AGENDA
CITY OF MERRITT
REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

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

2.1

Council Procedure Bylaw - Electronic meetings

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council add an item to the agenda (9.6.3) regarding the amendment of the Council Procedure Bylaw to allow for electronic Council meetings during emergencies.

3.

PUBLIC INPUT

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

4.1

Special Council Meeting Minutes - February 25, 2020

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on February 25, 2020 be adopted.

4.2

Regular Council Meeting Minutes - February 25, 2020

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on February 25, 2020 be adopted

4.3

Regular Council Meeting Minutes - March 16, 2020

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on March 16, 2020 be adopted

5.

PUBLIC HEARING

6.

GENERAL MATTERS - Delegations and Recognitions

6.1

TRU Co-op Student Presentation

Presentation by Duong Trinh, 4th year TRU Bachelor of Tourism Management student.

This item has been deferred to a future Council meeting.

6.2

Creating an Age Friendly City

Presentation by Craig and Judy Gray.

This item has been deferred to a future Council meeting.

7.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

7.1

Notice of Motion

At the February 25, 2020 Regular Meeting of Council, Councillor Luck made the following notice of motion:

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to prepare a report regarding the current practice of giving water meters for new builds, in circumstances where the City does not have a program for metering water

7.2

Committee of the Whole - Budget Recommendations

The Committee of the Whole made the following recommendations at the March 3, 2020 meeting:

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to include operating requests totaling $251,646 in the 2020-2024 Financial Plan, as presented in the March 3, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting.

• Recommendation:

  That Council direct staff to include capital requests totaling $1,826,300 in the 2020-2024 Financial Plan, as presented in the March 3, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting.

7.3

Recommendations from the Airport Advisory Committee

The AAC made the following recommendations to Council at their March 6, 2020 meeting:

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to research and prepare an amendment to the Official Community Plan that would allow runway access from properties on the West side.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the the airport be recognized at the current classification of AGN2 non-instrument.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to research and prepare a report regarding setbacks, in light of the current airport classification and potential future airport classifications.

8.

BYLAWS

9.

NEW BUSINESS

9.1

Situation Table Resolution

Marlene Jones, Community Policing Office Coordinator, is in the process of preparing a grant application for funding to establish a situation table called the Merritt Agency Support Table (MAST).

Situation Tables are frontline, multi-sector collaborations that enable public safety, health, and social service agencies to proactively identify and rapidly mitigate the underlying risks associated with criminal offending, victimization, and personal crisis or trauma (e.g., overdose, eviction, etc.) by connecting vulnerable people to the services they need.

While not required, Council's are encouraged to submit supporting documents as part of this application process.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council express full support for the establishment of a situation table in the City of Merritt;

  AND THAT the Mayor provide a letter of support to accompany the City's grant application.

9.2

Age Friendly and Accessibility Committee

The following names were brought forward from the Closed Council meeting of February 25, 2020.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council appoint the following persons to the Age Friendly and Accessibility Committee:

  1. Travis Fehr

  2. Mike Bhangu

  3. Gail Bloom

  4. Ava Dean

  5. John Philp

  6. Judy Gray

  7. Susan Fischer

  8. Chris Kurik

  9. Cathy Ann Norris

9.3

Community Emergency Preparedness Fund - Evacuation Route Planning Grant

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to apply for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund-Evacuation Route Planning grant, in accordance with the application attached to this report as Schedule “A”;

  AND THAT Council express support for the proposed activities and indicate willingness to provide overall grant management.

9.4

Claybanks RV Park - Fees

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to research the fee structure of the Claybanks RV Park, including high and low season dates, and prepare a report and accompanying amendment to the fee bylaw.

9.5

BC PNP - Request for Council Direction

• Recommendation:

  Council should move and second one of the options set out in this report to commence discussion.

9.6

COVID-19 Response - Resolutions from Council

Staff will provide oral reports in relation to these items.

9.6.1

Committee Meetings

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct that all in-person Committee meetings be paused until further notice.

9.6.2

Quarterly Utility Billing - Delay of Due Date

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to defer the Q1 commercial utility billing cycle and send out a combined Q1/Q2 invoice in July, with an extended discount date of August 31st, 2020.

9.6.3

Council Procedure Bylaw - Electronic Meetings

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council provide notice of its intention to amend the Council Procedure Bylaw, in accordance with section 124(3) of the Community Charter, to allow for electronic Council meetings in emergency situations;

  AND THAT Council direct staff to bring forward this amendment bylaw for first, second and third readings at the next Regular Council Meeting.

9.7

CAO Update

10.

NOTICES OF MOTION

11.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL

12.

INFORMATION ITEMS

12.1

Ombudsperson Quarterly Report

12.2

Strategic Planning Priorities

13.

TERMINATION OF MEETING