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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-17 Adopted Council Workshop Minutes.pdfi Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 17, 2003 The Minutes of the Municipal Council Workshop held on March 17, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. in the Whonnock Room of the Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, British Columbia for the purpose of transacting regular Municipal business. PRESENT Elected Officials Mayor K. Morse Councillor E. Daykin Councillor J. Dueck Councillor C. Gordon Councillor J. Harris Coun cillor F. Isaac Councillor C. Speirs Guests K. Stewart, MLA R. Hawes, MLA S. Wakeling Appointed Staff F. Quinn, Acting Chief Administrative Officer T. Fryer, Municipal Clerk M. Murray, General Manager of Community Development, Parks and Recreational Services P. Gill, General Manager Corporate and Financial Services, C. Marlo, Confidential Secretary Other Staff as Required B. McDonald, Director of Licenses, Permits and Bylaws C. Caiter, Manager of Community Planning Note: These Minutes are also posted on the Municipal Web Site at www.maplerid!!e.org 1. MINUTES 2. DELEGATIONS 3. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS 3.1 Meeting with MLA's Ken Stewart and Randy Hawes • Liquor Retail Licenses -Discussion of current applications Note: Counci11 or Speirs excused himself from discussion of this item as he is employed in the liquor industry. = Council Workshop Minutes March 17, 2003 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Hawes asked for input from Council on two applications for a rural agency liquor store that are under appeal. One application is located in Ruskin and the other in Stave Falls. He explained the different types of licenses available in urban and rural areas and the criteria for each. These applications were denied as Maple Ridge is considered an urban area. Technically there should not be any rural agency stores in Maple Ridge but as they are located in a rural area of an urban centre an appeal was made. He cited an example in Harrison Mills where an exception was made to permit a rural agency store to be located directly across from a retail store. As there did not appear to be a standard set of regulations concerning the boundaries for rural stores, Mr. Hawes suggested that he would ask the Liquor Board to defer making any decisions on requests for rural agency stores in Maple Ridge until such time as a presentation has been made to Council defining the boundaries. Council will also seek input from the RCMP on how these locations might impact on their services. A letter dated February 7, 2003 from the City of Coquitlam, originally circulated to Council as part of the February 24, 2003 Council Workshop agenda, was distributed for discussion. Mr. Hawes advised that the Provincial Government would not be closing government liquor stores until it has been determined that a community has adequate access. Distribution centers are scheduled to close by July 2004. Mr. Hawes is working with a group of MLA's to assist the Ministry in the process. Mr. Stewart pointed out that the Provincial Government is not looking at the imminent closure of liquor stores. When asked how best to ensure that local government is consulted on this issue, Mr. Hawes recommended that Council approach the government through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. A CTION REQUIRED Staff is to fonvard a letter to UBCM and LMMA, with a copy to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, requesting that the Provincial Government be requested to consult with local government on changes to liquor regulations. M r. Hawes is to set up a meeting for Council with a representative of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Note: Councillor Speirs returned to the meeting. I I l I l ·t l I ~ I Council Workshop Minutes March 17, 2003 Page 3 of5 • Community Charter/R.eview of Provincial Government Changes, Fast Facts Mr. Hawes advised that the Community Charter will be going for second reading the following week and will then proceed to Committee for discussion. At that point, MLA's will be able to ask questions. He pointed out two items, the expansion of the reserve account for parkland acquisition to include funds for park development and the ability to charge address-related bylaw fees to property troces, that in his opinion are missing from the Charter. He urged Council to put forward resolutions through UBCM for these items to be included. Mr. Stewart asked that Council e-mail questions related to the Charter to the MLA's who can then present those questions to the Minister. ACTION REQUIRED Staff is to draft resolutions for the September UBCM conference requesting that the Provi.Bcial Government include expansion of the parkland acquisition reserve account to include funds for development and the ability to add bylaw fees onto property taxes in the Community Charter. Staff is to add discussion of the Community Charter onto a future Council Workshop agenda. Mayor Morse added two discussion topics as follows: • Infrastructure Funding • Gravel Extraction from the Fraser River • Infrastructure Funding Mayor Morse requested assistance from the MLA's to obtain Provincial funding for Abernethy Way as improvements to this route will assist with traffic flow on Lougheed Highway. She also requested they follow up on a grant application to move the intersection at 232nd Street and Lougheed Highway. The Federal Government is willing to assist but the Provincial commitment must be in place first. The MLA's requested that they be provided with documentation on both requests. ACTION REQUIRED Staff is to provide the MLA's with information on requests for funding for Abernethy Way and the 232nd Street and Lougheed Highway intersection. Council Workshop Minutes March 17, 2003 Page 4 of5 • Gravel Extraction Mayor Morse asked for information on any plans the Provincial Government has for extracting gravel from the Fraser River and if the government would be willing to share the revenue with local governments. Mr. Hawes indicated that he is on a committee that is reviewing gravel extraction. He spoke of the environmental impacts gravel is having on the river. The Government has a permit to extract gravel this year, however, the Cheam Nation is blockading the river as they contend the gravel belongs to them. He advised that any revenue from gravel extraction would be directed to dyking and flood protection. Mr. Stewart noted that the Government has a strong commitment to extract gravel and is trying to remove the roadblock. Mayor Morse advised the MLA's that members of Council will be attending a Municipal Finance Authority meeting in Victoria and suggested that arrangements be made to meet with those Councillors in Victoria. She also advised that the meeting on homelessness was rescheduled to March 24 and suggested that the MLA 's assistants attend the meeting. 3.2 Policy Working Group Updates This item was not dealt with. 4. CORRESPONDENCE 5. BRIEFING ON OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST/QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL 6. MATTERS DEEMED EXPEDIENT 7. ADJOURNMENT -10:40 a.m. I 1 -1 ' 1 Council Workshop Minutes March 17, 2003 Page 5 of5 Certified Correct T. Fryer,