2nd Regular Meeting of 2009 - January 26

Bright Lights, Paperless Dogs, and Perpetual Golf - Meeting of Jan. 26, 2009

START - 7:01 PM

ABSENTEES - none.

PUBLIC GALLERY - Brian Clavier, Pearl Morin, Dave Maksemiuk, Rick Potratz, Ken Noskye (after start of meeting, left early), Donald Prentice, Greg Boulet (left early) City Building Inspector, Fire Department employee, and five others.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS - 547 pages

VENUE ALTERATION - The two loudspeakers that were on the floor two weeks ago have disappeared, replaced by four smaller ones in the middle of the ceiling.


Pecuniary Interest Form Submission Request

- For the tenth consecutive meeting, the Mayor requested the submission of these forms. Again, no explanation for this was given. [Maybe council members are buying and selling properties so fast that they need to submit a new form every two weeks.]


Group Home on Muir Drive

- Councillor Gervais felt it necessary, in spite of neither written nor oral objections to this proposal, to say that the existing home run by the same proponents in Ward 1 is a "top-notch facility," and that he has no problems with them.

- THE VOTE (to approve the application): 9 - 0 in favour.


Bylaw 29 Public Hearing - Allow Discretionary Telecommunication Towers up to 45 Meters High on Land Zoned C3, C4, C5, M1, M2, and M3

- Brian Clavier spoke against the proposed bylaw, on the basis that zoning is arbitrary (Advantage Credit Union property is split into M2 and C2 on the zoning map); the location for the Credit Union tower is in a river valley, very close to the 2nd Avenue hill (necessitating an additional 50 feet in tower height just to be above the hill); residential areas are located just north and south of this proposed tower's location; the tower will interfere with AM radio (like the two towers at PACI and the corner of 22nd St. and 2nd Ave. West); nothing in the report addresses radio interference from the proposed tower; and there are other locations that are better sites for the tower (for example, the Credit Union's property and 15th St. East, or the 6th Ave. West site where a Rogers cell phone tower was approved seven years ago, but not yet built).

- THE VOTE (to refer to bylaw section of the meeting): in favour.


Bylaw 1 Public Hearing - to Renew the City's Line of Credit at Bank of Montreal

- Brian Clavier spoke in favour of option 1 in the report from administration (a short-term debt limit of $12 million - which, combined with the city's $20 million long-term debt, would give a maximum total debt of $32 million) and against option 2, which suggested council could pick a lower or higher number for the line-of-credit limit. He agreed with the report's author that a lower amount might be insufficient, and a higher limit might result in uncontrolled spending.

- Councillor Atkinson asked what date the city typically stops using its line of credit, due to sufficient money being available from property tax payments and other income. The Director replied that in 2008 it was at the end of October. Atkinson asked how this date has changed over the past five years. The Director did not reply directly, saying that in the last three years, the cost of using the line of credit has not been a burden, and that in 2008 using the line of credit cost the city $4400.

- THE VOTE (to refer option 1 to bylaw section of the meeting): 9 - 0 in favour.


Maintenance Bylaw Appeal - 219-9th St. East

- Dave Maksemiuk expanded on the content of his appeal letter, stating that he ordered new windows on Jan. 5, they will arrive by mid-February, he is doing the required drywall installation this week, and he would like an extension until March 15 to complete the work.

- Councillor Dionne [this location is in Ward 2, which he represents] asked if Mr. Maxemiuk needed more time to ensure completion of the work, since it is difficult to install windows when it is cold. A March 31 deadline was agreed upon.

- THE VOTE (to extend the work completion deadline to March 31, 2009): 9 - 0 in favour.


7:22 PM


Complaint about Northern Lights Casino Spotlights

- Greg Boulet expanded on the content of his letter to council. He referred to Matthew chapter 20 in the Bible to explain why he cannot call the Mayor "your worship." He said his grandfather would view the casino spotlights as disrespectful to people, and the city solicitor's report was not helpful because it creates a circular situation (where the province may provide a sample bylaw, and the city is waiting for the province to do something about regulating such lights). He said the Mayor has the power to ensure compliance with a bylaw that would regulate these spotlights. Mr Boulet said that, for him, "it is against God's laws to sue" the casino for infringing on his rights, as suggested by the city solicitor. He added that the spotlights are disgusting, and council should not pit one citizen against another.

- Mayor Scarrow, in reply to Mr. Boulet's comments, asked that he to send his letter to the relevant agencies. Mr Boulet tried to respond (from the gallery) that he could not, but was reminded that he had already had his turn at the microphone.

- THE VOTE (to receive and file the correspondence): 6 - 2 in favour (Councillors Atkinson and Williams opposed, Mayor Scarrow's vote not discernible).


Traffic Lights at 15th Ave. East & Muzzy Drive

- Councillor Ring initially moved that this request be referred to public works and the 2009 budget deliberations, but Councillor Atkinson asked that it be sent to the joint city-school board committee. Atkinson noted that most infrastructure in this area of the city is inadequate, all jurisidctions involved should review this, and new developments in the area need to be factored in. Councillors Swystun and Zurakowski noted the current information is inadeqaute.

- Councillor Matheson was worried that referring to the joint schoool board-city committee might delay things.

- THE VOTE (to have traffic information updated, and refer to joint committee): 9 - 0 in favour.


Shore Gold Open House on February 5

- Councillor Swystun called the Shore Gold diamond mine proposal in the Fort a la Corne provincial forest "mind-boggling," and said the February 5 open house (3 to 8 PM at the Sask. Forest Centre) will deal with heritage, archeological, forestry, fisheries, and local consultation issues.


