Committee of the Whole (WL Council) Meeting Highlights - Dec 14th

Present:

Mayor Cook and Councillors Barr, Bourdon, Rathor, Walters and Zacharias

Absent:

Councillor Natalie Hébert

Staff Present:

Brian Carruthers – CAO
Cindy Bouchard – Manager of Legislative Services
Ken MacInnis – Communications Coordinator
Geoff Goodall – General Manager of Planning & Operations
Brad McRae – Senior Bylaw Officer
Kim Emsley-Leik – Marketing & Events Coordinator
Alan Madrigga – Economic Development Manager
Kevin Goldfuss – Director of Muncipal Services
Tom Chung – IT Manager

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm
Minutes of November 30th COW Meeting adopted

Delegations:

1) Pavement Management Plan Presentation

Presentation Points:

• Project Background (Collection of Data, 96 kms of road in City of WL, measuring pavement strength and budget planning)
• Pavement Repair Strategies
• Pavement Condition Reporting
• How Pavement Asset Value is calculated?
• 2009 Pavement Asset Value of $39 million
• Recommend $1.4 million be spent on roads per year which translates into almost a 14% tax increase

A Question and Answer period ensued
Mayor Cook, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the delegation for his presentation

Committee Action – Presentation received and referred to City Staff for Recommendations to Council

2) Glen & Debbie Lehey re: Update on Sister City Project (Sosua, Dominican Republic)

Presentation Points:

• Project Background
• What’s needed to continue this project? Formation of City-led Committee and why the Sister-City project should continue?
• 3 Minute Video Presentation played with Sosua’s Mayor making direct appeal to Mayor/Council – City of WL

A Question and Answer period ensued
Mayor Cook, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Mr. Lehey for his presentation

Committee Action – Presentation received & referred to City Staff to report back on formation of City-led Committee & locating suitable location for Sosua trailer

Business:

a) Secondary Suite Bylaw

The Acting Manager of Social Development reviewed her report with the Committee
Discussion ensued thereon

Options approved by Council:

1) Secondary Suites to be limited to owner-occupied single family homes
2) An on premise parking spot must be made available for the Secondary Suite tenant
3) Alternate Life & Safety Standard to be enforced for existing Secondary Suites and full regulations for new Secondary Suites
4) Inspection Fees for existing Secondary Suites to be waived for 12 months
5) Complaints for Secondary Suites with Safety Issues will be responded to promptly
6) Issue of charging of utility fees for secondary suites will be decided at Council’s December 21st meeting as the Committee could not agree to leave it at 20% of standard utility (water/sewer) rate for single family home or increase it to 30-50% of utility rate for single family home

Committee Action - Council directed Staff to prepare the necessary Bylaw amendments for Council’s consideration

b) Social Media Policy

The Communications Coordinator reviewed his report with the Committee
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee Action – Social Media Policy endorsed-in-principle

c) Community Branding Proposal

The Economic Development Manager reviewed his report with the Committee
Discussion ensued thereon including a Powerpoint Presentation

Committee Action – Refer $30,000 Community Branding Project to 2011 Budget Process

d) Amendments to Bylaw #806 – Prevention & Abatement of Nuisances and Bylaw #970 – Noise

The Senior Bylaw Officer reviewed his report with the Committee
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee Action – Staff directed to proceed with recommendations from Bylaw Review Committee and begin public consultation process

Meeting adjourned at 8:50pm