Council update, 23 October 2011

Hello everyone:

Here are some highlights of what Council is up to this week ...

IMPORTANT COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITY

The Banff Housing Corporation is looking for a public member.  You can read all about this important opportunity here:
http://www.banff.ca/locals-residents/housing/banff-housing-corporation.htm
and here:
http://www.banff.ca/Assets/PDFs/Media+PDF/Town+Page+Archive/banfinformation_Oct_3rdweek.pdf

I`m on the BHC board, and I find it challenging and a worthwhile use of my time.  I hope that you might be keen to work on this important issue in our community.  All applications are appreciated, however the BHC is presently seeking a non-BHC-homeowner member in keeping with the working group recommendations.  Closing date is October 27th.

MONDAY FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Finance Committee meets Monday at 1 pm in Council Chambers.  This is an open public meeting, you are welcome to attend!  You can see the whole package at this link:
http://www.banff.ca/Assets/PDFs/Town+Hall+PDF/Committee+Agendas+PDF/Finance+Agendas/finance-agenda-111024.pdf

Reduction in 2012 waste utility rates

As you know, we went to a solid waste utility this past year, and we’re phasing in the utility payments over time.  As well, the Town has undertaken solid waste collection for Parks, resulting in some efficiencies in staff and equipment costs.  Looking at costs and revenues so far, administration is suggesting that we lower residential waste utility rates in 2012.  You can see the report starting on page 4 of the package.  I’m inclined to support Option 2, which would result in a 12% decrease in waste utility bills to homeowners, while still keeping enough money in the utility to pay for more frequent pickups of the items that people dump illegally beside the bins.  I don’t like to “reward” people by picking up their illegally dumped items, but a lot of people (myself included) really dislike seeing the mess around the bins, and more frequent pickups will help with this.  We’ll keep up the effort to educate people about the many ways to legally get rid of their over-size waste items.

While I’m on this topic – I’d just like to put in a plug for Bow Valley Freecycle.  http://groups.freecycle.org/BowValleyFreecycle/posts/all   This is a way to find people who might be able to use your no-longer-wanted items, or find items for FREE that you need.  I’ve used it to acquire an office chair and to give away a backyard trampoline.  It’s a great system.

Change in the Recreation Centre borrow

As you’ll remember, the Rec Centre project came in $1.6 million under budget.  Furthermore, as you’ll see in the report that starts on page 7 of the package, staff have found a way to save money on the borrowing that was done for the project.  Because the Rec Centre has met and exceeded energy saving requirements, the Town was eligible for a $400K grant and a $4 million low-interest loan from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Fund.  The report is about options for paying back some of the money we borrowed at 3.344% and replacing it with a longer-term loan at 2%.  Net saving on the cost of borrowing will be over $300,000.  This is the result of excellent work by all the staff involved.

Public membership on the Finance Committee

The report that starts on page 9 of the package is a way of opening the discussion about whether we should appoint public members to the Finance Committee, or whether there should be a separate Budget Committee with public members, or whether the present system works fine.  At present, the Finance Committee consists of all council members, and its meetings are all open to the public, with agenda packages on the town`s website.  Would YOU be keen to be a public member on the Town`s finance committee – do let me know!

MONDAY REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

You can see the overall package for the council meeting at this link:
http://www.banff.ca/Assets/PDFs/Town+Hall+PDF/Council+Agendas+PDF/2011+Agendas+PDF/council-agenda-111024.pdf
It starts at 2 pm in the council chambers, and you are very welcome to attend.  There are two opportunities during the meeting for people in the gallery to ask questions about items on the agenda.

Here are some highlights:

Delegate presentations

Parks Canada will be making a presentation about the Wildfire Plan, and the Biosphere Institute will be making a presentation about the work of their organization.  Alas, I can`t tell you more, because we don`t have any advance written material on those two presentations.

Council process stuff

Council will be asked to approve a new `BYOD`` (Bring Your Own Device) approach.  For the past 4 years, council members have had laptops issued to them by the town and maintained by the town.  This approach has saved unimaginable reams of paper.  The new suggestion, which will cost the Town less money, is that councillors should buy and maintain their own portable devices, receiving an allowance of $500 per year for that purpose, which will be a taxable benefit.  You can read about this starting on page 13 of the package.

Council will also be asked to approve a revised policy for making committee appointments.  One item that I want to discuss here is whether we should have a limit on how long any one person can serve on a particular committee.  I know it`s very hard to get volunteers, but I also know that having some turnover is healthy.  I would love to hear your thoughts about this.

Methods for prioritizing and costing out road projects

You`ll see an information briefing, starting on page 37 of the package, about how the Town will prioritize and cost out road work throughout the town.  There`s a detailed example showing how a Rabbit Street project would be costed.  I look forward to hearing the details of the actual prioritization process – I assume they`ll be in a verbal presentation.

COUNCIL ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING

But yes, there is even MORE fun to be had in council chambers on Monday!  Council will also be having its annual organizational meeting.  This is the meeting at which we set the schedule for the coming year, and appoint council members, parks reps and public reps to various committees.  You can see the package for this meeting at this link:
http://www.banff.ca/Assets/PDFs/Town+Hall+PDF/Council+Agendas+PDF/2011+Agendas+PDF/council-agenda-111024-aom.pdf

THE FINE PRINT

As always, this post represents just my point of view and does not purport to represent the point of view of the Town of Banff or its Council.