By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Highlights from Monday’s city council meeting

Dec 1, 2020 | 6:00 AM

Council has given final approval to a bylaw requiring all businesses to have a license. This had drawn concerns for local businesses about how information that would be gathered would be shared and what it would cost. A delegation spoke to Council Monday, saying most businesses were opposed to this bylaw, partly because they were worried about what third parties would see this information

Mayor Bill Given says the city has to follow what he calls “strict requirements” when it comes to how this information is used.

“We have very strong provincial legislation that compels us to ensure that data is only used for its express purpose. Administration was able to confirm that no identifiable data will be released. The only thing that administration may release would be aggregate data, the total number of plumbers for example.”

City administration says no personal or identifying information would be shared publicly and any information gathered would only be used for economic development and emergency response.

Changes to the bylaw that covers business license fees have been approved. It will show a $25 for city businesses, a fee that will be waived for 2021. Non-resident business fees will be at $525. There had been some discussion about lowering that to $420, but council rejected that idea. Home occupation businesses would pay a $200 fee. A new definition for a home occupation business has been added to city regulations. The new fees are scheduled to take effect May 1, 2021.

Council heard from a three-person delegation from the Creekside Condo Association. They told council they felt they were paying taxes to support some services but are not getting those services. They emphasize they are not asking for a reduction in taxes, but an increase in services. Those would include transit, snow clearing, street lighting, grounds maintenance, and garbage and waste removal. They say they don’t want to have to raise condo fees, especially when some people are already struggling, given the economy. They also want to do upgrades like improved fencing to keep the property an enjoyable place to live. Council has asked administration to bring a report to a City Hall committee.

Council has approved a location for a new bike skills park at Crystal Lake Park. It would be located along Lakeland Drive. It would not include a full BMX-style park like the one at South Bear but would have logs, rocks, and that sort of thing for cyclists to try to ride on. Councillor Clyde Blackburn was the lone member of council to vote against the idea. He thinks that having this between the houses on one side and the lake on the other would be an eyesore.

Council has approved a 25-year land-lease agreement with the D Company Armouries Foundation. The Foundation wants to build a new community facility on land located near the current Armouries building at 90 Avenue and 100 Street. details on what is being built were not mentioned at council.