Invermere Council Report

By Carol Gordon

The regular meeting of District of Invermere council was held on May 23 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Office.

In attendance were: Mayor Gerry Taft and Councillors Greg Anderson, Paul Denchuk, Al Miller and Justin Atterbury.

Staff present were: Chris Prosser, Chief Administrative Officer; Rory Hromadnik, Director of Development Services; Kindry Luyendyk, Corporate Officer.

Gallery: 13 people.

PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS

Council, Rotary chew over community message board proposal

A delegation from the Rotary Club of Invermere made a presentation to council on the message board sign proposed in Development Variance Permit Application DVP 17.03. Darrell Smith, Rotary Club President, introduced the Rotary delegation: Rotarian Hermann Mauthner and Jeana McDonald, Selkirk Signs, Cranbrook.

Mr. Smith provided a summary on “where we’ve come and why we’re here today. It started on July 8, 2016. There was a proposal from the Rotary Club to the DOI outlining the benefits of the community message board.” For more details on history of the project click RFD

The idea for the message board originated with Rotarian Hermann Mauthner. He told council that he recognized that whether it’s the World Cup at Panorama, a soccer tournament, Wings Over the Rockies, a badminton tournament, “there are so many things that people find out about afterwards when it’s in the paper, or e-KNOW…there’s not enough message out there. We have progressed in technology, and this is what’s available nowadays.” He then detailed some of the sign’s characteristics: LED, off the grid solar panels, and its’ dimming capabilities.

Following the presentation, Mayor Taft invited the Rotary delegation to comment on what he gathered wasn’t a strong desire on Rotary’s part to “holding an open house with the general public and talk about this sign,” a decision council had made approximately two weeks ago.

Mr. Smith’s reply: “this is one of our projects that we’re doing in cooperation with the district, and you would own, operate and manage it. We’ve never been put in that situation before with all the projects we’ve done in town with the district, so we just seem to be a little out of our comfort zone. We’re just getting the sign and putting it where the district agreed and fundraising for it and passing it over. It seems to be a little bit out of our element as a club.”

Mr. Mauthner added that many people and organizations have been approached about the message board and “they are all in favour of it” and have contributed financially towards it.

Nick Gibbs of Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley expressed his concern that the sign wasn’t going to be closer to the highway and in response, Mr. Mauther said they “were shown five different locations, and we went through them.”

In choosing the location, considerations included: vehicle and foot traffic, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure stipulations, the likelihood of vandalism, interest being shown by the business at the location, cost to construct, size sign needs to be to “catch people’s eye.”

When asked why the sign wasn’t going on the community hall, Mr. Mauther replied, “that was my first proposal and it was absolutely denied by the architect because they don’t have enough money to finish everything on the community hall.”

Mayor Taft added that there was also a technical issue. “The way the siding hangs on the building it can’t have anything that’s weight bearing so you would have to put in sign posts, foundation and a separate sign frame instead of attaching it to the building.”

Coun. Denchuk expressed his objection to the placement of the sign in the downtown core. “It’s not the content or the purpose of the signage but whether the signage itself is appropriate…We’re trying to maintain a theme…I think the question needs to be asked of the entire town and that’s why we’re asking to hold an open house. It’s changing the architecture of our downtown core. We are 93% residential. Are we reaching out and touching everybody to see what they actually believe should be the vision for our downtown?”

Mr. Mauthner commented that “if you get a 1,000 people out to an open house, you would get 999 different opinions.”

Denchuk replied: “I just don’t think we should be making this decision in a silo.”

Coun. Miller expressed his support for the project. “It is new technology” which will keep messages current and “with all the walking traffic down there it is one more way of getting the word out. Let’s make the decision,” he said.

Coun. Anderson explained that he had wanted a public session because “we were going to at least give people an opportunity to have a say and ask more questions. I am not sure that everyone was notified, there were a half a dozen people who submitted written complaints but there was an opportunity to come tonight as well and have some more clarity.”

With regard to an overall plan he said, “We do have something on the agenda, OCP Design Guidelines Review. That’s an opportunity for us to look at Councillor Denchuk’s concerns more thoroughly, in a more focused manner. We’re looking at all the signs.”

He then concluded, “This one you know what? I think we should just go with it.”

Councillor Denchuk asked Jeana McDonald, Selkirk Signs’ Sales Manager, to speak on the sign’s capabilities.

“It has the capabilities of the A&W sign; it’s up to you guys how you want that display to show…If you put a rule (e.g. time allotted for each message) in and you’re going to be staunch about it, then make sure you are monitoring the sign,” said Ms. McDonald.

When asked about its’ brightness, she replied: “You can turn it off, you can dim it down.”

