Thursday News Round-up

WL Tribune reports that the TNG (Chilcotin National Government) is now asking the Canadian Environmental Assessment Office to apply confidentiality to some of their maps that they providing for the overall assessment on whether or not to proceed to a Federal Government Environment Assessment Public Hearing - story is here

Also - this past Tuesday, CRD Area 'E' Director Steve Mazur held a meeting in the CRD Boardroom with residents of the Flett Subdivision. They discussed a DVP (Development Variance Permit) that was issued to Lee Bunce earlier this year to permit him to have a big shed on his property with conditions that it be used for private use only. This, even though, Mr. Bunce had already built the structure prior to applying for a DVP and Building Permit to allow it in the Flett Subdivision. It was also commented that the DVP was approved, even though both the CRD Planning/Building Departments and numerous residents were opposed to the approval of the DVP for Mr & Ms Bunce. There is now a "Notice on Title" applied on the Bunce's property title.

Earlier today, I submitted the following "Letter to the Editor" to the Williams Lake Tribune, in support of Director Mazur:

On Tuesday, November 10th, CRD Area ‘E’ Director Steve Mazur held a meeting with Flett Subdivision residents’ over a Development Variance Permit given to Lee Bunce by the CRD Board of Directors’ at its’ June 19th Meeting. For the record, the CRD Directors’ for Electoral Areas ‘A’ to ‘L’ were eligible to vote on the issuance of the DVP to Lee Bunce.

However, I believe it was unfair and unfortunate that Director Mazur was forced to defend, in essence, a Board decision, even though the DVP that was issued is for a piece of property in his Electoral Area. It would have been better if a number of Directors’ who voted in the affirmative had been present at the Nov 10th meeting with Director Mazur to explain why they voted to issue a DVP to Lee Bunce. Again, why should Steve Mazur be forced himself to defend a decision of the CRD Board?

I hope, in the future, I don’t be witness to one Director being put into the position of defending a decision of the CRD Board of Directors

Rememberance Day Message

Make sure you attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in your local community. Let us pay homage to those individuals in years' past and currently who fought and continue to fight the good fight to ensure that we, as a society, have and continue to have the very values we hold near and dear to our hearts as Canadians, like free elections, the right to protest, etc

Mining News in BC & An Apology

Good Tuesday Morning:

In Local Mining News...

The Williams Lake Tribune has a story about the Union of BC Indian Chiefs joining the TNG in their fight against the Prosperity Mine proposal - story is here

In Provincial Mining News...

The Vancouver Sun has an editorial calling on the Federal Liberals & NDP to support Mining in BC from the Federal Government Perspective - story is here

As for the apology:

Yesterday, I blogged on the trip to China by City of WL Councillors L. Walters and G. Bourdon and the decision to leave tomorrow (Remembrance Day)

After that post, I received this comment highly critical of my critique of Councillors Walters and Bourdon on their trip to China:

I'm a veteran and I also know both of these Councilors. I have no doubt they will pay their respects in the proper manner on Nov. 11th and although it is unfortunate they have to travel on this day not everything happens exactly the way we want it.
Please don't use me, and my fellow veterans, as a means to continue your personal and juvenile attacks on Councilor Walters who does a fine job as a whole.

For any veteran that was offended by my post, I wish to offer my whole and sincere apology to you at this time. It is true that Councillor Walters and I do not see eye-to-eye on a lot of things but I intend to be critical of any WL Council member to whom I disagree with but in a way that is respectful, as much as possible

Muncipal Property Taxes & Trip to China by two City of WL Councillors'

In today's Vancouver Sun, Maureen Bader from the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation - BC Division writes a op-ed (opinion editorial) on the state of municipal property taxes and what the Government of BC ought to do. The story is here

Also, with regard to the trip by City of WL Councillors' Laurie Walters and Geoff Bourdon to China starting this Wednesday and returning on Saturday, November 21st. I know there are a lot of residents' here who think that this trip was badly miscalculated. I agree with them and now, I'll state why (note - New Westminster Wayne Wright and his Councillors' are under fire as well for taking a trip to China at a time when their major industries are crumbling under severe pressure from the recession and other factors)

Reason #1 - There is the Phase 2 Development at Prosperity Ridge, potentially worth up to $100 million dollars in economic activity that they and the rest of WL Council need to aggressively push for. A trip to China at this time would not see economic benefits of this level brought back to Williams Lake

Reason #2 - The day that Councillors' Walters & Bourdon are leaving for China is Remembrance Day. If I were a veteran from either World War 1 or 2, the Korean War or even Afghanistan and I saw two local politicians going to China, instead of paying homage to veterans in the City of Williams Lake, I would be insulted by their actions. I believe Councillors' Walters and Bourdon's decision to leave for China on November 11th will come back to haunt them if/when they decide to seek re-election in 2011

-SBF

Local Government Meetings in Cariboo-Chilcotin and Remembrance Day Ceremonies - Week of Nov 9-13

City of Quesnel Council will meet in "Committee of the Whole/Delegation Session" on Monday, November 9th at 7:00pm at Quesnel Council Chambers

The link to the Agenda/Reports is here

The North Cariboo Joint Committee, whose membership is all of Quesnel Council plus CRD Directors' for Electoral Areas A, B, C and I, will be meeting on Tuesday, November 10th in Quesnel Council Chambers

The link to the Agenda/Reports is here

Williams Lake Council and CRD Board are not meeting this week.

