6th Regular Meeting of 2009 - April 6

Even More Garbage, and Budget Brouhaha: Shout "Whoa!"

START: 7:00 PM

ABSENTEES: Councillor Gervais (ward 1) and Councillor Swystun (ward 7)

PUBLIC GALLERY: Brian Clavier, Brian Howell, Mike Mitchell, Tamara McKay, Rick Potratz, Don Cheeseman, Lorena Baker, Don Wood, and four others.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: 360 pages

RECOGNITION: Prince of Wales Scholarship winner Stephanie Sasakamoose [mis-pronounced as SaSASKamoose three times by Broadcast Hall of Fame member Mayor Scarrow] was present to receive her honour. The Wesmor High School student missed the initial attempt to honour her (at council's February 25, 2009 meeting).



Pecuniary Interests - No Forms Submitted


For the fourteenth consecutive meeting, the Mayor requested that members of council submit forms detailing what financial interests they have in the city that might affect their municipal counillor activities. No explanation has ever been given for this request.


[Note that this item is not included in council's procedure - specifically, Bylaw #10 of 2005, as amended by Bylaw #23 of 2008 and Bylaw #32 of 2006. In addition, re-read my comments posted February 25, 2009, under "Submission of Pecuniary Interest Forms."]



Development Permit Public Hearing - to allow a diamond cutting/polishing school and store at 1203 Central Ave. (formerly the Bank of Nova Scotia)

- Brian Clavier spoke in favour of the proposal, citing the optimism and tenacity of the proponent - in light of the current downturn in the industry, as evident from an article on page B6 of the March 24, 2009 Star-Phoenix. He also expressed the hope that the sidewalks adjacent to the property would now be cleared of snow and ice in the winter, something which has not happened since the bank moved out four years ago.

- THE VOTE (to allow the development permit): 7 - 0 in favour.


7:13 PM




Gratitude for Homelessness Initiatives: The Chair Must Speak

- Mike Mitchell, the Co-Chair of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Advisory Board, said that almost $200,000 had been made available to the city under this federal government program.

- Mayor Scarrow asked Councillor Atkinson, the Chair of the Housing Committee, to speak on the committee's behalf inresponse to the letter of gratitude to the city from Mike Mitchell.

- Councillor Atkinson said there were avenues for this program that were now available, where they were not before.



Transient Traders Can't Afford to Work in PA . . . .

- Lorena Baker spoke in response to a letter to council from Brian Zinchak Publishing, whose photography business was asked to pay for a $500 "transient trader" license to photograph at the Ukrainian dance festival [his work can be seen at http://www.zinchuk.ca/hockeysamples/]. She has operated a home-based yard design business in the RM of PA since 2005. In 2007 she was asked by the City of PA to purchase a transient trader license for each yard she worked on in the city. In Saskatoon she pays for a "seasonal trader" license, at $95, plus a $75 fee. She asked Lyn Brown, the CEO of the Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce, to look into this issue. Lyn's reponse at the time was that the licensing barriers to doing business in PA were not likely to change.

- Councillor Dionne, in defense of the license fee, said that local businesses pay property taxes, and the fee is a tax.

- Councillor Ring said the city has to stay competitive with Regina, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw in this area. He asked how many of these licenses are sold in a year, and how many businesses are "turned away."

- Councillor Atkinson said there is no business license requirement for vendors at the PA Exhibition, or the farmer's market, or the temporary booths at the Gateway Mall. He insisted this is not about "tax."

- Councillor Dionne clarified that the Gateway Mall pays the city an annual $5000 transient trader blanket fee on behalf of all the transient businesses that set up there.

- THE VOTE (to receive and file the letter, and have administration prepare a report on business licensing): 7 - 0 in favour.



Extend My Deadline - Again

- David Maxemiuk, who is renovating his rental property at 219 - 9th St. East, asked for an extension (to September 30, 2010) on his deadline for completing the work. [The deadline was originally May 29, 2009, as granted by city council on January 22, 2009.]

- Councillor Zurakowski, noting the difficulties in finding plumbers, electricians, and other tradespeople, moved an extension to September 1, 2009. Mr. Maxemiuk replied that this was better than May 29.



7:37 PM Mr. Maxemiuk and Lorena Baker leave. Three people remain in the public gallery.



