City of Fernie Council Connection - March 28, 2011
The City of Fernie has released its most recent Council Connection, keeping people in Fernie informed on what's happening at the city and keeping groups and individuals connected!
March 28, 2011
Community Dollars (C$) - Basin Currency
Launches in Fernie, Kimberley and Nelson during Earth Week April 16 - 22, 2011. This program is intended to help strengthen local businesses and acts as a loyalty program, giving people the incentive to shop locally. It also acts as a fundraising strategy for non-profit groups. The currency can only be spent in the Columbia Basin area.
For additional information email info@communitydollars.ca or the Local Coordinator at fernie@communitydollars.ca or visit the site.
Integrated Community Sustainability Plan Community Sustainability Action Team
At the Regular Meeting of March 14, 2011 City Council approved an Agreement between the City of Fernie and Whistler Centre for Sustainability for the facilitation and provision of a Quick Start Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP).
Efforts to develop an ICSP for Fernie will commence immediately with public involvement opportunities as a key component of the project. Council appointed Mayor Corrigan as Council’s representative on the team.
Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Bylaw No. 2307 Referral District for Lot 12753, Kootenay District except the most westerly 30 Chains – Applicant: 08116595 B.C. Ltd.
The subject property is located approximately 3 km north of the City of Fernie boundary in the Dicken Road area northwest of Kmiecik Road and is located outside the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Council for the City of Fernie will advise the RDEK Board of Directors that they are strongly opposed to Bylaw No. 2307 to rezone this above noted property from RR-8, Rural Residential (Country) Zone to RS-1, Single Residential (Urban) Zone to facilitate the subdivision of the subject property to create no more than 55 lots and requests that the RDEK Board defeat Bylaw No. 2307 at first reading.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Coal Exploration: Notice of Work and Reclamation Application Referral Coal Creek Exploration, Mine Number 1630534 – Applicant: Crowsnest Pass Coal Mining Ltd.
The above noted application was submitted to the then Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on February 15, 2011. The purpose of the project is to evaluate coal quality and quantity within a portion of tenure area (CL#417637) of the Crowsnest Pass Coal Mining Ltd. The area is approximately 10 km east of the City of Fernie near the junction of Matheson Creek and Coal Creek Road at 42.5 km Coal Creek Road (Tembec owned land).
The proposed mining activities are to start in spring/early summer 2011 (weather permitting) with a completion date of fall 2011.
The assessment will consist of 11 drill holes to an average depth of 200 metres and the construction of 2 adits.
The Notice of Work Application and Reclamation Application identifies a total of disturbed area 0.6 hectares associated with the 11 drilling sites. The project will result in 1.408 km of ‘excavated trail construction with 2.2 hectares of disturbed area for access.
Council authorized staff to advise the Ministry that Council:
• Supports, in general, the proposal;
• Has concerns about the impact these activities might have on deep aquifer wells in James White Park, a municipal water source, and wants to ensure that the proposed mining activities have no negative impact on the water quality of the aquifer and subject wells; and
• Requests the City be kept updated throughout the project,
otherwise, the interests of the City of Fernie are unaffected by the Coal Exploration Notice of Work and Reclamation Program Application submitted by the Crowsnest Pass Coal Mining Ltd.
Access Guardian Program Service
On March 4, 2011 the RDEK Board resolved that the annual amounts paid from the Electoral Area A portion of the Elk Valley Mine Tax Sharing Funds to the City of Fernie and the District of Elkford in recognition of Area A residents use of municipal services be reduced by $10,000 per year and the total of $20,000 be applied to the annual costs of the Access Guardian Program Service. If for any reason the program should cease operating within the next two years (2011 and 2012) the reduction to the City of Fernie and District of Elkford will be returned.
Cyclone Taylor Cup
Council approved a request from the Fernie Ghostriders for $5639.89 to assist with hosting the Cyclone Taylor Cup March 31 to April 3, 2011. This is the first time Fernie has been awarded this provincial championship event and brings the three League Champions teams and the host team together to compete. Funding from the City to support the event will come from the Provincial Resort Municipality Initiative.
Daffodil Month & Day
Council proclaimed April as ‘Daffodil Month’ and April 27, 2011 as ‘Daffodil Day’ in Fernie.
