Council update, 12 October 2009
What a difference two weeks make! That was one of the most abrupt descents into winter that I can recall, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming warmer stretch to finish those fall yardwork items that just did not get done in time. Meanwhile, I hope you're all enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend cozied up with family and friends!
A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY
Parks Canada is having their annual planning forum this year on October 29 and 30 at The Banff Centre. This is a big year, because the management plan review is in full swing, so the sessions should be very interesting. The whole event is open to the public. Even if you don't have the time to participate in the whole thing, you can find out what's going on by going to the superintendents' "fireside chat", which will be held on the evening of October 29 in the Great Room at the YW. This popular planning forum event lets superintendents Kevin Van Tighem and Pam Veinotte give a brief run-down of the year's activities, and then the fun begins -- audience members ask whatever park-related question they want, and the superintendents answer. These have been very lively discussions the past two years! I hope that you'll take the opportunity to sit in on this one.
MY DERELICTION OF DUTY RE DOOR-KNOCKING
I apologize! Between taking a 10-day vacation in September and all the workload related to everything else that is going on, I haven't been able to complete my door-knocking around town this fall. I will try hard to pick up the pace in the spring. In the meantime, please remember (and let everyone else know, too!) that I'm happy to make time to discuss questions and issues with any Banffite -- just call or email if you need to chat!
HIGHLIGHTS OF TUESDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING
This week's council meeting is on Tuesday, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. You can see the entire package by clicking on this link:
Highlights include:
Community Art Committee update
There's a report from this hard-working committee (starting on page 18 of the package) to tell us about their activities from the past year and their plans for the future. Don't miss the great photos of their new plaques (placed to identify each artwork), the work on the "Mountain Camp" piece near Safeway, and the winning image of our pink buffalo in Central Park, which was published by Municipal World in their book called Cultural Planning for Creative Communities.
Employee housing policy
Like other employers in town, the Town of Banff has some rental staff housing units, which are allocated according to this policy. It's being brought to council for some proposed updates. You can see the proposed policy starting on page 37 of the package.
As well, a brand-new program is being proposed to council -- one in which the Town would provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to employees who want to make a first-time home purchase in Banff. The loans would be repayable if the employee leaves Town employment, or after 10 years, whichever comes first. This is similar to the innovative program developed by Caribou Properties for their employees.
I like the idea of taking action to encourage our employees to live where they work, but I do have some concerns about this proposal. It worries me when the Town uses taxpayers' dollars to offer a benefit to town employees that the original taxpayers may not be able to afford to offer to their own employees, and I want to explore that question with council and staff. I also wonder about "double-dipping" -- would Town employees be able to use this program to buy a Banff Housing Corporation home, thus benefiting from two municipal programs in one home purchase? Somehow that doesn't seem quite right to me, but I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. And, of course, what happens if interest rates go up?
Construction impacts on Rec Centre operations
Keen users of the Rec Centre will want to read the report that starts on page 51. It lets you know how the recreation staff are going to maximize availability while construction is going on. Of course, use will be constrained by the project, but every effort is being made to give users as much open time/space as possible.
Banff Housing Corporation report
Council will also be meeting as the shareholders of the BHC, to receive the amended report on "equity creep". You can see the whole package by following the link below.
Fans of the BHC will need no introduction to the concept of "equity creep" but, if it's new to you, the report provides a definition and background information.
From the information provided, it appears that "equity creep" is more of an occasional attempt by particular vendors to get a higher price for their units, or a potential future problem, rather than an overall current systemic trend that is already inflating the prices of Middle Springs II houses. Over a five-year period, non-BHC condos in town increased in average price by a factor of 1.98, non-BHC residential went up by 1.67, and Middle Springs II average prices went up by 1.66. The author of the report provides some reasons why these numbers need to be interpreted cautiously, however.