By Jennifer Meagher

The regularly scheduled council meeting for the Village of Valemount took place February 14, 2012. The regularly scheduled meeting of January 24, 2012 was cancelled due to a power outage. Mayor Andru McCracken, Councillors Sandy Salt, Dallas Bullock, Hollie Blanchette and Christine Latimer, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)/Corporate Officer (CO) Tom Dall, and Depute Corporate Officer Anne Yanciw were all in attendance.

 

Delegations

Claude Germain Re: VSS Trip to France- Linnaea V & Sylvia G

Linnaea V and Sylvia G spoke to Council of their upcoming school trip to France. They presented in both French and English asking for a monetary donation to help with the remaining costs. The grade 12 French class has been fundraising for the past ten months. The Village has a policy for small donations to be made in cases such as this. Councillor Salt moved that the Village make a $200.00 donation to the trip. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

CAO Re: Bylaw Enforcement Position

The Bylaw Officer contract is up for renewal. The initial contract was for 20 hours/week. Council took part in a 15 minute debate reviewing potential options. According to Mayor McCracken, the Bylaw position has been well received. Another option brought forward was the possibility of using an Adjudication Officer, who charges a flat fee, to help clear up some of the outstanding tickets in Small Claims Court. One issue that came up is the concentration of tickets being distributed for parking violations. Council decided to have staff look further into the Adjudication position for information and cost.

 

Correspondence for Action

Civic Info BC Re: Membership Renewal

Councillor Latimer moved to renew the membership. Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Valemount Museum: The following three Action Items were addressed as one. 

Renovation and Maintenance Fund for Valemount Museum and Archives 2011

Insulation and Heating System of Museum Building

Painting of the outside of Museum Building in 2012

Councillor Latimer moved to strike a committee with council and the museum to address budgeting decisions consisting of Councillor Blanchette and Councillor Bullock. The motion was seconded by Councillor Salt and it was passed by all.

 

UBCM Re: Healthy Families BC- Communities Consultation Sessions

Councillor Salt moved to send members of council to attend. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Northern Health Re: Save the Date – Partnering with Communities to Improve Primary Health Care

Councillor Salt moved to send Councillor Bullock and Mayor McCracken to the all expense paid conference. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

RDFFG Re: Municipal Participation in the Regional Land Use Planning Service 2012-2014

Councillor Bullock moved that the village participate. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion, and it was passed by all.

 

Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society Re: Valemount House Utility Billings

Council discussed the issue of seniors in the community who do not live in the complex and would not be getting help with utilities. Councillor Bullock moved for council to look into how other communities address this issue, to discuss the topic further at budget time, and to evaluate how other members of the community would be affected. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

NCLGA Re: Call for Nominations 2012 – 2013 NCLGA Executive

Councillor Salt moved to receive the document. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Sherral Shaw Re: Local Businesses

Councillor Latimer moved to form a committee partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to do an inventory of community space on fifth avenue to find out what space is available and its value. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Tourism Valemount Re: Recommendation to Council

Councillor Salt moved to partner with Tourism Valemount to share the cost of add space in the ‘Yellowhead It’ guide which is distributed from British Columbia to Manitoba. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Information Items

Robson Health Association Re: Invitation to Meetings

Councillor Blanchette moved that council invite the Robson Health Association to give an informative presentation to council and the public. Councillor Bullock seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

 

Chamber Week

At the beginning of the session Mayor McCracken suggested to include Chamber Week, which is now in progress, to the Information Items. Councillor Blanchette moved to receive the item. Councillor Bullock seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Reading File February 14, 2012

Councillor Bullock moved to receive the Reading File. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Administration Reports

COA Re: Woodstove Exchange Program

Councillor Salt moved to approve the release of $2,500.00 from the 2012 budget for the village’s portion of the Woodstove Exchange Program. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was passed by all.

