New Farmers’ Market Operator Selection Criteria
The farmers’ market will continue to operate as a special event in town, and a market manager will be hired based on a merit rating system if there is more than one applicant. Last year, for the first time, there was more than one applicant to run the summer market. The town held a lottery system between the five applicants to determine who would operate the market in 2019. The Town’s procedures for special event applications does not identify how to select from competing applications in the same category, on same or similar days. Therefore, council voted to develop a procedure with a merit-based system for 2020 for the selection of a market operator, and to strengthen the means of oversight through enhancements to the Special Event Standards. This process will establish a transparent process for selection with criteria. The 2020 market manager will be selected in the new year.
Library Presents Annual Report
Librarian Sarah McCormack and board chair Andrew Oosting presented council their 2018 annual report and indicated the Banff Public Library is celebrating its 70th year in 2019. Highlights from the 2018 annual report show the library:
- Offered 532 programs, which were attended by 6,791 people
- Added 2,465 new items, bringing the total collection to 35,990
- Had 3,100 open hours
- Has issued a total of 3,130 library cards
- Saw 117,144 walk through the doors
- Had their 12 computers in use for 21,410 hours
- Has four platforms for e-book content contributing to a total of 73,508 checkouts
- Has 13 employees and 12 volunteers
For more information on the library, visit https://banfflibrary.ab.ca/
Public Hearing Held on Bylaw 417
A public hearing was held on Bylaw 417 – Road Closure Bylaw – at 514 Deer Street. At the conclusion of the hearing, council voted to withhold second reading of the bylaw until the federal minister of the environment, or a delegate, provides approval of the bylaw. This parcel of land is leased by the Town. The lot has functionally operated as access from Deer Street to the back of the neighbouring six properties. The Town-controlled property ends at the back of the lot. The private properties also have rear access from Tunnel Mountain Road. The undesignated roadway crosses the private leaseholds of the six properties. The Town does not have authority to allow the public to use the lane on those private leaseholds. Without authority to allow public access across the private leaseholds, Town administration recommended a formal road closure for the Town’s leased property.