A reminder that Remembrance Day services will be held in all communities in the Cariboo-Chilcotin on Wednesday. I urge everyone to get out and pay homage to those who fought in World Wars I + II, Korean War and Afghanistan. They are the reason why we are able to practice the values that we hold dear as Canadians. All Remembrance Day Services will be occurring at your local Cenotaph. Call your local Municipal Hall for the location of your cenotaph. Most services will start at or around 10:45am with the traditional 2 minute "moment of silence" to occur at or around 11:00am

Steve Rant - City of WL Council Actions & Hypocrisy

From the "speaking of hypocrisy" file:

Calling of In-Camera Meetings:

In a previous post, I had a meeting with Mayor Cook on calling of In-Camera meetings, she promptly informed me that if an In-Camera Meeting was called prior to a Regular or Special Meeting of Council or Committee of the Whole, then notifying the public was a must, but if an In-Camera was called after a Regular/Special Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting, then notice to the public was not required

I believe it is at the height of hypocrisy when Mayor Cook states that notice to the public is required if an In-Camera Meeting will occur before a Regular or Special Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting, but not after. The public has the right to know when its' Council is going into an In-Camera Meeting, regardless of when it occurs. This principle is consistent with open and transparent local government principles. Obviously, these principles are not ones that Mayor Cook intends to practice. She told me at our meeting last Thursday that this would change, but I'm not holding my breath that promise coming to fruition

I should note the rule of informing the public beforehand of a snap In-Camera meeting following a Regular Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting when a subject that was discussed in public but referred to In-Camera would not normally apply

On the subject of Recycling and Rural Fringe residents in CRD Electoral Areas D and E:

Rural Fringe residents' have repeatedly asked for a partnership between the City and CRD for a sub-regional recycling program. Recently, with the introduction of the new curbside Recycling program in the City, the Recycling Bins at the Complex and Canadian Tire have shut down and Rural Fringe residents are now required to take their recyclables to the Central Cariboo Transfer Station with those living in CRD Electoral Areas D and E have to take quite a drive to drop off their recyclables. Again, the City could have and quite frankly should have offered to extend the curbside recycling to residents' in CRD Electoral Areas D & E, doing so would have met the following goals:

* Diverting Unnecessary Waste from Landfill
* Responding to stated needs/wants from residents
* Council Policy of working in partnership with CRD Rural Fringe Residents and their Elected Officials

Outcome of Meeting with Mayor Cook

This past Thursday, I had a meeting with Mayor Cook, at the Mayor's Office, with regard to the following:

1) MOU (Memo of Understanding) between City of WL & CRD
2) Renovations to current Firehall for Arts Community
3) Lack of Communications from City Hall

On Topic #1:

I informed Mayor Cook that the City and the CRD should have ensured that, with regard to the MOU, that both parties are "singing from the same songsheet". To draw an analogy, if "Company A" and "Company B" had an agreement and then 24 hours later, "Company B" decided to re-open the agreement, I can assure you that "Company A" would take "Company B" to court for breach of contract. Council, in my estimation, rushed to adopt the MOU for 2009-2013 before the CRD presented items for inclusion into the new MOU at the February 16th, 2009 Joint Town Hall Meeting including the City of WL joining the CRD Planning Function, the City of WL and the CRD joining forces with regard to Recycling

On Topic #2:

I informed Mayor Cook that notwithstanding the financial situation of the Community Arts Council, the City should not be playing the role of "Real Estate Developer". The Community Arts Council who had some $30,000 in a "Building Fund" should have been required to contribute funds towards the renovation of the current Firehall for the Arts Community. She and I disagreed on this point. I'm concerned about the implication that other non-profit groups will now ask for similar treatment.

The Budget for this project is as follows:

* $200,000 - Town for Tomorrow (provincial taxpayers' dollars)
* $50,000 - Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function (local taxpayers' dollars)

This project is scheduled for completion for either late December of 2009-January 2010

On Topic #3:

Mayor Cook and I discussed the following:

* Notifying the Public when Council (either Committee of the Whole or following a Regular Council Meeting) will go into a "In-Camera Meeting" - I'll be blogging on this subject in another post

* Quarterly Newsletter - this is in the City's current Communications Policy. She has assured me that this will be done

I encourage everyone who wants to discuss anything of importance with Mayor Cook to take advantage of her "Coffee with the Mayor" meetings. I'm told that when you book your appt with Mayor Cook that you will be asked by City of WL Staff what topics you wish to raise with her