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Fernie Council Connection
The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the May 9 City of Fernie council meeting.
1. AGREEMENTS, LICENCES PERMITS & POLICIES
1.1 Development Variance Permit No. 384 for 1301 9th Ave. Council authorized the issuance of DVP-384 to legalize an existing 6.198 metres x .79 metres second storey sundeck only, by increasing the maximum parcel coverage, as set out in Section 4.2.1.A.4 of Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, from 35% to 39.6%. Report to Council
1.2 Request from the Fernie & District Arts Council to Sublet a Portion of the Arts Station Council consented to the Fernie and District Arts Council subletting a portion of the Arts Station building that they currently Lease from the city to The Blue Toque Diner Ltd. for the purpose of a restaurant/diner for a two-year term from May 1 to and including December 31, 2017 and authorized the Deputy Clerk to execute the agreement between The Fernie and District Arts Council and The Blue Toque Diner Ltd. in the form attached the CAO’s May 5 staff report. Report to Council | Blue Toque Sublease
1.3 Licence of Occupation for the Lunchbox, Fresh Market – 561A – 2nd Ave Council directed staff to post notice of its intention to dispose of city property located adjacent to 561A -2nd Avenue to 1059685 BC Ltd dbaLunchbox Fresh Market by way of a Licence of Occupation, for a specified fee of $10 per square metre for a one year term; The Licence of Occupation with 1059685 BC Ltd dba Lunchbox Fresh Market be brought forward for council’s consideration of approval after the requisite advertising has been completed to the May 24 Regular Meeting. Report to Council | Outdoor Patio and Licence of Occupation Application Form | 2015-05-12 & 05-19 Notice of Disposition (Lunchbox Outdoor Patio) | Outdoor Patio Policy
1.4 Montane Stage 1 Pre-Construction Geotechnical Covenants Lots 18 & 19, District Lot 4589, Kootenay District, Plan EPP45555 Dorian Medlicott & Hayley Medlicott Beacon Project Management Ltd., Inc. No. BC0954005 Council authorized the designated signatories of the Corporation of the City of Fernie:
– to execute the attached release to discharge Pre-Construction Geotechnical Covenant CA4636436 from the titles of Lots 18 and 19, District Lot 4589, Kootenay District, Plan EPP45555; and
– to execute the attached Pre-Construction Geotechnical Covenants for Lots 18 and 19, District Lot 4589, Kootenay District, Plan EPP45555 and that the said documents be registered on-title of Lots 18 and 19 in priority to all financial charges and to any Rent Charge registered against the lots. Report to Council
2. BYLAWS
2.1 Bylaw No. 2292, Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Amendment Bylaw No. 179, 2016 for 722A & 722B- 3rd Avenue was adopted. This will allow the rezoning of two 334.07 square metre lots C1 – Retail Commercial to R2 – Duplex Residential. The rezoning will bring the current use of Duplex Residential into conformance with the City of Fernie Zoning Bylaw. Report to Council
2.2 2016 – 2020 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2294 was adopted. The Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw must be approved annually by May 15th, and following the adoption of the Financial Plan council must adopt a Tax Rate Bylaw. Report to Council
2.3 2016 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 2292 was adopted. The level at which municipal tax rates are set is largely dependent on operational requirements as dictated by services levels, planned capital expenditures, reserve contributions and debt repayment. The municipal tax rates are applied to net taxable assessed property values to determine the municipal tax collection for the year. Report to Council
2.4 Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, Amendment No. 7, Bylaw No. 2296, 2016 was adopted. Bylaw No. 2296 will prohibit the use of plastic bags placed curbside for garbage collection. There will be a grace period until Tuesday, May 31, for residents then after this deadline the Bylaw Enforcement officer will be issuing warnings and fines for repeat offenders still using plastic bags for curbside collection. . Report to Council | Bylaw No. 2296 Waste Regulation Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 7, 2016
3. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