New E-Waste and Battery Recycling Entrepreneur

["Computer waste" is currently collected by SARCAN. Old cell phones can be dropped off at Future Shop. This item refers to Paul Depeel Metal (PDM) Contracting setting up collection depots at the landfill and the city yards (the latter location for city staff use . . .) for all types of batteries and electronic waste, and paying the city $110/month plus taxes.]

- Councillor Atkinson asked if this will be competition for SARCAN.


- Public Work Director Colin Innes said no [??]. This will allow drop-off points that are convenient to the public.


- Councillor Zurakowski said he will put SARCAN recycling on the agenda for next month.



7:42 PM


Airplane Movements Growing Like Topsy due to Uranium Company Activity?

[The Airport Master Plan was presented to council. A public meeting to present the report's findings will eventually be held.]

- Councillor Atkinson noted that there was no explanation in the preport for the predictions of increased plane movements [from 2008 to 2031. Since 1996, these have fluctuated wildly - up and down. See pages 60 and 61 of the background documents at http://www.citypa.ca/Portals/0/PDF2/Council_Agenda/2009/2009%2004%2006%20-%20Order%20of%20Business/Agenda%20-%20Pages%201%20-%20209.pdf.]

- City Manager Cotterill said that although the trend is an increase, there is nothing on the horizon to indicate these [numbers].


More Free Garbage!

- Mayor Scarrow moved to add two more free weeks (May 11-16 and August 17-22) at the landfill [to the three listed in the report: June 1-6, September 21-26, and December 28-31]. He asked why no tires are accepted during free weeks. Director Innes referred to the sanitation manager's comment that more revenue is needed to pay for completion of the cutoff wall. The mayor moved an amendment to allow four passeneger vehicle tires with no fee, in each week.

- Councillor Atkinson [repeating something he has volunteered many times] said we have no idea who uses the landfill during these weeks; it should be for city residents; we could put coupons in water bills; there are 10,000 vehicles visiting the landfill during free weeks; we have no idea what weight of material they are depositing; and the $50,000 cost to the city for this program is only a guess.

- Councillor Zurakowski asked if there were any provincial initiatives for tire collection, and whether an additional recycling pickup at Christmas is possible.

- Director Innes said the city had participated in the provincial tire program [and that is no longer an option].

- Councillor Dionne said vehicles are weighed during free week. [Having used this service myself in each of the past four years, the truth is that it happens sometimes, sometimes not]. He says showing a driver's license could be used to prove city residency.

- Councillor Atkinson said Christmas wrapping paper is not recyclable.

- Mayor Scarrow said the free week dates should be published in advance, and that these free weeks help beautify the city.

- Councillor Williams reminded council that he and Councillor Atkinson have helped people with this service ion the past. Tracking which areas of the city use the free week service would be useful. He would like to see changes to the program.

- Councillor Ring agreed that keeping track of the users, remembering that North Central Waste Management Corporation members are participating, is important. Hazardous waste collection week should also be advertized.

- Mayor Scarrow states "Question!" [Chair recognizes Councillor Dionne, fortunately.]

- Councillor Dionne says there should also be education on composting pickups.

- THE VOTE (to add two weeks to the proposed three free weeks at the landfill, and approve the program): 6 - 1 in favour, Councillor Williams opposed.



Let's Spend MORE!

[In response to a report from Director of Public Works Innes, council approved sending an application to the Building Canada Fund for $8 million towards modifications at the water treatment plant and reservoirs - part of a $24 million tab that sees the province and the city each pick up $8 million.]

[In response to a report from City Manager Cotterill, council approved contributing $200,000 towards the construction of a heavy haul (grid) truck route in the RM of PA. It will connect highway 302 to highway 2, via a route west of the Saskatchewan Penitentiary and Elevator Road on the south side of the city. The intent is to reduce heavy truck traffic on 15th St. West and 2nd Ave. West.]


No member of council commented on these reports.


Slam Dunk on 2009 Operating and Capital Budgets Misses Hoop (Everyone Wants in on this Topic . . . .)

- Mayor Scarrow, noting that the list of recommendations is long [and hoping to give the budget bylaw all three required readings at this meeting], proclaims "Time is our enemy" [though there is no such enemy in Saskatoon, whose council passed that city's operating budget on April 20, 2009].

- Councillor Atkinson says there are some good things in the budget, pointing to the uses of the MEEP money from the province. He has several concerns. He asks whether growth in the police budget might become so high council can no longer support it; notes that this is the first year in the last three that money has been allocated to the fiscal stabilization ["rainy day"] fund, which stood at $2 million, and is now down to $200,000; and complains that the public had very little time to review the budget, and councillors only four days.

