Anmore Council
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AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE PLAN TO POST THE AGENDAS FOR UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS. AS WELL, EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. For the previous Council Page Click Here. To read previous Council Agendas and Reports Click Here
Talking Trash in Anmore (21-02-12)
Anmore Mayor Heather Anderson and Past Mayor Pam Blackman of the Anmore Times discuss proposed changes.
The Village of Anmore Green Waste, Garbage and Recycling Proposal was discussed at a public information session on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Click Here. All Council members, Acting CAO, Tim Harris, and new Manager of Corporate Services, Christine Milloy, along with approximately 25 residents were in attendance.
Mandatory Bear-proof Containers
In an effort to bear-proof refuse and to meet Metro Vancouver climate change objectives this meeting to discuss "substantial changes" was held to keep residents in the loop and allow them to voice their concerns. The plan, which excludes Countryside Village strata, will be phased in over three years. Metro Vancouver is looking at different requirements for multi-unit strata communities.
Anmore is at the bottom of the list of all Metro Vancouver municipalities with a refuse diversion rate of only 23%. According to Anmore resident Hariette Chang, Belcarra has a diversion rate of 35%, Port Moody 61%, and Maple Creek Middle School where she teaches has a diversion rate of 91%. She said it is important to change our attitudes towards waste reduction.
The proposed plan for curbside green waste collection (including such things as kitchen waste, coffee grounds, and grass clippings) will start in the fall of 2012. The mandatory green waste containers, which will be owned and maintained by the Village, will cost $175 per household and will cost $40 for collection from September to December. Garbage, re-cycling, and brush chipping will not change in 2012.
In the Spring of 2013, Village-wide garbage collection may become bi-weekly and residents will need to buy a bear-proof container owned by the Village at a cost of $175.00. Garbage collection will cost $170.00 and Green Waste will cost $80 per household a year. In 2014, the Village staff will look into streamlining recycling.
Several residents were keen on proceeding quickly to implement the Plan. Resident Steve Robb, while supporting green practices, was keen on reverting to a user pay system which would be consistent with the Anmore way. He did not think that residents who efficiently manage their waste should be subsidizing those that don't. He indicated that his refuse costs would increase by 40% with this plan and he asked if there would be a way to opt out.
Councillor Green used the analogy of the sidewalks. She said that we all pay for the sidewalks but only some of us use them. Councillor Isaak reminded everyone that we got hit with the cost of recycling but we got used to it. Mayor Anderson indicated that the costs would likely come down over time. Councillor McEwen was quite surprised that we would pay for the bear-proof bins but the Village would own them.
Another resident had concerns over green waste and having to pay for the green waste pick-up. While saying that he "digs what they are shovelling', his family has gardens and the green waste is garden gold for them. Another resident who is familiar with the Port Moody model said there are many issues to consider such as the on-going maintenance of the bins if the Village owns them, placement of the bins, and helping '80 year-old ladies' move the heavy bins to the road.
Other issues such as the recycling of our existing garbage cans and methods to get rid of kitty litter were also discussed.
Mayor Anderson and Pam Blackman 'talking trash.'
Howard Carley (left) retires as Chief Administrative Officer. In the interim, until a new CAO/Approving Officer is appointed,Tim Harris, Manager of Public Works, assumes Mr. Carley's role (2nd left from Mayor Anderson standing).
RCMP Called In When Charles Christie Challenges Anmore Council Pay Hike!
Once again, the RCMP was dispatched to Anmore Council. This time, at the request of Mayor and Council, resident Charles Christie was ejected from Chambers for questioning the lack of public consultation on the raise that Council wishes to give itself. Newly elected Councillor Laidler, a retired policeman, stood up and told Mr. Christie to "Shut up and sit down!" The three Simon Fraser University student observers were quite astounded by the happenings. (24-01-12)
Mr. Christie is escorted from Council Chambers by two RCMP officers. Hey Mr. Christie, we hope you have a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card.
The “Village of Anmore $1000 Scholarship” is supported by your tax dollars and is awarded annually to a Grade 12 student graduating from High School and continuing on to a Post Secondary Education. The Grade 12 student must be an Anmore Resident. To read more Click Here. For application Click Here
The Village website announces that Christine Milloy will be the new Manager of Corporate Services for Anmore in February 2012. Congratulations to Christine. We look forward to working with you in this new capacity. (23-12-11)
When former Anmore Mayor Weinberg resigned just one year into a three year 2008 municipal election mandate paving the way for current Anmore Mayor Anderson, Anmore was faced with the cost of an expensive by-election. Former Councillors Sedergreen and Piamonte were opposed to this by-election, favouring instead rotating acting Mayors. At the same time Coquitlam was facing a costly by-election which Coquitlam Council opposed and lobbied the Minister to excuse. The responsible Minister stepped in in both cases to require a by-election. "The high cost of getting voters to the polls for a by-election is prompting a Coquitlam city councillor to ask the provincial government to change the rules for mid-term campaigns." (14-12-11) To link to the Tricity News article on the high cost of by-elections Click Here.