COA Re: CTP Water Smart Funding – Ambassador Program

Councillor Blanchette moved to release the budget amount for the Water Ambassador Program in the amount of $5,000 and to approve the letter of request for funding to Columbia Basin Trust for the amount of $10,000 and to approve the COA to sign the agreement with the Columbia Basin Trust when received. Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

CAO Re: CBT Water Smart Funding – Water Meter Study

Councillor Bullock moved to release the budget amount for the Water Meter Study in the amount of $11,275.00 and to approve the letter of request for funding to Columbia Basin Trust for the amount of $3,725.00 and to have the CAO sign the agreement with Columbia Basin Trust when received. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

CAO Re: 5th Avenue Business Directional Signage

Councillor Latimer moved to create a working committee to review the signage and provide Council with some alternatives. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

CAO Re: Community Hall Renovations

Councillor Latimer moved to have Mayor McCracken and CAO sign a contract with Danmar Construction for the amount of $170,000 to complete the renovations to the Valemount Community Hall. Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

CAO/Chief Election Officer Re: Elections 2011 Summary

Councillor Latimer moved to receive the report which the Local Government Act requires submission of within 30 days (Dec 23, 2011) after the declaration of official election results. This report was delayed for two reasons: Council did not meet until after the 30 day period (Jan 9, 2012); all the election expenses were not available until after the 30 day period (last expense – Jan 12, 2012). Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

CAO Re: Valemount Green Heat Study

Councillor Bullock moved that Council approve staff to negotiate a contract with MMM Group Limited to complete the Village of Valemount DES Pre-Feasibility Study for the approximate amount of $50,635.00 which includes taxes and to bring back for Council final approval. Funding for this project has been approved by OBAC for $40,000 and the balance of the funding has been forwarded to NDIT who have grants available up to $20,000 which would be more than the amount needed for the project. NDIT will be reviewing the funding application on March 16, 2012 and the contact with the chosen consultant will reflect this. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

DCO Re: Post Approval of Time Sensitive Item from the Cancelled January 24, 2012 Council Meeting (Roundtable Attendance)

Councillor Blanchette stepped out due to conflict of interest. Council formalized the decision made by Council through an email vote on a time sensitive item from the cancelled January 24, 2012 Council meeting.

 

DCO Re: Post approval of time Sensitive item from the Cancelled January 24, 2012 Council Meeting (Use of Fender Sound System)

Council formalized the decision made by Council through an email vote on a time sensitive item from the cancelled January 24, 2012 Council meeting.

 

DCO Re: Procedural Bylaw

Councillor Blanchette moved to leave Council meetings at the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm due to public input. Councillor Bullock seconded the motion and it was received by all.

DCO Re: Garbage Collection RFP

Councillor Salt moved to approve for staff to proceed with posting the RFP for Solid Waste Collection. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Economic Development Officer Report

EDO Re: January 2012 Monthly Report

Councillor Blanchette moved to receive the report. Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

EDO Re: Valemount Information and Interpretive Centre Annual Report

Councillor Blanchette moved to receive the report. Councillor Salt seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

EDO Re: Grant Application NDI

Councillor Salt moved to give permission to CAO to sign the application on behalf of the Village of Valemount. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

EDO Re: Application Re – Integrated Community Sustainability Plan

Councillor Salt moved to adopt the resolution included in the EDO report. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Public Works Report

PWS Re: January 2012 Monthly Report

Councillor Salt moved to receive the PWS Report. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Building Inspector Report

VBI Re: January 2012 Monthly Report

Councillor Salt moved to receive the VBI Monthly Report. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Bylaw Officer Report

VBO Re: January 2012 Monthly Report

Councillor Salt moved to receive the VBO Monthly Report. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Financial Report

DOF Re: January 2012 Monthly Report

Councillor Salt moved to receive the DOF Monthly Report. Councillor Bullock seconded the motion and it was received by all.

DOF Re: January 2012 Accounts Payable Report

Councillor Salt moved to receive the DOF Accounts Payable Report. Councillor Latimer seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

DOF Re: Grant Writer Application

Councillor Salt moved to approve for village staff to apply for the NDIT Grant Writer funds for 2012 in partnership with Community Forest. Councillor Blanchette seconded the motion and it was received by all.

 

Council Reports

Councillor Bullock informed the public that the conference in Vancouver was a great opportunity to learn the workings of LGLA as well as to network and gain education. She  attended the February 7, 2012 Tourism meeting and the Community Forest Annual Meeting and AGM. She also attended the February 10, 2012 Ski Society meeting.

Councillor Latimer attended the January 11, 2012 RCMP contract negotiation meeting, in Richmond and found it to be very interesting.

Councillor Blanchette attended a round table discussion on January 16, 2012.

Councillor Salt attended a Community Initiatives CBT Planning Meeting on January 24, 2012 and a Bylaw Policies Committee meeting February 2, 2012.