3.1 Consideration of Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) Funding Application from the Elk Valley Economic Initiative Council approved the award of an initial payment of $5,000 from the RMI Festival & Event Development Program to the Elk Valley Economic Initiative to help offset costs associated with their adVenture Capital Conference and that an additional amount of up to $5,000 of RMI funding was awarded to the Elk Valley Economic Initiative based on actual Conference attendance numbers once confirmed with all payments being conditional on the funds being repaid to the city if the event doesn’t proceed and that any funds awarded be used only for the Adventure Pass component of the Conference. Report to Council | Elk Valley Economic Initiative | RMI Festival Event Development Program Guidelines
3.2 Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update Council supported the application submitted by the City of Fernie under the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative administered by the UBCM for the current proposed activities and commits to providing overall grant management. Report to Council
3.3 Cemetery Expansion. The Cemetery in its present configuration is reaching its capacity. A plan to extend the burial spaces to the north is being designed. The city wishes to notify residents that clearing land for this purpose could begin in the next couple of weeks. Report to Council
4. UPCOMING MEETINGS AND OTHER NEWS
4.1 Next scheduled meetings of council are:
– Tuesday, May 24 – Regular meeting of Council 7 p.m. in Council Chambers; Please note the change to the meeting schedule for council meetings. Council meetings will be held on Tuesday, May 24, due to the holiday.
City Hall will be closed for the Victoria Day Statutory Holiday and will re-open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24.
4.2 Funding Opportunity – Applications are now being accepted through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) Festival & Event Development Program. Limited funding is available to assist community organizations with the cost of developing and hosting festivals and events. Deadline for completed application forms requesting funding for the 2016 fiscal year is Tuesday, May 31. Festival Event Funding Application Form | Festival Event Funding Guidelines
4.3 Annual Spring Clean Up! Its that time of year again, the City of Fernie is once again offering residential households within the City of Fernie free pick up of lawn and garden waste. No household garbage- just grass clippings, brush, weeds and small tree branches less than six inches in diameter. For more information and the Schedule of Pick up Times and Dates check out the city website. Spring Clean Up
4.4 Emergency Preparedness Week – Have you got your plan!
National Emergency Preparedness Week – May 1 – 7. This is designed to raise awareness of the importance of having an emergency kit and making an emergency plan. This annual event takes place across Canada each year during the first full week of May! Make sure your family has an Emergency Evacuation Plan! Create a Personal Evacuation Plan: Emergency Evacuation Information Plan | Emergency Preparedness
4.5 Citizen Satisfaction Survey – 2016 The city wants your opinion on basic public services provided in Fernie! Residents are invited to complete the 2016 Citizen Satisfaction Survey and let us know what services you are satisfied with and what services you are not happy about! It only takes a few minutes and helps us identify areas we need to improve upon or make changes to. We want to hear from YOU! Survey Monkey | PDF Document of Survey
4.6 Roadwatch BC This program was developed to enable citizens living in the Elk Valley and other regions of B.C. to report wildlife sightings along major highways. The information collected from the public will provide a better understanding of where wildlife are crossing, involved in collisions or moving adjacent to the highways. The information will be shared with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resources. The program includes the development of a smartphone app and associated on-line mapping tool. The App is free, download yours today and be a part of keeping our wildlife safe! Roadwatchbc |RoadWatchBC Council Presentation
4.7 Unlicensed Ridesharing Safety Warning In response to complaints from the public, council has issued a safety warning to residents regarding unlicensed commercial ridesharing services. For more information regarding the BC Transportation Board’s regulations and safety risks associated with unlicensed ridesharing please go to the City of Fernie Website at www.fernie.ca
The public is encouraged to report unlicensed commercial ridesharing service operators to the Passenger Transportation Board at 1-604-527-2198 or to the RCMP. More information on Commercial Ridesharing is available on the BC Ministry of Transportation website.
City of Fernie