7:42 PM


Road Closure to Create More Parking Spaces at 658 River St. East

- Councilllor Atkinson asked how many parking spaces would be needed if this project was not a seniors' building. Director Joan Corneil did not know the answer to that question. Mayor Scarrow asked for a definition of "senior." The Director deferred her answer until after she consults a dictionary. The Mayor replied it is 55 years and over.

- THE VOTE (to refer Bylaw 38 to the bylaws section of the meeting): 7 - 2 in favour, Councillors Atkinson and Williams opposed.


Yet Another Version of the Art Hauser Centre Financial Statements for 2007

- Councillor Swystun, the Chair of the Art Hauser Board, referred these back to administration for further work.

[At a minimum, there need to be explanations for 1) the concession operation at the facility reporting neither income nor a loss, and 2) how "cash" can be "classified as financial assets available-for-sale," as described at the bottom of page 502 (meaning the Zamboni can apparently be included in the "cash" column).]


Joining the UNESCO-sponsored Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination

- Councillor Swystun noted UNESCO has developed 10 principles for dealing with racism and discrimination.

- Councillor Atkinson noted that any junkets anticipated as a result of joining the coalition have budget impacts that need to be considered.


Last-Minute Agenda Addition to Update Progress on the Soccer/Fieldhouse Project

- City Manager Cotterill, who reported in November 2008 that piling costs woudl be over budget, now says $35,000 was actually saved on that tender. Seventeen tenders closed in early January 2009, and these are $1.2 million (16%) over budget - which doesn't surprise him. $700,000 in options on these tenders have been proposed. Donations are up $110,000 from the November report. The over-budget amount is now predicted at $600,000, although the contingency figure can handle this. Next report to council on this is next month. Half of the 17 tenders are from local contractors.

- Councillor Atkinson asked if there are any numbers yet for the annual operating cost. Cotterill replied the forecast is $150,000 to $200,000. A final figure will be available during budget discussions, but it will only be for the soccer portion of the building in 2009.

- Councillor Dionne asked if council would also see the building's fee structure at budget discussions, adding that "user-pay" is applied at other city facilities. Cotterill replied, "yes."


7:58 PM


Problems with the Landfill Compactor Tender

- Councillor Atkinson asked if the cost of fencing and a loader operator had been included, as these will affect the sanitation budget. The Director referred to page 114 - the sanitation budget will have a reserve of $951,600 minus the compactor equals $817,600.

- Councillor Ring said we previously went with a baler, assuming it would get 800 kg/cubic meter, but we have only been able to get 600 kg/cubic meter. The cost savings from the portable compactor will move us from a predicted 75-year life for the landfill back to the originally-predicted life of 94 years.

- Councillor Swystun said the switch to the new compactor will save $260,000.

- Councilllor Williams expressed a preference for shredding garbage, as well as better sorting and salvaging. He has already had such discussions with the department.


Events Attended by the Mayor and Councillors

- Councillors Williams and Matheson, plus the Mayor, attended the benefit for Blair Morgan.

- Mayor Scarrow was at a Wesmor High School dinner, a ceremony to honour Ryan Harrison's contribution to the Team Canada junior hockey gold medal, and the Alzheimer's walk.


8:07 PM


Inquiries about Train Tracks, LED Signs, and Examining Dog Genitalia

- Councillor Dionne asked if the train tracks in wards 1 and 2 can be cleaned in the spring.

- Councillor Williams requested a report (vote: 9 - 0 in favour) on school zone signs that have LED lights in them (to compensate for the invisible pavement markings in winter).

- Councillor Atkinson related the story of a woman who wanted to renew her 10-year-old dog's license, but was unable to produce the spay/neuter record for the SPCA. How can she prove the spay/neuter procedure was done? The Mayor asked if Atkinson was suggesting an inspector be hired to verify the procedure. The City Manager will talk to the SPCA. The Mayor admitted to a "Bushism." Councillor Gervais was able to get his dog's records from 8 or 9 years ago.

- Councillor Zurakowski asked if there were any plans for an off-leash dog area. The Director indicated there were no such plans right now.


Bylaw Procedure Confusion

- The City Clerk reminded council that bylaws have to be removed (by a motion) if they are not being dealt with according to the text of the order paper.


Motions: Naming Soccer Fields, Perpetual Golf Course

- Councillor Zurakowski asked that his motion to name the three soccer fields in Primce Ministers Park after Prime Ministers Wilfrid Laurier, John Diefenbaker, and Mackenzie King be postponed to "the next cycle" of council. Council consented, by a 9 - 0 vote.

- Mayor Scarrow moved to have administration prepare a report on preserving and protecting the Cooke golf course, in perpetuity. Councillor Williams asked whether this has to be done in conjunction with the provincial heritage designation process, and if any golf courses have received such a designation. The Director replied that this would be taken into consideration. Councillor Ring noted that the motion reflects concerns raise durng the 2004-2005 golf course review, when discussions of privatization, housing projects, and selling the course stirred up the golfing community. A protected aboriginal site already exists on the course. Councillor Swystun said that the Golf and Curling Club may also seek a different use for the golf course at some time in the future. THE VOTE (to send to administration for a report): 5 in favour, 4 abstentions (vote too quick to discern who abstained).


Public Forum

- Donald Prentice, responsible for clearing snow at 80 - 13th St West, was upset about being cited for not clearing the snow there - "Me and the bylaw people don't get along." He sees other locations on the same street that don't get citations for their failure to clear snow.

[Brian Clavier did not speak at public forum, as he was still suffering the ill effects of a cold.]


Always the Last Word . . . .

- Mayor Scarrow recognized Joe Day's appointment as Director of Financial Services, thanked the administration for their work, was "delighted that Shaw [Cable] are here," and thanked the reporters present from the Herald, CTV, and Rawlco radio.


ADJOURNED 8:22 PM