As per a request from the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC), Council asked administration to review existing off-street parking ratios within the Land Use Bylaw. The MPC is of the opinion that the existing ratios for apartment housing are set at a level that exceeds the current parking situation, and council agreed a review was in order. It should be completed sometime in 2013.
Council gave second reading to Bylaw 320, the Transferability of Commercial Use Development Allotments, with some amendments. Councillor Stavros Karlos made an amendment to have administration come up with a fee schedule for review, and Councillor Leslie Taylor amended the bylaw to have the MPC be the approving authority on all commercial development allotment transfers.
Council also gave second reading to Bylaw 321, the Transferability of Existing Commercial Gross Floor Area, with three amendments. Councillor Karlos again asked for administration to draw up a fee schedule for review. He also asked for administration to return to council with proposed wording in the bylaw that would speak to the protection of the streetscape in the CD Land Use District. Councillor Taylor asked for wording in the bylaw that would require any agreements made under the bylaw to be publicly searchable at all times.
Council voted in favour of changes to Bylaw 323, the Traffic Bylaw, which will see the cost of some parking/illegal skateboarding fines going up. For example, a time-limit parking infraction ticket has gone from $30 to $50, though if paid within seven days of being issued the cost is still $30. Tickets for common parking infractions are going from $50 to $55 and fines for illegal skateboarding are going from $75 to $100 to bring them in line with the fines associated for illegal cycling.
Councillor Grant Canning made a motion asking for administration to return with a report on options and pricing for signage in the downtown core that would outline where it is illegal to bike and skateboard.
Council approved several amendments to the capital and operating budgets for the implementation of the Transportation Master Plan. Council had voted on aspects of the plan at both their May 13 and May 27 meetings.
Councillor Taylor spoke about the Community Housing Strategy Committee’s Guiding principles and Work plan. Council made a motion in January 2013 to start the committee and Taylor is the chair. The committee will use the most recent/relevant housing information to create a comprehensive Community Housing Strategy for the town by August 31, 2013 and will present the strategy to Council for approval no later than September 30, 2013.
Councillor Taylor asked for a report on how the seniors’ utility discount works, and if there is any consideration to have it extend to seniors who rent.