What happened at Invermere council this week?

By Carol Gordon

The regular meeting of the District of Invermere Council was held on July 11 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Office.

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

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

Gallery: Seven people

PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS

Kootenay Smoke-Free Coalition presentation

Trish Hill, Tobacco Reduction Coordinator Promotion and Prevention, Interior health, Nelson Health Centre, Andrea Winckers, BC Cancer Agency – Prevention Programs, Interior Health and Maggie Strosher, Tobacco Coordinator/Tobacco Enforcement, Interior Health representing Kootenay Smoke-Free Coalition made their ‘Smoke-Free Communities’ presentation to council. In addition to their organizations, they also represent the Lung Association of British Columbia, Quitnow.ca, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.

Their presentation was designed to promote smoking bylaws. It began with the health impact of cigarette smoking:

– Tobacco causes 30% of all cancer deaths in Canada;

– Is related to more than 85% of lung cancer cases) and that tobacco use rates are higher in Interior Health (20%) than the B.C. average (14%);

– Number one preventable cause of death and disease and kills twice as many people as vehicle accidents, alcohol, suicide and homicide combined.

Children and second-hand smoke, adults and second hand smoke and benefits of quitting (e.g. Within one year: risk of smoking-related heart attack is cut in half; Within 10 years: risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half ) were included in discussion on health impacts.

The Presentation also included environmental (e.g. Increased risk of forest fires; Impacts on wildlife) and economic (e.g. Tobacco use kills more than 6,000 British Columbians each year; Tobacco use costs the B.C. economy $2.3 billion annually).

Ms. Hill said that “cigarette butts seem to be one of the last things people feel free to litter.”

Coun. Greg Anderson added that “One of the problems is that cars don’t have ashtrays anymore and that’s how a lot of fires get started because people farm them out the window.”

When discussing Outdoor Smoking Bylaws, Ms. Hill pointed out how they model smoke-free living for children. She discussed some of the benefits for Invermere (e.g. air and water free from pollutants; Improve quality of life; Encourage vibrancy of downtown; Enhance public space; Prepare for short-term hazards like the fire season.)

She added that the B.C. Government’s BC Smoking Cessation Program (effective April 1) is available through local pharmacies.

It helps eligible B.C. residents who wish to stop smoking or using other tobacco products by:

– covering 100% of the cost of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products (specific nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, inhaler), or

– contributing to the cost of specific smoking cessation prescription drugs.

The coalition closed its presentation with an invitation to council to join the other B.C. communities, 22 being B.C. Interior Communities, and work together with the coalition to help develop a bylaw that works for Invermere while building on what has worked in other communities. They are asking for council to consider creating smoke-free places in parks, beaches, playgrounds, trails and buffer zones around buildings.

During the discussion that followed, Coun. Al Miller said: “I suggest we get started on it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Mayor Taft expressed his concerns about bylaw enforcement with limited resources to which Ms. Hill said that just putting signs up has an impact.

Coun. Anderson asked whether retailers are selling cigarettes to minors is still a problem to which Maggie Strosher, Tobacco Coordinator/Tobacco Enforcement, Interior Health responded that in some areas up to 50% are selling to minors.

“We can fine a 16-year-old (who sells cigarettes to a friend) as well as the retailer.” (Note: Monetary penalties range up to $5,000 (starting at $345), and suspensions of tobacco sales authorizations and prohibition of the sale of vapour products range up to 180 days.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment commander Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuk presented the Quarterly Policing report for quarter one. It included: Detachment Personnel Status, Statistics on Calls for Service, Detachment Priorities on the District of Invermere and Seasonal Policing Enhancement:

“The summer season policing initiative was funded by our RCMP District Administration with an additional $10,000. With this funding, we can offer enhanced policing with such visibility on the beaches, lake, town roads at bar close, and enhanced traffic enforcement on long weekends and during special events. As a result of this enhancement, we hope to decrease the number of calls for service over the same time last year,” he said.

REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION

Development Variance Permit 17.04 – Castlerock Estates Development Corp.

Council approved Development Variance Permit 17.04, which varies the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw No. 902, 1997 Part B, Division B.101 Works and Services requirement for municipal water servicing within the RR-2 Rural Resource Zone. This allow for subdivision of a parcel designated for a community garbage collection and recycling facility.

Temporary Use Business Permit Application, 401-Laurier Street– Seasonal Car Wash / Detailing

Council received the summary of public input gathered during the Temporary Use Permit notification process. And council approved the issuance of a three-year Temporary Use Permit on Lot A, District Lot 267, Kootenay Land District Plan NEP 74138, for the proposed seasonal business application.

REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

Monthly Bylaw Report

June report

The next District of Invermere council meeting is August 8 at 7 p.m.

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) unless otherwise indicated. View past Council Reports.

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