Coun. Atterbury added that he hates the letter signs even though he owns three of them. “They drive me nuts.” He explained that he “didn’t understand the vision at first when introduced to it a year ago. I had those concerns a year ago and you guys addressed them to me a year ago, and that’s the key piece to this puzzle. We’re way late to be having this discussion…as to whether this is a good idea or not.”

Denchuk said, “Everybody can see which way this is going. It helps to show up and voice your opinions. Kudos to you guys (Rotary). I am going to reach out to you guys here right now. We have started this program down in Athalmer. If we can contain it to one part of our town, that would be great. Because every time we do this, it’s the tip of the iceberg. This (sign) is not the last one we’re going to see downtown, and it has nothing to do with Rotary. I would love that sign to be somewhere else down in Athalmer at another great place. But once it starts slipping up into our downtown core it’s going to carry on.”

“But to me, we have a certain niché going on in our downtown, and that’s why people come here. That’s why the tourists show up. They want to feel that small town feeling and as we slip this further into our downtown or progress (in response to a comment made) and that’s why I want to ask the question of the community. But if we’re going to make this decision tonight then so be it.”

BYLAWS & PUBLIC HEARING REPORTS:

Parks and Facilities Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 1527, 2017 . Council unanimously passed the first three readings. “With the completion of the new Columbia Valley Community Facility (CVCF), an adjustment should be made to the rates to adapt to the new building.” For details RFD

Zoning Bylaw Amendment – 1102, 13th Street

Council passed, with Coun. Paul Denchuk absent from discussion and vote, to give Zoning Bylaw Amendment 1522, 2017 third reading and adoption be held pending a Development Permit application for council consideration. The district requested several stipulations prior to Building Permit issuance. See RFD   For further information: Public Hearing mins, Bylaw 1522

REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION

Development Variance Permit Application DVP 17.03 – A G Foods

Councillor Miller requested to rescind Resolution #17-0509 as per Procedure Bylaw 1493, sec 27 (2). Resolution #17-0509 was passed May 11, 2017, in which council would “ask that the Rotary Club of Invermere host an open house, regarding the message board to be placed in front of AG Foods and administered by the District of Invermere, to gather the opinions of residents.”

For further background information, click on RFD Notification letter mail out map sign canopy design

Councillor Miller: “I don’t think an open house is appropriate at this point. We’ve moved way down the line on this decision and I think for the right reasons. We went too far asking for an open house. I think we just need to move on and get this job done.”

Councillor Anderson, who had voted for the open house, said that after having had the opportunity to have Rotary present at council again with people able to ask questions for clarification, he’s “prepared to vote in favour of rescinding it.” He added that he holds out the OCP Design process, to be talked about later in the agenda, as an opportunity to bring people out for open houses, to get more information, and to alleviate some of Coun. Denchuk’s concerns about downtown.

The request to rescind the Resolution was passed with Councillor Denchuk voting against the motion.

The motion to approve Development Variance Permit 17.03

Mayor Taft commented, “I do share some of the concerns raised by Councillor Denchuk” as he thinks a lot of animated signs “aren’t that pleasant and are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing or suggest quaint mountain town. In this case, the content and the group behind it has to be part of the picture. In this case, it’s different (from selling products in the store) because of the messages that are going to be on it and the control the district will have over it, and is worthy of an exception to a rule. And by granting this variance, we haven’t thrown the rules out. It still remains in our sign bylaw that animated signs are not allowed.”

Council then approved Development Variance Permit 17.03 with Coun. Denchuk opposed to the motion.

Right of way Encroachment Agreement – 1310 – 7th Avenue, Invermere – Best Western Hotel was unanimously approved by council. It legally recognizes an existing encroachment of two exterior canopies along the frontage of 13th Street and 7th Avenue in front of the Best Western Hotel. The encroachments occurred during construction of the canopies. The issue was identified by the owner and has been submitted for approval in order to legalize their nonconforming siting. For further information: RFD Surveyors Certificate

Public Consultation Process – Lake Windermere Memorial Hall Site

With the new community facility nearing completion and council having previously allocated funds and directed staff to demolish the Lake Windermere Community Hall (pictured above) in 2017; council unanimously approved the public consultation process to seek input regarding the future uses of the site as outlined. For further information: RFD

OCP Design Guidelines Review

Council had identified that the current OCP Design Guidelines required review and updating, and unanimously agreed to direct staff to begin reviewing the design guidelines and prepare required amendments for a Public Consultation Process as outlined in the report dated May 17. For further information: RFD

Christine Shaw & Jay Lightfoot

Council unanimously passed to conditionally grant, upon final inspection and certification, Christine Shaw and Jay Lightfoot incentives under the Residential Building Incentive Rebate Policy 2010-03: Policy 2010-03   memo .   One (1) $5,000 Energuide 83 rebate; four (4) $100 solar ready rebate; and two visitable residential accessibility rebates.

