15th Regular Meeting of 2009 - September 21

Paving Petition Explanations, SPCA Solicits $upport, and Green Whatever

ABSENTEES: Councillors Darcy Gervais and Shawn Williams

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: 312 pages

PUBLIC GALLERY: Janice Semchuk, Debbie Lehner, Gary Anderson, Jim Kereluk, Brian Clavier, Rick Sawa, Joleen McCullagh, Vera Culy, Steve Lawrence (after 8:26), and four others.
START: 7:02 PM


Tell Me Again: Why Can't You Pave 13th Avenue?

- Jim Kereluk, who appeared at the September 8 meeting to request consideration of a petition to pave 13th Ave. West, between 14th St. and 15th St., did not yet understand why paving 13th Avenue required a successful petition from the landowners in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of 14th St. West. He repeated the comments in his September 15 letter.

- Public Works Director Colin Innes repeated that none of the four properties adjacent to the avenue fronts on the avenue. He said it could be oiled. Mr. Kereluk replied that oiling was out of the question.

- Mayor Scarrow asked if the residents would pay for the avenue to be paved. Mr. Kereluk replied that they pay for 14th St. to be oiled. The Mayor said a face-to-face meeting with city officials is needed, adding that oiling streets is antiquated, and extending the payback period for pavement could be a possibility.

- Councillor Atkinson remarked that, to get the avenue paved, 14th St. would have to be paved, and it was his understanding that the people living there were not receptive to paving that street.

- Councillor Zurakowski said people leave with "their head spinning" on this type of issue. He asked: what is the cost of paving, what is "modified paving," and do we need curbs?

- Director Innes explained that "modified paving" happens when a top layer of asphalt is applied to a road surface that has had several years of oiling. Curbs help prevent asphalt from cracking on the edges, as well as direct water to the sewers.

- Councillor Dionne added that "modified paving" does not have the life span of regular pavement. He made a motion to set up a meeting with the department.

- Mr. Kereluk reminded council that "everybody on 14th Street" feels the same - they can't afford pavement.

- Mayor Scarrow pointed out that paying for oiling dovetails with the current program, where credit is given for previous oiling when a street is paved.

- THE VOTE (to set up a meeting): 7 - 0 in favour.


SPCA Starts Fundraising - City (Demurely) Noncommittal . . . .

- The SPCA desperately needs a replacement for its building at 680-10th St. East (Exhibition Drive). The purchase of a suitable lot in the North Industrial area has been negotiated, and a building campaign to raise $3.5 - $4 million is underway. Under-supported for years [if not decades . . . .], the city's budget allocates an additional $33,000 to the SPCA shelter this year.

- Councillor Atkinson, noting that the 2010 SPCA budget projects $15,000 in licensing fees, asked if this was "modest," or is there additional potential money available from that source.

- SPCA Board Chair Joleen McCullagh replied there could be, if the city's bylaw enforcement officers cooperate. Atkinson commented that the operation of the shelter is efficient, as it expects to have a budget surplus. McCullagh replied that generating revenue to sustain the facility has been a focus - without asking the city for additional funding.

- Councillor Swystun said the revenue projections were ambitious. He is concerned about the new building's total cost, given that city finances are "challenged." The city's ability to participate in funding the new facility "requires discussions."

- Councillor Ring noted the $33,000 increase in city funding in 2009 - an increase from $47,200 to $80,000. He wondered if the city was being asked for a contribution to the capital project, for a $3.5 million facility. Joleen replied that the fund-raising campaign would be very aggressive.

- Councillor Swystun said council needed to know the results of the campaign before it could determine the city's contribution.

- City Manager Cotterill intoned that council could not meet with the SPCA in private [although a majority of council had no such qualms with respect to the $16 million soccer centre . . . .] , council could not commit itself until after the [October 28, 2009] election, and the SPCA could still meet with city administration.

- SPCA Campaign Chair Gary Anderson said the building plans had been received earlier in the day, and he did not think the cost would come in at $3.5 million. He added that the city's contribution did not have to be capital, saying "we will have to get creative."

