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Three re-zoning public hearings set for New Year
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On December 14, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Kyle Dalum, Kent Goodwin, Nigel Kitto, Jason McBain, Darryl Oakley and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.
With new COVID-19 Public Health orders in place, council attended the meeting by virtual video conference. The press and public are not allowed in council chambers.
The meeting also streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel. Watch the archive here.
Three Public Hearings Set
Council approved three public hearings to take place at the beginning of the January 25 meeting. Re-zoning requests have been made by applicants for 217 Stemwinder Drive, 2860 Rotary Drive and 351 Marsden Drive.
The Stemwinder application would change the zoning from Leisure Park One to Residential Tourist Accommodation One. This would allow new owners to “build a single family dwelling,” said Troy Pollock, Manager Planning Services.
Pollock pointed out to council the Peak to Platzl trail passes through the back of the property. In order to maintain the trail across the property, a new Statutory Rights of Way (SRW) or “dedication of the rear portion to protect the Peak to Platzl trail” will need to be done.
The Rotary Drive subdivision and re-zoning application seeks to place a modular home on the property.
The Marsden Drive re-zoning application “would allow for the property owners to construct a single-family home with the possibility of an accessory dwelling in the future,” said Pollock.
All three subject properties will go to public hearing in the new year.
Animal Control and Bylaw Report
The Bylaw Enforcement Officer (BEO) dealt with 12 dog infractions including dogs of leash or at large (seven), barking dogs (four) and one vicious dog infraction that garnered the owner a $75 fine.
The BEO also received complaints on deer and turkey feeding, and a trapped weasel.
When it came to “human/deer conflicts,” the BEO has taken to “directed complainants to call the RAPP line for qualified advice.”
Angle parking remains a concern for the BEO. Prior to issuing fines, the BEO has been prioritizing “education” and the use of “sandwich boards.” According to the BEO, “Angle parking greatly reduces the width of the traveled portion of the road.” This hampers the city’s snow removal activities. The BEO also noted “vandalism towards the signs resulting in one sign missing.”
The BEO issued 19 written and verbal angle parking notices along with 18 parking infractions. This included eleven (11) $50 fines, two $75 fines and two vehicles were towed.
With the snow season underway, the BEO issued 10 verbal and written notices to residents for moving snow from their property onto city streets. Nine residents were issued verbal and written notices for not removing snow from sidewalks.
The BEO also pointed to numerous parking infractions at the Higgins Street entrance to the Nature Park, and reminds all residents who take vehicles to that location to be aware of the parking restrictions. Those vehicles parking illegally “are impeding driveways and blocking emergency access.”
COVID Restart Grant
The City of Kimberley received a $2,087,000 COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant from the Provincial Government.
The grant is to be used for costs incurred from COVID-19 pandemics impact on city operations. This includes increases in “operating costs and loss of revenue,” said Jim Hendricks, CFO.
The grant was a surprise to the city, and as such, requires an amendment to the Financial Plan to allow for spending $250,000 in 2020, and the remainder in 2021.
“I’m surprised at the amount of money that we’ve actually spent to date just preparing and getting things organized, and working to keep everybody safe. It’s just enormous how much we’ve spent so far, more than anticipated by a long shot,” said Coun. Roberts.
Mayor McCormick added, “What we’ve had to do most of our businesses have had to do, and they haven’t had a nice cheque coming from the government to help them pay for all the modifications.”
Kimberley City Council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. Due to pandemic restrictions, the public is not allowed to attend council chambers.
The next scheduled council meeting and the first for 2021: January 11. It will live stream on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel.
e-KNOW
