HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil this Week 2015-04-20.pdfCatherine Nolan, Manager of Accounting, made a presentation to Coun-
cil outlining highlights of the Annual Report on the City’s Reserves. Ms.
Nolan described the circumstances under which the accumulated sur-
plus, reserve funds and reserve accounts have been established and
how the funding flows through these accounts.
For example, the Sewer and Water Utility accounts are used to fund
work on these two critical areas of infrastructure and provide stability
for homeowners against large fluctuations in the annual Utility levies
resulting from changes in regional infrastructure plans controlled by
Metro Vancouver. Ms. Nolan walked Council through the Reserve
Funds, the balances, why they were established and explained that
there are often funds flowing in and out of the accounts in the same
year based on projects in the Financial Plan.
She also briefly reviewed the Reserve Accounts, which are established
or dissolved by Council, based on the business needs of the City. There
was some discussion relating to how these funds can be used to deal
with emerging issues in the community. Ms. Nolan also took the oppor-
tunity to provide Council with a quick review of the 2014 Consolidated
Cont’d...
City of Maple Ridge
Council This Week
Maple Ridge
11995 Haney Place
Maple Ridge, BC
V2X 6A9 Canada
Tel: 604-463-5221
Fax: 604-467-7329
Website
Enquiries Email
Inside This Issue:
Reserves
Fibre Optic Network
Remedial Action for
the Demolition of
Derelict/Unsafe
Homes
Bylaw Dispute
Adjudication for
Parking Tickets
Solid Waste
Collection
Demolition of
Vacant, City Owned
Homes
Parkland Acquisition
Process
Reserves
April 20, 2015
Reserves ...cont’d
Financial Statements Report to save them a presentation at the Committee of the Whole (COW)
Meeting later in the day.
The Reserves Report was received as information and the appropriate vote on the 2014 Consoli-
dated Financial Statements will take place as part of the COW agenda.
Council This Week Page 2
Council reviewed reports on two properties;
22332 122 Avenue
12667 227 Street
Council moved the recommendations that the owners of the above two properties be required to
perform the remedial action requirements within 30 days of receipt of the resolution from
Council.
Fibre Optic Network—Status Update and Proposed Next
Steps
John Bastaja, Director of Corporate Support, reviewed the Fibre Optic Network – Status Update
and Proposed Next Steps report with Council. Council engaged in a conversation relating to the
development of wireless capacity in the community and how the fibre network is part of that
broad issue. Mr. Bastaja explained that while wireless use has increased exponentially, the back-
bone of the wireless capacity is the fibre optic network that supports these uses. The two issues
are related.
Council asked that Mr. Bastaja make a presentation to the Economic Advisory Commission for
input and bring the issue back to Council once that discussion has taken place.
Remedial Action for the Demolition of Derelict/Nuisance/
Unsafe Structures
Council This Week Page 3
Bylaw Dispute Adjudication for Parking Tickets
Liz Holitzki, Manager of Licences, Permits & Bylaws, presented Council with an overview of a
report outlining the proposal that the City of Maple Ridge move forward with the creation of a By-
law Dispute Adjudication system to replace the current system used to deal with parking tickets.
Ms. Holitzki noted that the current system is complicated; time consuming, costly and lengthy
with trial dates occurring many months after the original infraction. The new system allows for the
individual with a ticket to have their ticket screened for possible settlement and a second oppor-
tunity to have their ticket dispute with an outside Adjudicator. The report outlines the process
that would be used to create a faster and more efficient resolution of a parking ticket.
Council passed the recommendation.
Solid Waste Collection—Issues for Consideration
David Pollock, Municipal Engineer, provided Council with a report encapsulating their questions
on the topic of solid waste collection raised at the March 30, 2015 Council Workshop meeting.
The goal is to ensure that all of the issues are covered in the subsequent report that will be
coming to Council.
Council provided feedback on the interim report and clarified some of the issues that they would
like to see included in the upcoming report. Council also expressed concern that the discussion
they are having is being misinterpreted by some parties in the community. Council members
clarified that the discussion is very broad at this point, and that the idea is to look at a variety of
different models to manage the solid waste stream in Maple Ridge. No decisions have been
made at this time.
Council members provided Mr. Pollock with a number of comments and questions that should be
captured in the upcoming report and received the report as information.
Please Note!
Council This Week is an informal summary of the reports and discussion of Council’s work at
Workshop. This document will provide links to all reports and presentations that were provided to
Council as part of their deliberations. The comments are not the official minutes of the meeting.
These notes are intended to capture the essence of the discussion so that citizens can keep in
touch with the work of Council in this public meeting.
This version of Council This Week has been modified to a more accessible version that better
meets the needs of our citizens with visual impairments.
Council This Week Page 4
Demolition of Vacant, City-Owned Homes Update
Council received a report on the costs associated with the demolition of three vacant, City-owned
properties. Council reviewed the report and moved the recommendation that the demolitions
proceed based on the quote from T&T Demolition.
Parkland Acquisition Process
Darrell Denton, Property & Risk Manager presented a report to Council outlining the process by
which parklands are acquired for the City. The report outlines the mechanisms used to designate
and acquire new park sites, and the various methods that are used to fund these purchases.
The report covered each of the methods of acquisition and outlined some of the issues relating to
this process, noting that the parkland acquisitions are primarily funded through Development
Cost Charges (DCC). The report notes that a review of the DCC rates should be done to ensure
that the required funds will be in place to fund park acquisitions especially in light of increasing
real estate costs.
Council had an extensive conversation around the issue and noted that some additional work
may be required to ensure that taxpayers get the best value for parklands based on the process-
es used and the funding mechanism. Council thanked Mr. Denton for the report and received it
as information.