Grand Forks City Council met on Nov. 9 and discussed a number of issues pertaining to the city. With councillors Neil Krog and Colleen Ross absent, the meeting was quite short, clocking in at 47 minutes.
Konrad appointed to RDKB board
Mayor Frank Konrad was appointed unanimously as city council’s representative on the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary’s (RDKB) board of directors. Konrad was also appointed council’s representative on the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital board.
Neil Krog is the current city reprentative to the RDKB board. Konrad will begin his term on Dec. 7.
“When we passed the resolution at the inaugural meeting, it was felt that Frank needed a year to learn the responsibilibities and rules of being mayor and to add on the traditonal role of mayor being the representative to the RDKB, he concurred ‘yes, give me a year to get my feet underneath me’,” said Councillor Christine Thompson. “Neil had been a former mayor and previous RDKB rep and understood the position, and accepted the position for the year.”
Development variance permit
Council unanimously approved a development variance permit request for 7330 Riverside Drive (Granby building). The variance will increase the ratio of apartments to the principal building to 50 per cent in order to bring the building into compliance with the city’s zoning bylaw.
The background information on the recommendation for decision states that the building is considered “existing non-conforming” in that the apartments upstairs are 50 per cent of the building and the current zoning bylaw for the commercial core states that not more than 30 per cent of the principal building shall be used for apartments.
Sasha Bird, manager of development and engineering services, stated that if more than 75 per cent of the building were to burn, at least one or two of the apartments would be jeapordized for rebuild unless the variance was allowed.
Fallen Heroes request postponed
Council deferred a request from the Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation, a group that honours B.C.’s fallen soldiers, for sponsorship to the 2016 budget process.
Deer collars continue
Council received for information a memorandum regarding the deer collaring, which is now into its second year. Councillor Chris Hammett, who is on the deer committee, told council that there are seven collared deer left. Councillor Julia Butler asked if the remaining collars could be removed.
Hammett said that would be more expensive than continuing the program.
Fees and charges amendment
Council gave first three readings to the fees and charges amendment bylaw No. 1958-A1. In the background information, staff states that the city is in the process of consolidating fees and charges from assorted bylaws into a single bylaw.