- Mayor Scarrow counters that the largest withdrawal from the fiscal stabilization fund was in 2006, before he was on council, and Atkinson has some responsibility for that because he was on council then. He admits the current council passed two consecutive 6% tax increases, but says there will be more money next year because the province will be sharing 100% of 1% of the [5%] Provincial Sales Tax with the province's municipalities - estimated at $20 to $30 million more than in 2009. He also says that the city had to give some indication to the province that the money the city receives would go to tax relief for residents. He says Regina and Estevan also had o% tax increases, and several other cities were less than 3%.

- Councillor Atkinson replies that most councils have dipped into the fiscal stabilization fund in the last nine years, yet they still put money into the fund, whereas this council has not. He says tax increases equal to the increase in the cost of living (about 2%) are reasonable, and projects set aside to 2010 and 2011 will cost more.

- Mayor Scarrow says MEEP is allowing the city to do projects.


8:12 PM


- Councillor Zurakowski posits that the budget moves us forward in a fiscally responsible way. He says grants to community clubs have been increased, with $50,000 for capital improvements at each one. He states that councillors are finding "too more" and "too less" [sic] in the budget from one week to the next.

- Councillor Dionne asks for a report on the good things we do [this was not in the form of a motion, so no vote was taken]. Four new projects were funded by the province, and he hopes for four more from the federal government. Since he is going to Ottawa next week, and the federal goverment has committed to 2500 more projects, he suggests "we can make a dint in crime" [a bizarre non sequitur, until you remember he became the President of the Canadian Association of Police Boards in July 2008].

- Councillor Williams agrees that the timeline to digest the budget was short - five hours [actually, four hours and fifteen minutes, less 30 minutes for lunch, were what council spent discussing the budgets onMarch 27 - see my April 2 posting, "Record-Breaking Breeze Through Budget"], including a break, to look at $45 million in expenditures. He says there needs to be more time to review it next year. He pointed to $35,000 more for the SPCA, and $50,000 or $45,000 to Cook Municipal [Golf Course] celebrations. Bridge enhancements were pushed back to a later date, and the $10,000 needed for defibrillators is relying on donations. He says it was very rushed, and he didn't feel comfortable, in spite of the good things in it.

- Councillor Matheson called it a good budget, saying "I'm shocked we wouldn't be in support of a 0% increase." He adds that (the golf course's) "100-year anniversary doesn't happen all the time." [Apparently, he has noticed that it only happens ONCE every one hundred years . . . .] He praised administration, who "put in a lot of work" and "makes us all look pretty good." He says"possibly" we could have put in more time on the budget.

- Councillor Dionne proclaims that "the budget process for Councillor Dionne and ward 2 is a three-hundred-and-sixty-five day process" [with no time off for good behaviour, obviously . . . .], not four days. He says, "I don't have to know the detail." Council members "have to keep up with the thing," and their "job is to oversee, 365 days a year."

- Councillor Ring, as Chair of the Committee of the Whole, notes "I do have the last say." He says the budget was rushed, but he has a day job, and sits on 14 committees. "We put faith in administration," and they have been working hard. He also says, "We can't micro-manage" and "timing comes down to when the provincial government budget comes down." [The City of Saskatoon was not in this boat, apparently, since their council took more time to discuss and pass that city's budget].

- Finance Director Day says that future budgets will go smoother, with respect to timing. Since there is more certainty now about provincial government funding, this will accelerate the process.

- Mayor Scarrow blurts out: "I ran the meeting. Nobody said 'whoa!' "

- THE VOTE (to approve the budgets): 5 - 2 in favour, Councillors Atkinson and Williams opposed. As it is a recorded vote, the Mayor feels he is entitled to say, when his name is called, "I'm voting for a 0% increase in taxes for the City of Prince Albert." After the result is announced, he adds [much to everyone's surprise, since it is evident he is usurping the functions of the City Clerk] that "If this is not given three readings tonight, we will be meeting on Wednesday at eight AM!"


8:27 PM


(Stretch) Limo Service Gets Fast Track

[Don Wood, a health region employee, was at council last month trying to get a city license for his limousine service.]

- Councilor Atkinson says this change to the bus bylaw is a short-term solution.

- Public Works Director Innes says administration will bring back a new bylaw.

