AGENDA

CITY OF MERRITT
REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL

Meeting #:
Date:	Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Time:	7:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.
Location:	COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL 2185 Voght Street Merritt, B.C

​Mission Statement: The City of Merritt is a progressive, attractive, economically viable City that is socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

1.1

Call to Order

2.

LATE ITEMS

3.

PUBLIC INPUT

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

4.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes - November 26, 2019

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on November 26, 2019 be adopted

5.

PUBLIC HEARING

6.

GENERAL MATTERS - Delegations and Recognitions

6.1

Work BC - Thriving Communities Labour Market Study

Presentation by Julie Bayman, Program Manager/Business Coach for Work BC

7.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

7.1

Notice of Motion

Councillor Fehr made the following notice of motion at the November 26, 2019 Meeting:

• Recommendation:

  That Council elevate a long term crime reduction strategy as a top priority in Council's strategic plan.

8.

BYLAWS

8.1

Zoning Amendment Bylaw – Health and Fitness Facilities

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council give first reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2278, 2019;

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council give second reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2278, 2019;

8.2

2019-2023 Financial Plan Amendment

• Recommendation:

  THAT City of Merritt Five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2279, 2019 be read a first time.

• Recommendation:

  THAT City of Merritt Five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2279, 2019 be read a second time.

• Recommendation:

  THAT City of Merritt Five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2279, 2019 be read a third time.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

9.1

Youth Advisory Committee Appointments

The City of Merritt put out a request for applicants for the Youth Advisory Committee and received five applications, one from an NVIT student, one MSS graduate, one SCIDES Graduate, and two current MSS students.  All applications have been reviewed by both staff and the Mayor, and each applicant has been contacted to confirm their interest in being appointed.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council appoint Darian Krajci, Susanna Scholtens, Nkikaxni (Honey) Grismer, Beckett Finch, and Marius Auer to the Youth Advisory Committee in a voting capacity, and Adam Etchart in a non-voting capacity;

   

  AND THAT Council authorize Mayor Brown to make further appointments to this Committee, up to the limit prescribed in the Terms of Reference for this Committee. 

9.2

Airport Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference Adoption

On December 2, 2019, the Airport Select Committee met to establish terms of reference for the Airport Advisory Committee.  Staff made three amendments to the proposal.  First, as this is a standing Committee, the Community Charter requires that at least half of the committee must be made of of Council members.  As such, staff amended the proposed composition to meet this requirement.

 

Second, a minor change was made to one of the Committee Duties, to ensure that the Committee only works through Council (as opposed to the CAO).  This is a minor change, but it is important to acknowledge that any Committee cannot direct staff, as that is exclusively the role of Council.

 

Third, a number of administrative provisions were omitted, as the Council Committee Policy, which applies to all City Committees addresses these items.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council establish the Airport Advisory Committee with the attached Terms of Reference;

  AND THAT Council direct staff to advertise to the public for appointments to this Committee.

9.3

North Bench Lands – Crown Land Tenure Application

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to consult with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, as well as First Nations, regarding potential Crown Land Tenure applications for the Crown lands north of Mountain Drive in the Bench area (the “North Bench Lands”).

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to prepare budgetary information regarding the creation of a North Bench Lands Neighbourhood Development Plan, as indicated in the Official Community Plan.

9.4

MFA Equipment Financing for Loader Purchase

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council of the City of Merritt authorize $205,665 to be borrowed, under section 175 of the Community Charter, from the Municipal Finance Authority, for the purpose of purchasing a 2019 Hyundai HL940 Wheel Loader, with attached 3.0 cubic yard bucket; and

  THAT the loan be repaid within 5 years, with no rights of renewal.

9.5

Fire Protection Agreement Renewal

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council authorize staff to renew the Fire Protection Agreement between the City of Merritt and the Thompson Nicola Regional District, resulting in a 5 year total payment to the City of $397,000.

9.6

Town Hall Meeting

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to schedule an open invitation Town Hall meeting in January 2020, to communicate the 2019 year in review, current City initiatives, and hear from the public about their issues and concerns.

9.7

CAO Update

10.

NOTICES OF MOTION

11.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL

12.

INFORMATION ITEMS

12.1

B.C. PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Pilot Committee - Quarterly Report

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council accept for information the B.C. PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Pilot Quarterly Report.

12.2

Strategic Planning Priorities

13.

TERMINATION OF MEETING