The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the Sept. 6 District of Sparwood council meeting.

DELEGATIONS

RCMP – ELK VALLEY DETACHMENT

Sgt. Will Thien of the Elk Valley RCMP Detachment presented the 2016 first and second Quarter Report on offences responded to by the detachment. The report reflected a seven per cent increase in calls for service during the first quarter and a 25% increase in calls for service during the fourth quarter of the year over the same periods in 2015.

TECK COAL MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS

Nic Milligan, Norm Fraser, Rick Magliocco and Warn Franklin provided council with an overview of the Coal Mountain Operations (pictured above) closure program.

By the end of 2017 there will not be any further active mining at Coal Mountain. Teck has committed to providing employment for the 213 employees at their other operations in the Elk Valley.

Reclamation and decommissioning of non-essential structures will take place over the next five to 10 years.

BUSINESS REGIONAL RECREATION ACCESS PASS

Council approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding that will see the development of a regional recreation access pass proposed by the three Elk Valley communities which would allow holders access to Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie’s recreation facilities under one single pass. The pass will allow access to all public swims, skates and drop in fitness centres but will not provide access to drop-in fitness classes, registered programs or the racquet courts.

Elk Valley residents who travel between the communities on a regular basis will be able to utilize neighbouring facilities without having to purchase additional passes. Approval from the City of Fernie and District of Elkford councils is required before implementation of the regional pass.

To learn more about this regional access pass please see the staff report or contact Duane Lawrence at 250-425-0552.

MICHEL-NATAL-SPARWOOD HERITAGE SOCIETY

Council authorized a grant-in-aid to the Michel-Natal-Sparwood Heritage Society of up to $6,000 annually to be utilized for natural gas, electricity, phone, Internet, snow removal and insurance only, between December 2, 2016 and November 30, 2018, provided that the society offsets its operational expenditures through other fundraising and grant opportunities.

This funding is in addition to the lease of 141B Aspen Drive (and waiver of monthly lease payments of $1,676.76) for the operation of the museum, which council shall be considering at the September 19 regular meeting.

BYLAWS

RECREATION FEES & CHARGES BYLAW AMENDMENT

Recreation Fees and Charges Bylaw 1121, 2013, Amendment Bylaw 1192, 2016 was adopted. This amendment incorporates the fees and conditions for the rental of the training room at Fire Hall #1.

YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION BYLAW

Council amended the Youth Advisory Commission Bylaw 1191, 2016 by adding that the “Chair of the Commission cannot be a member of Council or Staff” prior to giving the bylaw third reading as amended. The bylaw, which establishes the Youth Advisory Commission, will be considered for adoption at the October 3, 2016 regular meeting. The Youth Advisory Commission will provide oversight for the development of the Sparwood Youth Action Network.

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT

Zoning Bylaw 264, 1981, Amendment Bylaw 1189, 2016 was adopted. This bylaw was initiated to amend the R3-High Density Residential zone to allow for the construction of one-family and two-family dwelling units in addition to the multi-family dwelling units already permitted.

IN OTHER NEWS

LEISURE CENTRE CONCESSION

The Sparwood Leisure Centre Concession is now available for lease. Individuals or businesses interested in operating a concession may inquire at the Sparwood Leisure Centre at 367 Pine Avenue or by contacting the Director of Community and Facility Services, Duane Lawrence.

SPARWOOD YOUTH ACTION NETWORK

The Sparwood Youth Action Network has officially joined Columbia Basin Trust’s (CBT) Basin Youth Network and looks forward to an exciting three years!

Basin Youth Network is a newly launched CBT initiative which supports communities and youth aged 12-18 years. CBT leads the Network by developing programs, hosting youth-focused events, having a regional coordinator, and supporting Community Youth Networks.

If you are between the ages of 12 – 18 and would like to see more activities, events and programs specifically for you and your friends this is for you. The Youth Action Network is led by Youth for Youth. We’ll help you and your friends create and organize programs, events and activities that you want to see and make them happen.

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The Public Relations Committee authorized that a basket of promotional items be donated to the STARS in the Valley Golf Tournament being held in Fernie on September 17.

TERRY FOX FUN

Sunday, September 18; Registration – 10 a.m. | Run – 11 a.m. at the Sparwood Leisure Centre Spray Park.

You can choose your course – 1km, 3km, or 5km walk, run, wheel, ride. No entry fee. No minimum donation.

Inspired by a dream, grounded in tradition and volunteer driven – The Terry Fox Run for Cancer research. There will be refreshments and a silent auction. To learn more about the run in Sparwood or to volunteer contact Edie Holland at 250-425-6554.

BEARS IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY

The District of Sparwood would like to remind residents not to place their garbage out on the curb before 5 a.m. on collection day. Garbage must be placed in a secure garage, shed or inside your house until collection day. Excess garbage should be taken to the Transfer Station which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday (excluding stat holidays).

The prime reason bears and people come into conflict is improper care of garbage and other attractants. Therefore, we need to eliminate the source of the problem – our behaviour. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that there are no unnatural food sources available to attract bears and other dangerous wildlife. It is important for residents to lock up their refuse and keep other bear attractants, such as fruit trees bearing over-ripe fruit, or easily accessible bird feeders. pet food, and BBQs (drip pans/grease cans), out of a bear’s reach.

Remember that a fed bear is a dead bear!

Feeding dangerous wildlife, even unintentionally, is against the law in British Columbia under the Dangerous Wildlife Protection Act (section 88.1). It is an offence to store or dispose of wildlife attractants under the District of Sparwood’s Deer Feeding and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1078. Failure to comply with the bylaw will result in a $100 fine.

Together, we can prevent conflict by making a few simple changes in our daily routine. Make it your responsibility to make our community safe and to prevent the unnecessary killing of bears by complying with Deer Feeding and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 1078.

Your help and compliance is appreciated!

For more information on bear awareness and the steps that you can take to minimize the interface between wildlife and residents, please visit www.wildsafebc.com or go to our webpage at www.sparwood.ca/bearsmart .

UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS

– Special Committee of the Whole Meeting in Council Chambers on Monday, September 19 at 4 p.m.

– Regular Council Meeting in Council Chambers on Monday, September 19 at 7 p.m.

District of Sparwood

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