News Releases

Council Updates

Posted on: July 18, 2018

Council briefs for July 16, 2018

Public Hearing on Bylaw 398
A Public Hearing was held on Bylaw 398, a land use amendment that would affect the number of parking stalls required for certain apartment buildings due to changes in transit routes. The Town of Banff allows a reduction in required parking stall for apartments in the central district, if they are close to transit routes. With a recent move of Roam Public Transit’s Route 2, certain properties now qualify for parking reductions due to their proximity to transit, while other properties no longer qualify. Three residents spoke at the hearing, and no written submissions were received. Second and third reading of the bylaw are schedule for Monday, August 13.

Delegation: The Bear Minimum
Members of The Bear Minimum, a local organization that creates awareness about plastic use and pollution, asked council to explore ways to reduce plastics entering our waste stream. The group encouraged people in our community to stop using single-use plastic bags, straws and bottled water. They requested a study of single-use plastics in Banff, and a working group to look at best practices of other municipalities and ways to limit plastic use here. Council directed administration to identify how the Town could help engage the public on this issue. A report is scheduled to be presented in September.

Delegation: Bow Valley True Sport
Bow Valley True Sport and Recreation Council presented an update on their physical literacy programs and sports hall of fame displays. The organization recognizes sports as a valuable community asset by: championing ethical conduct, promoting inclusion, strengthening connections, supporting excellence, fostering healthy lifestyles, creating safe and welcoming environments, and celebrating contribution. They maintain a website at bowvalleysport.ca that includes a regional sport directory with over 500 listings of activities and events in the Bow Valley and a hall of fame in the Fenlands.

Cannabis Communication
A briefing was presented on the plan to communicate the Town’s bylaws regarding recreational cannabis use once smoking and vaping become legal October 17. Until legalization, the Town will remind visitors and residents it remains illegal to use, possess or buy cannabis, unless authorized for medical or research purposes. After legalization, the Town will work to clarify the regulations in Banff, because visitors from other Alberta and Canadian communities may assume the restrictions they experience in their home community are similar to those in Banff. Also, the Town will work with other organizations to help with their communications. For example, private property owners such as hotel owners and managers of staff accommodation will need to set policies about smoking cannabis in the “private space” in their property. The Town wants to collaborate on information and education content for residents of staff accommodation and hotel guests.

Storefront Cannabis Retail
Bylaw 421, a land use bylaw amendment on storefront cannabis retail, was given first reading and a public hearing was scheduled for Monday, August 20 at noon. The bylaw would set the legislative framework for storefront cannabis retail in Banff. Cannabis retailers would only be considered in the downtown district, as a discretionary use, and the Town is proposing greater restrictions than the Provincial regulation. In addition to the Province requiring a separation of 100 metres between a cannabis retail store to a property containing a school or health care facility, the Town is adding a required 100 metre separation from a daycare or playground, and a cannabis retailer cannot be closer than 100 metres from another cannabis retailer.

Enforcing Cannabis Rules in Public
Council set direction on how bylaw services should enforce local restrictions against smoking and vaping cannabis in public once cannabis is legalized. Council requested a combination of enforcement responding to complaints and proactive patrols of green spaces and recreational areas to monitor for illegal public consumption. Council also directed administration to investigate ways to issue a warning to first-time offenders for smoking cannabis in public. A budget for enforcement will be developed and presented in a report to council at a later date.

Appropriate Bedrooms in Required Housing
Bylaw 362 was given first reading and a public hearing was scheduled for Monday, August 20 at noon. This a an amendment to the land use bylaw to help make sure employers provides appropriate bedroom space for employees in required staff accommodation. The amendment would require all new bedrooms built as required housing to be less than or equal to 11.2 square metres. Restricting the size of a bedroom increases the likelihood that the bedroom is accessible for employee housing.

Integration of Camping Bylaw into Street and Public Places Use and Community Standards Bylaw
Council started a process to consolidate bylaw restrictions on camping in town. The Town of Banff Camping Bylaw has been in existence since incorporation, and it prohibits camping on public land and also prohibits camping on private property. Council started a process to move this standalone bylaw into the broader Streets and Public Places Use Bylaw to restrict camping in public places, and the Community Standards Bylaw for prohibiting camping on private property. A third reading of the changes is scheduled for Monday, August 13.

Committee Honorarium Bylaw
Council approved Committees Honorarium Bylaw 402 which provides remuneration for public members of the Municipal Planning Commission and Development Appeal Board. In addition to offsetting member’s incidental costs, the honorarium recognizes the significant contribution of these members in their decision-making capacity for the Town as well as their time commitment to preparing for meetings.

Video Recording of Meetings
Council unanimously asked administration to bring back a plan to install video recording technology in the Council Chamber. The move is being examined as a way to make the business of council more accessible to residents. Recordings of meetings could be accessed any time after the meeting, via banff.ca. Live streaming is also being considered. Capital and operating costs to install the equipment will be presented during service review, ahead of budget deliberations. As a comparison, to install a video system similar to the system in the Town of Canmore, it would cost approximately $19,000 to $25,000 depending on the number and type of cameras.

Review of Procedures Bylaw 44-7
Council reviewed the Procedures Bylaw, which provides the process framework for council to use in its decision-making. It brings together parliamentary procedure, legislative requirements and the specific governance preferences of council. It also provides for opportunities for residents to access council and have input into the decision-making process. An updated bylaw will be presented at the Monday, August 13 meeting for council to vote on.

Energy Action Plan Funding
The Town has been awarded $125,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to advance a study on how we can achieve 100% Renewable Energy by 2050. With the funding, the Town can develop an Energy Action Plan that would provide a technical component of the environmental master plan that is currently in development. The funding will also cover the cost of compiling an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in Banff, a key step in benchmarking progress. Council approved issuing a Request for Proposals for consultant assistance to move ahead with the initiative.

Trails Master Plan Wayfinding Signage Update
Administration updated council on the Trails Master Plan signage that has been installed around town. The new trail signs follow the same design as the vehicle and pedestrian wayfinding signage already in Banff. A total of 171 signs for 95 locations were produced for new or replacement directional signage, and 30 signs for 19 locations were produced for mini-map signage.

Economic Impact Update
A report on accommodation sector information in Banff was presented to council. The analysis shows room nights sold, occupancy, in-destination expenditure, province wide economic impact, and province-wide taxes generated so far in 2018. Overall, occupancy was up in January, February, March and April, and down slightly in May. All monthly Economic Impact Model reports can be found at http://banff.ca/index.aspx?NID=558.

  
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