Gibsons council voted to approve a loan authorization bylaw that will allow them to seek funding for the new RCMP building planned for Gibsons.
The loan authorization bylaw went through an alternate approval process (AAP) where only two residents responded.
"This project started out in late July, early August and the goal was to get to today," said chief administrative officer Paul Gipps at Tuesday's council meeting. "We have been through a number of steps and we set a target of this date for getting there. Today I'm pleased to report we have arrived safely at our destination.
On Wednesday morning during a special meeting of the planning committee, a development variance permit for the new RCMP building was considered. A recommendation from that committee will come to council on Nov. 16 for discussions and consideration.
"The second process is the financial work with the Municipal Finance Authority to talk about the option of developing a community bond, which will save the taxpayers a considerable amount of money," Gipps said.
Council is planning to have shovels in the ground at the site on Nov. 23.
Water meters
Council directed staff to prepare the necessary bylaw amendment to establish a water metering rate and a sewer utility rate for the Town of Gibsons.
The water-metering rate will be based upon a meter rate and parcel tax equal to the average residential use with a total fee not to exceed $370 per year for the average residential user, while the sewer utility rate will be based upon a metered rate and a parcel tax that would be equal to the average residential use with a total fee not to exceed $397 per year for the average user.
There is still some discussion to be done around water metering with questions about how it would roll out for strata developments to be answered.
"Members of the strata developments appeared at corporate services with concerns and they are being taken under consideration," said Coun. Wayne Rowe. "This is only to get staff to move forward on this and it will come back to corporate services again. There are some valid points to be considered."
Dakota Ridge
Sam Adams, parks planning co-ordinator with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), and Carleen McDowell, manager of SCRD parks, presented an operations update on Dakota Ridge Tuesday night.
They said a new advisory committee has been appointed for the site and they will be working with the SCRD to create a five-year operational plan.
For the 2010/11 season, there will continue to be recreational programs on the hill for kids who want to learn to ski, as well as a "snow and tell" day for local governments to come up and see the winter recreation available in their own backyards.
The tour is the start of a marketing campaign to help increase awareness of Dakota Ridge and sell more seasons passes.
"Last year we sold 50 passes and this year we are targeting at least 100. "We would also like to target active retired people who may be able to go up during the weekdays because the weekends are pretty busy right now," McDowell said.
The hill is maintained by the SCRD and a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the trails groomed and sell passes on site.
McDowell noted Dakota Ridge now has a Facebook page that can be accessed by anyone (whether they are on Facebook or not) to get hill updates and find out about upcoming events. You can go to www.scrd.ca and click on the Facebook link under Dakota Ridge.
Traffic calming
Council asked staff to look into traffic calming measures along North Marine Drive and come back with options.
Council also approved the installment of streetlight infrastructure on Inglis Road; however, the lights will not be turned on yet.
"The streetlights need to go in, but there is no need to turn them on at this time," said Coun. LeeAnn Johnson, noting that if the community waits for a few years until getting the streetlights the cost could go up considerably."
"It's a simple solution to a simple problem," added Mayor Barry Janyk.