- Councillor Atkinson said that the city had "gotten off lightly in the past," given the need: when he visited the SPCA shelter the previous week, he was suprised to see that the staff microwave was in the euthanasia room. [Atkinson's September 27 blog post contains a link to a US site with a contest that could help the Prince Albert SPCA building campaign: go to http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/, click to automatically donate food, then scroll down and click to vote for your favourite animal shelter. Type "Prince Albert SPCA" in the "Shelter Name" box, select "Canada" and "SK" from the drop-down box lists, click on "Search," then click on "Vote" and you will have voted for the Prince Albert SPCA to receive a share of $100,000. The winning shelter gets $20,000. There are also two $1,000 prizes for the Canadian shelters that get the most votes. As of October 5, we were at 88th place among Canadian shelters. You can vote once a day until December 20, 2009.]

- Councillor Dionne, while recognizing the SPCA's need, said the 2010 budget "will have lots of challenges" [not unlike the $40,000 spent in 2009 for two cameras on the Diefenbaker bridge, or the $25,000 suggested for a miniature helicopter that flies for 15 minutes on its batteries, we presume . . . .] He said the SPCA should come back to the council elected in October.

7:47 PM

- Gary Anderson said he appreciated the difficulty of the timing for the city. While there is currently no contract in place between the city and the SPCA, he reminded council that the city has collected pledges for various fundraising campaigns in the past, and the SPCA will be doing this for this campaign. Of the financial institutions in the city, he asserted only Conexus Credit Union might give the SPCA a mortgage.

- Mayor Scarrow said that previous meetings with the SPCA have not specified the dollar contribution requested of the city.

7:51 PM Gary Anderson, Joleen McCullagh, and Debbie Lehner leave.


Rezoning from R5 to C4 at 166-27th St. W. and 2640-2nd Ave. W. (to make room for Venice House pizza relocation)

- Janice Semchuk, speaking for her mother, Vera Culy, repeated the issues with this rezoning that are found in Teena Logodin's letter - noise until the early hours, increased traffic on 27th St., and the potential for future rezoning.

- Mayor Scarrow [forgetting that this information was in the background documents, on pages 126, 257, and 258 . . . ] asked about a report on the permitted uses in a C4 zone, and what the intentions of the developer were.

- Councillor Zurakowski said the neighbours want to know the business' hours of operation, and whether a buffer strip has been proposed. He asked if council can require a buffer strip.

- Councillor Dionne said, intentions aside, the developer has to come back for a development permit [at which point there is discretion with respect to whether a public hearing is held . . . .] He needs to know the developer's intentions [he didn't read page 126 either] because he does not want to "burden the next council " with one of his decisions [apparently, none of his decisions over the past six years as a councillor will be a burden to future council members . . . .]

7:58 PM

- Councillor Atkinson said he did not see a lack of commerical space or property in the city, and does not see promotion of business acctivity as more important than the "cohesiveness of a neighbourhood."

- Mayor Scarrow believed there was a general feeling that the developer had not provided requested information [he did not specify what information had been requested, or who had requested it].

- Councillor Zurakowski moved to postpone the issue [again: it had been postponed from the September 8 meeting], saying he had spoken to the neighbours, and got some phone calls. Some were in favour of the project, since there had been problems with rentals here in the past.

[NOTE: While there is no difference between a "postponement" motion and a "tabling" motion, other than the spelling, councillors still needed to immediately air their weighty thoughts on this topic: Matheson (twice), Ring, Dionne, and Swystun continued to speak about it - instead of voting on Zurakowski's motion, thereby disregarding the procedural rule that prevents discussion of a tabling motion . . . .]

- Councillor Matheson was concerned that they may be reading too much into this. He wouldlike to see the change go ahead, since there are "safety valves" for some of the concerns expressed.