Residential Building Incentive Rebate Policy 2010-03

Council unanimously passed to direct staff to review the Residential Building Incentive Rebate Policy 2010-03 and bring forward recommended changes for discussion during the 2018 financial planning process.

Background Information: “The District’s Residential Building Incentive Policy 2010-03 was first adopted in September of 2010, with the most recent revision being done in May of 2015. The policy as written and implemented is for new single family home construction, renovations of single family homes and as specified for each specific rebate program listed in the policy. The purpose of the policy was to help reduce energy consumption, GHG gases and further protect the environment through the provisions of financial incentives to encourage improved building design and standards that are above the minimum standards of the BC Building Code.” Policy 2010-03   memo

Strategic Priorities Fund Applications

“Earlier this spring, UBCM announced another intake under the Strategic Priorities Fund for capital and capacity building projects. The program allows for two capital and one capacity building projects to be submitted. Based upon our Asset Management Priority Plan recommendations and discussions with council the three projects were identified. Deadline for submission is June 1, 2017… The Strategic Priorities Fund provides up to 100% funding for eligible projects.” For further information     RFD Work Program

Council unanimously supported the following applications:

UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund Application under the capital project stream for 13th Avenue Infrastructure Replacement (13th Street to Gerlich Road) in the amount of $2,352.960 excluding engineering.
UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund Application under the capital project stream for the 4th Street and 7th Avenue Intersection Improvements in the amount of $ 2,860,000 excluding engineering.
UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund Application under the capacity building stream for the completion of the Sanitary Sewer Model in the amount of $85,000.

REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

2018 Budget Process and Timeline. For details see: Briefing

CORRESPONDENCE REQUIRING ACTION:

2756 Lord Strathcona’s Horse (RC) – Invermere RCACC

Mayor Taft expressed his interest, if available, to take part on June 10 in “2756 Invermere Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps third annual Ceremonial Review with 3066 Golden RCACC and 2757 Fernie RCACC, celebrating the completion of another year of training. This celebration will include a formal parade and reception and displays of skills and knowledge that cadets have gained over the past training year.” Letter

Shuswap Band National Aboriginal Days Ceremony

Mayor Taft expressed his interest, if available, in accepting the Shuswap Band’s invitation to be a part of the Grand Entry March on National Aboriginal Day June 23.

B.C. Senior Games Zone 7

In response to a letter seeking financial support from the District of Invermere, Council unanimously approved a $ 300 donation to the B.C. Senior Games Zone 7 East Kootenay.

CORRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION

Federation of Canadian Municipalities

“The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Cando (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) jointly deliver the First Nation Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI). This program aims to improve the joint economic prosperity of municipalities and adjacent First Nations by building capacity for joint community economic development (CED) planning and projects.

“We are pleased to inform you that the Committee has tentatively selected Shuswap Indian Band and the District of Invermere to participate in the initiative. Congratulations! This tentative selection will be confirmed pending the outcome of a community needs assessment and validation visit and confirmation of the willingness to participate, demonstrated through a band council resolution from Shuswap Indian Band and a parallel municipal council resolution from the District of Invermere.” Letter

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

Re: Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: Project #C40201 – 13th Avenue Water and Sewer
“After careful consideration, we would like to advise that the above noted project was not selected for funding under CWWF.” Letter

District of Sparwood

An invitation was sent to Mayor Taft and members of council: “The Coal Miner Days Society and the District of Sparwood would like to extend an invitation to participate in the Coal Miner Days Parade being held on Saturday, June 10, 2017.” Letter

SPARC BC

Re: Access Awareness Day – June 3, 2017 – Accessible Communities are Inclusive Communities

The letter included a series of posters to show “the many different ways that accessibility is part of community life…As part of this package of materials, we have included a survey to learn more about local accessibility priorities and about the different types of accessibility-related initiatives that you have implemented in your community. In 2016, 43 local governments passed a proclamation or wrote a letter of support recognizing the importance of accessibility and the role that it plays in building inclusive communities…We have a limited amount of funding (small grants of $500 per community) to help promote and support local accessibility events.” Letter

The Office of the Ombudsperson

Letter received regarding Quarterly Reporting Process Changes

The District of Invermere Council meets regularly throughout the year on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (second Tuesdays only during July, August and September) at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the Municipal Office (914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere).

The next District of Invermere regular meeting is Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m.

e-KNOW

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