BRANDON CITY COUNCIL BRIEFS (JULY 2) Newly-elected Meadows Ward Councillor John Loregio was officially sworn in as a member of Brandon City Council by Court of Queen’s Bench Justice John Menzies. Loregio won the Meadows Ward by-election on June 26th, defeating candidates Ramona Coey and Vanessa Hamilton. In some comments later in the evening, Loregio thanked all Meadows ward residents for voting, no matter whom they voted for, calling it “democracy in action”. South Centre Ward Councillor Garth Rice provided Council with an update on behalf of the Keystone Centre Board of Directors. Rice noted that the Board has recently updated its 5-year capital plan, is currently seeing capital upgrades and the facility have recently hosted a number of popular concerts. Rice added that the campground on the east side of the property is currently under construction and should be ready late in the summer. Subsequently, City Council approved a by-law for the borrowing of approximately $1.1 million to help fund capital improvements for the facility’s main concourse and Amphitheatre. Riverview Ward Councillor Len Isleifson gave a brief verbal update on behalf of the Brandon Police Board, which recently held its inaugural board meeting and is now in the process of building its’ 2013-18 Strategic Plan, which will focus on the concept of community safety. Later in the evening, board members Mark Frison and Councillor Len Isleifson were officially appointed as chair and vice-chair of the board, with their terms of office expiring December 31, 2013. The new appointments reflect the spring departure of the Board’s previous chair, former City Councillor Jim McCrae. Assiniboine Ward Councillor Jeff Fawcett provided Council with a brief update from the Audit and Finance Committee. Fawcett noted that the City of Brandon’s 2011 financial statements have been audited and successfully been submitted to the Province of Manitoba. A very small surplus of approximately $57,000 was seen at 2011’s year-end, which will be placed in reserves. Fawcett added that the 2012 financial statements will be completed by the end of October. Council approved moving forward with two disaster financial assistance applications to the Province of Manitoba: one to seek financial aid to recoup some of the costs associated with protecting against riverbank flooding in the Spring of 2013 ; and the other to seek aid for the City of Brandon and citizens affected by the heavy rainfall experienced in June of 2013. Through the first application, the City of Brandon hopes to recoup some of the costs it incurred this spring to prepare for the melt, including blocking outfalls, closing dike openings, installing rented pumps, making sandbags and round-the-clock monitoring, as well as some minor debris and silt damage that was experienced in the recreational areas along the river. In terms of the second application, the City will attempt to aid residents who experienced property damage from the heavy rainfall and subsequent flash flooding experienced in late June. City-owned property was also damaged via the various rainstorm events in June, for which the City will also try and recoup some costs. In approving the applications, it was noted by councillors that DFA funding is never guaranteed and that the City would also have to contribute $1 per capita in order to be considered for such funding. City Council also received an interim report on the City’s ongoing Flood Mitigation Plan from the City’s Director of Engineering and Water Services Ian Christiansen. The plan is a result of the Province of Manitoba’s 2011 commitment to fund flood protection measures in Brandon, up to $20 million, via a 90%/10% Provincial-City funding split. Christiansen advised Council that the plan’s main pieces will be: o The construction of an earthen dike along the west side of 18th St from the Assiniboine River to a point north of the Grand Valley Road; o Improvement to the earthen dike on the north side of the Assiniboine River from 18th St North to 1st St North; o Land Drainage Improvements on Kirkcaldy Drive to reduce and control the drainage outlets through the dike; o Improvement to the wastewater collection system on the north side of the Assiniboine River; o Improvements to the earthen dike on the south side of the Assiniboine River from 26th St North to 3rd St North; o Raise PTH No 110 from the south side of the Assiniboine River to Victoria Ave East Christiansen noted that rough estimates put the total funding needed for the work at approximately $24 million, which includes a large contingency. Council also approved the extension of the City’s current contract with AECOM to allow for the completion of the detailed design work and the calling of tenders for the construction of the 18th Street North and Kirkcaldy Drive components of the Plan. It’s anticipated work on those two components of the plan will start later this summer. Christiansen’s full presentation, which includes sketches of the proposed work, can be viewed here: slideshare.net/CityBrandon. Council approved the subdivision of land at 1660-34th Street, which will facilitate the creation of 19 lots and a public road in the Brookwood Park neighbourhood. The land was also successfully re-zoned from DR Development Reserve to RSF Residential Single Family. The subdivision application from Waverly Developments is still subject to a development agreement and easement arrangements. City Council received a presentation from City Treasurer and General Manager of Corporate Services Dean Hammond regarding the potential for a municipal property tax deferral program. Administrative research on such a program for seniors had been requested in late 2012 by Richmond Ward Councillor Stephen Montague. Hammond noted that such programs are usually set out to allow residential property owners the opportunity to defer all or part of their municipal taxes for payment at a later date and are enacted for particular segments of society, typically seniors, persons with disabilities, and/or low income property owners. Hammond’s report indicated that while a program could be implemented at a municipal level, it would likely be better administered in full by the Province, as is done in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and P.E.I. Council agreed to receive Hammond’s report as information at this time, with potential conversations with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Province of Manitoba at a later date. The full report from the City’s Treasury Department can be viewed here: notes.brandon.ca/main.nsf/Contents/D23EB45D6F67D38286257B9C005229B9/$File/Property%20Tax%20Deferral%20Program.pdf City Council approved the proposal of Toromont Cat for $337,050 (not including GST) for the supply of a new Crawler Excavator, complete with 5-year warrantee and maintenance/repair plan. The 232 horsepower Cat excavator will be used in various areas of the City of Brandon’s Public Works Department. Council approved a by-law to rezone the property at 25 - 26th Street, along with a portion of part of 1820 Pacific Avenue, from RLD Residential Low Density Multiple Family to RMD Residential Moderate Density Multiple Family. The rezoning will allow for the applicant, VBJ Developments, to undertake construction of a number of apartment buildings on vacant land directly south of the CPR tracks in the area, with a total of 144 residential units available when complete. City Council approved a borrowing by-law for up to $3 million to pay for renovations at the former Convergys Building at 630 Princess Avenue. The City-owned building will be renovated to house the City’s Engineering and Development Services Division, the City’s Planning and Building Safety Department, the Community Services Division, a dedicated Youth Centre, and E-911 call centre back-up facilities. Space will also be available in the building for lease by community agencies. Work on the building is anticipated to begin in the fall.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 17:20:13 +0000