- Councillor Ring stated that three residential lots were being taken for business use, and 2nd Ave. is a business street. He thought that, eventually, "we would hit Bryant [now Kinsmen] Park." Asking the developer for more information, he said, then turning the proposal down, would not be "good for the developer" [a comment that illuminates the rationale for the no-discussion-of-a-tabling-motion rule in its starkest form. . . .]

- Councillor Dionne said, "I feel handicapped," explaining that council was being asked to rezone the land, the developer would come back for a development permit, and council can ask what his plan is. He feels the developer should "make the neighbours feel comfortable," and that there is "too wide a spectrum" of discretionary uses for him to support rezoning.

8:06 PM

- Councillor Swystun said this was a transition zone, and people feel like "they're being invaded." The developer should "go that extra step, tell us his plan," and do public relations withthe residents.

- Councillor Matheson opined, "We have to be seen as proactive, and as respecting the residents' wishes." Since this area hasn't "seen much lately," he was concerned that "we're moving backwards."

- THE VOTE (to postpone the issue): 5 - 2 in favour, Councillors Atkinson and Matheson opposed.

8:11 PM Four more people leave - five people left in the public gallery.
8:26 Steve Lawrence joins the public gallery.


The Mayor and Council Attended/Were Feted By . . . .

8:34 PM

- Councillor Atkinson asked if the mayor had his usual long list of events attended, remarking, "I find them so interesting." Scarrow replied, "If I can find it . . . ."
- Councillor Swystun was at Mont St. Joseph's (5th) Grandparents' Stroll-a-thon, the biggest one yet.
- Councillor Atkinson informed council about Riverbend Institution's September 28 information session about CORCAN goods and services at the PA Exhibition Centre; asked [again] about the EA Rawlinson Centre financial statements; and noted the fact that tickets to the venue's events can now be purchased online.
- Councillor Ring asked if Atkinson was making an inquiry. Atkinson replied that Mayor & Councillors' Forum used to be where they could make comments, rather than review social calendars. He then asked about the report on the second bridge, urging administration to present it to council and the public. City Manager Cotterill said that the EA Rawlinson information would be given to the new council, as would a formal presentation from the province on the second bridge (a request for the report was sent in June). Scarrow said the RMs of PA and Buckland had also signed the June letter to the province, and shortcomings in the report needed to be addressed to satisfy all three jurisdictions.
- Mayor Scarrow's attendance list included: the opening of the North Central Enterprise Region office, a PA Parkland Health Region meeting in Shellbrook (where the residents appreciate all the services PA provides, except for road closures on 28th St. and 25th St.; Colin Innes interjected that the roads around the hospital would all be open by mid-day on September 22 [eliciting a half-clap from Zurakowski]), the Living Sky Growers seed orchard in Henribourg, the Terry Fox Run, Metis Fall Festival flag-raising and opening, and the SPCA Walk for Paws.
- Councillor Swystun said the 28th St. and 10th Ave. work was a major project, one that accommodates future residential development for 2500 to 3000 people, the total cost of which is $12 million, while the public sees only ten blocks of pavement. He offered congratulations to Colin Innes and his staff.


Inquiries: Dionne Missed Attendance Reports, and Unfinished Asphalt

- Councillor Dionne requested reports on councillors' attendance in 2008 [unknown to him, this was presented to council at its January 5, 2009 Executive Committee and January 12, 2009 regular meetings - see pages 41 to 44 of http://www.citypa.ca/Portals/0/PDF2/Council_Meetings/2009/2009%2001%2012%20-%20City%20Council%20Meeting/Agenda.pdf ] and for the January to September 2009 period; an update on the grant program for community clubs through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program; and a plan for directing traffic during bridge closures (since he had to delay a meeting for 45 minutes the previous week). Cotterill replied that the Mayor, Colin Innes, and he had met about the September 16 bridge tieup earlier in the day, and a policy would be prepared.
- Councillor Atkinson asked about the 28th St. asphalt, which "looks unfinished." Cotterill said the policy is to put down "one lift" of asphalt and check the status of the base the following year, then finish laying the asphalt. The mayor asked if weight restrictions were needed in the interim, and Cotterill replied, "No."
- Mayor Scarrow asked about the report on the intersection at 15th St. and 4th Ave. West. Cotterill said it was on the work plan for next year. The mayor then said that "shading" text areas would be eliminated from reports in the future, which would "save toner, save the environment."

