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Council Meeting Jan 29th 2008 - Recap

Your council authorized public hearings for proposals to:
  - subdivide one lot into two on Gordonel Rd in Westsyde
  - subdivide one lot into two on Elder Rd in Westsyde
  - locate a one person hair salon on Grasslands Boulevard in Bachelor Heights

We approved the submission to the provincial government of a proposal for a "Spirit Square" on the corner of McKenzie and Yew and learned more about secondary suites in Kamloops. Council also gave preliminary approval to a secondary suite working group to possibly look at ways of increasing rental housing in the city. Also approved, a letter to the federal government asking for tax incentives for the City of Vancouver "streets to home" program for supportive housing.

Changes and Reappointments to the Kamloops Airport Authority Society and the old Parks and Recreation Commission bylaw was repealed.  We nominated Councillor Pat Wallace for the board of the Southern Interior Local Government Association.

We proclaimed Feb 4th to 10 "Rideshare Week" in Kamloops.  The Canadian Home Builders Assoc, Kamloops Chapters, attended as a delegation to present an update on the association's many local projects. In response to the TRU Eco club's delegation and request for sponsorship for the BC Sustainable Campus Conference to  be held  locally, Council  agreed to  provide $750. In response to the United Steelworkers Union local 7619, who asked for the waiving permit fee for a community project to install showers and laundry machines for marginalized citizens at the ASK Wellness Centre, Council wanted to ask the North Shore BIA for input before providing the requested funds to cover the fees.

Betty Hinton on Climate Change...

Here is a video clip of our MP Betty Hinton talking about climate change at the Jan 15th council meeting:

Council Meeting Jan 15 2008 - Recap

Short and sweet this week:

We began the meeting discussing the written concerns about 2 separate development variance permits. The first was a reduction of frontage from 6m to 3m for a proposal to turn one lot into two in Brocklehurst. The second was a proposal for allowing a second kitchen for a family member in a house (with a history of having an illegal suite) in Aberdeen. In my view, we did a lot of due dilligence, and ultimately approved the proposals.

We then had a public inquiry from Dr Christina Mader on the ban on backyard cooking fires and the permitting process that could allow backyard cooking fires for certain special occasions. This ban still stands and the permitting process is being clarified by the council and community services committee.

A proposal to permit a secondary suite at a house in Aberdeen was sent to public hearing. Lake Country RV on 8th street received approval to build a storage area closer to its lot line. A proposal to add liquor licenses to the Mac Island Sports & Event Centre and to Norbrock Stadium was sent out for public comment. Council also approved the receipt of a cash payment into the parks fund from the developer of 1140 and 1150 Crestline St in Brocklehurst. These payments allow for the creation of larger neighborhood parks. The developer does not then have to create dedicated park space within the development.

Our local MP, Betty Hinton, came to the meeting today and presented under the delegations section. She spoke about the projects the federal government has helped fund in Kamloops and area, some of the outstanding concerns, and talked about the Conservative party's approach to climate change.

The Power of Home Based Business in Kamloops...

Had the wonderful opportunity to attend a recent Kamloops Home Based Business Association. These people personify what it means to be an entrepreneur. They are risking a lot, without a lot of help, because they believe in themselves and their enterprise. I admire so many of these folks. Their ranks are growing rapidly, and the association helps them network, advocate, and support each other.

I am sorry to be out of town for the home based Showcase of Excellence on Feb 2nd. Going to be a great event for the general public.

Kudos also to the great Shirley Culver, Phil Lindsey and all the folks at the Thompson Country Community Futures for all the help they provide businesses in our community. Shirley is a key player in the showcase.

Defining Moments in Life...

Donald, from Kamloops Inside Out, spent a night volunteering with the Out of the Cold program, which houses homeless citizens overnight when the mercury dips. His post about it is really important I believe -  but truly motivating, beautiful although what he describes is not pretty. His overall feeling after his experience:

There are defining moments in life, moments that when reflected on, prove to shape you. Last night was one of those. I don’t want to be guilty of taking the little things for granted, family, friends, warm blankets, food, and a roof over my head. I don’t want to be guilty of ignoring people, allowing them to blend into the back ground.

What is our responsibility as a society in addressing the needs of the homeless?

If you’d like to volunteer with Out of the Cold, call 376-4161 - ask for Maybel

Responding to Jim Harrison on the Environment

If you want an interesting ( I hope) 3 minute or so listen, I mashed up this Jim Harrison editorial where he sets up what I believe to be a false conflict between the economy and the environment.

Download responding_to_jim_harrison_on_the_environment.mp3

Chinese Cultural Association hosts Mandarin Lessons...

The Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association were good enough to send along this information on the Mandarin lessons they are offering (in PDF format)

Download chinese_lessons.pdf

Talking homelessness with David Chudnovsky...

Today, NDP MLA David Chudnovsky came to Kamloops to listen to people in our community about homelessness. David is the official opposition critic for homelessness and mental health. I was pleased that David made time to come to Kamloops city hall. It was great to join city staff and social planning council members to discuss how we can all work together to end homelessness.

David has set up blog to talk about his homeless consultations across the province.

We talked about various anti homelessness initiatives underway and soon to be underway in Kamloops. And we talked about possible ways we could do better.   

I personally expressed a desire to see all political parties and all levels of government adopt a common front to tackle this problem.  From what I have learnt over the past couple of years, homelessness is a largely solveable problem (I plan to talk more about that in the coming weeks and months). I don't want it to become political football or a hot potato that is passed along to someone else.

One thing that many are starting to sense is that there is a real will to tackle homelessness as well. BC Liberal Minister Ida Chong came through town a couple of months ago and asked us about our policies on social housing zoning and secondary suites. Judy Graves, a long time advocate for the homeless in Vancouver, has said that for the first time in her work she actually sees the possibility of an end to the horrors of people not having a home.

It's an exciting time.

Follow along the current Kamloops team trip to Sri Lanka...

Raija Kasten's blog from Sri Lanka is amazing!

The Mayor is part of a group of Kamloopsians who are right now in Tangalle Sri Lanka continuing our community's effort to help that part of the world rebuild after the Tsunami. 

Through Developing World Connections, Kamloopsians have regularly visited Tangalle over the past few years. This is the first time, to my knowledge, anybody can follow along online.

Here's a photo of Mayor Terry Lake turning sod:

The Province Announces New Transit Funding...

The announcement is here. Looks like a massive injection in capital into the Lower Mainland primarily, not too much in the interior of the province. Kelowna will be getting a rapid bus service on selected routes.

 

Still, great news!

I think we have to be also seriously looking at doing a much better job marketing transit. We don't even have to get too creative about it, even though it would help. Transit makes a lot of sense for a lot of people who don't currently take transit.

I live well within the boundaries of Kamloops, in Sahali, and for point to point travel, transit is cheaper and healthier. It may even save time, depending on parking situations, and how far parking is from the real destination.