Posted on: June 27, 2018Council briefs for June 25, 2018
Water Services Charges
Rundleview Housing Cooperative president Steven Ross Smith spoke to council as a delegation regarding an invoice the board of directors received from the Town for water services. The cooperative had a water leak on their property in February and the Town assisted with turning the water valve off and on throughout repairs. The cooperative requested the cost of the invoice be reassessed and interest charges removed as they are disputing how the Town charges for water services. Council asked staff to return at a subsequent meeting with a report explaining how the Town recovers costs for water services to private properties.
Apartment Housing Parking
Council gave first reading to Bylaw 398, a land use amendment that would affect the number of required parking stalls for certain apartment buildings. A public hearing on the proposed change is scheduled for July 16. Due to recent transit route changes, certain properties now qualify for parking reductions for apartment housing due to their proximity to transit. Other properties no longer qualify, and these are listed in Schedule I of Bylaw 380. Council also asked for a report on the usage of parking stalls in all projects that have utilized Bylaw 380 and Policy C122 by October 2018.
Borrowing for Lake Louise Solid Waste Contract
Council gave first reading to a borrowing bylaw to fund the purchase a garbage truck and equipment to collect solid waste in Lake Louise. At the last council meeting, council directed administration to enter into a five-year agreement with Parks Canada for solid waste removal services within the Lake Louise Field Unit. The amount being borrowed is $754,000 for a period not exceeding 10 years. Revenue from Parks Canada for the contract will cover the loan. Council must give the bylaw two more readings before it becomes final.
Recycling Food and Food-Soiled Paper
Council directed administration to complete an analysis on the benefits of continuing to have a contractor haul food and food-spoiled paper to a compost facility, or whether there are alternatives that would achieve cost savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Town currently contracts Walker Environmental to process its source-separated organics, though the process could be taken in-house. A report will be compiled on benefits, and presented with options later in the year.
Memorial Tree Program
Council asked for a report on details and pricing of implementing a memorial tree program in town. Currently the Banff Bench Program allows the memorialization of an individual through a plaque on a bench in town. A memorial tree program could be implemented in addition to the bench program.
Road Markings
Council received a briefing on road markings indicating no parking areas at intersections. There is no regulatory requirement to have signage or road markings showing no parking within five metres of stop signs, crosswalks, or intersections. However, the Town of Banff has painted white triangle markings at several intersections to improve safety by ensuring better sightlines at corners. The Town plans to add the markings in five more locations to identify the outermost limit of where a vehicle can legally park. Road markings will be repainted annually.
Fire Hydrant Signage
Council received a briefing on fire hydrant regulatory signage. As with road markings near stop signs/intersections, there is no regulatory requirement to indicate you cannot park within five metres of a fire hydrant. The parking restriction is in place to ensure firefighters can access the hydrants in the event of nearby fires. The Town has received complaints from people who have been issued tickets for the violation, citing a lack of signage as an excuse. Administration will test a variety of notification methods at a number of areas in town to see if there is benefit to adding signage at fire hydrants.
Built Heritage Inventory
Council received a briefing on heritages sites in town. There are 181 buildings on the heritage inventory. This list includes 13 properties protected by municipal bylaw and six properties protected by federal legislation. There are 162 buildings, or 90% of the buildings, identified on the heritage inventory that are unprotected. The oldest building on the heritage inventory dates from 1880 and the most recent building to be featured on the heritage inventory were built in 1985.