- Councillor Zurakowski says this is a business-friendly response to the proposed limo service.

- Councillor Atkinson thanked administration for expediting the matter.

- Mayor Scarrow barks "Question!"

- THE VOTE (to delete the section of the bus bylaw preventing Mr. Wood from operating a limo service, and referring Bylaw 10 of 2009 to the bylaw section of the meeting): 7 - 0 in favour.


Events Attended by Council . . . .

- Councillor Atkinson attended the silver ring ceremony for foresters.
- Councillor Matheson, citing the "events that I was gone to" [sic], attended the Saskatchewan Finance Minister's breakfast, a recognition of Jayne Remenda's work, the Premier's dinner, breakfast with the Mayor of Kincardine, the Business Retention and Expansion results gathering, and a planning sesssion with Community Futures.
- Mayor Scarrow went to a Community Networking Coalition meeting, a cancer fair at First Nations University of Canada, the 20th radio marathon for Children's Haven, the Building Mentorship session at The Loft, and [patting himself squarely on the back and slapping both shoulders] said "I ran a very effectiveMarch 27th meeting where nobody shouted 'whoa!' . . . That's a sense of humour coming through there." His duties also took him to an Indian-Metis Friendship Centre pow wow, the Premier's dinner, the Jubilation program dinner, the Advantage Credit Union opening in the east end [this is the third financial institution to desert the downtown area and move to the east end in the past four years], a SUMA board meeting, and the Ukrainian Dance Festival.


8:42 PM


Inquiries: Unacceptable Garbage and Clean, Clean , Clean!

- Councillor Dionne asked if the communications manager could help educate the public about large furniture (chesterfields, etc.) not being picked up by the city's garbage trucks.

- Councillor Matheson praised the city buses as being "shiny clean" in spite of wet streets. He said they were "very impressive." [Also outside the realm of an 'inquiry' . . . .] He requested people to "take a second and pick up garbage."


Third Reading of Tax Bylaw Denied & Decried

- First and Second Reading of the 2009 property tax bylaw were voted on with a recorded vote. Councillor Matheson moved the motions, seconded by Councillor Ring. Both votes were 5 - 2 in favour, Councillors Atkinson and Williams opposed.

- The motion to grant leave to read the bylaw a third time was also moved and seconded by Councillors Matheson and Ring. The vote was again 5 - 2 in favour, Councillors Atkinson and Williams opposed. [However, it only takes ONE negative vote on such a motion to postpone third reading to a subsequent meeting of council.]

[Opposition to granting third reading to a bylaw in the same meeting as the 1st and 2nd readings is not only legal, the right to "block" third reading is an important feature of The Cities Act. Councillor Dionne and Mayor Scarrow, immediately after the negative vote on granting leave, intimated their opposition to this feature of municipal democracy being used in a council chamber where they sit.]

- Councillor Dionne asked if this "unnecessary delay" would cost the city anything.

- Finance Director Day said "no," other than the cost of another council meeting.
- Mayor Scarrow launched into a tirade against Councillors Atkinson and Williams. In his interjected reply, Councillor Williams shouted loudly. Mayor Scarrow did ask Councillor Atkinson if he wanted to reply. Councillor Atkinson replied, and Councillor Dionne also commented. Other members of council were silent.

[The details of these lengthy exchanges are important. I will provide a word-for-word rendition of the accusations and responses in a future post . . . .]

- City Clerk Skauge told council that the meeting to deal with Third Reading of the property tax bylaw would be at noon on Wednesday, April 8.

- Mayor Scarrow thanked Shaw Cable, the Herald and Rawlco radio reporters, and administation for being at the meeting [but not Rick Potratz and Brian Clavier, both of whom stayed to the end].


8:56 PM Meeting Adjourned.


[The April 8 meeting lasted four minutes. Councillors Gervais, Swystun, and Williams were absent. The Mayor ignored the written agenda item about submission of pecuniary interest forms. He immediately called "Question!" after introducing the report on Bylaw 9 of 2009.

Councillors Matheson and Ring moved and seconded the motion on 3rd reading of Bylaw 9 . Councillor Dionne said he had five phone calls questioning the delay in passing the bylaw, and said he was certain no one on council had received a call supporting the opposing point of view. {I wonder how he succeeded in monitoring their phone lines . . . .} The vote was 5 - 1 in favour, Councillor Atkinson opposed.]