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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-07 Adopted Council Workshop Minutes.pdf1 1 I l ' ·1 l ' j l ~ l 1 Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge COUNCIL WORKSHOP April 7, 2003 The Minutes of the Municipal Cotmcil Workshop held on April 7, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. in the Blaney 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 Cmmcillor J. Dueck Councillor C. Gordon Councillor J. Harris ABSENT Councillor F. Isaac COLmcillor C. Speirs Appointed Staff J. Rule, Chief Administrative Officer T. Fryer, Municipal Clerk M. Murray, General Manager of Community Development, Parks and Recreational Services F. Quinn, General Manager Public Works and Development Services C. Marlo, Confidential Secretary Other Staff as Required J. Sorba, Director of Finance L. Benson, Senfor Manager Finance S. Rutledge, Revenue and Collections Supervisor T. Thompson, Budget Officer Note: These Minutes are also posted on the Municipal Web Site at www.mapleridge.org 1. MINUTES R/03-W-09 Workshop Minutes March 31 , 2003 MOVED by Councillor Dueck SECONDED by Councillor Gordon That the minutes of the Council Workshop Meeting of March 31, 2003 be adopted as circulated. CARRJED 2. DELEGATIONS 2.1 B.C. Assessment Authority, Kash Kang The Director of Finance distributed a BC Assessment handout and introduced Mr. Kang. Council Workshop Minutes April 7 2003 Page 2 of3 Mr. Kang gave a Power Point presentation providing an overview of the 2003 property assessments. He advised that in 2005 BCAA will be restructuring and moving staff from its current location in Pitt Meadows to Abbotsford. Staff preparing assessments for Maple Ridge will continue to be those who are resident in this community. He described the procedures used to assess properties that have llllique elements to be considered such as leaky condos and those used to assess industrial properties. Mr. Kang confirmed that the assessment of the Town Centre office tower would have been based on a market value as at July 1, 2002 that is typical for this type of building and not based on who physically occupied office space. The Director of Finance described the difficulty staff faces in establishing rates for commercial and industrial properties when there is significant growth in residential properties. A higher increase is usually required for commercial and industrial properties to maintain equity between the different classes of properties. Staff will provide options for Council to consider when the taxation bylaws are presented. 3. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS 4. CORRESPONDENCE 4.1 Correspondence Package -"Energy for Our Future: A Plan for B.C." a) Ministry of Energy and Mines, Richard Neufeld, Minister b) Accenture Business Services of BC, Dave Seibel, Country Managing Director c) B.C. Citizens for Public Power Society, Jim Abram, Director Note: Councillor Harris left meeting at 9:40 a.m. The Municipal Clerk advised that staff is seeking direction from Council on how to respond to correspondence on the provincial's government's intentions with respect to energy. He noted that the Open Government Working Group would be addressing the topic of the handling of correspondence at its next meeting. It was the consensus of Council that a recommendation be presented at Committee of the Whole to support the energy policy position ofUBCM but with the inclusion of a requirement that energy rates be cost based and not market based for residents of B.C. "' . j I 1 J Council Workshop Minutes April 7 2003 Page 3 of3 4.2 A Finland/Canada Connection, Sister City Status for Karstula, Finland Letter dated January 24, 2003 from Henry Lahti suggesting consideration be given to establishing a Sister City relationship with Karstula, Finland. The Municipal Clerk asked for direction from Council on a response to correspond ence with respect to Sister Cities. It was the consensus of Council that the sister cities program be reviewed by staff and included on a future agenda for discussion. Note: Councillor Harris returned tot he meeting at 10:00 a.m . ACTION REQUIRED 5. 6. 7. Staff is to provide background information on the sister cities program and a review of the program is to be conducted following the appointment of an Economic Development Officer. A letter is to be sent to Mr. Lahti advising that the matter of sister cities is under consideration and will be reviewed at a future date. BRIEFING ON OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST/QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MATTERS DEEMED EXPEDIENT ADJOURNMENT -10:10 a.m. K.Mse,May Certified Correct T. Fry lerk