Banff resident Ron Tessolini spoke to council as a delegation about the Water System Bylaw 157-1, Section 11. He questioned whether curb stop infrastructure was tested to ensure it was in working order before changes to the bylaw were made that transferred the responsibility of the infrastructure from the town to homeowners . He requested the town assume partial responsibility for the cost of recent curb stop repairs at his home.
Council then received a briefing on the bylaw, and the work that was conducted at Mr. Tessolini’s home. Council voted 4-3 that, in this instance, the cost of repairs be prorated based on the on the number of years the town and the Mr. Tessolini were each responsible for the curb stop. Council also asked administration to return with options for ways to test the working order of curb stops within the Water Systems Bylaw.
A unanimous vote was made to authorize the town to participate in an application for the Municipal Benchmarking Alberta project Phase 2, and to fund the project up to $20,000 from the Budget Stabilization Reserve. The project started last year, with the Town of Banff bringing together a group of 14 municipalities to create performance benchmarks with the goals of identifying best practices, sharing knowledge and improving capacity for program and service sustainability. A report on benchmarks for 10 municipal services and programs is expected in November. Phase 2 of the project will include new services, additional municipalities and further cost accounting measures.
Council reviewed the business plan and budget of the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission (BVRTSC) and made several recommendations to be provided at the organization’s Annual General Meeting (scheduled for October 16). Council voted that the list of items included in the council report should be addressed prior to any funding requisition from the Town of Banff to the BVRTSC. Some of those items include council wanting to see amortization expenses listed in the operating budget, and a higher priority focus of a marketing plan to boost advertising revenues. Council asked the development of the marketing plan, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015, be brought forward to 2014.