Public Forum - Green Resolution and Green Whatever

8:59 PM

- Rick Sawa [allowed to speak for over 6 minutes (with a 5-minute limit)] talked about nuclear energy, energy options for Saskatchewan, the Uranium Development Partnership report, and the report on public consultations prepared by Dan Perrins. He asked council to send a resolution to the provincial government to conduct an energy needs study for the province. [Council will discuss this at its October 5 regular meeting.]

- Brian Clavier talked about the "green industrial park" the city is planning on developing. His comments are reproduced below.

My topic tonight is the Green Industrial Park - or Hub - or should I say Green Energy Park - or something else. I’m not sure which title is correct, since it’s been called by at least four names: when it first surfaced six months ago, in a March 16 news release (with no indication such a project was being considered outside the cover of the Bruce Power nuclear proposal), it was called an “industrial hub centred on Green Energy.” This was clarified in a May 1 news release, where it became the “Green Energy Industrial Hub.” But last week’s news releases referred to it as both the “Green Industrial Park” AND the “Green Energy Park,” as did the Mayor on TV earlier this evening.

The name might not seem important here, but out in the real world a “green energy park” means that the energy-related research and business activity conducted there cannot have negative effects on the environment. So any business associated with nuclear power is necessarily excluded from such a “park.” Equally important, a “green energy park” excludes the more general class of “green industry” claimants - so environmentally-innovative C & A Floor Coverings, a US firm with multiple “green” awards, would not legitimately qualify for inclusion in PA’s “Green Energy Park.”

In contrast to this, a “Green Industrial Park” - or “Hub” - should offer a home to any business that has a zero carbon foot print; or is involved in the production of “clean” energy; or facilitates the reduction of energy and water consumption, recycling, or waste minimization. SARCAN, for example, could be a legitimate resident of a “Green Industrial Park,” as could Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store, and a company that recycles tires into door mats. But businesses associated with nuclear power generation would again not qualify.

As you might expect, the “Green Industrial Park” label is more common than “Green Energy Park.” To see what such an industrial park might look like, you need only go to Hinton, Alberta, or the former St. John shipbuilding yard in New Brunswick. Industrial parks like these encompass a wide variety of businesses, whose main claim to being “green” is that they use much less water and energy, and generate less waste, than traditional industrial enterprises; the degree of “green-ness” they possess is normally evident in which level of LEED certification the individual firms have achieved [remember, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design].

On the other hand, a “Green Energy Park” should be restricted to a narrower commercial segment. Aside from companies that make wood heating pellets and ethanol from wood waste, two possibilities which were mentioned at last week’s press conference, it might welcome
- companies that make bio-diesel from algae - or dandelions, or quack
grass;
- windmill vendors;
- energy conservation consultants;
- hydrogen fuel cell developers;
- propane and electric car conversion companies;
- geothermal heating contractors;
- solar wall distributors;
- solar hot water heating suppliers;
- solar electric system designers and installers; and
- companies that develop energy conservation software.

Whatever type of commercial “green” park is being contemplated for Prince Albert, we should all applaud the $3 million application for federal Community Development Trust funding that’s been submitted.

I note that Troy Metz, the city’s former consultant on this project, has been replaced. Mr. Metz, the President of Canadian Bio Energy Management Inc., was charged in Florida with securities fraud by the Securities & Exchange Commission three months ago. The new consultant, the CEO of Canadian Bio Energy Management Inc., Robin Woodward, did commendable work for the mayor’s election campaign in 2006. I am certain he will be as competent working on a commercial “green” park for this city.

Have a safe walk home.


And the Last Word:

- The Mayor thanked administration, Shaw Cable, and the public contributors.

END 9:11 PM