Invitation to join the Anmore/Port Moody Recreation Task Force
Recreation is on the Agenda for the new Councils
Last April Anmore Council received a letter from Port Moody Council cutting off negotiations on Port Moody extra rec fees for Anmore. The Anmore Regular Council Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2011 show "After the "Council discussed and agreed to direct staff to look into design plans of a community recreation centre that was brought to Council in the past, research costs of a new building and how it should be modified and bring it back to the next Council meeting."
It appears that circumstances have changed again. To read about the establishment of a Joint Anmore/Port Moddy Task Force on this issue in a November 29th Tricity News article Click Here. The article indicates that Belcarra which also has the heightened fees will not be participating in this Task Force. (01-12-11)
"The B.C. Liberal government introduced legislation Thursday to create a new watchdog for municipal governments. The auditor-general for local government will conduct performance audits and provide recommendations, much as auditors-general do at the provincial and federal level. No one has yet been named to the position, though Premier Christy Clark said the office is scheduled to open in Surrey this spring." (27-11-11) Click Here
The Regular Council Meeting on November 22nd was the final meeting for Councillors Mario Piamonte and Chris Sedergreen, MD. Thank you very much to these two exceptional public servants for all of their efforts on behalf of the residents of Anmore. (22-11-11)
Agenda and Attachments for November 22nd Anmore Regular Council Meeting - Includes the release of in-camera resolution (pg. 9) on the Weinberg subdivision approval Click Here
This motion released in the November 8, 2011 Minutes is relative to the Weinberg subdivision which is currently the subject of a Judicial Review in the BC Supreme Court.
" That whereas the owners of 2923 Fern Drive have applied for a subdivision of that property to create 3 lots, two of which will receive access through a panhandle with a width of 7.5 metres;
And whereas the approving officer in a preliminary layout dated January 9, 2008 (The PLR) indicated that a relaxation of the frontage requirements set out in Section 944 of the Local government Act and section 403 of the Village's By-law No. 374, 2004 acceptable;
And where as staff have been unable to locate a corporate record confirming delegation of this authority to the approving officer and so the applicants have submitted an application dated September 30, 2011 requesting relaxation of the frontage requirements;
Resolved that the frontage requirements be relaxed to the extent necessary to allow the final approval of the subdivision of 2923 Fern Drive , as referenced in the PLR."
Former Anmore Mayor Weinberg is named as an affected person in a Judicial Review into the alleged “made in bad faith and/or discriminatory” preliminary review of a subdivision application at 2923 Fern Drive
Update: On December 1, 2011 the petition was dismissed. Judge Ehrcke indicated,"It is therefore unnecessary for me to consider the submissions made by the Weinbergs that the petitioners are guilty of unwarranted delay in bringing their petition."
Update: At the end of the testimony on the second day of the BC Supreme Court Judicial Review held on Monday November 7, 2011, Judge Ehrcke continued “an Interlocutory Order (Interim Injunction) that the subdivision not be approved pending his final decision. (13-11-11)
On Thursday, October 20, at the British Columbia Supreme Court, Vancouver, Judge Ehrcke heard arguments in lawsuit S-115185 against Howard Carley acting in his capacity as Approving Officer for the Village of Anmore (originally filed August 3, 2011). This was the first day of a Judicial Review into the alleged “made in bad faith and/or discriminatory” preliminary review of a subdivision application at 2923 Fern Drive. Former Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg and his wife Linda are named as affected persons in this BC Supreme Court action. Co-counsellors Nathalie and Jonathan Baker spoke on behalf of the petitioners Rick and Donna Webber. Christopher Murdy represented Howard Carley and the Village of Anmore. Judge Ehrcke scheduled a further day in Court to hear from Christopher Dafoe, counsel for the Weinbergs.At the end of the testimony on the first day, Judge Ehrcke issued “an Interlocutory Order (Interim Injunction) that the subdivision not be approved pending further submissions and his decision.” (23-10-11)
