayor Greg Anderson. That hearing had considered two letters, which had been submitted by residents of the affected zoning area. Development Services Director Rory Hromadnik provided a brief summary of the building plan for the property. Council then gave third reading to the proposed bylaw and voted on a motion by Coun. Anderson, seconded by Coun. Atterbury to adopt it.
PARKS AND FACILITIES Bylaw No. 1535, 2018
Coun. Atterbury moved, Coun. Anderson seconded, and then the council voted in favour of a resolution to approve second and third reading of amended Parks and Facilities Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 1535, 2018.
REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION
MAIN STREET BOOST REPORT
This report from the National Trust of Canada was begun in 2012-2013, and then extended in 2016 through a series of public consultations that involved 60-70 people. Funded by the National Trust and Columbia Basin Trust, a first draft was reviewed by council in 2017, and now its final draft returns as a 50-page document with suggestions and recommendations on organization, design, community economic development, and marketing. Some of the recommendations from the report have already been implemented. Coun. Miller moved and Coun. Atterbury seconded a motion to accept the report and direct staff to review potential integration with the Official Community Plan and the Sustainability Plan. After brief discussion, the motion was carried. RFD, report
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
On December 14, 2017, council received a presentation from a group interested in acquiring two trishaw electric bikes to use as part of a Cycling without Age Program (CWA). Since the presentation, staff have been working with the group and received approval, through the 2018 Financial Plan, to acquire two trishaws as requested. Council committed to “front ending” the funding while the group completed its fundraising program and to ensure the bikes arrived in the spring. The 2017 Imagine Invermere Sustainability plan recommended that community members have access to locally coordinated, accessible and affordable year-round indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure activities where environmental values are protected and human connections to nature are promoted. This partnership agreement would improve that access for the community.
In making the motion, Coun. Atterbury concluded, “It’s a good program.” Coun. Miller seconded the motion, and then council voted to adopt resolutions to authorize and execute the partnership agreement between the district and the Cycling Without Age Group. RFD, Agreement
COMMUNITY HALL SITE CONSULTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Beginning in June 2017, staff began a scaled down consultation process to assist in understanding the community needs and appetite for certain uses as part of the old Invermere Memorial Community Hall (pictured above) site re-development. The future use of the site is a current Council Strategic Priority.
Council adopted a motion by Coun. Miller and seconded by Coun. Atterbury to authorize Chief Administrative Officer Prosser and district staff to prepare a budget report for the 2019 Financial Plan to seek funding to conduct economic and feasibility assessments of future land uses on the site.
It is anticipated that 75-100 hours of staff time will be required to prepare the report and develop the required terms of reference for council approval. Mr. Prosser sees a period extending over several years, during which time the demolition of the old hall would leave the site vacant, and the land would be somewhat naturalized and used for temporary community purposes until a more definite re-development concept has had time to evolve. During this period he wants the site to be useful, but not permanently designed.
“The goal is not to put a lot of money into it,” he concluded.
CORRESPONDENCE REQUIRING ACTION
Louie Stevens wrote a letter requesting funding to help build a Native Sundance that will be held on the Shuswap First Nation from July 1-8. Coun. Atterbury moved and Coun. Miller seconded a motion to grant $500 towards this cultural and heritage project. The motion was approved.
CORRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION
Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley Report – report;
Regional District of East Kootenay Highlights;
District of North Saanich – regarding marijuana addiction treatment;
Village of Chase – regarding quagga and zebra mussels;
Village of Chase – regarding revenue from cannabis sales;
City of Enderby – regarding revenue from cannabis sales;
Town of Oliver – regarding Alberta/BC trade war.
NEW BUSINESS AND NOTICE OF MOTION
Mayor Taft reported on the Union of BC Municipalities Advocacy Days he attended last week in Victoria. On these designated days, municipal officials meet with provincial cabinet ministers to discuss local and regional issues. The main municipal concerns focused on affordable housing, mental health services, green infrastructure, water and wastewater treatment, and transit.
The most controversial topic arose from the recently presented provincial budget with its announcement of a non-resident ownership (empty house) Speculation Tax. Council initiated a process to send a motion to the UBCM citing concerns.
The next District of Invermere regular meeting is March 13.
District of Invermere council meets regularly throughout the year on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (second Tuesdays only during July, August, September and December) at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Office (914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere) unless otherwise indicated.
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